Chapter 18
Danny looked at the dark forest. The smell of burning creosote was unbearable. “So, we just have to go in there, find Joseph and bring him out. After that, he’ll be okay, right?” he said, ignoring the pain under his ribs.
Gloria stepped back. “This is something you’ll have to do on your own,” she said. “I’m not allowed to help anyone who has entered the forest. Some pass over, some find their way back, and some become lost. But everyone must do it on their own.”
The pain in Danny’s side screwed deep. “But I can’t do it alone. You have to help me.”
Gloria shook her head and took another step away.
The taste of blood came up in Danny’s throat. He spit, wiped his mouth, and took a deep breath. He looked up at the sky. It was a boiling, swirling mass of black. He turned to Gloria, who was still backing up, putting more and more space between herself and the forest.
The breeze lifted her dark hair off her face and shoulders. She glowed. Her dark brown eyes were rimmed in gold. Her olive skin was flawless and clear. She was as beautiful as anything he’d ever seen. And she looked worried.
Still backing up, she met Danny’s stare. “You can save him,” she yelled. “Joseph’s in there. Get him and bring him back—Linda’s waiting for both of you.”
Danny stepped toward the forest. As he grew nearer, the air filled with a roar that sounded like an approaching storm.
Gloria yelled. “There are things in the forest. If they call, don’t answer. If they look for you, hide. And don’t help anyone. The forest holds people for a reason. If you interfere, you’ll lose any chance you have to save Joseph and yourself.”
He nodded, his heart pounding, threatening to break his ribs. He stepped out of the field onto a boundary of dirt and stones around the forest. The roar increased with each step. He covered his ears and stepped over the dirt and stones toward the trees of the forest.
As he entered the forest, the roaring stopped.
Danny shivered. He couldn’t see a thing. For a moment he started to panic, thinking he was blind, but then a vague outline of trees all around him formed. He breathed slowly, the oily creosote smell still hanging in the air but tolerable now. The trees creaked in the wind. Joseph was somewhere among them. Now he just had to find him and carry him home.
Gloria watched Danny disappear in the forest. She turned to leave and caught sight of a man walking through the field, coming straight for her. Older and heavy-set, his dark eyes were locked on her. He stopped ten feet away. She smiled. He looked tired and angry as he ran a big hairy hand through his thinning hair.
“I saw you with Danny,” the man said. A weak shot of color bloomed in his cheeks as he pointed at her. “Is this some kind of scam you’re running with him? Are you two working with Clay Freeman to steal my money?”
He took a step toward Gloria, his hands working, clutching air that would be her throat in another moment. Her smile vanished. She moved toward him. The man stumbled backwards, holding up his hands.
“Whoa! Take it easy!” Wagging a finger, he smiled. “You have a temper, don’t you? Just like me.” He patted his chest. “People like us, we gotta stick together.”
The wind caught the front of his shirt, blowing through bullet holes ripped through the fabric. The shirt flapped open, uncovering his blood-slicked belly and chest.
He gestured toward the Gloria. “Look, I can tell that you and me are the same. We’re important, right? We take care of business. But Danny is different. He ain’t like us. He bags my cigarettes and beer. He’s not worth your time.”
Gloria tracked him as he kept his distance, moving around her toward the forest.
“So, here’s what I’m gonna do,” said the man. “I’m gonna go find him and talk to him about my money, that’s all. We’ll get things straightened out. And then I’m getting out of wherever this place is you guys dragged me to.” He shook his head, his smile huge. “You got me good, I’ll give you that—knocking me out and dropping me in the middle of nowhere.” He turned his back to Gloria, walking toward the forest. “But after I get back, you and me should talk. Girl like you could make a lot of money working for me.”
He entered the forest. She took a step to follow, then stopped.
People tied in life were tied in death until their business was settled. She knew that. The problem was this man who had unfinished business with Danny could stop him from finding Joseph. He could stop Danny from bringing Joseph—and himself—back to life.
It wasn’t fair but she couldn’t interfere. No help could be offered to any who entered the forest. Each had to find his or her own way.
She kneeled, bowed her head, and closed her eyes. She’d wait. If she was supposed to help Danny, she’d be given a sign.
A smell of decay drifted over her. She opened her eyes. Three of the shadow things moved through the field toward her, following the man’s path. The first two passed by, continuing toward the forest. The third one stopped behind her. The urge to turn was strong, but the sight of them withered her soul. Not a feeling she enjoyed, but even so, if this one didn’t move soon, she’d have to acknowledge its presence. It edged closer. Its maggot-ridden foot stepped next to her.
“Move, thing. Or I’ll move you,” she said.
Frost spread down the stalks of the grass as it leaned close, the ground turning crystalline. She closed her eyes, shutting out the sight of its foul foot. Its breath spread a lace of ice crystals on her face. Light. She needed light. She concentrated. Warmth spread through her chest. The frost melted, dripping from her nose. They hated the light.
She snapped her face up, light streaming from her eyes. The thing was gone. Only its death smell remained. The light in her eyes dimmed. She looked at the dark forest—the only place it could’ve gone. Three of those things had followed the man—and Danny—into the forest. It might have been coincidence. Or it might have been for a reason. She felt sick.
Danny’s odds of finding Joseph and returning to life had most likely gotten much harder.