You Only Die Twice

Chapter TWENTY-SEVEN





“There you are, Cheryl,” the text message said. “Now, what are you going to do?”

The moment she read the message, Cheryl turned off the phone and plunged herself back into darkness. The phone cast light, which she couldn’t have. She shoved it back in her pocket and listened. She held tight onto the sharp stick and waited. Though a breeze was starting to pick up, she heard no movement, which unnerved her. Was he waiting for her to move?

Think.

How could he see in the dark? If you were from these parts, it was well known that poachers used night vision goggles. It was in the paper all the time. Was he using them? He must be using something like that, which meant if she ran, he’d see her trying to make her way through a forest concealed by the cover of night.

Sitting duck.

She was beginning to feel panicky, which her father and grandfather would tell her was the worst thing she should feel. She needed to keep a level head. She needed to strategize. She needed to think like him, if that was even possible. She wasn’t stupid, but there was no question that she was at the losing end of the stick.

What were her options?

As far as she saw it, if that was him she was hearing outside, she had only one option. But she hadn’t planned on using it so soon. She wanted to wait for enough time to pass for her to be formally announced a missing person before she went there. She figured that would take a couple of days. She wanted the sheriff’s department and the state police searching for her before she went to such an extreme. She wanted a buzz of activity on the streets first, so they could see it when it happened, but she felt that now, it was just too soon.

But what choice do I have? I’ve got nothing. Nothing but that, if I can even make that happen.

Outside, there was movement again and this time, she was certain it was footsteps. Even though they still were some ways from her, they sounded different.

More like two sets of footsteps.

She listened carefully to the soft rustling of leaves and pine needles being stepped on, and felt a chill when a gust of wind cut through her shelter. She drew her arms around her body for warmth and was struck by another gust.

Please, don’t let it rain, she thought.

She looked up through one of the holes in the shelter, saw moonlight and felt relieved, even if it was only for a moment.

She had to do something.

The footsteps were coming closer.

They’d kill her if they found her here.

She had no choice.

Quickly, she went to work.