Paul slowed the motorcycle and Alma dared to open her eyes.
Jacker pulled off the road ahead and parked on the gravel shoulder. They were out of the woods, and Widowsfield was ahead of them. There was a tall, wire fence that stretched up over the hills to the right, and down into the cover of woods off to the left. It appeared like there was a guard shack and a gate further up the road, but they were too far away for Alma to be certain. The road went on for another couple hundred yards before being cut off by the fence, and there was a second road that turned off the one they were on. It went off to the right, up over the hills and around Widowsfield.
Stephen got out of the van’s side door and came over to speak with Paul and Alma. Aubrey followed behind him and Jacker got out as well. Rachel stayed in the van.
“Aubrey was right,” said Stephen. “There’s a guard shack up there.”
Paul and Alma got off the bike and tried to look at the fence that blocked their way.
“You okay, Alma?” asked Stephen. “You’re as white as a ghost.”
Paul looked back at her and took off his sunglasses. “He’s right. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” said Alma. “I guess I was just a little cold or something.”
“Want to ride in the van for a bit?” asked Stephen.
“No, I’ll be fine.”
“So what’s the plan?” asked Paul. “How are we going to get in if they’ve got it all fenced up?”
“That’s where Aubrey comes in,” said Stephen.
“My friends and I used to sneak in all the time,” said Aubrey. “There’s a small dirt road on the north side of town that used to belong to a farmer. It goes through his field, and into the town. They’ve got a gate up there, but I’ve never seen a guard.”
“And we can get the van in through there?” asked Paul.
“No, not yet,” said Stephen. “We’re going to have to leave the van and your bike in the field for now. We’ll head into town on foot, and find the cabin that you used to stay at,” he said as he looked at Alma. “Then tonight, after dark, we’ll come back out and use a bolt cutter on the gate’s lock. We can probably get away with driving the van with the headlights off, but we might have to push your bike in. We can’t risk the noise.”
“I don’t know,” said Paul. “This seems kind of risky. Are you even going to be able to use any of the footage you get in there? If it’s private property, can’t they sue you for airing anything you record?”
“You sound like my wife,” said Stephen. His tone revealed at least part of why Rachel was acting angry. They must’ve been arguing this same issue last night. “It’ll be fine. Anything that we film in the cabin could’ve been filmed anywhere. No way they can prove we went in the town, as long as we don’t get caught.”
“I don’t know, man,” said Paul. “This seems like a bad idea.”
“I never thought of you as the law-abiding type,” said Stephen. “Aren’t you up for a little adventure?”
“I’m not in this for adventure,” said Paul. “I’m in it to help Alma.” He looked down at her and asked, “What do you want to do?”
Alma looked down the road at the fence, and then back at the woods that they’d passed through. It felt like she’d already taken her first step into this nightmare, and if she soldiered on then she could put an end to this part of her life. “We’re already here,” she said. “Might as well get it over with. I say we go in.”
It was clear that Paul didn’t agree, but he stood beside her and nodded. “Then it’s settled, we’re going in.”
Stephen clapped his hands once and looked delighted. “Let’s go!” He didn’t bother prolonging the conversation, fully aware that once the customer was sold it was time to shut up and take the money. He ushered Jacker and Aubrey back to the van and within a minute they were back on the road.
They headed north and Alma looked out at the fence that had been erected around the town. It looked like a prison, with razor wire looped around the top of the outer fence, and a second barrier behind it. The road curved closer to the fence and Alma saw movement from within the town. There was a white truck with a yellow light bar on top driving through Widowsfield. She assumed it was a security patrol, which didn’t help ease her tension about their plan.
Soon they passed where the fence turned, and entered another wooded area. Aubrey was leading Jacker as the van turned off onto a dirt road that went up a slight incline. Once they crested the hill there was a wide field beyond. It was once a farm, but had been overgrown with tall weeds, though no trees had made their way into the acreage.
Jacker drove along what had once been a road, but was now barely a dimple in the weeds, and the van struggled through the overgrowth. Paul stayed back near the hill and watched the van push through the field. Alma heard him curse, but couldn’t discern what he was saying over the hum of his engine. He motioned for her to get off the bike, and when she did he turned it, drove off the path, and then parked in the wooded area. He turned off the engine and got off.
“What’s wrong?” asked Alma.
“This isn’t a fucking dirt bike,” he said as he took off his helmet. “I’m not risking riding through this shit.”
“So we’re walking then?” asked Alma.
“I guess so.” He hung his helmet by the strap over his handlebar. Alma did the same with hers and then took his hand as they started down the hill.
“Thanks for doing this,” said Alma.
“Like I told you, you’re my girl. I’m not about to let you come out here with these yahoos by yourself.”
They held hands as they walked through the field. Alma enjoyed her time alone with Paul, and they talked about their plans after this was all over. Alma was excited to return to school, and set up her new music room. Paul was going to try to get a job at a motorcycle shop on the south side where a friend of his worked. They discussed their relationship, and laughed about how things had gone wrong for them in the past. Alma chided Paul on the way his apartment used to be so messy, and he promised that he didn’t live like a sloppy college kid anymore.
Geese flew above them, away from Widowsfield and to the north. Alma watched them go, somewhat envious. Despite how happy she was to be with Paul, there was a creeping dread that heightened with each step. No matter how much she tried to ignore it, she knew she was walking back into the worst moment of her life. Despite her desire to leave this behind, here she was, walking right back into hell.
Like summer fades to fall, and winter gives way to spring, this was inevitable. Alma Harper was willingly walking back into Widowsfield.
Her respite had ended.
PART THREE: THE COIL’S END
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Beyond the Shroud
March 12th, 2012
Alma and Paul caught up with the others at the locked gate at the edge of the farm. Only a single bar was set over the road, hinged on one side and padlocked on the other, but the fence connected on either side of it. They would have to break the lock to get the vehicles in, but they could worry about that at night.
“This is it,” said Aubrey. She stood near the gate, alone. Alma wanted to hate her, which was a catty response to the stranger’s sudden interloping, but she felt sorry for her at that moment. Aubrey looked uncomfortable, and aware that coming on this trip had caused tension between Rachel and Stephen for some reason.
Rachel was still in the passenger seat of the van, which had been pulled off to the side in an attempt to hide in the weeds. Stephen and Jacker had plucked out some of the lighter equipment and were trying to figure out what they should bring, and what should be left behind for now.