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She heard voices.
Men’s voices. They were far away, but getting closer.
She ran.
Esther stood watching them until they disappeared among the trees. Then she went back inside the cabin and sat in the middle, waiting.
She had done this before.
She knew what was coming.
Fifteen minutes later, Cyrus Gunn arrived with five other men. They carried hunting gear and flashlights, even though it was early morning. They surrounded the cabin. Cyrus kicked the door open and went in.
He saw Esther sitting there, calm as if nothing had happened.
Where is she? he shouted.
Who? Esther asked.
Cyrus raised his hand threateningly and moved closer, pressing her to speak.
The girl. The dogs led her here. Where is she?
Esther looked at him like an angry child.
There’s no girl here. I’m alone. And I’ve lived here for years.
Cyrus looked around. He saw the hole in the floor. He moved closer and looked down at the cellar. It was empty.
He turned to face Esther.
You’re lying.
Believe what you will, but don’t make it a fact.
One of the other men stepped forward.
Cyrus, we’re wasting time. The girl’s been gone for ages. Let’s go.
Cyrus stared at Esther for a long time. Then he lowered his rifle.
If I find out you helped her, I’ll come back, and I won’t back down this time.
Esther said nothing.
Cyrus and his men left. Esther listened to their footsteps fading away. Then she stood up, grabbed her knife, and went out the back door of the cabin.
She had to escape now too.
Amelia moved through the woods as fast as her sore feet would allow. The cloth helped, but pain was present in every step. She followed the direction Esther had indicated, north, toward the swamp, toward a path whose end she didn’t know—either salvation or ruin.
She didn’t allow herself to think too much.
By midday, the trees began to change. They were becoming denser, and darker. The ground was soft and wet. She smelled the swamp before she saw it. It smelled of decay, stagnant water, and things long dead.
She stopped at the edge of the swamp and stared.
It stretched out before her like a black mirror.
Trees rose from the water, their roots twisting like fangs.
Moss hung from the branches like old curtains.
The water was still, more still than it should be.
She knew what that meant.
Crocodiles.
She had two choices.
Cross-crossed the swamp, or went around it.
Going around meant more days.
Days she didn’t have.
So she went into the water.
It was warm.
It reached her knees, then her waist, then her chest.
The bottom was sticky mud that swallowed her feet with every step.
She kept her arms above the water and moved slowly.
She didn’t want to make a sound. She didn’t want to attract attention.
Something touched her leg.
She froze.
She looked down, but saw nothing in the dark water. She waited. Then the thing moved away. She kept walking.
Crossing the swamp took three hours.
When she reached the other side and pulled herself out of the water, she collapsed. Her whole body was shaking. The straps of her fabric had come undone and the water had swept her away. Her dress was covered in mud and slush. She smelled of swamp, mud, and cold.
She lay there for a long time. The sun was beginning to set. She knew she needed to move, to find shelter before dark, but her body wouldn’t respond. She was tired, hungry, broken.
Then she heard footsteps.
She forced herself to sit up.
A man emerged from the trees.
He was dark-skinned, tall, and carried a rifle.
Amelia’s heart sank. She tried to stand, but her legs gave way. The man stopped a few steps away from her. He looked her up and down.
“You’re on the run?” he asked.
Amelia didn’t answer.
“It’s alright,” he said. “I won’t hurt you. I’m on the run too.”
He lowered his rifle and placed it on the ground, then sat down opposite her.
“My name is Marcus. I’ve been free for six months. Heading north toward the settlement. And you?”
Amelia nodded slowly.
“How much longer?” she asked. “Three days if we walk steadily. Less if we push ourselves. But you don’t look like you have much strength left.”
“I’ll make it,” Amelia said.
Marcus studied her face. Then he took a piece of dried fish from his bag and offered it to her.
“Eat. You won’t get anywhere on an empty stomach.”
Amelia took the fish.