Endurance - Jack Kilborn [9]
They were almost to the top of the hill now. Ten steps. Five steps. Kelly willed her mom to be there. Not only there, but with the tire already fixed so they could get the hell away from here. Kelly pulled even further in front, reaching the crest, staring down on the winding road and—
Nothing. Mom and the car weren’t there.
Then JD took off, pulling the leash out of Kelly’s hand, jerking her forward and almost making her fall. He tore ahead, running around the bend, out of sight.
Kelly glanced at Grandma, who was matching her pace. The old woman stared back, her face solemn.
“The car…” Kelly sputtered.
“It’s ahead.”
“JD…”
“Ahead.”
Kelly felt like crying. “I’m… scared.”
“Use it. Everyone gets scared. Don’t let it paralyze you. Your body, or your mind.”
Kelly lengthened her stride again; a dangerous move since they were going downhill. If she hit some loose gravel, or stumbled somehow at this speed, it would cause more damage than just a skinned knee.
“Kelly. Slow down.”
But Kelly didn’t slow down. Her feet pressed against the street faster and faster, and Kelly became off-balance on the decline. She pitched forward, envisioning her chin cracking against the pavement, her face scraping down to the teeth and cheekbones, her knees breaking and head bursting—
“Kelly!”
Grandma caught Kelly’s shirt, steadying her. Kelly took a few more unsteady steps and then slowed down enough to keep her balance.
They pushed through the turn, Kelly hoping she’d see Mom and the car and JD, fearing she’d see the strange man with the gun.
But there was nothing ahead but empty road.
“We went… the wrong… way,” Kelly said between pants. She began to slow down even more.
“Keep running.”
Kelly wished she’d paid more attention on the car ride up. None of this seemed familiar. The road. The woods. The mountains. It all looked the same.
“Is this…” she gasped, “the right road?”
“Yes.”
“But…”
“Don’t talk. Run.”
Grandma pulled in front. Kelly fell back five paces, thinking Grandma was wrong, thinking about turning around and going the other way.
Then they rounded another turn and Kelly saw their car.
JD left Mom’s side and came sprinting over to Kelly. He knew not to jump on her, and instead doubled back and ran with her until they reached the car.
“I changed the tire. Did you and Grandma enjoy—” Mom squinted at Kelly. “Babe, are you okay?”
“There was a man,” Kelly huffed and puffed. “His face was messed up. He had a gun.”
Grandma coasted to a stop alongside them.
“Florence? What happened?”
Mom hadn’t called Grandma Mom since Dad died.
Grandma blew out a deep breath. “I’m not sure. Could have been a hunter. Could have been some hillbilly protecting his whiskey still. Scary-looking fellow, wasn’t he, Kelly?”
“Did he threaten you?” Mom asked.
Grandma shook her head. “Kept his gun down. Didn’t say a word. Might not be used to talking, though. He had a severe harelip, probably a cleft palate. Talking would be difficult.”
“Should we call the police?”
“For having a gun in West Virginia? They’d laugh us off the phone.”
“Are you okay, Kelly?”
Kelly felt like crying, and Mom showing concern made the emotion even stronger. But she sucked it in, got her breathing under control.
I’m almost a teenager. Teenagers don’t cry.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Grandma folded her arms. “She said she’s fine, Letti. Kelly’s almost a teenager. Quit treating her like a child.”
Kelly matched Grandma’s pose, taking strength from it. “Yeah, Mom. Now can we get going?”
Mom made a face, then looked at her watch. “We’ve got another forty minutes before we get to the bed and breakfast. Do you need to pee?”
Kelly rolled her eyes. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Geez, Mom.” She walked over to the car and climbed into the backseat.
Surprisingly, Grandma got in next to her.
“Let’s let JD ride shotgun. I’d like to see that game you’re playing on your iPod.”
“Uh, sure.”
As Mom pulled back onto the road, Kelly showed Grandma Zombie Apocalypse.
“It’s really hard. I can’t get past level 65.”
“Sure you can,”