So Close

The Mouth, Present Time

“Lyric!” Niarthen caught the steering wheel as the car drifted towards the side of the road, and Lyric jerked out of the doze that had blacked her out, her foot automatically applying the brake.

“Shit!” She pulled over to the side of the road, her heart racing. The roads on this side of the river were completely empty. They had passed three cars since fleeing Jules and Harry’s farm the night before and the sun was setting on the horizon. Part of the reason for the lack of cars was the number of roads still impassible due to the flooded river. Their path had been weaving and had taken far longer than it should have, and Lyric was exhausted.

“You are too tired, Lyric,” Niarthen stroked the hair back from her face. “We need to stop so that you can sleep.”

“We’re so close,” Lyric protested. In truth, she had no idea where they were. They were just following Niarthen’s sense of the water and keeping the river to their right. They were both hungry and thirsty, having