Scary Story part 3

Despite popular demand, the saga continues...
(See parts 1 & 2 below)

Tina moaned and rubbed the back of her neck. She tried to push herself up to a sitting position, but her arm buckled beneath her from the pain.
She tried to get her bearings, - where was she?
She squinted, willing her eyes to adjust to the dark. Somewhere a light, - was it from a fire? flickered on earthen walls. Was she in a cave? How did she get here? She wished she could remember.

A shadow passed before the dancing light - something large and stooped over, that dragged one foot as it lumbered past.
A chill swept over her, and she felt the hair prickle up the back of her neck.
She felt woozy, and her eyes rolled back. She was out again.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Back at the cemetery, Mark, Charlene, and the rest of the friends, followed the trail of footprints on the dusty dirt road. Whatever was being dragged made the trail easier to follow. The trail led up to the back fence, where there was a break in the fence-line. From there, they struggled to see where it led through the fields of sage brush.

"Stop!" Derek told them - holding out his arm, as a mother bracing her children against a fall.
He knelt down, and retrieved a fragment of green yarn from an outcropping of brush.

"We're definitely on the right track - this is from the sweater Tina was wearing," he said, squinting off into the distance.

"You guys just had to pick the darkest night of the year to go joy riding, didn't you?" Cindy said, with a hint of accusation in her voice.

"Back off Cindy," chided Brent, "that's not going to get us anywhere - besides, we gave you all a choice in the matter, if you'll remember.
Now stop the blame game, and let's concentrate on what we're here for.
What's out there? Does anybody know what's up this way?
...Where could that..... - thing - be taking her?"

"This path leads up into the hills. There are some caves up in there." Mike answered.
"...I used to go up there with my uncle to pasture his sheep," he explained when they all turned to look at him.
Silence fell over the group. They looked in the direction of the hills, the hopelessness of the situation dawning on them.

Finally, Derek spoke - "Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?"
-Silence-.
"...There's no way we are going to be able to do this by ourselves. We're going to have to go back and get some help."

Gravely, they looked at each other - knowing that they would all soon be held accountable. And, at some point, Tina's family would have to be notified. None of them looked forward to that...
They turned, and headed back toward the car.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Silence reigned as they traveled the road back to town. Each member of the group avoiding eye contact with the others, as they struggled with their own emotions. Finally, as they pulled into town, Brent said, "So... where do you want to start?"

""Sherrif?" Mike said, looking for support. "Sherrif" they all agreed, nodding.
.