Whispers in the Dark - Maya Banks [40]
She came to an abrupt halt, and then despair sagged her shoulders. Who was she kidding? He was right. Finding her would be easy. She didn’t have a chance.
No! he reprimanded sharply. That’s bullshit, Shea. You’re not a sitting duck. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to make damn sure you escape.
She swallowed and cocked her ear to the distance, straining to hear if they had drawn closer.
Tell me everything you can about where you are. Do you know? Is the terrain flat? Hilly? Are you in the mountains?
She inhaled sharply. The tang of salt danced through her nostrils. Mixed in was the scent of pine. A breeze ruffled her hair and she turned in the direction of the wind.
I’m facing the ocean. It’s not far. There are lots of redwoods. Big ones. The forest is thick, but the floor isn’t snarled and overgrown.
Okay, listen to me. Head toward the ocean. Where were you last? Where did they find you?
Shea began picking her way through the trees, following the direction of the wind blowing off the water. I was in California. I was planning to head north, farther up the coast. But they found me. They kept me in my own hotel room for several days. Then when they moved me, I escaped. I’m…I’m not sure where I am now. They drugged me. So much is fuzzy.
You’re doing fine, he soothed. Keep moving. From the description you gave, I’d say you’re still in Northern California or maybe even Southern Oregon. I’m coming, Shea. As fast as I can get there. But I need you to keep yourself safe until I find you. You have to protect yourself until I get there, okay?
She nodded grimly and then echoed her agreement through their link. Where would they expect her to go? She pushed ahead, hurrying, but taking greater care not to disturb the vegetation around her. Nathan’s presence calmed her. His steady reassurance made some of the panic fade, and she was able to think more rationally.
And then fear skittered up her spine again and gripped her throat until she could barely draw a breath. Nathan. I hear them. They’re close!
Find a place to hide. Get there and hunker down. Don’t make a sound. No movement. Let them go by you.
She glanced frantically around, her gaze finally lighting on a huge redwood in the distance with a twisted, massive trunk that had a hollowed-out opening.
She lunged forward, going as quietly as she could, all but flying across the distance. Oh please, oh please, let there be a place to hide.
The tree towered over her. The base was broad and the roots extended in all directions, huge and steadying. She slid into the narrow opening, sucking in her breath, praying she would fit.
It was tight and only adrenaline gave her the strength to shove her way inside the opening in the tree. She sank back as far as she could, embracing the darkness. Things she couldn’t bear thinking about flickered across her skin. Flies, insects, creepy-ass bugs. God only knew what else shared the interior of the trunk with her. It was all she could do not to shriek as something slid down her neck and back.
Through it all Nathan hadn’t said a word, but she felt his presence, knew he was there, waiting patiently, not wanting to distract her from her goal. When she finally managed to calm herself down enough that she wouldn’t risk giving herself away, she reached back out to Nathan.
I’m inside a tree. A really big tree full of really creepy things.
Better them than the men after you.
True. I don’t hear them yet. I’m not sure what direction they went.
Just sit tight. Be very still. No sound. Do not panic. They might move right by you, but if you don’t move, they won’t find you. No matter what, you have to control your panic.
She leaned her head against the inside of the tree and flinched when she felt something crawl through her hair. It took every ounce of her discipline to remain so still when she wanted to bolt.
And then she froze. There was a sound not very far away. The creak of a stick breaking. Leaves