It was a freaking mini-van.
It was coming toward us, growing bigger with every heartbeat. Relief burst through me so suddenly that my knees wobbled. Someone was here.
Finally, A living being was here.
But as soon as the relief came, it got replaced with doubt at the same speed.
What if this person was not safe?
What if they stopped and saw two desperate people... A woman and a child.
And decided we were easy prey?
I imagined the door opening, a smile that wasn't really a smile, hands grabbing us, voices lying sweet while planning worse.
I almost turned back. Nearly pulled Emma into the trees to hide again, but then I looked at her.
At the tired slump of her body, the dark smudges under her eyes, the way she still held on without complaint. She could not take another night in the dark. She couldn't.
I forced my fear down like poison and told myself: Not everyone is a monster. Someone has to be still good. Please, someone has to.
