Mist swept across the road between the narrow corridor of pines.

Bob kept glancing in the rearview mirror, but all he could see was a tiny swath of scrolling pavement lit red by the taillights.

“Go faster!” Barbara said.

“I can’t. There’s a hairpin turn coming up.”

She climbed between the seats into the back and sat on her knees, staring through the window.

“Anything?” Bob asked.

“No. What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know, but at least we aren’t in town, in the midst of everything. Maybe we could just pull off into a quiet place in the trees?” he suggested. “Ride this out?”

“What if there’s no end to it?” she asked.

The question hung between them like a black cloud.

The road out of town began to curve and Bob steered into it, keeping their speed under twenty miles per hour.

Barbara was crying in the backseat.

“I wish he hadn’t told us,” she said.

“What are you talking about?”

“Sheriff Burke. This is all happening because he told us the truth.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I’m not saying I loved it here, but you know what?” Barbara sniveled. “I didn’t worry about bills. I didn’t worry about our mortgage. You and I got to run a bakery.”

“You had gotten used to the way of things.”

“Exactly.”

“But we couldn’t talk about our past,” Bob said. “We never saw our friends or family. We were forced to marry.”

“That didn’t turn out so bad,” she said.

Bob held his tongue as he drove through the heart of the curve.

The road out of town became the road into town.

He eased off the gas as they passed the welcome sign.

Wayward Pines lay straight ahead, enveloped in darkness.

He let the car roll to a stop and killed the engine.

“We just wait here?” Barbara asked.

“For now.”

“Shouldn’t we keep moving?”

“There’s barely any gas left.”

She climbed back into the front seat.

She said, “People are dying out there. Right now.”

“I know.”

“That goddamned sheriff.”

“I’m glad he did it.”

“What?”

“I said I’m glad.”

“No, I heard you the first time. I mean, why? Our neighbors are being slaughtered, Bob.”

“We were slaves.”

“How are you enjoying your new freedom?”

“If this is the end, I’m glad I know the truth.”

“You’re not scared?”

“I’m terrified.”

Bob opened his door.

“Where are you going?” Barbara asked.

The interior dome light burned his eyes.

“I need a moment alone.”

“I’m not getting out of this car.”

“That’s kind of the point, darling.”

ETHAN

ETHAN