Page 61 of Auctioned to the Devil

I turn.

The access road is worse.

Trees crowd both sides. My tires slide twice before I finally see a small building ahead.

No lights.

No vehicles.

I park and grab the pepper spray Caleb forced me to carry. He’d put in my hand and told me if I ever left the house without it he’d “lose his fucking mind.”

I smile again.

Then stop.

Something feels wrong.

The ranger station looks abandoned.

Maybe I’m early.

I wait.

Seven.

Seven-oh-five.

Seven-ten.

Nothing.

I reach for my phone.

No service.

“Great.”

At seven fifteen, I’m done.

I start the Jeep.

Headlights flare behind me.

I look in the mirror.

A black pickup appears with two men inside.

My stomach tightens.

The truck stops directly behind me.

Blocking the road.

“Shit.”

I lock the doors.

One man gets out.