Part 14 (2/2)

Running.

Through the trees and across the hills and the valleys. Branches whipped past her face. She could smell the wet pines, the dampness of the rain on the air. She could hear the breezes rustling the leaves and the deadfall. She could feel her feet on the slippery mud, but somehow kept her balance just the same.

And still she could feel Jenny's fear. She knew it now like it was her own. And she saw the darkness that surrounded Jenny.

The cave.

Annja opened her eyes and nearly fell over.

She wasn't by the pine boughs where Joey had left Jenny. She was somewhere else. Far away from where they'd been. Miles away, in fact.

Joey stood nearby. He was smiling. ”Hey.”

”Hey, yourself. Where the h.e.l.l are we?”

Joey shrugged. ”I don't really know. This isn't a part of the woods that I've explored before.”

”I thought you knew everywhere.”

”Nope. This is a lot of land. Parts of this place are almost inaccessible. Frankly, when you took off running, I was a bit concerned I'd lose you. If you'd kept up with me like that earlier, we might have found Jenny even faster.”

”Funny guy. I don't even remember moving.”

Joey nodded. ”Yeah, well, when you suddenly forget about keeping your body, mind and spirit together, crazy things can happen.”

”I guess.”

Joey glanced around. ”This is some pretty steep terrain. You think Jenny's around here somewhere?”

”A cave,” Annja said. She could see the darkness. ”I think she's in a cave somewhere above us.”

”We're almost above the treeline as it is,” Joey said. ”But these mountains and hills are packed with isolated areas that are almost impossible to get through. She could be in any one of them. Can you narrow it down some before we start poking our noses into every cave we come across?”

”How would I do that?”

Joey shrugged. ”Close your eyes again.”

”Okay.”

”One thing.”

Annja opened her eyes. ”What?”

”This time, try to consciously move a little slower, would you? You almost had me tired out back there.”

Annja grinned. ”All right.”

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