The remains

Chapter 50

The flashlight lit up a stand of brush, vines and trees directly in front of me. Making my way through that thick stuff would have been impossible. Shifting clockwise I began to pivot on the balls of my feet like a dancer pirouetting in slow motion. I kept this rotation up, keeping the shining light out ahead of me, until I recognized a narrow foot or deer trail that cut through the thick woods. Probably the same trail that had been here since Molly and I were girls.

I was doing my best to think clearly, without panic. Doing my best not to lose it. Doing my best not to lose my mind. If ever I wished Molly by my side, now was the time. I had to force myself to think like her. What would she do?

Swallowing a breath, I spoke to myself in a calm, collected manner. You need to figure out which way you are going so that you do not start running around in circles.

I aimed the flashlight up at a black and blue sky. No chance of viewing any stars or moon. Not that it would make an ounce of difference. I shined the light straight ahead toward the trail, then turning, shined it behind me. That’s when something began to go rapidly south.

The flashlight began to fade.

The beam started to fade to a kind of yellowish half light. My pulse picked up. I opened my mouth, allowing some of the rain to fall onto my tongue.

What I would do without the light? What would I do in the pitch dark? How would I find the house? How would I find Michael?

I shook the flashlight, but it was a useless, wasted motion. Common sense told me to use whatever available power I had left in the flashlight to enter onto the trailhead and get the hell away from this place. I aimed the dim light out ahead of me, making my way across the clearing in what I could only pray was Michael’s direction.

I was standing at the edge of the chosen trail when the flashlight went dead.