Fifteen

“I think it’s just over the next hill,” Zoe said as they continued driving into the night.

The Jeep shuddered along as the tyres bit into pot holes and bumps. The road had begun to deteriorate a few minutes after they had driven through Hepburn Lakes.

John had been relieved when he saw the sign welcoming them to Hepburn Lakes, as it meant their journey was almost over.

He had looked out the window as the town passed by in the hope of seeing some form of life. But all the house and shop windows were dark and there was no sign of anyone. The general store was the only building with a light burning in the night, and it was blinking on and off. Even the local hotel and bar was closed. And then, within seconds, they had left the town and were continuing along the lonely road.

A few minutes after that, Zoe had slowed down the Jeep and had begun looking from side to side.

“It’s around here somewhere,” she had mumbled.

Then she spotted the turn off to the left. John was sure that if they weren’t looking for the road, they would have driven straight past it just like everyone else.

“We’re almost there,” she had smiled to him as she turned the steering wheel and drove on.

He wanted to get to the church as soon as possible. He needed time out of the Jeep so he could get his thoughts together. They hadn’t spoken much since they had talked about having a threesome and Zoe had worked out he wasn’t sleeping with Helen.

Was it that obvious? he thought to himself. If she could see that so clearly, who else could?

He needed time to plan how they were all going to escape from Ricky tomorrow, but all he could think about was Zoe. As he stared out the windshield of the Jeep, he pictured her naked on the sofa, then he remembered her on the bed today, spread with his bathrobe around her, her legs apart. Her parted vulva so tantalising.

“I just want to help you, Johnny,” she had whispered.

He remembered her pierced belly button and the diamond that sat inside it, and the way she had giggled when she had caught him erect in the shower.

And then he remembered her cowering behind the sofa, scared to move, and the stories she had told him about Fox and the way he hurt her.

That’s better, pal, he thought. Concentrate on Fox and how you’re going to turn the tables on him tomorrow.

They crested the hill and Zoe put her foot on the brakes.

“Yeah,” she said, almost to herself. “I think it should be on the right here somewhere. You can’t see the church from the road, but there’s a steep driveway along here somewhere.”

They continued driving slowly. John peered into the darkness, looking for the driveway and hoping that no one was at the church waiting for them.

He hadn’t thought about that possibility before, and now that he did, he was suddenly scared to venture any further into the night.

We should’ve driven up here tomorrow morning, he told himself. At least then we could see if anyone was already here awaiting our arrival.

But he kept the thought to himself as he didn’t want to panic Zoe with another possible problem. He just made sure that he was ready for anything.

There’s no turning back now.

John spotted a gap in the foliage ahead.

“There,” he pointed it out to her. “Is that it?”

Zoe glanced to where he was pointing.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I think so.”

She stopped the Jeep and stared up the dirt driveway.

“You know, a horrible thought just crossed my mind,” she said.

“I know,” John nodded. “It’s probably the same one that just crossed mine.”

She turned to face him, “What if they’re already up there waiting for us?”

John nodded. “I know. I just thought that myself.”

“What will we do then?”

“I don’t know. Is it likely that Fox would be up there? Do you think that’s the kind of thing he would do?”

Zoe stared back up the driveway and her forehead creased. “No,” she replied. “I don’t think it is. Fox doesn’t need to be sneaky like that. He’s got too much power. He’s more likely to be standing there waving us up the driveway. I don’t think he’d hide and wait for us.”

“Okay,” John said. “I believe you. If that’s what you think.”

Zoe nodded.

“Well,” he said. “Shall we?”

She turned to look at him once more. He couldn’t read her face now. It was a mixture of emotions he hadn’t seen before.

“You don’t want to go up there now?” he asked.

“No, no,” she replied, shaking her head and turning back to stare out the windshield. “I do. I’m…I don’t know…just trying to get my thoughts in order.”

“I know,” John reached out and rubbed her arm. “I’ve been trying to do that too. But sometimes events move quicker than thoughts.”

“Yeah, don’t I know it!” Zoe replied.

She sighed deeply and turned to face him.

“This is your last chance,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Your last chance to pull out. I can drive you back to Hepburn Lakes now and leave you there. I saw a hotel as we drove through the town. I can drop you there if you like. Once we drive up that driveway there’s no turning back.”

“I understand,” he replied.

“Do you?” her eyes pierced through him in the darkness. “Do you really?”

“Zoe, I’ve already told you,” he said. “I have no choice. I’m here to help you and Helen and hopefully by this time tomorrow we’ll be heading back home.”

“I know you say that, but –”

“I’m not turning back without you.”

She smiled at him.

“Thanks, Johnny,” she said. “Even though there’s been all this trouble, I’m glad I’m here with you now. You’re the only one I need.”

“Good. So let’s get up that driveway and check out this church while we still have time.”

She giggled and turned back to look through the windshield. “Yes, sir!”

The Jeep accelerated towards the driveway.

John stared out through the windows, checking both sides of the Jeep and peering into the darkness trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. He didn’t know what he was looking for, but he stayed alert for anything that looked suspicious. But it was too dark to make out anything other than large clusters of trees and bushes. If there were anyone watching them, there was no way John would be able to see them.

The Jeep shuddered as it climbed the steep unpaved driveway.

“Nearly there,” Zoe said, her voice vibrating with the vehicle.

John realised he was holding his breath and bracing himself, almost as if he were preparing for something to go wrong or for Fox to spring out in front of their headlights.

They reached the top of the driveway and then the ground levelled out. John let his breath out with a gush and tried to get his bearings. But it was still too dark and he was limited to only that which he could see with the help of the headlights.

“Bumpy,” he muttered.

“Thankfully we have the Jeep,” Zoe replied as she steered along the driveway. “Imagine getting up that track in your car.”

John nodded. Maybe it was a good idea to bring the Jeep, he thought. Fox could have us going across some rough terrain tomorrow to get to the meeting point.

“Yeah, you were right about coming in the Jeep,” he said.

“Aren’t I always?” she smirked at him.

“I’m beginning to believe that, yeah,” he replied.

She giggled again. “It took you long enough.”

John turned back to stare out the windshield.

“Now, take it nice and slow,” he said to her. “We don’t want to drive into something nasty.”

“I know,” Zoe said. “I’m so nervous, I’m shaking. Who knows what could happen?”

“Just keep your wits about you,” he replied. “Look for anything out of the ordinary.”

“It’s exciting, don’t you think?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“All this danger and not knowing what will happen next. Doesn’t it make you sort of excited?”

John frowned, “No. It makes me scared and on edge. Not excited.”

“But can’t you feel the electricity? The zing in the air?”

“No, Zoe,” John said in a steady voice. “I feel the cold and the fear.”

Zoe shook her head as she continued driving along the path. “No, there’s more to it than that. There’s a power, a force that’s guiding us. It makes us strong and ready for anything. It’s exciting and powerful.”

“Well, whatever. Just keep your eyes open for anything.”

“It makes me feel so horny,” she said in a deep voice. She glanced over to him.

“Concentrate, Zoe,” he said to her. “Please. We don’t have time for this.”

“I’m so hot, Johnny. I need you.”

“Watch where you’re driving and concentrate!” he yelled.

And then they were blinded by the lights.