Chapter 8 - The Message Beyond the Mountain
Emma returned upstairs before Jason woke.
She hid the original medicine bottle inside Noah’s diaper bag and kept Caroline’s card beneath her pillow.
The message confirmed that Caleb had known about the cabin’s hidden features. If he was alive, he might know how to enter without using the front door.
The problem was reaching him.
At sunrise, Jason walked into the nursery carrying breakfast.
He appeared almost cheerful.
“I made coffee.”
“I can’t drink coffee with my medicine.”
“Right.”
His smile faded.
Emma looked at the tray.
Beside the toast was another dark tablet.
“I’ll take it after I feed Noah.”
Jason placed the tray down.
“I’ll feed him.”
“He’s not hungry yet.”
“You said you needed rest.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you aren’t.”
Jason reached for Noah.
Emma turned away.
His hand stopped inches from the blanket.
For several seconds, they stood in silence.
Then Jason stepped back.
“I’m leaving at four.”
“What time will you return?”
“Late.”
“Will your mother come here?”
“She said she wouldn’t.”
“That isn’t what you told her last night.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed.
Emma had made a mistake.
“What did you hear?”
“Nothing clearly. You were downstairs.”
Jason walked toward the closet and looked at the access panel.
“Did you leave this room?”
“The door was locked.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Emma placed Noah in the crib, keeping herself between Jason and the child.
“You’re frightened of Caleb.”
“He nearly destroyed my family.”
“Your family appears to have done that without help.”
Jason’s expression hardened.
He picked up the tablet from the tray.
“Take it.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“No.”
He moved closer.
Emma grabbed the water glass and threw its contents into his face.
Jason recoiled.
She ran toward the door.
Her legs weakened before she reached the hallway.
Jason caught her around the waist and lowered her to the floor. The movement was forceful but controlled, as though he had already imagined explaining it to someone.
“Stop fighting me,” he said.
“Let me go.”
“You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“You already hurt me.”
Jason glanced toward Noah’s crib.
Then he dragged Emma back into the nursery and closed the door.
He did not force the tablet into her mouth.
Instead, he placed it on the medicine table.
“You’ll take it when you’re ready.”
He left again, locking the door.
Emma waited until the truck started outside.
Jason drove toward town to collect his birthday cake.
The moment he disappeared down the road, she climbed into the attic crawlspace.
This time she carried the baby monitor.
She reached the area above the kitchen and followed a cable running through the insulation. The cable led to the signal booster.
Someone had not merely switched it off.
The power connector had been removed.
Emma pushed it back into place.
A green light illuminated the attic.
Her phone vibrated inside her pocket.
Eleven missed notifications appeared at once.
The connection was weak and might last only seconds.
Emma opened the saved contact under Caroline Mercer’s name and sent a message.
My name is Emma Mercer. Jason locked me in the mountain cabin with my newborn. Caroline said to call you. My medicine was replaced. Please help us.
The message remained undelivered.
Emma moved farther into the attic, lifting the phone toward the roof.
One signal bar appeared.
The message changed.
Delivered.
Almost immediately, three dots appeared beneath it.
Someone was typing.
Then the signal vanished.
Emma waited.
No reply arrived.
Outside, an engine approached the cabin.
Jason had returned early.
Emma crawled quickly toward the nursery.
As she reached the access panel, her phone vibrated once.
May you like
A single message appeared.
I am already on the mountain.
