Free Followed Within: Bolted Door by Cynthia Price Page A

air.
    “You may be slightly concussed,” replied Phil, trying to stay calm, “I think the brakes failed. Steve couldn’t seem to stop the car. Look over there, that’s where we came from.”
    Phil pointed up towards the road. The cliff loomed menacingly over the crash site high above the tree line. He wondered how any of them could still be alive. Jenn turned her head and peered up the rock face, a look of confusion plastered on her face.
    “Where’s Emily?” Jenn couldn’t seem to find words in her jumbled mind. She had so many questions to ask, but felt lacking in cognitive ability. She doubted the fact that she was still alive.
    Phil turned sharply when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He barely recognized Steve. Once a handsome man with blond hair and a strong jawline, Steve’s face was now covered in a stream of congealed blood running from his forehead to his chin.
    “We have to go right now.” Steve said, looking Phil directly in the eyes.
    “Just give me a minute, I want to make sure that Emily knows-”
    “No time, don’t you smell that?”
    “What do you mean? I think that-”
    “The fuel tank. Completely busted. You’re covered in fuel, how the hell can you not smell that?”
    “I thought it was…”
    “Gross.” Steve sighed, running a hand down his tired face. “Grab Jenn, and get that empty water canister. We’re leaving.”
    Phil didn’t seem phased by the situation, and soon accepted his distinct lack of a sense of smell. Quickly he rushed to grab all he could and headed towards Jenn, who was hugging a tree and desperate to leave.
    “Follow me,” Phil whispered, trying not to startle her in her panicked state, “we have to get a move on.”
    Jenn’s eyes grew wide with fright. She stared over Phil’s shoulder, before running downhill with all the strength her legs could muster. Even in her confused state her fight-or-flight response kicked in; there is no fighting a fire. Phil felt a warm heat on the back of his neck and followed suit, not looking back as the sound of an explosion ripped through the forest behind them.

Chapter 2 - Rock Prison
     
    The group of three met up further down the hill. Battered and bruised, they assessed the sticky situation they were in as they watched the only chance they had of escape smolder in the distance. The forest from here on was dangerous and unforgiving. Hesitant about leaving Emily behind, but wanting to move to safety before dark, the group slowly moved on deeper into the valley.
    “You remembered to bring the masks, right?” Asked Jenn, remembering their goal as the fog in her head began to dissipate. Steve had just about managed to stop the bleeding with his shirt, at the expense of being more exposed to the elements. Phil had a heavy limp; running down the hill he had tripped and ripped a calf muscle, which had now swollen to almost double its previous size.
    “We lost everything in the fire. We have nothing.” Steve replied.
    “Are you serious? Not even water?”
    “Well, I still have my knife on me, and we have that canister. Nothing else though. I even lost my shirt…”
    Jenn blushed at the thought. She had always felt a connection with Steve, and always enjoyed admiring his strong physique. They continued slowly down through the thick underbrush, chopping and carving a way as they went, hoping to reach a place to sleep by the time the sun set. What little light remained leaked through the thick rainforest canopy, and they gave up hope of a nice stay in the Hilton.
    As the final rays of light filtered through the dark canopy the group bedded down for the night on the rough forest floor. Humidity rose and insects emerged from their nocturnal hideouts, all looking for an easy meal. The ground was still rocky and rough, even underneath the layer of decaying leaves. Any hope of a decent night’s sleep quickly evaporated, and they realized that they were dinner for the night. Sweltering under the canopy’s shelter, they slowly