Uncovering You: The Contract

Chapter Seven

(Eleven years ago)

The noon sun is high above me, beating on the forest with its unforgiving rays. I’ve been shoveling for hours. My nails are black and my hands are covered with dirt. My fingers are numb, and my arms feel like lead weights. Both my shoulders burn.

I look at the pile I’ve built up. It’s right underneath the hole.

Still not high enough, I think.

I scoop up another handful of dirt and painfully labor it over.

My stomach rumbles. I’m so hungry.

But even hunger has taken its rightful place behind my desperate need for water.

“Have to keep going,” I mutter to myself. “Can’t stop now.”

My whole body is exhausted. My ankle seems even more swollen. I can’t put so much as an ounce of weight on my left leg without whimpering.

I’m scared that, even if I pile the mound high enough to pull myself out, I won’t have the strength left to get to the lake house.

But I have to try. I know that.

I want to sit and rest. It would be so nice, just for a few moments. But, I don’t. I’m afraid if I stop moving, I’ll never start again.

So, I dig, scooping the dirt with my bare hands, then carrying it back to the ever-growing pile.

Hours go by. The sky turns red. The sun starts to set. I can’t spend another night down here.

I look at my pile. It’s already up to my waist. But my feet sink when I step onto it. I still can’t reach the floorboard.

“Lilly! Lilly!”

The male voice is so faint that I think I imagine it at first. Then it comes again.

“Lilly? Lilly!”

My heart swells and relief splashes over me like ice water.

“Here!” I cry out. My throat is so parched and my voice so weak that I barely hear myself. “Here!” I try again.

“Lilly? Lilly!”

The voice is getting fainter. Alarm fills me as I realize he’s going the wrong way.

I clamber to the top of the mound and fill my lungs with air.

“HERE!”

I wait. And wait some more. My chest heaves with anxiety. Did he hear me? Why doesn’t he answer?

“HERE!” I scream. “I’m down here! Help me! I’m here!”

I can’t hear my name being called anymore. Nothing breaks the silence except the rustle of wind through the trees.

A crushing pain explodes in my chest. The man did not hear me. He will not come.

I fall to my knees. I try to blink away the tears, but I can’t. My despair is too great.

My entire body shakes as I start to sob. He did not find me. He did not hear me.

“Lilly!”

The voice comes from right above me. I look up, and see Paul’s face. For a half-second, I think it’s a mirage. But when he reaches down, and the shadow of his arm is cast along the floor, I know he’s my savoir.

“Give me your hand, child!” he urges.

I lift one trembling arm up as high as I can, fighting through the tearing pain it causes my shoulder.

His hand grasps my forearm with a grip as strong as iron.

“I’m going to get you out,” he promises. “Can you stand?”

I nod, dumb with amazement.

“Give me both your arms. I’m going to lift you up. Ready? Three, two…”