I straighten up and face her. This nightmare is never-ending. “No kidding? And how do you suggest we get away from this crazy Mommy and the giant mountain man who can carry three kids up an icy mountain all by himself?” The rocky surface of the cave digs into my back as I back into it. “My head is killing me.”
The voice, like a screech owl, returns, and we flinch at the violence of it. “Bring the others back in here, ya idiot. We don’t want ‘em spotted.”
Amelia blinks quickly, her voice shaking. “We need to run.”
I snatch her wrist, holding on with a grip that drains the blood from my knuckles. “Did you hear what she just said? They must be searching the area—she doesn’t want us spotted. We need to send a signal.”
She nods, closing the distance between us, and touching her fingers to my death grip. Tears pool in her eyes. “First chance we get, we’ll go through that magic bag of yours. There’s got to be something we can use.”
Grover scrambles from the opening, shoulders tight, jaw clenched. For such an enormous human, he’s surprisingly gentle with us as he leads us back into the dark, damp cave; the odor of rot and wet fur hitting first, then the confining dark swallowing us whole.
Andrew sits on the troll’s lap chewing on a piece of dried meat.
“What are you feeding him?” I glare at Grover, then march over towards the splatter of soiled blankets and matted rugs to retrieve my brother. Grover palms my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.
“You cannot go into Mommy’s chamber unless she says so.”
“Oh really? Well, we’ll see about that!” I twist out of his grip and fly at Mommy. “Leave him alone. He’s not yours!” A jolt of power races through my body. My hands close around my brother, mittens sliding over his nylon coat.
Mommy hisses like a cornered bobcat, swiping at my face with her jagged, dirty fingernails. They slice through my cheek like barbed wire, and my glasses go flying.
“Ow!” I jump away, clutching my cheek. “Are you crazy?”
Amelia pulls me back, holding my face between her hands. She turns on Mommy, leg dangling as she balances on her good leg. “You are a hateful, ugly old witch! Give us Andrew and let us go!” There’s a whimper in her voice that is so unlike the Amelia I know. She actually might care.
The woman points a crooked finger towards us. “Sit down and shut-up. I want to talk to ya.” Something in her voice makes it feel like we have no choice.
Amelia and I creep forward. I have to help her sit because of her splint. Her limp is heavy and slow, but shockingly, she doesn’t say a word.
Mommy’s face blurs. I reach for my glasses, but they’re useless—the frame is mangled. I slip them into my coat pocket, squinting hard.
“What happened to your leg?” she glares at us with narrowed eyes. “Get to the point and don’t lie to me.” She pulls Andrew onto her lap, and I cringe.
“A tree limb fell on her when we were searching for Andrew.” I match her tone, balling my hands into fists.
“Andrew? Who’s Andrew?” Her voice is low and rough, almost like a snake would sound if it could talk. Her tongue flicks over her lips, and it sends a shiver through my whole body.
“That’s me!” says Andrew, lifting his arms in the air like he just won a raffle.
She jerks—alert—like she forgot he was even there. “Oh, my sweet. You’re my little G-man.”
Amelia and I exchange a look as Andrew throws his head back, laughing.
“You so funny, Mommy!”
She turns her gaze back to us. “The gods must have set that branch upon ya as punishment for taking my baby.” The corners of her mouth curve downward, and her chin trembles. “Why would ya do such a horrible thing ta me? He was all I had.” She wraps her arms around Andrew, sobbing like her heart is breaking.
I press my fist against my braces. This woman actually believes Andrew’s a child who was taken from her?
“Uh, Mommy—he’s not—I mean, we didn’t steal your baby. Andrew’s my little brother—Grover took him from me.”
“Silence!” The scream is so loud that Andrew covers his ears and cries. My fingers brush his arm, but Mommy is too fast. She sweeps Andrew up and disappears down a passageway at the back of the cave.
“Where’s she going?” I grab the hem of Grover’s cloak, ready to launch myself after her, but Grover lays a hand on my shoulder. “What’s she talking about? We didn’t take her baby—you took him from me!” I yell.
He brings his face close to mine. His breath, sweet mixed with smoky, holds a pungent odor of dried meat.
I lean away.
Holding a finger to his lips, he says. “You don’t want to make her mad with ya.” His tone says he isn’t kidding. “Andrew’s safe here, but you’re not.” He glances down the passageway. “If ya make her mad again, she’ll hurt ya. Worse than that little scratch.”
Amelia lets out a squeak.
Grover hangs his head. “Sorry. I should not have brought you here. — I just wanted to make her happy — she misses her child.” His voice is gentle, almost sad. “She’ll be back soon. She’s scared to go far—and she’ll forget. Her mind is…slipping.” He cups a hand to his ear, like he wants us to listen. Sure enough, a lullaby-ish tune drifts through the cave. It’s sweet but also terrifying. Mommy is on her way back.
“Come this way. If she don’t see ya, she’ll forget you’re here.” He lifts Amelia, carrying her toward a niche in the cave. “I’ll answer all your questions once I get her settled. She needs some tea and something to eat. Andrew’s okay. Understand?”
“Fine, but I’m not giving in. She can’t have my brother…” I let it trail off because honestly, what can I really do against a crazy woman and a giant mountain man?
The niche at the side of the cave isn’t bad. There’s more light here, and the smell of Mommy’s little chamber—as Grover calls it—doesn’t reach this far. Thank God. Deer hides and pillows made of soft fur cover the floor. There are even a couple of handmade quilts.
Grover has set out some food and water for us: roughly cut dried meat and fruit, some nuts. Not the best food for braces, but who cares? My stomach growls as we sink down into the soft animal fur, down the water, and tentatively sample the spread, which is surprisingly… not terrible.
Across the room, Grover calmly tends to Mommy and Andrew. Their conversation is muffled, but her tone is sharp and angry as she slaps at him and yanks on his ear. He bows his head, so compliant.
I toss a dried apricot back into the dish. “She’s so mean. Why does he put up with that? What a horrible person!”
Amelia lets out a low moan and rubs her leg. “I can’t stand this splint anymore. Can’t you take it off?”
Everything else slips from my attention as I pull the animal pelts away and peel off the splint. Amelia’s leg is easily twice as big as the other one. The seams of her jeans bulge, pulling the threads tight. Dried blood stiffens the material.
“We’ve got to cut your pants or something.” I locate my pack and search for the pocketknife. “Look how swollen your leg is. No wonder the splint was pinching you—your jeans are cutting off your circulation.”
“Absolutely not! These are my favorite jeans, and I will not have them sliced up with a junior ranger’s pocket knife.” She pulls her leg from my grasp, wincing.
“Are you kidding me, Amelia? Don’t you know you could lose your leg if we don’t get the swelling down?” I move closer, fully intending to slice them open, with or without her cooperation.
“How about snow? Can’t we just put snow on my leg to help with the swelling?” She grabs my arm. “Darcie! Tell Grover you need to get some snow for my leg.” She swallows, pointing at my pack. “Leave something outside…so they find us.” She leans back against the pillow, panting.
“Like what?” I dig through the satchel. Compass? Metal cup? First aid kit? Nothing feels right.
“My cell phone,” she says, pulling it from her pocket.
“You’ve had a cell phone this whole time and you’re just now telling me about it?” I snatch it out of her hand.
Grover lifts his head, and we lower our voices.
“Is there still a charge on it?” I press the button on the side, booting it up.
“Maybe only like twenty percent. But what does it matter? There’s no signal.”
I lean closer. “What if we change your voicemail message?”
“Honestly, Darcie!” She shakes her head. “We can’t check voicemail out here.” Her voice echoes off the cave walls.
Grover heads over, his eyebrows pulling together.
My elbow jabs into her side. “See what you just did?” Then I slide the phone under her left butt cheek. “Grover, Amelia’s leg is really swollen.” Dumping the rest of the food from the bowl, I stand. “I’m gonna get snow to pack around it.”
He steps in front of me. “Mommy says you’re not to leave the cave. You sit now.” He towers over me like a mountain. Arguing would be useless. I slump back next to Amelia as Grover heads out for snow.