On the Horizon

Chapter Four

Nate crosses the border around midnight.

I fall asleep again thirty minutes later.

SCREEEECH!

I bolt awake as Nate barely makes a turn, the bumper hitting the metal rail that keeps us from flying off the side of the mountain!

"Can you drive?" I yelp. "Instead of crashing us?"

"Windreds." Nate snaps, "Behind us now."

I grab the gun again from where I placed it in the door, and climb into the back of the car. I open the window, and aim at the translucent figure chasing us. I shoot, and he falls.

But thunder cracks. "There's more!" I call up to Nate.

"HOLD ON!" Nate yells, and brakes.

I look forward and see two Windreds in front of the car.

The windshield shatters, and Nate jumps into the back.

"How far?" I ask.

"Another thirty minutes by car." Nate says. "Probably a few hours by bike, longer by foot."

I shove the gun in my jeans, grab my backpack, and hand Nate's to him. "Trust me." I demand.

"As long as I live, okay." he nods.

I pop the trunk open and jump out, Nate following.

I start running.

Then one of the windreds flips the car, and it tumbles over the edge, down into the valley.

I run after it. "Are you crazy?" Nate yells.

But I face him as I reach the metal rail. "Well come on!"

Nate runs over. Once he reaches me, I grab his hand, and jump.

Nate yelps as we tumble.

We finally roll to a stop, sliding across the dirt.

We jump to our feet and run. I see a cliff up ahead.

"ARWEN!" Nate yells. "DON'T BE CRAZY!"

"I TOLD YOU TO TRUST ME    !" I yell back to him.

I speed up, taking his hand again, and dive.

I spread my wings out, and glide over the valley.

"I can't keep the height for long." I grunt, from pain and from the strain of holding Nate up.

"There!" Nate yelps. "Those cabins! Do you see them?"

"I do." I answer, and tilt my direction slightly.

Then a gust of wind brushes past me, making me speed up. "Behind us!" Nate yelps.

"The closer they get the faster I fly." I argue, gritting my teeth.

The cabins finally get closer, and I get faster and faster.

I touch ground, tumbling along a road, and draw the gun. I shoot both Windreds with ease, and the storm subsides once again.

I shove the gun back in my jeans, putting my wings away. "Down to one shot." I sigh.

"Um, hello?" Someone asks.

We turn around and see a family of four exiting the closest cabin. A couple, one teenager, probably sixteen, and a kid, maybe ten.

"Sorry." I smile. "We were with a school group but got lost. We didn't mean to trespass."

"You're not." the mother laughs. "We're on vacation. Is there somewhere we can help you get to?"

"Gatlinburg?" I ask.