Chapter 42—Disappeared

The search party ascended the steep trail and looked for the hidden access road that would lead them to the crater's edge. It was getting darker.

"It's around here somewhere," Joe said, pushing branches away. "Turn up the lights."

Suddenly and without warning, Ranger burst out of the bushes, barking with all his might. His ears and tail were low.

"Ranger," Joe beckoned. "Where are they, boy? Is everyone all right?" he asked, as if the dog could answer.

Ranger sniffed Joe's hand and then started barking and ran to the road.

Seeing the road, Joe yelled, "This way, men," and they pushed their way into the dense foliage after the dog. Ranger had shown up at the perfect time.

"Slow down, Jake!" Nikki said. She had fallen and grazed her knees and hands. Standing up slowly, she felt the cool night air through torn pants. "I can't see my feet," she said with a little whimper and rubbed her burning knees.

"Let me see how bad it is," Jake said.

"I'm fine." She brushed her hands together with a squint of pain and dug out her phone. "It's almost nine p.m. No wonder I can't see anything."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jake asked. She nodded.

"I'm pretty sure Dad is looking for us. I hope he can find the road in the dark."

"Maybe Ranger's caught up with them. Do you think Devin will be okay? He looked awful when we left."

"I think he went into shock when he realized how much blood he had lost. Going over that bridge and up the ladder made things worse."

"Not to mention making us hideously late. Let's get going." Nikki stored her water and switched her headlamp on high. "Can you see a road? I'm not sure we're still on it. I don't remember these rocks." She rubbed her knees.

Jake surveyed the area. He didn't want to scare Nikki, but he wasn't sure where they were. They had been running so fast he may have lost the way.

"Maybe we should backtrack," Nikki suggested.

Jake's heart throbbed in his throat. There was almost nothing worse than losing the trail, especially at night. They could use the compass, but they still wouldn't see things like cliffs, rivers, and places with hazardous footing.

"What now, Jake?" Nikki asked.

"Much as I hate to admit it, I think we're off the trail." His voice cracked, and he felt an overwhelming sob trying to escape his chest. "What if we end up back with Devin and Christina?"

"At least then your dad would find us all together," Nikki said. "Maybe we should have stayed in the first place." She realized how easy it would be to just lie down and give up.

"We can't just stand here," Jake said, taking command. "I'm turning around. Once we find the road we'll decide which way to go." He was lost for the first time ever. Galvanizing his body and mind, he slipped past Nikki and began leading them back through the wild thicket.

Ranger ran ahead and then raced back to be sure the searchers were following him. His barks kept everyone on the trail, but the darker it got, the less progress they made.

"Ranger, stop!" Joe yelled. The dog obeyed and the men took quick drinks.

Joe illuminated his watch. "It's almost nine p.m., and we're not even at the clearing, I don't think it's far though. We'll hope to see some sign of where they've been...and soon."

"Did you hear that?" Jake asked.

"Hear what?" Nikki stopped behind him.

"I thought I heard barking. Listen."

Sure enough they heard a low, barking sound. It was Ranger's bark.

"Which direction is it coming from?" Nikki asked, feeling a glimmer of hope.

"North," Jake said, looking at his compass. "Boy, we really are off."

Encouraged, they turned and hiked toward the sound.

Back at the trailhead James paced and waited. He looked at his watch for the hundredth time just as his phone rang. "James here," he barked into the speaker.

"Hello James, its Adele. Any news?"

"Nothing yet," he said, trying to sound upbeat. "They'll find them, Adele. We need to be patient."

"Nikki's dad just got home," she said. "He asked the hospital's helicopter crew to fly over the area with their bright lights. It might help speed up the search. They're on alert to depart now. Do you have any more details about where the kids went today?"

"The helicopter search is a good idea." James's voice crackled as the connection weakened. "Tell him we think they trekked into the crater of the old mine by way of the original road. The crew will need a local person on board to find the area, especially at night."

"The old mine at Scouter?" Adele asked. "Okay. I'll tell him." Her voice was thin and shaky, and not from a bad connection.

James pocketed his phone. Sitting inside the jeep with the passenger door open, he took a stick of gum out of his pocket and shoved the slender piece into his mouth, feeling the sweet juice spread. He wished he were up there with the search team. He hated waiting alone.

Joe stopped swiping branches. "Ranger, where are you going?" He heard a bark. "He's turned south. I'm following him. One of you should stay here so we can track back to you." The search team minus one turned south, and it wasn't long before they heard voices.

"Jake? Is that you?" Joe hollered as he swiped away branches to get there faster. The branches kicked back, scratching his face.

"We're here," a distant voice said.

Joe pulled out an LED to light the way ahead. He saw Ranger jumping joyfully, nipping Jake and Nikki. Nikki grabbed her dog. "You found me," she blubbered, her face in his neck.

"Where are the others?" Joe asked, looking around.

"We left them at the clearing on the way back from the crater. Devin's hurt."

The blood drained from Joe's face. "How bad?"

"We're not sure. He scraped up his lower leg pretty bad. Christina patched it up, but he lost a lot of blood and passed out. Christina stayed with him."

Everybody was quiet. "Are we far from the access road, Dad?"

"I don't think so. We've got a stretcher and can haul him out. Nikki, your mom and Christina's are waiting together at your house. Devin's dad is at the jeep." Joe started walking north and pushing away branches. "Follow me. Is anyone else hurt?"

"No," Jake said. "Just tired—and starving."

"We brought food and water; we'll get it out later. But first, let's locate your friends."

The threesome pushed north. Ranger slipped in beside Nikki, every once in a while licking her hand. Soon they saw the headlamps of the other searchers.

"You got two of 'em," said one of the searchers. "Where are the others?"

"Farther down this road, near the crater."

Just then, they heard the wop, wop sound of a helicopter blade. Before long they sighted the aircraft a little distance away, hovering and shining down its massive bright lights.

"Good." Joe smiled. "That'll help. Someone must have called it in. Wonder who."

"That looks like the chopper from my dad's hospital." Nikki's stomach did a somersault.

They continued along the access road toward the crater's edge. Ranger ran ahead and before long they heard frantic barking.

Not far from the edge of the crater, the team stopped and looked around. The area was lit up by the helicopter. Joe waved up at the aircraft. The pilot waved back.

Jake grabbed his dad's arm. "Wait a minute, we left them here—right on this spot." He pointed to the grass where he had last seen Devin lying with Christina sitting next to him, holding his hand. Now no one was there.

Joe stiffened. "Are you sure this is where you left them, Son?"

"We're positive," Nikki answered. "Look." She pointed down. "Blood, see?"

They stared at the grass. Blood spots were there, but no Devin and Christina.