Read Online Jump When Ready by David Pandolfe - Free Book Online Page B

they drove onto what felt like a logging
road, the van jostling and bumping. All I could see in the headlights were
trees, their branches creating a tunnel. Finally, we pulled up in front of a
cabin. Will cut the engine and headlights, plunging us into total darkness.
    I passed through the side of the van and looked around
but there was nothing to see except the dark shapes of trees. I heard crickets
and cicadas by the millions, chirping and humming. I saw no lights in the
distance. I heard no cars.
    Will and Karen got out and opened the back. The interior
light came on, seeming incredibly bright.
    Will leaned over Bethany. “Okay, wakey, wakey! We’re
here!” He waited a moment, then turned to Karen. “She’s still out cold.”
    “How much did you give her?”
    “That was a pretty strong dose,” he said. “For obvious
reasons. But she should be coming around by now.”
    “What does she weigh, a hundred pounds?”
    “True, she’s smaller than I imagined. Let’s lift her
out.”
    They got Bethany to her feet and stood her up. At first,
she started to sag but then she straightened, gaining her footing. Her eyes
shot open and she shook her head, trying to make her muffled voice heard
through the gag. Bethany pulled away and started to run but didn’t get far
before she tripped. In her drugged state, her wrists bound, she fell hard.
    Will clicked on a flashlight and walked to where Bethany
lay on the ground crying. I waited for something bad to happen, for him to hit
her or jerk her to her feet.
    Instead, he crouched next to her. “It’s okay,” he said.
“It’s not like you’re thinking. We’re not going to hurt you. Understand?”
    Bethany looked up at him. For a moment, she remained
still. Then she nodded.
    “Can you get to your feet? Sorry, stupid question. You’re
in handcuffs. Will you allow us to help you up?”
    Tears streamed down Bethany’s face. She nodded again.
    Will and Karen took hold of Bethany’s arms and lifted her
up.
    “I know it’s dark out here,” Will said. “But there’s a
cabin just over there. We should go inside now.”
    Bethany shook her head and started to back away again.
    “There’s nowhere to run out here, Bethany,” Will said.
“You’d never make it. There are cliffs, mountain lions, all kind of dangers.
Either way, we’re going inside, but we’d rather not drag you in if we don’t
have to.”
    Bethany didn’t walk forward but she didn’t run either.
    “Good,” Will said. “Let’s get inside.”
    Slowly, they guided Bethany where they wanted her to go.
    Will turned on the lights and it surprised me to see that
it was just a mountain cabin. Nature paintings, couches, a table and chairs in
the kitchen area. The kind of place your family might rent for vacation. I’d
imagined something horrible but it wasn’t that way at all. My mind kept
spinning, trying to make sense of things.
    “Karen’s going to take off the gag now. Is that okay?”
Will didn’t wait for an answer. He nodded to Karen, who walked behind Bethany
and undid the clasps.
    Bethany spat the thing out and the rubber ball fell to
the floor, trailing plastic straps. She inhaled deeply, then started coughing.
    “Sorry, wasn’t sure if we’d need that while we were
driving,” Will said. “Are you all right? Do you need to sit down?”
    Bethany was still swaying like she was groggy. “Yes, I’d
like to sit down.” Her voice was rough and dry.
    Will gestured to the kitchen table, then followed Bethany
and sat across from her. Karen came over with a plate of fruit—grapes,
strawberries and blackberries. She set down glasses of water. I waited for her
to remove the handcuffs from Bethany’s wrists, but that didn’t happen.
    Will chose a strawberry, then slid the plate closer to
Bethany. “Just so you know, we’re not barbarians. Are you hungry? Do you need
to use the bathroom?”
    Bethany cleared her throat. “What’s going on? Who the
hell are you? I mean, who are you