Valley of the Shadow (29 page)

    Conner stopped at the stairs. A thought came to him. Like a still, small voice.

    Why was there a light at the end of the tunnel?

MITCH COULD BARELY SEE HOWARD
amid the sporadic flashes of lightning. It took a while for the words to sink in.

    
“Did he happen to mention who was driving the truck?”

    What was that supposed to mean? Howard gazed back at him, a half grin on his face, as if he was enjoying watching Mitch grapple with this news. Mitch looked to Nathan, whose face was almost expressionless. Just a hint of regret in his eyes.

    “No!” Mitch turned back to Howard. “You’re lying. Everything you’ve told me over the last five years has been a lie.”

    Howard only chuckled, a cold and hollow laugh.

    “He’s right, Mitch.” Nathan’s voice came softly behind him.

    For a moment, Mitch found himself at a loss for words. He could only shake his head with his mouth hanging open. Finally he turned to Nathan. “Are you serious? You were driving that truck?”

    Nathan nodded. “I was going to tell you when the time was right. I was afraid you wouldn’t have trusted me otherwise.”

    “You did this to me?”

    Howard interjected himself. “How do you think he knew so much about you? Why do you think he was so desperate to help you? To ease his conscience.”

    “Mitch,” Nathan said, “you have to believe me. I was going to tell you.”

    Mitch suddenly felt dizzy, like the ground was shifting beneath him. He’d come all this way for nothing. He had trusted Nathan and all the while the guy was hiding this secret. Keeping the truth from him.

    “I trusted you. And you’re the whole reason I’m here!”

    “It was an accident,” Nathan said. “It was late. I’d been working a double shift and I was on my way home. I was just so tired.”

    “That’s no excuse!” Mitch’s anger exploded. He shoved Nathan back against the side of the cave. “You did this to me! You killed me!”

    “I’m trying to help you.” Nathan didn’t raise his voice. “God knew you weren’t ready to die yet. He knew you were trapped in this place. He sent me to save you, to bring you back.”

    “Save me?” Mitch shoved him against the rock again. “I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you!”

    Anger now flared up in Nathan’s eyes. He shoved Mitch backward, breaking his hold. “I tried to swerve out of the way, but it was too late. After I hit you, I lost control, drove into the ditch, and smashed into a tree. You’re in a coma? I’m the one they’re pulling the plug on. I’ve got a wife and kids I’m leaving behind. You don’t think I’m paying a price?”

    Mitch’s chest was pounding, but his anger quickly gave way to despair. He suddenly felt the loss of all the plans he’d been making. All of his hopes had been shattered in that one instant. On that one section of asphalt.

    “I was going to propose to Linda,” he said. “I was going to buy a business.…”

    If only he’d left a few minutes sooner. Or if he’d just taken a different route. But his father had called to talk. That had delayed him those few precious minutes. Three minutes that changed his entire life. Three minutes he’d never get back.

    There were so many things that had happened that night. So many choices he might have made differently. If only he hadn’t answered the phone. He would’ve passed Nathan on another stretch of highway. And he…

    Mitch shuddered.

    He wouldn’t be here now, clinging to whatever life he had left.

    Mitch grimaced at that thought. Maybe it was his father’s fault after all. In spite of the man’s best intentions, he had caused this tragedy. Even in his attempt to reconcile with Mitch, his father had ruined Mitch’s life. Dashed all of his plans to pieces.

    Nathan regained his composure. “Mitch, everything happens for a reason. I know you don’t think God takes any interest in us, but He does have a plan. For each of us.”

    Mitch grunted. “Not anymore.”

    “No, Mitch. He still has a plan for you. You’ve strayed too far for too long, and now He’s trying to bring you back.”

    Howard stood atop his column of sand, arms folded. Grinning. “Ah yes. The Almighty’s ever-elusive, top secret plan for the universe.” He shook his head and laughed. “It’s funny, though, how things never seem to go quite how He wants them to. Too bad He gave you each your own will. Your freedom to choose. But I guess when you’re God, even if something doesn’t go your way, you can still say it was all just part of the plan. And no one’s the wiser, eh?”

    Mitch could hear whispers on the wind now. He looked over the edge. Amid the flashes of light, the entire canyon floor seemed to be moving. And Mitch could see why. Hundreds of the Reapers—thousands of them—were marching across the sand toward them. They reached the base of the cliff and began scaling it like a horde of insects.

    Howard’s white eyes glowed in the darkness. “Plan or no plan, I’m afraid you’re not going anywhere, Mitch. Not for a long time.”

    Nathan winced, clutching his chest. He grabbed Mitch’s arm. “Listen to me. I’m out of time. I wish I could’ve gotten you farther than this.” He doubled over.

    The first wave of the Reapers had nearly reached the ledge.

    Nathan caught his breath. “Go through the tunnel. You’ll know it when you reach the other side. Your time is nearly ready. Don’t be afraid of what happens. Don’t be afraid of the tunnel. Fear will lead to anger.…”

    His breathing came in deep gasps now. He took Mitch’s hand and pressed something into it. “Remember… you’re not alone.”

    Nathan’s lips tightened and he pushed Mitch away from the ledge, into the cave entrance. Then, turning to Howard, he said, “You know, I would’ve thought you’d have learned a little humility by now.”

    Howard only laughed. The first of the Reapers reached the top of the ledge—dozens of them. Mitch backed away, farther into the cave.

    Nathan tore his shirt open, exposing his chest. A large patch of his skin had changed color. It was…

    Mitch blinked and looked closer.

    It was glowing. Like the rash he’d seen on all the others, only instead of a sickly purple tinge, this had a warm, yellow glow. Like sunlight. It seemed to grow more intense every second as it spread across the rest of his body.

    Howard reeled back and hissed.

    Nathan straightened up. He no longer seemed to be in pain. He spread his hands out to his sides and they flared with a bright light. His back arched, his head flung back, lost in the brilliant glare.

    Howard threw his hands up in front of his face. The Reapers, too, hissed and writhed, tumbling backward off the cliff. The circle of light exploded out from Nathan, slamming into Howard’s column of sand, dissolving it into dust. Mitch caught a glimpse of the old man plummeting down.

    The light blazed into the cave as well, flooding over Mitch. Warm and clean, it seemed to have a physical force that knocked him to the ground.

    Nathan’s form was transfigured into pure light. As if light itself had become a solid, living thing. Like the spirits Mitch had seen from the mountaintop. Mitch could feel the pure energy radiating outward from Nathan, passing over him and through him almost like an electrical charge.

    Nathan flung his arms upward and leaped into the air, ascending higher and higher, until at last he disappeared through the clouds and was gone.

“I MUST BE CRAZY.”

    Conner squeezed through the opening into the tunnel. The sound of his own hushed voice was of little comfort. His hand sank into the cold mud as he crept through the passage. His other hand held the gun in front of him. The sides of the tunnel were braced with old timbers every three or four feet.

    The odor was overwhelming. Conner felt nausea growing inside him but swallowed hard and forced himself on.
Just a few more feet. Just a little farther. Take a look and then get out quick. Get back to the car. Call the police.

    He could see that the tunnel opened into a tiny room up ahead. Just an alcove with pea gravel on the ground. He could see a small orange light wired to a car battery. Conner crept closer still. He could see…

    His eyes widened.

    A pair of corpses lay motionless under a clear plastic tarp.

    The stench was overpowering and Conner couldn’t fight it any longer. He vomited the contents of his stomach into the dirt.

    “Oh . . . dear God,” he said, coughing. Choking on the horror. “Dear Jesus… help me.”

    Conner’s heart pounded, beating against his ribs like a sledgehammer. He wiped his sleeve across his mouth and tried to calm himself. He couldn’t lose it in here. He had to get out.

    He started to back away when one of the corpses sat up straight.

    Conner cried out and dropped his gun. In the dim light, he could make out the vague features of a human face behind the loose tarp.

    He looked closer and saw rope and duct tape wrapped tightly around the shoulders, chest, and legs. He pulled the plastic down from over the head and was met with a pair of wide blue eyes. A girl’s eyes. Crazed with fear. Like an animal.

    “It’s okay; it’s all right,” he whispered as his hands tore at the tape around her chest. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m going to help you get out of here.”

    Several layers of tape covered her mouth and wrapped around her neck. Conner reached up to peel it away but the girl flinched and jerked back, as if trying to move away from him.

    Conner held up both hands. “Listen to me! Listen!” His voice was hoarse with hushed urgency. “I am not going to hurt you. I promise. I want to get this tape off.”

    She had pushed herself back as far as she could against the wall of the underground prison. Conner reached for the hunting knife and slid it out of its sheath. The blade glinted in the dim light, sending the girl into another spasm. Squirming as she was, Conner knew he wouldn’t be able to free her. He tried again to calm her down but to no avail. Finally he tugged her bound feet toward him and leaned his weight on her legs. Then he wrapped one arm tightly around her upper torso and began slicing the layers of tape.

    “Please don’t be afraid,” he whispered in her ear. Her hair was drenched with sweat and moisture. She reeked of body odor and feces. But he could feel her shaking in his grasp. Thin and frail. Trembling fiercely.

    Conner paused and set the knife down. He wrapped his other arm around her and held her close to him. His bizarre dreams were making sense now. God had brought him to this cabin in the Interworld… and now had led him here again. “I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Conner. God brought me here to save you.” He continued whispering softly to her for several moments. He could feel her weeping, her eyes pouring tears. He held her a few moments longer until her trembling receded. Then he picked up the knife and cut the bonds.

    He peeled the tarp away and as her arms got free, she began clawing at the tape over her mouth, pushing herself back again into the corner.

    Conner took a breath and turned his attention to the other body. He gently pulled the tarp down from her head and saw another pair of eyes. Brown and wide open. Staring straight back at him.

    “Can you hear me?”

    The eyes moved and Conner felt a wave of relief sweep over him. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he whispered. “I’m here to help you. Do you understand me?”

    She nodded.

    Conner reached again for the knife but found the other girl wielding it in front of her, her thin hand white and shaking. Her eyes were fierce. Filled with hate. She had peeled the tape from her mouth and cursed at Conner in a weak, sobbing voice. “Who… are… you?”

    Conner held up his hands. “Please, I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve come to help you.”

    “Where are . . . we?”

    Conner tried to keep his voice calm. “On a farm… Indiana. These people—I don’t know what they want. But we have to get out of here before someone comes.” He reached out his hand. “I need the knife to free your friend.”

    She was still trembling. She swore at him again.

    “Look,” he said, debating whether he should just make a grab for the knife. He didn’t have time to reason with someone half-crazed with fear. But he didn’t want to make things worse. “My name is Conner Hayden.…” He couldn’t think of how to begin explaining how he had found them. “Please… what’s your name?”

    Her blue eyes narrowed a moment. “Katie,” she hissed at him through clenched teeth.

    Conner tried to smile. “Good, Katie. I have to help your friend. I have to cut her loose. We have to get going. We can’t stay here. He could show up any minute.”

    She lurched forward. “Don’t touch her! I’ll do it.”

    “All right. Okay.” Conner moved away slowly, back into the tunnel. He felt the gun in the gravel, where he had dropped it. As Katie slid over to free her friend, Conner slipped the gun into his jacket pocket.

    After a few moments, the other girl was free as well. The two hugged and sobbed on each other. Their jeans were stained with sweat and urine. Their shirts as well were covered in mud and grime. Tape still clung to their matted hair. Conner heard Katie call the other girl Amber.

    After a moment, Conner said, “Can you move okay? You think you can make it through the tunnel?”

    “We’re okay,” Katie said.

    Conner turned and crawled back through the passage and out into the cellar. He flipped on the flashlight as the girls emerged.

    They had stopped sobbing now and straightened up slowly, rubbing their joints. Finally Amber spoke up. “Where are we?”

    “A farm. Just outside of Westville.”

    They both looked confused. “Westville?”

    “Indiana. Where are you from?”

    “Purdue,” Katie said. “We’re freshmen at Purdue.”

    Amber ran a trembling hand through her matted hair. “What day is it?”

    “Saturday, October 30,” Conner said.

    “The thirtieth?” Katie glared at him. She turned to her friend. “How long have we been here?”