"Don't be so sure,” he murmured at last. "He handpicks my friends and decides which sports I can play. He reviews every homework assignment and makes me redo most of them. He'll probably choose where I go to college and who I marry. Britt was right-the Ouija meant 'rope.' And dad's doing a great job of strangling me already."
It wasn't a pleasant memory, but I couldn't focus on anything good while I was trapped in the storage room with a dead body. The thought of Cal all those years ago reminded me to cut him some slack. He'd never had it easy growing up. He may have cheated on me, and hurt me when he'd ended things between us, but he wasn't a bad person.
And if he saved us, I promised myself I would forgive him for everything.
CHAPTER TEN
The body in the toolbox still haunted my thoughts when the last of the snow fell. I was curled on the floor, trying to fall asleep so I'd forget about how cold I was, when Shaun opened the storage room door. The blackness in the room was so complete that the shaft of light coming through the door seemed to pierce my eyes.
"Get up. We're leaving."
I was in that groggy in-between place, caught halfway between sleep and wakefulness. He ground his boot into my ribs, and I bolted upright.
"Where's Mason?" I asked automatically.
"Getting Korbie. They're meeting us outside." He dropped my coat and a large bundle at my feet. "Strap this on."
I tried to keep the despair off my face. He was bringing Korbie. I had taken a huge risk in lying about the insulin, but it hadn't been enough to convince Shaun to leave her behind. I had to accept that she wasn't going for help. No one would find us now. I felt the nightmare rising over my head.
After dressing in my outerwear, I hoisted the backpack onto my shoulders, the weight of it throwing off my center of balance. I was glad I'd practiced carrying my pack for months, gradually increasing the weight over time. I'd have to find a way to slip a few of Korbie's supplies into my pack. Otherwise, I was sure she'd never last-she hadn't trained with me, since she'd been counting on Bear to carry the heavy gear.
"You've got two sleeping bags, ground mats, toilet paper, and a few layers of clothing Ace grabbed from the duffel in your car,” Shaun said. "Ace and I have the granola bars from your car, water, the fire starter, headlamps and flashlights, canteens, blankets, and compasses-yours, and one Ace already had." His eyes pierced mine with menacing effect. "Run off, and you won't last long."
"What time is it?" "Three."
Three in the morning. I'd slept a little, then. Hopefully, Korbie had too. We were going to need energy to hike over the rough terrain. "I have to use the bathroom."
"Make it fast."
In the bathroom, I reviewed Calvin's map one more time. I closed my eyes, letting the landmarks sink deep. Then I folded the map and tucked it away, inside my shirt, pressed against my heart, where I'd feel him with me. I wrapped my red scarf around my head, improvising something of a ski mask out of it. As the soft fabric rubbed my cheek, I thought of my dad, who had given the scarf to me. I tried to remember if I had hugged him hard, making it last, before I'd said good-bye.
Shaun and I trudged outside into the darkness. The snow came to the tops of my boots-and the surrounding trees looked as if they'd been painted with ice. The wind had died and a full moon was out, casting eerie, smoky-blue light on the glittering snow. I could hear the crunch of it with every step; the top layer was frozen, but beneath that my boots sank easily into the powder.
My breath clouded when I spoke. "Where are Mason and Korbie?" "They got a head start. We'll catch up."
"They know the way to the highway?" I asked, puzzled. I thought that was why Mason and Shaun needed me. "We're testing the compasses. Just follow me."
Shawn cradled a compass in the palm of his hand, but something wasn't right. Testing compasses? Separate from each other? Frowning, I said, "We should have stayed together as a group."
"You,” he said, spinning abruptly and pushing his face close to mine, "don't give the orders."
I shrank back in alarm. He continued to glare at me, then cut through the tense silence with an uncanny chuckle. I didn't want to travel alone with Shaun, but I didn't have a choice. Right now, my best option was to stay out of his way. We'd meet up with Mason and Korbie soon. With Mason close by, I didn't think Shaun would hurt me. It wasn't that I'd decided to trust Mason. But he'd lied about the insulin to cover for me, and that had to mean something.
We continued our slow, steady pace down the mountainside. Shaun's gaze flickered between the compass and the tunnel of darkness ahead. If the snow didn't start up again, we'd leave a path leading away from the cabin. I prayed Calvin would find it.
Minutes later a shadowy form emerged from the trees ahead. At first I thought I'd imagined it, but the shape of a man became more distinct the closer he got. My heart soared at this sudden turn of events. Someone else, someone who could help me. Shaun must have seen the man too, because he swung his headlamp in that direction, bathing the man in a cone of light.
"You found us,” Shaun called in good spirits.
My heart dropped as Mason shielded his eyes from the glare of the headlamp. "Lower your light."
Shaun held his compass side by side with Mason's, comparing them. "Looks like they're both working now. Crisis averted."
Mason glanced at me. "The generator at the cabin was causing your compass to reverse. But it appears to be working now."
"Where's Korbie?"I asked, searching the woods behind Mason, waiting for her to appear out of the black backdrop.
Mason and Shaun exchanged a look, but neither answered. "Where is she?"I tried again, feeling the first scratch of hope and panic. Mason's eyes shifted, avoiding mine. What weren't they telling me?
"She's back at the cabin,” Shaun finally said. I blinked in confusion. "What?"
"We're short on supplies,” he said harshly. "We only brought what we need. And we don't need her. Especially if she's sick."
His words hummed inside me, leaving me excited but cautious. I didn't want to hope too soon. "But you said we were all going together."
"I know what I said, but that's changed. Korbie's staying at the cabin. She doesn't know the mountains like you do and she's a liability."
I came to a halt. My whole body vibrated with hope and relief. They'd left Korbie behind. If she could last a day without food, until the snow melted, she'd make it out all right. She could go for help. Even better, Calvin might see the cabin lights and find her. She'd tell him everything, and he'd come for me. I just had to be brave a little longer.