Within Darkness

Within Darkness - Chapter Four

Chapter Four: Another Smith down

Harsh panting and crunching vegetation accompanied the Smith’s fleeing. Michael’s hand was held tight by his mother, too tight. Michael insisted to himself that it was the tightness of his mother’s grip that caused the tears to run down his face. A swipe of his forearm across his face almost made his mother yank him of his feet as he slowed.

“Keep running, Michael!” The harsh whisper was filled with terror and grief.

“But my hand-”

“Shh, Michael, keep running!” His mother pleaded with him. Michael tried to ignore the burning in his legs and the blurriness of his vision. He turned his head to the side and looked back; he could see nothing but the forest, bathed in moonlight, slowly disappearing into the distance. When he titled his head to the left he saw his sister. Shock almost made him stop. Mary was crying, silently. She was looking straight ahead but Michael could see that her knuckles were white as she held onto the knife from the tent and shimmering tears were cascading down her cheeks. A glimmer from the right revealed the second knife in his father’s hand. Mary had given it to him when they had first fled from the tent. Jonathon suddenly stopped and called to the others.

“I think we’re safe now.” Henrietta Maria halted, releasing Michael’s hand. Michael quickly pulled his arm to himself, cradling his sore hand. He saw that Mary had stopped a few paces in front of them. She had not turned to look at them. Michael thought from the movements of her arms that she was wiping her face.

“Jonathon? Where are we heading?”

“I don’t know; the maps were all in the tent.”

“So we could be travelling in circles!”

“No.” The short reply came from Mary, who’d just joined them. Her face was pale. “We’ve been travelling downhill since we left.” She took a deep breath and seemed to center herself. “And since we pitched camp on the valley side, eventually we’ll come to the river. We can follow it to get out of the park.” Jonathon and Henrietta Maria looked at each other. Jonathon then gazed at Mary.

“That is as good a plan as any. But I think now is the time you tell us what you saw.” Mary’s flinch was apparent to even Michael.

“Sweetie? You said you saw Sam’s phone… and… But she can’t be dead.”

“I wouldn’t’t have left the camp if I thought she was still alive.” Mary replied quietly.

“Why do you think she’s dead? You just saw-”

“I didn’t’t just see blood on the phone,” Mary interrupted. She wasn’t’t looked at them anymore but instead was looking at the little pieces of sky that appeared through the gaps in the tree branches. “There was blood… on its face… its mouth and-” A loud sob stopped her. Henrietta Maria collapsed onto her knees, her hands covering her face as she cried. Jonathon knelt next to her but did not seem to be able to think of anything to say. Instead he simply wrapped his arms around her and rocked her softly. Michael shivered. He looked at Mary and frowned as he saw the look on Mary’s face.

“Mary? What is it?” Michael’s voice was quiet, shaking and wavered in and out as he looked at Mary fearfully. It was a far cry from the loud boy of yesterday. Mary rubbed her forehead gently, as she avoided their eyes.

“Mary. Tell me who hurt my baby.” Henrietta Maria stood shakily, one hand on her husband’s shoulder, but her voice was firm. Mary sighed.

“I don’t think that is the question you should ask. I think what hurt Sam would be a better one.”