The Worst Kind of Betrayal

By Rachel Dib

“Remind me again why we’re not calling the police.”

“We will. I just want to confirm whatever killed Jeff isn’t also on a koala massacre.” I flicked my torch beam into a nearby eucalyptus tree. The beady-eyed silver face that peered back looked innocent enough. I kept walking.

Carol followed suit, sticking so close she practically trod on my heels. “Look, I really think we should go back to the office. Whatever did that to Jeff…” She shivered.

I inspected another tree. Three furry bodies nestled together in slumber. “I’m not leaving until I’m sure the koalas are all right.”

“It’s always about the koalas with you, isn’t it?” Carol scowled.

I turned my beam to the next tree, but it was empty. “We run a koala sanctuary, Carol. Ensuring the animals are safe is part of our job.”

“Yeah? Well, what about us?” She threw out an arm, gesturing back the way we’d came. “What about Jeff? He’s dead, Poppy! Don’t you care?”

Stopping short, I flinched as an image of Jeff’s gruesome remains popped into my mind. Some fiendish creature must have landed on Jeff’s shoulders, digging in with its back claws as it tore open Jeff’s throat with its foreclaws.

“Of course I care!” I gritted my teeth and swung toward her. “Jeff didn’t deserve that. But I can’t do anything to help him now, can I?” Turning away, I continued marching forward, set on my purpose. “I can help the koalas.”

Growling, Carol stomped after me. When she’d caught up, I noticed her gaze was focused on the trees. They did look rather ghastly in the moonlight—their crooked limbs stretched menacingly toward the sky like gnarled fingers. They wagged in the wind, daring us to look away and risk being attacked by some monstrous beast lurking amongst their branches.

Quickening my pace, I illuminated three more eucalyptus trees. All were empty.

“I’m selling the sanctuary.”

I skipped a step but swiftly regained my balance. Though I’d heard whispers of this, the statement still stung. Friends since university, the sanctuary had been Carol’s and my special project. She’d supplied the land and resources, while I’d lent my veterinary and management skills. The fact the rumor was true, and she hadn’t told me before leaking her intentions to the staff… I gritted my teeth. “Oh?”

“It’s all becoming too much.” She crossed her arms, hugging herself. “Now with what’s happened to Jeff…”

I flicked my torch up at a plump gray body with grimy, tousled fur. It was munching on something.

That koala could use a bath.

Dropping the beam, I eyed Carol. She avoided my gaze. “What happened to Jeff was horrific—I won’t deny that—but it’s nothing we can’t recover from.”

Carol shook her head. “A developer approached me wanting to buy the land. It’s a good offer.”

That was new. I swung the torch upward, accidentally shining it in her eyes. Carol cursed, blocking the light with her hand.

“A developer? Of what?” I snapped. “What about the koalas?”

“There are other sanctuaries willing to take them.”

“But they’d be split up!”

Carol rolled her eyes. “As if they’d care. Koalas are mostly solitary creatures anyway.”

When I squared off against her, Carol crossed her arms.

“I knew you’d act like this, Poppy. That’s why I waited to tell you. Why I asked Jeff to help me.”

“Jeff?” I blinked, a mix of anger and shock punching me in the gut.

They both betrayed me?

I swallowed as my mouth turned to sandpaper. “Is that why Jeff was out here at night when he normally works day shift?”

Carol glanced away with a noncommittal shrug.

“What was he doing?” I pressed.

“Logistical stuff. He used to work in real estate.” Carol threw up her hands. “It’s not really any of your business.”

“Of course it’s my business! We were in this together!”

“And now we’re not.” Carol snorted. “It’s nothing personal. And it’s not as if you won’t find somewhere else to work.”

I blinked, shaking my head at the surrealness of the situation.

“The point is, it’s my land, and I’m selling,” Carol said flatly. “To be honest, this whole sanctuary endeavor hasn’t been as amazing as you’d said it’d be. Sure, the koalas are cute, but they can also be little blighters. I’m tired of the whole experience.”

“I never said it’d be easy,” I pointed out. “I told you it’d be work. Worthwhile work.”

“It’s work, all right,” Carol sneered. “Not sure about the worthwhile bit. Either way, I’m done.”

Scratching drew my attention, and I glanced back up at the munching marsupial. I could see its face now. White matted tufts of fur framed beady red eyes. Seeing me, the creature opened its maw and bared long, curved incisors.

A drop bear! Heart thudding, I edged away from the tree.

Carol moved with me, oblivious to the danger above. I opened my mouth to warn her, but changed my mind. “What about your will?”

She lifted a brow.

“You left me the sanctuary in it,” I reminded her.

“Well, obviously that will be dissolved when the lawyer and developer come tomorrow to officiate everything.”

“So, you haven’t signed any paperwork yet?” I took another step to the side. Again, Carol mirrored my movement, effectively drawing closer to the tree containing the drop bear.

Carol sighed. “I know what you’re thinking, Poppy, and no. There’s no way to change my mind.”

I took a step forward. She took one back. Chewing on my lip, I glanced at the drop bear. It sat poised on a limb, watching us. Reaching out an arm, it slowly pulled itself forward.

My heart leapt into my throat. Releasing a slow breath, I met Carol’s gaze. “You’re sure?”

She nodded, eyes hard and unyielding. “Sorry, but it’s just too much money to pass up.”

The bear clung to the branch directly above Carol for a moment and then dropped.

I exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry, too.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Dib is a stay-at-home mom of three small children. After marrying a soldier, she left her home state of South Carolina to live in random places across the United States. Her works of short fiction have been published by On the Premises Magazine, Havok Publishing, and Ye Olde Dragon Books. She has also had short stories published by Toasted Cheese Literary Journal under the name R.J. Snowberger.

---

More Stories | Facebook | Instagram