Beatrice drove to Appalachian Regional Hospital that afternoon.
Dr Horton Burke – a stout man with tortoiseshell bifocals and the easy air of a small town mayor - gave her something akin to a bill of health.
"You've got a bruised left ankle, minor lacerations, and a heck of a lump on your head. The resilience of youth never ceases to surprise me, Miss Butler. I wouldn't recommend any more Indiana Jones reenactments, but, otherwise, you won't be trading fishing stories with the angels this evening."
She picked up a track phone and a third-rate digital camera on the way home. The only number she knew by heart was her mother's, but figured it was about time she made contact with home base.
Hopefully, it would be a short call, both in duration and in detail. She hated lying to Arlene, but sometimes stretching the truth was necessary.
2.
"Are you still in Kentucky?" Arlene asked, her voice fuzzy over the cheap cell.
"Yes, mom. Way more interesting than I thought. There's lots to document here. I'll probably be a few more days. It's alright....I have the vacation time."
"There's an event coming up. John Eckert from work is having a little celebration for his son's graduation from Harvard. Might be something worth going to when you get back."
"I'll definitely think about it, Mom. I suppose my social life could use something of a jump start."
Even through the wave-space of a long-distance call, both of them knew her heart wasn't in it. After Pierce, the thought of romance had blown away like chalk-dust.
"Be safe and don't lose any more phones. Also, if your car breaks down, don't let just anybody give you a ride. Wait for Triple-A or the police. And if you're not sure it's an actual police car, make sure you see some identification. Any kind of creep can buy those blue and white flashers for windshields these days."
"I will, mom."
"And I also heard there's black bears down there."
"So I've heard, Mom. So I've heard."
YOU ARE READING
The Hybrid Cycle: Volume 1
Science FictionBeatrice Butler - a stylish, nerdy Bostonian - gets her fix from documenting abandoned places and posting the footage online. Neither past trauma nor her mom's disapproval can keep her away from a ghost town deep in the Appalachian mountains. Abrah...
