Blood Games

    ‘I’m not sure he was big enough to handle Helen,’ Cora said. ‘Maybe he wasn’t alone.’

    ‘Look,’ Vivian said. ‘Suppose she was in the pool and someone came in from here? She might’ve climbed out the other side and run upstairs to get away from him. She could be hiding somewhere in the lodge. Maybe she even heard us calling, but she was afraid to answer.’

    ‘It was all wet over there,’ Abilene said. ‘It was still wet from last night, but she might’ve gone out that way.’

    ‘She’s gotta be somewhere,’ Cora said.

    ‘We’d better search the lodge,’ Abilene said, feeling a renewal of hope. ‘Start there, at least.’

    ‘Come on.’

    With Cora in the lead, they returned to the car. She tugged

    open a rear door and Abilene braced it wide while she climbed in, crawled over the seat back and came out with a tire iron in her hand. Abilene let the door drop shut. Cora smacked the rod against her palm. ‘Just in case,’ she muttered.

    ‘We’d better take flashlights, too,’ Abilene said, ‘I’ll go get ’em.’ Without waiting for a response, she trotted up the remains of the slope. When the pavement leveled out, she broke into a run. Her moccasins pounded the concrete. Then she was in the deep grass and weeds of the front lawn, racing toward the section of the woods where they’d spent the night.

    It felt good to be moving fast, making her own breeze, a breeze that cooled her wet skin and clothes, that slipped through her hair and caressed her hot scalp. If only there was nothing else. Just the running, the feel of the air, the sweet mixture of aromas, the strong quickness of her body. Like being a kid on a summer holiday. Savoring all the wonderful sensations, free and excited.

    Just that, and no dread.

    None of this numbing, gnawing fear that Helen might be gone forever.

    She’ll be all right, Abilene told herself. We’ll find her. Or she’ll just show up.

    Nearing the edge of the woods, Abilene suddenly knew that Helen was sitting on the porch steps of the lodge. Watching her. Wondering why she was in such a hurry. Any moment, Helen would call out, ‘What’s going on?’ Abilene would turn around, and call, ‘Where the hell have you been?’ and run to her, overwhelmed with relief and joy.

    She looked over her shoulder.

    The porch steps were gray, sunless, deserted.

    Abilene’s throat thickened. Plunging into the forest, she didn’t dare to hope that she would find Helen waiting with the sleeping bags.

    How could this have happened?

    If only we’d gone back to find the keys last night.

    How pould Helen have gone there alone?

    It was daylight. Daylight can trick us into thinking we’re safe. The spooks that haunt the night have gone back to their dark lairs. So we think.

    And if they haven’t, at least we figure we can see them coming. And get away.

    Helen must’ve been possessed by that false confidence that comes with the morning light. Figured she’d do her good deed for the day. Save us the trouble of returning to the pool.

    Why’d you have to do it!

    Abilene burst into the clearing. She staggered to a halt on top of her own sleeping bag.

    No Helen. Of course not.

    The sight of the girl’s baggy, plaid Bermudas ripped Abilene’s heart. Tears flooded her eyes. She gasped out painful, breathless sobs. With wet fists, she rubbed her eyes. But new tears came, blurring her vision.

    No time for this!

    We’ll find you, Helen. We’ll find you. You’ll be all right.

    Dropping to her knees, she scurried over the sleeping bags. She grabbed the flashlights, then the water bottle. Her mouth was parched. She wanted to drink, but doubted that she would be able to swallow. Out of breath, panting and sobbing at the same time, she figured she would choke.

    Blinking to clear her eyes, she glanced around the encampment wondering if there was anything else she should take.

    The lantern?

    No. The flashlights would be good enough for now. Besides, she didn’t know how she might manage it along with the big plastic water bottle and the two flashlights.

    Finley’s camera? Why bother?

    She scurried to her feet and rushed into the trees. As she made her way through the woods, another fantasy forced itself into her mind. She would break out of the trees and see the others waiting in front of the lodge. And Helen would be standing there among them. Fat and homely in her black swimsuit. Smiling and beautiful. Waving. Calling, ‘What took you so long?’

    Abilene knew it wouldn’t happen.

    But it might.

    She trotted out of the trees, the water bottle sloshing at her side, and gasped when she saw her friends standing in front of the lodge just as she’d imagined them. Vivian, all in white as if ready to prance onto a tennis court. Cora, as if dressed for a game of basketball in her tank top and shorts. Finley, looking like a tomboy in her safari suit. Helen, doughy white, bulging out of her black swimsuit - smiling, waving.

    Then they were crouching over Abilene.

    She was on her back, looking up at them.

    At Finley and Vivian and Cora.