“You’ll be fine.” Trevor frowned. “We’ll help you as much as possible. Are you hungry or—?”
“No. I just need your phone and maybe a ride to the nearest road.”
Libby’s face brightened. “You’re in luck. His friend, Gary, has a vehicle to ride you to the road or at least a store. Gary will save the day.”
“Oh, good. That would be fine.”
Trevor rolled his eyes. “Yes. Gary will save the day.”
“You two have already saved the day as far as I’m concerned.”
Minutes later, I heard voices.
I’m getting closer and closer to freedom.
I crept quietly in that direction, smelling smoke and the scent of roasted meat.
A group of campers sat around a fire. I counted eight of them. There were only two guys and each was hugged up next to a woman.
They’re harmless. God, I hope so.
A tall white guy with blonde hair hurried forward. “Who’s this?”
Trevor was about to speak.
Libby rushed forward. “This woman came out of nowhere and scared us.”
Gary touched her arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but I think we should call the police.”
“We’re not calling the police.” Trevor shook his head. “We’re going to help her get out of here.”
Gary looked me up and down. “First, let’s catch me up to what’s going on.”
Trevor held his hand up. “Just a minute, Gary.”
“No. We need to listen to Gary and let him know what is going on. He’s clearly man enough to deal with what is really happening.” Libby frowned. “I mean seriously. She was naked and delirious when we found her. Why wouldn’t we call the police?”
“Because she’s not a criminal and she asked us not to.”
“Oh my god!” Libby held her hands out to her sides. “No one said she was a criminal. You’re always going there. Gary, talk to him—”
“No one needs to talk to me. We’re not calling the police.” Rolling his eyes, Trevor dug his hands in his pants and produced the device. “Here you go, Phoenix.”
“Uh. Thank you.” I took the device and walked a few feet away.
Libby and Trevor returned to arguing about the police.
Gary jumped in a few times.
Somehow the whole argument turned into a discussion about racism and economic classes.
They must be college kids.
I texted Quin first because she never answered numbers that she didn’t recognize.
Me: This is Phoenix. I’m calling from someone else’s phone.
Quin: Bitch, where are you?!
God, I missed you.
Smirking, I dialed her.
She answered on the first ring. “Girl! I went to your hotel room this morning and the door was bust open and shit. Everything was gone, but not the clippings of Tate, so I knew something was wrong. I took those for you, by the way. And the fucking manager said he didn’t know shit, even when I put a gun to his big ass head. I should have blasted his fucking brains all over that pea-green wall and—”
“Quin!” My eyes watered. “Can you come pick me up?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in Serenity Forest.”
“Serenity what?”
Gary walked up to me. “I can get you to Hay’s Essentials store. I’ll give her the address.”
“Thanks.” I went back to the phone. “I’m going to put you on the phone with someone right now who knows where everything is out here.”
“How did you get to Selena’s Forest?”
“Serenity, Quin. Serenity.”
“That shit sounds like it is out some fucking racist ass woods! Is somebody playing a damn banjo around you?”
“No, Quin.”
“I’m not coming if anybody is playing a banjo.”
Smiling, I shook my head. “No one is playing any instruments.”
“Okay, Nix. I got you. Bad Bitch Taxi is on the way.”
Tears fell from my eyes. “I love you, Quin.”
“Uh. . .” Her voice cracked. “Bitch, just put the motherfucker on the phone who knows how to get there. I better not get mud on my wheels either. I know that.”
I gave Gary the device.
He took it and began explaining to Quin how to get from Glory to Serenity Forest. Next, he gave her the address to Hay’s Essentials.
Libby and Trevor argued a little more and then she stormed off.
Shaking his head, Trevor walked over to me. “Sorry about that, Phoenix. Sometimes Libby just. . .I don’t know.”
I gestured for him to come closer.
Quirking his brows, Trevor leaned forward.
I whispered, “Fuck Libby and you’re doper than Gary. Remember that.”
A silly smile spread across his face.
“Thanks for saving me, Trevor.” I held my dirty hand out to his. “I put my number in your phone. If you ever need someone to get you out of a tough emergency, call me.”
He shook my hand. “I’ll take you up on that, sis.”
That word warmed me.
It’s a new day. I’m a new person.
Several minutes later, Gary and I jumped onto his 4-wheeler.
Will I really be free? Did I truly escape?
“You’re lucky that you found us. Serenity is a huge forest.” Gary drove the 4-wheeler down a rocky path covered in rocks and roots. “There’s pretty much nothing out here but bears and this old, abandoned church.”