Chapter 12 - The Ninth Day
By the ninth morning, my body was failing.
Melissa had disappeared during the night.
She left a message:
I have to get my girls. Keep Noah safe.
I was furious.
But I understood.
Noah and I continued downhill.
Then came the sound.
Helicopter blades.
At first, I thought exhaustion was playing tricks on me.
Noah heard it too.
“DAD!”
We ran.
Or tried.
I stumbled into an open clearing.
The helicopter appeared above the ridge.
I waved both arms.
“HERE!”
Noah collapsed beside me.
“MY SON IS HERE!”
The aircraft landed.
A rescue worker jumped down.
He ran toward us.
Then his radio crackled.
“Mercer family located…”
My heart exploded.
“My family?”
The rescuer stopped.
“You found them?!”
His expression changed.
He grabbed my shoulder.
“Daniel…”
“What?”
“They told us you and Noah were dead.”
I stared.
“Who did?”
He hesitated.
“Your father filed the report.”
Everything inside me went still.
“What report?”
“According to the information we received, you and Noah fell into a ravine three days ago.”
“That never happened.”
“I can see that.”
“Where’s my father?”
The rescuer looked toward the helicopter.
“That’s the problem.”
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“What?”
“Richard Mercer disappeared after filing it.”
