Chapter 16

Danny walked through the field toward the dark forest. It was hard. Everything in him told him he should be running away from it.

Gloria walked with him. The expression on her face—mouth closed tight, eyes fixed straight ahead—was all gunfighter, walking toward a final battle. Whatever was in that forest, it wasn’t good.

He looked up at the dark sky above the forest. It seemed to be getting bigger and bigger, like a giant ocean wave gathering strength before it crashed down on him. The sheer size of it threw him off balance and he stumbled. He caught himself and regained his stride, his mind working overtime.

I’ve gotta find Joseph and bring him back. I’ve gotta make it back to Linda. I can do this.

He touched the blood soaking the left side of his coat. Maybe he had enough life left to do this, but he’d have to hurry.

“You sure Joseph’s in there?” he asked, wiping his bloody hand on his jeans.

Gloria stared straight at the dark forest. “You know he is.”

For a moment, Danny considered arguing the point. How could he, or Gloria, know for sure? He stopped and closed his eyes. It wasn’t fair.

“Are you okay, Danny?” said Gloria.

“No.”

“Is it the pain?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s losing my job. It’s getting robbed. It’s getting shot. It’s my son getting sick. What did I do to deserve this?”

He turned toward Gloria, taking quick, shallow breaths.

Gloria watched him, silent.

He wiped his nose, then his eyes and said, “I don’t think I can do this.”

Gloria laid her hand on his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter what you think, it matters what you do.” She stepped away. “You have to choose. Save your son or yourself.”

Danny took a deep breath. He coughed and spit. “That’s no choice,” he said, looking at the blood he’d wiped off his mouth. “He’s my son—I gotta save him.”

She smiled, licked the pad of her thumb, and reached over, wiping blood off his mouth. “Then it’s time for you to go,” she said.

Danny nodded.

He turned and headed toward the dark forest.