Just a little taste won't hurt, I silently rationalised with myself, the events of the morning already feeling overwhelming. Leaning across the seat, I reached for the bottle of shiraz that had been the unwitting centre of the spider saga. My fingers wrapped around the bottle, feeling the familiar texture. Unscrewing the cap, I took a deep breath, allowing the rich aromas of pepper and plums to tantalise my nostrils. The scent was intoxicating, a promise of a brief escape, and I could feel a distinct increase of saliva in my dry mouth, craving the taste.
As I opened my eyes, ready to indulge in a forbidden sip, my heart sank the instant I saw the tall, slender figure of the man from the ute making his way toward me, a lit cigarette casually held between his fingers.
"Fuck it," I mumbled under my breath, defiance and resignation mingling in my tone. I took a quick swig from the bottle, savouring the brief moment of rebellion. The wine was a rich explosion of flavour. Hastily, I replaced the cap and placed the bottle back in the foothold, a safekeeping spot for now.
Adrian continued his approach with a casual saunter, his gait relaxed but purposeful. As he drew closer, I felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Pulling myself from the car, I rested my folded arms on the edge of the doorframe, my posture a mix of defence and nonchalance. "Luke's not here," I called out to Adrian, my voice carrying across the distance. It was a gamble, assuming Luke was the reason for his visit, but it felt like a calculated risk.
Adrian's abrupt halt, marked by a flash of annoyance across his face, caught my attention as he took a long drag from his cigarette. The morning sun cast a glow on his features, highlighting the irritation that seemed to momentarily crease his brow. As he exhaled, a thick plume of smoke billowed into the air, that dissipated slowly in the gentle breeze. He gave a noncommittal shrug, his hands expressing a casual indifference. "He far away?" he asked, his voice carrying a note of impatience.
"No," I replied, shaking my head, while internally praying that my response was accurate. "Not far." I hoped my voice sounded more confident than I felt. The uncertainty of Luke's whereabouts weighed on me, a silent burden that was hard to disguise.
From where Adrian had stopped, even at this distance, the distinct smell of freshly smoked weed wafted towards me. The scent was unmistakable, mingling with the morning air and creating a juxtaposition against the rural backdrop.
"Might be best if you wait by your ute for him," I suggested to Adrian, nodding in the direction of his vehicle. "I have a few things I need to do," I added, acutely aware that my explanation sounded feeble and unconvincing. The recent distractions of the huntsman and my encounter with Jim had scrambled my thoughts, leaving me struggling to come up with a more plausible reason for him to wait.
Adrian seemed unhurried, taking his time with his joint, seemingly content to linger in the moment. I seized the opportunity to distance myself from the situation. Leaving Adrian where he stood, I walked towards the front verandah, each step an effort to put physical and mental space between us.
Once on the verandah, I found my phone and dialled Luke’s number, despite suspecting it would be futile. My heart raced slightly as the phone rang, each tone echoing the growing anxiety within me. The instant voicemail response confirmed my suspicions; Luke was most likely in Clivilius, distant and unreachable.
Sighing, I couldn't help but watch Adrian from the corner of my eye as he nonchalantly leaned against his ute's green bonnet, skilfully exhaling more elaborate smoke formations into the air. The ease with which he handled the joint suggested this wasn't his first, a realisation that only added to my growing unease with the man. He seemed too comfortable, too unconcerned, and it made me nervous.
As I observed Adrian, my attention diverted from my own actions, I lost my footing on the middle step of the verandah, sending me stumbling awkwardly into the garden bed. In a desperate attempt to save face, I grasped at the nearest railing, my hand clutching it just in time to prevent a full tumble. The suddenness of the mishap left me slightly shaken.
Aware that Adrian's eyes were now undoubtedly fixed on me, I tried to mask my embarrassment by pretending that this clumsy descent into the garden was intentional. I leaned down and pulled a single weed from the meticulously cared-for garden bed, trying to appear nonchalant. As I tossed the slender stalk to the side, I took a moment to actually notice the garden. It was well-tended, each plant and flower carefully cultivated - a stark contrast to the current disorder of my life.
Feeling somewhat self-conscious and needing to continue the pretence, I began to pluck several flowers from the various nearby bushes. Each flower I picked was an attempt to appear purposeful, to give off an air of casual gardening rather than reveal the truth of my clumsy fall.
Please hurry, Luke, I silently begged in my mind, hoping for his timely arrival to rescue me from this increasingly uncomfortable situation.
The sudden swing of the front door caught me off guard, and in my surprise, several white flowers slipped from my fingers and cascaded to the ground. My eyes widened slightly as I watched them fall, their delicate petals fluttering in the breeze.
"Hey there, Adrian," Luke's familiar voice rang out, breaking the morning's tension. He waved casually as he almost stumbled down the front veranda's steps, his pace hurried and slightly unsteady. It was clear that his arrival was urgent, each step echoing his need for haste.
Ignoring the dropped flowers, my gaze shifted to Luke. He offered me a brief "hello," but his attention was clearly focused elsewhere as he made a beeline for Adrian.
Discarding the remaining white flowers on the edge of the veranda, I hurried after Luke, my steps quick to keep up with his long, determined strides. "I think he's high as a kite," I whispered to Luke, my voice low and urgent. The warning felt necessary, a piece of information that might be crucial in whatever interaction was about to unfold.
"Good," Luke responded, his head tilting sideways as he whispered back to me. His voice was a mutter, his words indeterminate, but his tone carried a sense of purpose.
As Luke continued his approach towards Adrian, I found myself slowing down, a realisation dawning on me. I did not know Adrian, nor his purpose for being here. It struck me that perhaps it was better to stay in the background, to observe rather than intervene. Luke really doesn't need my help with this, whatever 'this' is, I convinced myself. There was a sense of resignation in the thought, an acknowledgment that the situation was beyond my control and understanding.
I watched Luke's back as he neared Adrian, the two men now the focus of the scene. A part of me felt sidelined, unsure of my role in this unfolding drama. Yet, another part was content to let Luke handle whatever was happening, to trust his judgement in this mysterious encounter. As I stood there, a bystander in my own story, I couldn't help but wonder how things had become so complicated, so quickly.
Adrian remained almost stationary, just a few feet from his ute, exuding a sense of casual defiance. “This isn't your property,” he stated bluntly to Luke, his tone carrying an edge of challenge. He then proceeded to take a long, deliberate drag on his joint, the action almost theatrical in its slowness. After a few moments, he exhaled, directing the distinct smell of marijuana towards us. “What am I doing here? Where are the Owen's?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of confusion and accusation.
Luke, usually so composed, seemed momentarily flustered. "I..." he stuttered, the smoothness of his usual demeanour faltering. He waved his hand about, as if trying to dispel the cloud of smoke that Adrian had just exhaled. "The Owen's need your help," he finally managed to say, though his voice lacked its usual conviction.
"My help?" Adrian repeated, placing the joint back between his pursed lips, his expression one of skepticism.
In that moment, Luke turned to me with a look of utter bewilderment. His eyes were wide, like a deer caught in headlights, and I could see the panic that had suddenly gripped him. His gaze pleaded with me for assistance, but my heart sank. I realised with a heavy weight that Luke had no actual plan for this situation. I couldn't even begin to fathom what Luke's intentions were in bringing Adrian here.
Determined to keep myself out of what seemed like Luke's brewing dilemma, I offered nothing more than a noncommittal shrug in response. My reluctance to get involved was clear, a conscious decision to distance myself from whatever scheme Luke had half-heartedly concocted.
Watching Luke's eyes roll in frustration as he turned back to Adrian, I couldn't help but give another unapologetic shrug. A part of me felt guilty for not aiding Luke in his moment of need, but another part was resolute in my decision to stay out of this convoluted situation.
"This is going to sound crazy," Luke began, addressing Adrian with a seriousness that immediately piqued my curiosity. "But we're all grown adults here and I'm fairly confident you can handle the truth."
Oh, shit, was my immediate thought. This was escalating quickly, and a part of me knew I needed to be anywhere but here. I instinctively took several steps closer to my car, where the comfort of the shiraz awaited. Ever the truest friend, I mused internally, a wry smile briefly crossing my face at the thought of the wine being my most reliable ally in this bizarre situation.
Adrian coughed as he exhaled another cloud of smoke, his demeanour one of skepticism. "You and your girlfriend here are the ones asking me to meet you on someone else's property and you want to talk to me about truth." His words were laced with disbelief, and I could sense the tension escalating between him and Luke.
I continued my retreat towards the car, the urge to distance myself from this unfolding drama growing stronger. As Luke fired back, his tone defensive, "Girlfriend?" he echoed, turning to face me. The label caught me off guard, and I felt a flush of discomfort at being implicated in whatever explanation Luke was about to invent.
In a moment of impulsive honesty, I blurted out, "Just show him the Portal." The words left my lips before I could fully consider their impact. Almost immediately, I regretted it, wishing I had instead encouraged Luke to let Adrian go home. He's probably got family, I thought, my gaze briefly catching the glint of a gold wedding band on his finger.
Without further hesitation, Luke walked over to the small shed situated between Adrian's parked ute and the larger shed where the firewood had been dumped. With a cautious glance over his shoulder to ensure Adrian was following, Luke retrieved his Portal Key. As he activated it, the side of the shed was thrown awash with buzzing, swirling colours, creating a spectacle that was both mesmerising and unsettling. "That's where the Owen's are," Luke stated matter-of-factly, as if revealing a portal to another world was an everyday occurrence.
Standing there, witnessing this surreal revelation, I had to admit to myself that Luke's newfound boldness was something to be credited. He had crossed a line from secrecy into openness that I never expected, and the consequences of this reveal were yet to be seen.
"Fuck me!" Adrian exclaimed, his voice laced with shock and disbelief. He almost dropped the remainder of his joint, staring at the swirling colours of the portal with wide eyes. "I know I'm a little high, but it's not a fucking psychedelic." His reaction was a mix of awe and confusion, his brain trying to make sense of the impossible scene before him.
Luke, undeterred by Adrian's incredulity, maintained his direct approach. "I need you to walk through that and help them with a small building job. It won't take long. They've already got all the materials. They just need your skills." His tone was persuasive, almost coaxing, as if he was offering an ordinary job proposal.
And your life, I thought cynically. Luke wasn't mentioning the critical piece of information that walking through that portal would mean more than just a simple job. But Luke's not going to tell you that.
"You must think I'm a fucking nutter," Adrian spat out, his tone mixing anger and disbelief. He made haste towards his ute, clearly wanting nothing more to do with whatever madness Luke was proposing.
I watched, almost in slow motion, as Luke's mouth dropped open in surprise, his plan unravelling before his eyes. All I could offer was another unreassuring shrug. My body language was a silent confession of my own doubts about the whole situation.
"Adrian! Wait!" Luke shouted, desperation creeping into his voice as he ran towards the ute. Adrian, however, was quick to clamber into his vehicle, slamming the door shut with a finality that echoed Luke's failed attempt at persuasion.
As the engine of the ute revved loudly, I caught up with Luke just in time to see Adrian stick his head out of the window. "But I think you two are the fucking whack jobs!" he yelled, his words cutting through the air. There was no mistaking the contempt in his voice.
With the ute's back wheels spinning aggressively, kicking up plumes of leaf-littered dirt, Luke and I were left with no choice but to throw ourselves in front of the vehicle. It was a futile gesture, a last-ditch effort to stop him. Adrian, clearly uninterested in our explanations or apologies, flipped us off as he sped towards the property's gate.
"Shit!" Luke's exclamation echoed through the air as he threw his hands up in frustration.
"What the hell just happened!? I thought you knew what you were doing?" I blurted out, the words tumbling from my lips in a mix of concern and disbelief. Part of me was trying to bolster Luke's recently displayed confidence, but another, more realistic part, knew that the situation had spiralled beyond our control.
"Fuck off, Gladys! I'm not perfect," Luke growled, his voice thick with hot frustration. He started pacing around in aimless circles, a physical manifestation of his mental turmoil. I watched, a sense of helplessness washing over me as I witnessed his unravelling.
Adrian had seen the Portal, but given his altered state, I doubted he'd give it much credibility. Still, I felt a need to hear Luke's take on the matter. "What do we do now?" I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty. "Do you think he'll tell anybody what he saw?"
"Doubt it. He already thinks we're crazy. He'll likely rationalise it as just a hallucination of sorts," Luke replied, his tone more composed but still laced with a hint of uncertainty.
This should have been the moment where I felt a sense of relief, aligning with Luke's conclusion. But instead, my mouth seemed to act on its own accord. "So, we just let him go, then?" The question hung in the air, laden with implications.
Luke's incessant pacing continued, his body language reflecting the dialogue going on in his head. Abruptly, he stopped, turning to face me. "No," he said flatly. "We're going after him."
My eyes widened in shock. "We are?" The idea of pursuing Adrian seemed as reckless as it was unexpected.
"Come with me, Gladys. You're driving," Luke commanded, his tone brooking no argument as he sprinted toward my car. In a fluid motion, he launched himself into the passenger seat, his actions decisive and urgent, leaving me no room to object or question his sudden plan.
With a grimace, I reluctantly followed after Luke. As I slid into the driver's seat, my gaze involuntarily fell on the open bottle of shiraz that now lay between Luke's feet. The sight of it sparked an unexpected rush of adrenaline in my veins. The familiar, comforting notion of having just a quick sip whispered seductively in my mind, promising a fleeting respite from the tension that had enveloped the morning.
Without hesitation, I reached for the bottle. My movements were swift and sure, driven by a mix of defiance and need. I took two great gulps, the rich, bold flavour of the wine momentarily grounding me in the moment. I glanced at Luke, smirking slightly at his gaping mouth, his expression one of surprise and, perhaps, a hint of respect.
It's only fair, I told myself, justifying the indulgence. I was about to chase after a man who had just witnessed a portal to another world, a situation so surreal it felt like it belonged in a science fiction novel. The wine was a small concession to myself in the midst of the unbelievable.
Turning the key in the ignition, the engine roared to life, a sound that seemed to solidify the reality of our impromptu mission. I felt a mixture of trepidation and exhilaration as I gripped the steering wheel. The morning had started off with mundane intentions, and now here I was, embarking on a pursuit that seemed to defy all logic. I shifted into gear and drove off, following the trail of dust left by Adrian's ute.
Feeling completely at ease behind the wheel, I found a strange sense of calm as we turned back onto the main road through Collinsvale. My gaze briefly drifted towards the dark storm clouds gathering in the distance, an ominous backdrop that seemed to mirror the gravity of our current pursuit. As I watched them gaining ground on us, my foot instinctively pressed harder on the accelerator. I manoeuvred the car effortlessly through the scattered traffic, a sense of urgency propelling us forward. If we had any chance of catching up with Adrian, I knew it had to be before the heavy rain engulfed us.
I was somewhat relieved to see that Adrian, despite the substances in his system, appeared to be driving reasonably responsibly. He was obviously under the speed limit, a fact made evident by the speed at which we gained ground on him. Or perhaps not, I reconsidered, casting a quick glance at the speedometer. Realising I was well over the limit myself brought a momentary flicker of concern, quickly overshadowed by the urgency of our pursuit.
"He's going left," Luke pointed out, his eyes fixated on Adrian's ute as it approached the highway, its indicator flashing a clear intention. "Keep following him."
"Alright," I responded, smoothly pulling the car into the left lane, ready to maintain our pursuit. My hands were steady on the wheel, a surprising calmness enveloping me despite the high-speed chase.
A fresh wave of adrenaline surged through me as we weaved between the slower cars. My foot pressed a little harder on the accelerator, the thrill of the chase igniting a newfound excitement within me. It's a shame Beatrix isn't here. This would really shut her up about my driving, I mused inwardly. The thought brought a smirk to my lips. In this thrilling car chase, I discovered a hidden talent for high-speed driving, and it filled me with a boost of confidence that I hadn't expected to find in such a precarious situation.
Each manoeuvre I made, each car I skilfully dodged, only added to the growing sense of exhilaration. The intensity of the situation, the focus it demanded, had a surprisingly grounding effect. For the first time in what felt like a long while, I felt a sense of control, a mastery over the moment that was both empowering and exhilarating.
"Maybe we should stop," Luke suddenly suggested, his hand gripping the door tightly, a clear sign of his inner turmoil.
At his words, a sharp twang of disappointment struck my stomach. The thrill of the chase had been unexpectedly exhilarating, and the prospect of ending it so abruptly left me feeling deflated. However, prioritising Luke's concern over my newfound rush of adrenaline, I reluctantly switched from the accelerator to the brake.
But just as the car began to slow down, Luke's voice erupted with urgency. "Wait!" he shouted, the alarm in his tone compelling me to instantly react. My foot slammed back onto the accelerator, and the car lunged forward with renewed speed.
"Jesus, Gladys!" Luke exclaimed, the sudden acceleration pushing him hard against his seat. I could hear the mixture of surprise and reprimand in his voice.
"Sorry," I mumbled, feeling a twinge of guilt for the abruptness. I stole the briefest of glances at Luke, noting the surprise still etched on his face, before quickly redirecting my full attention back to the road ahead. The momentary lapse in concentration had been a stark reminder of the seriousness of our pursuit.
As I refocused on driving, the car's engine hummed beneath me, responding eagerly to each command. The road stretched out before us, a ribbon of possibilities and risks.
"He's pulling over," Luke observed, pointing ahead where Adrian's ute was slowing down and veering to the side of the road.
As we approached, I felt a surge of focus. My hands steadied, gripping the steering wheel firmly to counteract the wobble caused by the tyres rolling across the rough gravel. With careful precision, I brought our car to a stop just behind Adrian’s ute. The proximity felt charged with tension, a tangible sense of confrontation hanging in the air.
"Stay in the car," Luke ordered, his tone firm and authoritative as he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt.
Anticipating the need for a quick departure, I remained seated, my body tense and ready to react. The atmosphere was thick with expectancy, each second stretching out, filled with unspoken possibilities.
Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder boomed overhead, a dramatic announcement of the impending downpour that had been forecast. The sound resonated through the car, a natural drumroll to the unfolding drama outside.
With my foot resting lightly on the accelerator, poised for swift action, my knuckles whitened from the firm grip on the steering wheel. I leaned forward, peering through the windshield with keen interest, my gaze fixed on the events outside. I watched as Luke approached the ute with slow, considered steps, each movement deliberate and cautious.
To my surprise, instead of taking off, Adrian emerged from his ute. He began an aggressive walk towards Luke, his hand clenched as if ready for a confrontation. The sight of Adrian's confrontational stance sent a jolt of alarm through me. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I prepared for any possible outcome.
The tension between Luke and Adrian was palpable, even from my vantage point. The anticipation of what was about to happen held me in its grip, a spectator to a showdown that felt both inevitable and dangerous. I watched, ready to intervene or flee, depending on how the situation unfolded. In that moment, the car became both a place of safety and observation as the storm – both literal and metaphorical – began to descend upon us.
The sudden appearance of a dark, furry critter scurrying onto the windscreen made my heart leap into my throat. In a reflexive response, my foot pressed down hard on the accelerator, causing the car to lurch forward with a startling thud. "Bloody bastard," I hissed under my breath, my attention torn away from the spectacle of Adrian's lanky body sprawled across the bonnet of the car.
There it was again, the hideous huntsman spider, its return igniting a fresh wave of revulsion within me. I glared at the monstrous creature as it crawled menacingly towards the centre of the windshield, its every movement sending shivers down my spine.
Daring to take my eyes off the spider for a moment, I glanced at Adrian, seeking reassurance. He's not dead, I comforted myself, watching as Adrian slowly began to pull himself off the car. My relief was short-lived, however, as my focus snapped back to the beast on the windscreen. To my relief, I realised it was on the outside of the glass.
Acting on impulse and a desire for revenge, I flicked the lever that sprayed water across the windscreen. In a hopeful bid to rid myself of the spider, I turned on the wipers. But it didn't go as planned. Instead of flinging the spider away, the wipers collected the creature, dragging it mercilessly across the wet glass.
I watched, a mix of horror and determination in my eyes, as the wipers inflicted a gruesome fate on the spider. Legs were ripped from its body in a macabre dance across the windshield. With each pass of the wipers, the spider was broken into pieces, its once fearsome form reduced to a tragic mess.
As the final spray of water cleared away the gruesome remains, a grim satisfaction mixed with a pang of guilt washed over me. I had wished for the spider's removal, but not like this. The sight of its broken body, smeared across the glass, was a stark reminder of the brutal reality of nature's struggle for survival.
As I oscillated between glances at the remnants of the tormented spider and the unfolding commotion between Luke and Adrian, my attention was suddenly captured by Luke's bold manoeuvre. In a swift, unexpected move, he had navigated his way around a bewildered Adrian and jumped into the driver's seat of Adrian's ute. The scene felt surreal, as if I were watching a high-stakes drama unfold in real time.
Adrian, taken aback by Luke's audacity, banged furiously on the glass of the ute's window, his actions driven by a mix of shock and anger. Eventually, he managed to open the passenger side and fell into the vehicle, his movements clumsy and rushed.
"Get the fuck out of my ute!" Adrian bellowed, the volume of his voice muffled but unmistakable as he stumbled into his seat.
My eyes widened in disbelief as the ute suddenly accelerated, with Adrian still dangerously hanging half out of the door. For a heart-stopping moment, I feared for Adrian's safety, but he managed to pull himself fully inside, and with a loud slam, the door closed, sealing both men inside the vehicle.
Realising this was my cue to leave, I gave the windshield one final spray of water to clear the last traces of the spider saga. Then, with a deep breath, I pulled the car back onto the busy highway, my heart still racing from the adrenaline-fuelled events.
As I merged into the traffic, a sense of urgency propelled me forward. The situation had escalated beyond anything I could have imagined, and my role in it felt increasingly complicated and risky. Luke's impulsive decision to commandeer Adrian's vehicle was bold, but the potential consequences of his action loomed large in my mind.
Winding our way back in the direction of Collinsvale, I had initially assumed that Luke was heading back to the Owens’ property. However, it wasn’t long before I noticed a chopper in the air, ominously following us closely. My heart sank at the sight, a stark reminder that our actions were not going unnoticed.
In the midst of this unsettling realisation, my phone began to ring, breaking the tense silence in the car. "Beatrix," I called into the phone.
"Gladys, listen to me," Beatrix's voice came through the line, tinged with panic. "The police know that it is you in one of those cars. And they are at the Owens' property now." Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, each one adding to the weight of the situation.
With so many questions swirling through my mind, I managed to voice the most pressing one. "How do you know that?" I asked, my voice a mixture of confusion and concern.
"I have a contact that has an informant in the Hobart Police, and they've just called to warn me," Beatrix explained.
There was a brief pause, a moment that felt like an eternity as I processed her words.
"I'm at the property now. Don't come here," Beatrix said before abruptly ending the call. The finality of her tone left me feeling even more disoriented.
Confused by this new information and Beatrix's sudden admission of having a contact and informant, I tried calling her back, seeking more clarity. But to my dismay, all I got was instant voicemail. The lack of a response only heightened my anxiety.
With the alarming news from Beatrix fresh in my mind, I hastily dialled Luke's number, my fingers trembling slightly with a mix of fear and anticipation. I held onto a silent hope that he would pick up.
"Gladys," Luke's voice boomed through the phone, loud and clear, but edged with an unmistakable tone of distress.
"We can't go back to the Owens'," I blurted out quickly, the urgency of the situation making my voice sharp.
"Why not?"
"Police are there," I said succinctly.
"Shit! Where do we go then?" Luke’s voice rose in pitch, a clear sign of his growing frustration and panic.
At that moment, the sudden appearance of flashing lights in the rearview mirror caught my eye. Startled, I yelled into the phone, "Shit! The police are behind us!" The reality of our situation hit me like a wave – we were being actively pursued.
In a split second, I considered calling Beatrix back, hoping she could somehow reach her contact in the police department and intervene. The thought of her possibly putting an end to this high-speed chase was a fleeting glimmer of hope.
However, that would mean hanging up on Luke, who showed no signs of slowing down despite the blaring siren and the glaring red and blue lights cutting through the heavy downpour. The rain hammered against the windshield, adding to the chaos and intensity of the pursuit. My mind raced with potential courses of action, each scenario playing out with varying degrees of risk and uncertainty.
As I gripped the steering wheel, my knuckles white and my heart racing, I realised the gravity of the decision before me. Do I attempt to reach Beatrix in a desperate bid for help, or do I stay on the line with Luke, trying to navigate our way out of this increasingly perilous situation?
As we continued winding along the lush green hillside of Collinsvale Road and onto Collins Cap Road, a sudden idea sparked in my mind. "Myrtle Forest!" I exclaimed, excitement surging through me with the realisation of a potential solution. "Go to Myrtle Forest, now!"
"Oh, hell no!" Adrian's voice shouted in protest, his objection filled with disbelief and fear.
Reaching Springdale Road, I kept close behind the ute as Luke executed a sharp turn, looping us back in the direction we'd just come from. The manoeuvre was sudden and surprising, leaving me momentarily disoriented.
The panic in Luke's voice was evident as he spoke. "What am I going to do at Myrtle Forest?" he asked
My mind raced, working overtime to piece together a plan. "There's a large toilet block there. You can drive the ute through," I explained hurriedly. It was a desperate idea, but in my mind, it had formed into a viable escape plan. Taking Adrian and his ute to Clivilius seemed like the only feasible solution we had left. We couldn't risk letting the police get their hands on either of them, regardless of Beatrix's police contact. The contact would have to be exceptionally high-ranking to undo the damage we were currently creating.
"And what about you?" Luke's voice came through the phone, laced with urgency. "Are you coming too?"
I hesitated, the gravity of the decision weighing heavily on me. "You can't go back now," Luke interjected quickly, his voice tinged with panic. "There's no time. You'll get caught."
"Shit!" I huffed, my grip tightening on the steering wheel as the car's wheels slid through the mud. The small carpark of Myrtle Forest was slick with rain, making each turn precarious. The situation felt increasingly desperate, like we were teetering on the edge of disaster.
The ute in front of me, driven by Luke, slowed briefly before lunging forward again with a sudden burst of acceleration. "Fuck!" I heard Luke cry out in pain through the phone, his voice strained.
My eyes widened in panic as I strained to see through the torrential rain pelting my windscreen. The silhouettes of Luke and Adrian were barely discernible, the rain transforming everything outside into a blurred, chaotic scene.
Then, a moment of relief washed over me as the large toilet block wall was illuminated with the Portal's mesmerising rainbow spectacle. The familiar swirl of colours offered a brief respite from the escalating tension.
"I'm going in!" Luke's voice crackled through the phone, muffled by the howling wind blowing through his open window. The urgency in his voice was unmistakable.
In a dramatic display, Luke spun the back tires of the ute, hurling thick sprays of mud into the air. With a final lurch, the ute propelled forward, heading straight for the portal.
"Gladys... run!" Luke shouted, a final command that resonated with desperation. Then, abruptly, the line went dead.
As I watched, the wall of colour vanished instantaneously, the portal closing in an eyeblink. The sudden realisation that I was now stranded alone on the edge of the forest, in the midst of a raging thunderstorm, hit me like a physical blow. My chest constricted painfully with the knowledge that the police were likely on their way, their arrival imminent.
Sitting there, in the aftermath of the portal's closure, a sense of isolation and vulnerability engulfed me. The rain continued to hammer down relentlessly, each drop a reminder of the precariousness of my situation. The storm raged around me, mirroring the turmoil inside. I was alone, truly alone.
As the all too familiar red and blue flashing lights began to appear in the distance behind me, a wave of panic washed over me. "Fuck!" I screamed out loud, my voice filled with frustration and desperation. Revving the engine loudly, I made a frantic, last-ditch effort to buy myself some more time. I quickly drove the car around to the other side of the toilet block, positioning it beyond the immediate view of any approaching vehicles. It was a desperate move, but it was all I could think of in that moment of sheer panic.
The moment I opened the car door, a gust of icy wind and rain assaulted me, the elements unforgiving. My light jumper instantly clung to my body, soaked through by the relentless downpour. Battling against the slope and the harsh wind, I pulled myself from the vehicle. The door slammed shut the moment I let it go, carried by a gust of wind.
With my arms outstretched, trying to keep myself balanced, my sneakers slid through the mud, barely gripping the slippery earth beneath me. I'd only made it a few metres from the car when I heard my beloved shiraz calling to me. The cops must be close, but you can't just leave me, the bottle seemed to beckon me. Despite knowing that returning to the car would eat away at the precious little time I had left before being caught, I couldn't resist its call.
Grimacing with the knowledge of what this decision could cost me, I yanked the passenger side door open and hastily grabbed the bottle of shiraz from the front seat. "I'm not leaving you," I whispered to the bottle, a bizarre sense of loyalty to the inanimate object washing over me.
Disappointed that there wasn’t enough time to take a quick swig from the bottle, or even to close the door properly, I began a slippery dash into the only direction that seemed to offer any semblance of escape in this whole debacle – straight into the depths of the forest.
