96 Miles

To cover 23 miles in six hours, John uses a strategy: he walks for one mile, then runs for another. After 14 miles, a sharp pain stabs at his chest, and he stops for a rest on the roadside. The canteen is empty, and a bloody blister throbs on John’s right heel. To push through, John sets small goals for himself; he chooses a spot in the distance to reach, then chooses another when he reaches it. His choice to not say goodbye to Stewart nags at him.

The next thing John knows, he’s waking up in the cool night air. He has no idea how he let himself fall asleep. He judges the time to be 9 p.m.; Stew, Cleverly, and Will would have been expecting him to make it to the truck hours ago. John starts to run, embracing the pain as punishment for his mistake.

He finally reaches the turn-off for Brighton Ranch, and spots the Brighton’s dog, Sammie, as he approaches the dark house. Nate Brighton, Jess’s brother, emerges from the house holding a rifle. Thinking Nate must be confused, John tries to call out in greeting, but Nate cocks the gun and tells John to stop where he is.