You Can't Hide by Theresa Sneed (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

the trees. “Sally!” Sam and John crisscrossed behind her, calling Sally’s name into the thick trees.

Sally’s head hurt like crazy. She blinked and then opened her eyes. It was getting dark. Deep in the woods, the trees blocked the dim light left from the sunset. It was hard to see. Bushes and trees surrounded her, both protecting her and keeping her captive. Somewhere in the tortured chambers of her mind, she heard his voice call out her name. She cowered and drifted back into the black nothingness that was her mind. Escape! Escape, she thought. But how could she? Bound against the rough bark of a tree, she had neither the strength nor the knowhow to get loose. She hardly even had the will.

Death seemed a welcomed reprieve for whatever lay ahead with that monster. Keep her, he’d threatened. She shuddered. He’d be back. She knew it. But then, why was he calling her name?

“Dad, give me the flashlight,” Jack said, pointing to the gear slung over his dad’s back. “I can cover more ground faster than any of you—well, maybe not you,” he said, pointing to the agent. After retrieving the flashlight, he took off at a run.

“Jack.” Thompson called after him. “Slow down, son. You could pass right by an important clue.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right,” Jack said. Slowing down to a fast walk, he called out for Sally, and shone the light into the dense trees.

“How far are we away from the falls?” John asked. Elle had drifted farther down the path and called Sally’s name out every half-minute.

Sam glanced back in the other direction. “Not far.”

“Are you sure he’s dead, Sam?”

No one could survive a fall like that, Sam thought. “He hit the big boulder at the bottom of the falls, John. He looked dead, from where we stood.”

John bobbed his head. “Ay-yuh.” He turned sharply. “What’s that?” Sally’s name drifted through the trees from the other direction.

“Sounds like Jack, Elle’s brother.”

Within seconds, Jack caught up with them, the light from his flashlight bouncing up and down on the path.

“Sally!” Farther down, Elle’s voice pleaded for Sally to answer. “Sally, where are you?”

Jack bit his lip and stared in the direction of her voice. “Unbelievable,” he muttered. “It’s really her, isn’t it?”

Sam nodded. “Yes, Jack.”

Obviously shocked, but in awe, Jack seemed to shake it off, and got right to the situation at hand. “Sally!” He called into the trees, echoing his sister’s call. “Sally!”

The sound of rushing footsteps, brought Elle’s parents and Agent Thompson hurrying down the path. Thompson had a flashlight, too, and shone it off to the side, calling out the missing girl’s name.

Upon seeing Sam, Lucy rushed into his arms. Tears fell from her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re alive!” She sobbed. “Where is she?” Lucy wiped at her tears. “Where’s Elle?”

Sam pointed down the darkening path, where they could faintly hear Elle’s repeated callings. He didn’t like how much farther she’d gotten away from them. “I’m going to catch up to her.”

John nodded. “Good idea. I don’t think Snyder acted alone.”

“You’re kidding. And you’re just now telling me this?”

John pushed his hands through the air. “It’s only a hunch.”

Sam grunted and took off at a run. He didn’t get far, before the night air filled with a chilling scream.

Thirty-Six

Never Say, Never

Sam rounded the corner just as Jack fell to his knees beside his sister. Elle’s eyes were wide, and she was shaking all over. She clutched something to her chest. Sam couldn’t see it clearly, until Jack shone the flashlight against it.

It was an axe, darkly stained on its blade. Sam dropped down beside her and pried it away from her trembling hands. Touching the wet blood on the ground, Elle weaved and fell forward. Jack caught her.

She looked into his eyes. “Jack?” It came out like a whisper. “Where’s my daughter?” He helped her to stand back up.

Just then, John and Agent Thompson arrived. “We heard a scream,” John said, hurrying to them. The agent took the axe. John skootched down and looked at the bloody ground.

Thompson removed something from the blade. He examined it close. “What color was she wearing?”

Elle looked at Sam through teary eyes. “Yellow.”

Thompson shone the flashlight on the piece of blue fabric he’d taken from the axe blade.

“Yes, a yellow shirt,” Sam said, “and blue jeans.”

Elle’s eyes widened. “That’s blue.” She pointed at the piece of material.

Thompson shook his head. “Yes, but, it’s not denim.”

Jack looked over at them. “Merrick had a bloody rip in his blue shirt.”

“You think Sally did that?” Elle quivered. “If she did that to him, then . . .”

Lucy and Jack Sr. had arrived. She dropped down beside her daughter, and what should have been a happy reunion, became one filled with fear and anxiety.

“Hold on,” Thompson said, shining his flashlight on some broken ferns and flattened grass. “It looks like he might’ve dragged her through here.” He gave Elle a concerned look. “Um, Mr. and Mrs. Heard, maybe you should take your daughter back to the farm.”

He obviously had no clue who Elle was.

“Not. A. Chance.” Elle folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not going anywhere without my daughter.”

He shone the flashlight deeper into the dark forest. “Okay, then, follow me.” His words fell on deaf ears where Jack was concerned. He’d already rushed into the thick trees ahead of them.

“Sally!” Voices kept calling in her head. If she kept her eyes closed tight, she could almost pretend they were familiar sounds—like her mom and dad, and someone else from long ago.

“Sally!”

The voices came closer, and she remained quiet. The illusion was much better that way. She pictured her family gathered together, the reunion with loved ones, from a long time ago. So long ago, that it was difficult for her to remember them.

But still, she recalled the sound of her Uncle Jack’s voice the most. And it sounded like he was standing