It took everything I had to do so, or felt like it did. They were very loud. They were designed to wreck one’s sanity if one didn’t do something about them. Thruor maneuvered her onto the gurney.

She stirred, but did not awaken. Out. Out. We had to get out of here, and quickly. We’d planned the route, one which wouldn’t take us past any desks, any offices likely to be open. Out to the loading dock.

Where Seb was waiting with an unmarked van. Only once she was in the van did I take a breath, and I didn’t relax until we were well clear and out of there. Couldn’t relax.

Seb was heading right out of town, west into Virginia, driving just below the speed limit.
We couldn’t get stopped.

I wondered what the headlines would read, or whether this would be relegated to the police blotter, or somewhere in the background.

It was unusual enough somebody might run it.

We didn’t stop until we were in the mountains, past Sperryville, below Old Rag. Then, we realized our error.

The idea of hiding her in the park meant getting her past the ranger station. We…kept going, turned off the road just before Luray Caverns.

Finally, we found isolated woodland, a hiking trail. Thruor still carrying her, a princess carry now.

She opened her eyes. “Where am I?”

“You slept through all of that?”

“No. I didn’t want to wake up.”

It made sense. “We’re…I’m not sure. Somewhere in the Shenandoahs.”

“Somewhere beautiful.”

Thruor put her down in a clearing. There was nothing left of her but skin and bones and her bald head and the light shining through her.

Two ravens landed on a tree. I smiled at them.

“Thanks. I…” She coughed. “I…think you came just in time. Just don’t get arrested.”

“We don’t plan on it.”

I thought of Mike for a moment. Then I thought of what was happening here. She lay on the ground, still now. Her breathing ragged.

She almost seemed, now, to be a double image of herself.

“Good.” She closed her eyes and for a moment I thought she was gone already, but no.

“I have something…something I have to say to you.”

Thruor hissed, “Write it down. Whatever it is.”

This was supposed to happen, but why like this?

I glanced at the ravens. Waiting.

Watching.

Ravens feasted on the corpses of the dead.