Chapter 5

The journey was long, the river’s current carrying them swiftly downstream. The men’s grunts and the slap of the oars against the water were the only sounds that pierced the tense silence. Gaines sat at the bow, his eyes on the horizon, lost in thought. Erickah knew he was wrestling with his conscience, torn between the brotherhood he had forged with Jasen and the horrors they had just witnessed.

The boat ground to a halt on the riverbank, the sound jolting them from their grim silence. Jasen and Rodnell dragged Mrs. Blankenship out of the boat, her legs buckling under the weight of her pain. Dremont leaped out after them, his eyes glinting with a vicious excitement that made Erickah’s skin crawl.

They had traveled for a day, the sun a fiery ball in the sky that bore down on them relentlessly. The river had carried them through a landscape that was both breathtaking and foreboding, a testament to the indifferent beauty of nature that seemed to mock the ugliness of their deeds. Gaines had said little during the journey, his eyes never leaving Erickah’s, as if searching for some sign of understanding or forgiveness.

The land ahead was unfamiliar, a tapestry of dense woods and rolling hills that offered both promise and peril. They had left Tuckercreeck far behind, but the whispers of their past seemed to follow them, a haunting reminder of what they had become. Erickah felt the weight of the knife in her belt, the cold metal a constant reminder of the decision she had made not to seek immediate retribution.

They stumbled through the underbrush, Mrs. Blankenship’s cries of pain echoing through the trees. Erickah walked beside her, offering silent support and a steadying hand, her eyes never leaving Jasen’s back. The journey had been long and taxing, the sun now a crimson blaze that painted the sky as it descended. The promise of nightfall brought with it the chilling realization that their situation was far from resolved.

The forest grew denser, the shadows deepening as the light faded. Jasen called a halt, his voice harsh with exhaustion. “We’ll camp here,” he said, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. “We’ll decide what to do with her in the night.”

The words hung in the air like a curse, the weight of their meaning settling heavily on Erickah’s shoulders. She knew that she couldn’t let the night pass without confronting Jasen and the others, without setting things right. The whispers of the river had been replaced by the calls of the night creatures, a cacophony of sound that seemed to mirror the chaos in her soul.

Gaines built the campfire with a solemn efficiency, his eyes never leaving Mrs. Blankenship’s bound form. He knew that the fire was as much for warmth as it was for light, to chase away the shadows of their own making. The flames grew, casting a flickering glow across their weary faces, illuminating the stark contrast between the men who had been their comrades and the monsters they had become.

Mrs. Blankenship was tied to a sturdy oak, her wrists bound with rope that bit into her skin. Her eyes searched the flames, finding a reflection of the anger and betrayal that burned within her. Erickah sat beside her, her hand on the woman’s arm, offering what comfort she could. The firelight danced across Erickah’s features, highlighting the determination in her eyes.

Jasen and the others huddled around the fire, their faces cast in a sinister glow. They spoke in hushed tones, their words a tapestry of greed and fear. Gaines watched them from a distance, his thoughts a tumult of doubt and confusion. The warmth of the fire did little to ease the chill that had settled in his bones.