Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [42]
Allison was already down the other side of the hill, standing next to a wide stream that cut a path through the trees. She glanced up and waved them down.
“I’m going to go talk to Allison for a minute. Relax. Stay off your feet for a while. I’ll come get you in a few minutes, okay?”
Rachel pulled her knees to her chest and laid her forehead against her legs. “Whatever.”
“Rachel…”
“It’s fine, Lizzy.” Rachel snapped. “I just need a minute.”
“Okay.” Hoping that a bit of rest would help reenergize Rachel, Liz carefully picked her way down the steep terrain.
The last thing I need is a broken ankle.
“Be careful, I slipped and fell…” Allison called out as Liz went down hard on her backside. “Right about there.” Allison stepped up and extended a worn smile and a hand. “It’s really wet right in here, so be careful.”
Allison glanced to Rachel. “How’s she holding up?”
“Okay.” Liz shrugged. “Terrible. I don’t know.”
“You’ve got to keep her moving. Keep her mind occupied. The longer she has to sit and stew, the worse the fear and depression is going to get.” Allison looked Liz over. “How are you doing?”
Hysteria bubbled in her throat like a laugh.
How am I doing?
Terrified, scared stupid, ready for the padded room?
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” Liz met Allison’s eyes, and saw her fear reflected there, openly shared between them.
“No, I’m not.”
“If you need to panic, now’s the time.” Allison’s expression held as steady as the rest of her. “Take a minute, get it out of your system.”
For one agonizing moment, Liz let everything she’d tried so desperately to ignore rush over her. The horror and disbelief was nauseating. The fear and desperation consumed her until nothing but the harsh static of panic-induced white noise filled her brain. She braced her hands on her knees and tried to breathe around the sob clogging her throat.
What are we going to do?
We’re helpless out here, prey for men more terrifying than I’ve ever imagined.
The helplessness cleared away some of the fear and panic clouding her mind, replacing it with a hollow depression.
What chance do we have?
The enormity of the situation dragged her under, threatening to drown her where she stood.
“Minute’s up. Pull it together.” Allison’s voice cut through her thoughts.
Liz lifted her head and glanced at the woman standing across from her. Fear was plain on her face, but every single line of the rest of her body screamed determination. It gave Liz the strength to straighten and a force air back into her lungs.
“Good,” Allison whispered. “Now lock it away.”
Liz forced herself to push the fear and doubt from her mind.
Focus.
She made herself listen to the quiet babble of the stream, the birdcalls and the other natural noises of the woods around them. The more she focused, the easier it was to block out the suffocating silence of the vast wilderness, and the less alone and threatened she felt.
“Thank you. I think I need that.”
Allison nodded. “You’ve been carrying the both of you. I could tell you needed a minute to process this.” Allison glanced away to where Rachel still sat at the top of the hill, head buried in her arms.
“You have to keep her calm.” Allison turned back to Liz. “Keep her moving, don’t let her rest too long. The longer she sits idle, the more time she’ll have to let the fear consume her.”
Liz worried her bottom lip. Rachel was stubborn on her best day; an emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted Rachel would be a nightmare. “I’m not sure how. She’s already starting to crash.”
“Remind her why you’re running. Why you can’t stop.” Allison’s voice took a hard edge. “Remind her that steps behind you are men who are going to hunt you down and kill you. If you’re lucky.” Allison’s eyes flashed, but with fear or anger Liz wasn’t certain. “You remind her that this isn’t some bad horror film. This is real. You tell her what they’ll do if they catch you.” Allison continued in a fierce