The Dark Places by R. Whitfield (novel24 TXT) 📕

to push out the thoughts of what might be happening to her right now. Up ahead, he spotted the old fallen tree. It covered the entire path exactly as the deputy had described. As he neared the rotting trunk, that was slowly being reclaimed to the earth by soft green moss, he spied two alternative trails splitting away. The first was a new but well-worn track diverting around the tree and re-joining the original path, the other was barely visible but vaguely appeared to veer off and delve deeper into the woods. This is it, he thought to himself and looked over his shoulder. No one knew where he was. He had no backup and no real idea of whether Surin was even out here. “Fuck,” he muttered, pulled his gun and flashlight, and with a last glance back, pushed aside a rogue branch and wandered off into the wilderness.

The last of the light had well and truly gone when Parker heard the first rushing sounds of the river. He stopped, flicked off the flashlight and closed his eyes. It had been a good forty minutes since he had left the original trail and he was yet to find any sign that would make him think Surin, or anyone in fact, had been out here. The sound of running water appeared to come from all directions. He sighed in frustration and opened his eyes, tipping his head back to look at the veil of stars above. The woods certainly came alive at night. He listened to a number of different sounds, some not as reassuring as the hoot of a barred owl. Deciding the water’s echo was in front of him, he continued to forge on. After another fifteen minutes, the thick brush gave way to a startling open space. He immediately stopped and did a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn. The clearing was large, sparse and seemed to be completely out of place amongst the towering pines. The sky was clear, and with the assistance of the twinkling stars and his meagre flashlight, he was able to see the bank and edge of the river. This is the place, he said to himself. According to the local woods’ expert, eighty-six-year-old Doris, this is where she thought the boy had lived. Parker began to feel a tingle creep up his spine and immediately switched off the light feeling overly exposed. He slowly walked the outer perimeter of the clearing, nearing the waterline, when a twig snapped directly behind him. He froze — his breath heavy, heart pounding.

“I knew you would come for her,” a voice said quietly.

Parker spun on the spot, quickly pointing his gun towards the sound, but was instead staring at nothing. “Where the fuck are you?” he whispered as his heart rate accelerated, and then all of a sudden, his body was on fire. The Taser was shot from a distance and hit him in the side, below his ribs. Parker dropped to the ground convulsing as stars danced before his eyes. After what felt like an eternity, when the pain finally ebbed, he opened his eyes and slowly focused on the person standing over him.

“Alexander Dellion, I presume?” he stuttered, taking deep breaths in an attempt to offset the pain still vibrating through his body.

“Very good,” the man replied with a deep chuckle, then bent down and whispered into his ear. “I can take you to her, Parker,” he said seriously. “But if you try anything,” he added, “understand that you will never, ever find her.”

Parker sat up onto his elbows, trying to focus his blurring vision. “You better not have touched a single hair on her head,” he growled, feeling uncontrollable anger bubble up from within.

Alexander only laughed, pushed a gun into Parker’s side and helped him onto his unsteady feet. “Don’t worry,” he replied with a grin. “We’ve been waiting for you.” He started walking them both back towards the woods. “You, my friend, have front row tickets to what is going to be the very best show in town.”

As they neared the edge of the clearing, Alex veered them off towards the riverbank and closed in on another large fallen tree. “Keep moving,” he said, nudging Parker’s back with the gun.

Parker’s mind was racing. He was at a distinct disadvantage, but the instinct to fight back was so strong. Think of her, he told himself over and over again, she needs you to be smart here and not act like a half-cocked idiot, talk to him. “You’ve known her a long time?” he started, not entirely sure of the man’s state of mind.

Alex laughed. “Oh yes, since she was a child, actually,” he replied and then added, “so, you want to have a man to man here?”

Parker shrugged his shoulders. “I just want to understand.”

Alex stopped as they reached the fallen tree and walked around to stand in front of him. “Understand?” he asked. “You’ve seen her,” he stated simply.

Parker waited for more.

“She’s like some kind of mystical being,” he continued.

Great, Parker thought, he’s fucking nuts.

“Like a unicorn,” he added, a smile stretching across his masculine face. “Wild, beautiful, not bound by anything.” Parker shifted his weight onto his left leg, and the slight change in movement immediately put Alex on edge. “Don’t fucking try anything!” he screamed, holding the gun cocked into his face.

Parker threw his arms up in surrender. “I’m not! I’m not!” he said quickly. “My legs are cramping from the Taser, that’s all,” he added calmly.

After a few minutes of silence, he could hear the man’s breathing return to a normal rate after the peak of adrenalin.

“You’re right,” Parker said carefully. “Surin is amazing.”

Alex snorted and replied, “I’ve seen you with her.”

Parker tilted his head. “You watched us?” he asked.

Alex nodded, a sight Parker only barely saw as the moon shifted behind a dark cloud. “I have always watched