The Keeper by Sarah Langan Read Free Book Online Page A

body was all out of proportion. Its knuckles almost reached the ground, and its massive chest was balanced over a pair of skinny legs. It lumbered, like it was sick or just too hulking to move quickly. It dragged itself toward her by its arms. She wanted to turn away but she couldn’t. What had happened to this thing? What was this thing?
    Its skin was white, like all the blood had been drained from its body. Something shined. Its eyes. They were intelligent. They were watching her. It pulled itself along by its arms, and when it met her eyes, it smacked its lips. Like it was hungry.
    She spun around and lurched for the first crossbar, but her foot missed the mark. In a panic, she tried to squeeze herself through the fence. She pushed as far as her left knee, which got stuck so that her foot waved at her from the other side.
    “Dammit!” she whispered. Its breath was getting closer. Its panting was more labored: huhh-huhh-huh. She wiggled, and her leg plunged deeper through the hole so that her entire thigh was stuck in the fence. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she could feel the thing closing in on her.
    She tugged on her leg, but the intricate design of wrought iron held her as firmly as human teeth. “Huhh-huhh-huh.” It was so close that she expected to feel hot air on the back of her neck. She tugged and tugged, but her leg was lodged between the bars.
    “Huhh-huhh-huhh . ”
    How far away now? Twenty feet? Fifteen? She could tell by the sounds of breaking branches that it was gaining speed. It was getting excited.
    “Huhh-huhh-huhh!”
    Her face crumpled and she started to cry. It was going to get her. She could smell its breath like paper mill smoke and rotten meat. Haunted place. Why had she come? Susan. Tricked by Susan. This was how her life was going to end. Stuck in a fence four months before leaving this stinking town.
    “Help!” she screamed, but no one ever came into these woods. Not unless they were crazy. She stopped struggling and began to whimper. But then she smelled its body behind her, the smell of human sweat and river shit. Then she heard it smack its lips, the sound so wet and greasy. The sound so terrible she knew she’d rather chew off both her legs and hobble through the opening than let it touch her.
    She took a deep breath, in and out. She let her muscles become loose even as she heard it grunt (how far away now? Ten feet? Five?). She made herself count to three Mississippi, even though she wasn’t sure she had the time. One Mississippi. She swallowed and took a deep breath that she held before letting go. Two Mississippi.
    “HUH-HUHH-HUHH!”
    It was so close! She could see its long shadow on top of her! Pretend you’re watching this from far away, she told herself. Pretend you’re home in bed where nothing can ever touch you.
    “HUHHH-HUHHH-HUHHH!” it screamed. In victory? Had it gotten her?
    Three Mississippi. She eased her leg out from between the bars.
    OUT! SHE WAS OUT!
    She scrambled for the first crossbar and hoisted herself up. The thing was so close she could feel it blocking the wind. She could smell its scent of shit and sulfur water. As she straddled the bars, it took a swipe at her dangling leg. She kicked as hard as she could. Came into contact with something firm that grunted in either pain or surprise.
    “HUUUUHHHH!” it shrieked.
    She jumped to the other side of the fence. Rolled in the snow a few times. Then she got up and ran. She didn’t stop until she reached the valley, and she never looked back.

FIVE

Mother, May I?
    W hile Liz Marley fled the Bedford woods in terror that Thursday afternoon, three black cars sped out from Mary Marley’s front curb. Mary waved as they pulled away. Their headlights shone against the rain, and she was suddenly reminded of a funeral procession. She experienced a kind of déjà vu, and she thought about her husband in the past, and her elder daughter in the future.
    Susan?
    In her mind’s eye a little