My phone vibrated in my pocket. I hurried to the back of the barn, where the loose hay had been covered with heavy canvas to keep it from blowing away. Leaning against the back of the barn, I pulled out the cell to read Carter's message.
You're the fifth girl we've sent back to this time. Four of you were supposed to take on the role of John's daughter. The other three identified Taylor and disappeared soon after he realized who they were. It was the first straight answer he'd given me about the others.
"Five girls?" I gasped. There was too much behind his simple explanation for me to know where to start asking questions.
I had found three cell phones. Did that mean another woman was still here somewhere? Or had she been sent from a time with no cell phones?
"Four girls meant to take the place of John's daughter," I repeated, confusion turning to anger.
Do you mean John knows I'm not his daughter?
I pressed send, panic mixing with my anger. I shoved the phone in my pocket, gaze going to the well. Unable to suppress the need to know what happened, I crossed to it and gripped a wood board, yanking at it. A splinter pierced one finger, but the board gave.
The whispering was back. Tossed around by the wind but eerily present, trying to tell me a story I wasn't able to understand.
I leaned over and peered into the well. It was too dark to see anything. I withdrew my cell again and flipped the camera to flash then lowered my arms as far as I could into the well.
I snapped a few pictures. The brilliant flash was almost as bright as the lightning and I winced, hoping not to draw attention from the house.
A crack of thunder almost made me drop my phone. I yanked it back and hastily retreated to the barn wall to get out of the wind.
Carter had responded.
It's possible. He's in the late stages of senility, so he may not understand that. But I don't know what happened to the other girls; I just knew we had to risk sending you back to save lives. Remember - if you don't succeed, a million people die.
His response managed to calm and confound me. Whatever his reasoning, he was at least being more honest this time, though why he wasn't straight up with me before, I didn't know. I decided to ask a question I should have when this adventure started.
How do I get out of here? I texted next. Is it through the storm, like I came here?