by BJ Bourg
“What do you mean?”
“Would you go or would you stay?”
I looked around. “You mean, if I had the chance, would I leave this place and go back home?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
I grunted. “In a heartbeat.”
“And you wouldn’t consider staying?”
“No way. Why would I?”
“I figured you’d say that.” Charlie sighed. “You have the world waiting for you, and I’ve got nothing.”
“Come on, Charlie. Let’s not rehash this. You’ve got a lot of things to look—”
“There’s a cabin in the forest about ten miles that way.” Charlie pointed downriver.
My mouth moved for several tries, but nothing came out. I swallowed hard and was finally able to get the words out. “Who lives there? Where are they?” I stood and looked around. “Are they getting help? What’s going on? Why didn’t they come back with you?”
“They don’t know we’re here,” Charlie said.
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t make contact with them.”
I sat down hard—harder than I’d wanted to because my weak legs gave out halfway down—and my mouth dropped open. “You didn’t make contact with them. Why on earth not?”
Charlie shrugged. “I guess I wanted to talk to you first.”
“To ask me if I wanted to be rescued?” I wished for my strength back so I could punch him in the face. “Of course I want to be rescued! This is not my idea of living. I want out of this godforsaken place and I don’t ever want to come back—ever! What on earth would make you think otherwise?”
“I don’t know. This place…it changes you. It makes you realize how simple life really is.” Charlie stood and waved his arms around. “I mean, just look around you. We have the best view in the country. We have all the food we could hope for. We don’t answer to anyone. Heck, we don’t need anyone—or anything. The only rules are kill or be killed; eat others before they eat you. We took on the mountains and we won, like we took on the swamps and won. The bears aren’t the king of the mountains anymore—we are. Out here, we rule. We don’t answer to anyone. We’re truly free.”
Charlie paused and nodded; he seemed to stand taller. “I’m in control out here. All those punks who picked on me in school could never do what I did. They couldn’t survive out here.”
“Charlie, what’s gotten into your head? You’re talking crazy. We have a life back home. We can’t just abandon everything to live out here like wild people. I want to take a shower. Brush my teeth. Eat a McDonald’s hamburger. I want to box again. And what if we get hurt? What if my cuts get infected again? We’re down to the bottom of the bottle of Tylenol, and we certainly can’t make medicine. What if we get snake bit? Or fall off a cliff? That’s not how I want to go out.” I waved my hand to indicate the mountains around us. “And don’t forget there’s a killer out there just waiting to meet up with us again.”
Charlie sighed and pursed his lips. “Fine. I’ll hike out to the cabin again and get help for you, but I’m staying.”
I threw up my hands. “That’s ridiculous. You can’t just move out here. First off, it’s illegal. Second, you won’t last very long.”
Charlie stuck his chin out. “I’ve lasted this long, haven’t I? I kept you alive for four days.”
I’d never seen Charlie this sure or unreasonable about anything. At this point, I needed him and couldn’t afford to piss him off. “You’re right. You’re right. You can make it out here on your own. You’ve proven that. Lord knows, I’d be dead if it hadn’t been for you. Look, if you want to stay, there’s nothing anyone can do about that, and I won’t try to talk you out of it. I just need to get back home in time for orientation day.”
Charlie stared deep into my eyes, as though trying to see right down to my soul. “So, you won’t stay with me?”
“I’d love to Charlie, but my parents already paid for my first semester. And I’ve got plans for my life. I can’t just shut them off and live an adventure. It sounds great, but I’ve got responsibilities now.” I didn’t want to tell him that this trip had forever cured me of my love for the outdoors. If I could just make it out of here alive I’d be happy to stare at high-rise buildings and drive along paved roads the rest of my life.
“Suit yourself.” Charlie walked to the cave and grabbed his spear. “I’ll make contact with the folks at the cabin and see what’s what.”
I studied Charlie’s face. “What if I come along? I know I can make it if we take our time.”
Charlie shook his head. “We’d never make it in one day with you stopping every few feet. It’s at least ten miles over rough terrain and I’d have to carry you at places, and that would be too dangerous for both of us. Besides, if we’d get stuck out there in a storm we’d both be dead.”
“I guess you’re right.” I didn’t like it one bit, but there was no other way. I’d have to trust Charlie to bring back help.
“Don’t worry,” Charlie said. “I’ll get you out of here and then I’ll worry about myself.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “And I’ll do whatever I can to help you get what you want when the time comes.”
Charlie pulled on his shirt and took a couple of pears for the journey. “I’ll be back sooner than you know.”
I watched him walk away, and a sense of excitement started to burn inside me. We were finally going home. No more living in a cave. I’d be able to sleep in my bed again. Eat food with flavor, like shrimp stew and boiled crawfish. I’d get to drink Coke again. Go to college…college.
I suddenly remembered Joy. That sick feeling returned to my gut. My life was forever changed. What had happened to Joy was my fault, and I would never live it down. How on earth could I concentrate in college when I knew college was the reason I broke up with Joy? It was the reason she was probably dead out here somewhere in the mountains. Although I knew it was a waste, I said a silent prayer that she was hiding with her aunt.
I began to move about the cave, idly packing up everything in sight. I stuffed all of our meager supplies into my rucksack and then sat to take a breather. I began to shake, and I hoped I wasn’t having a relapse of the fever. Sweat appeared on my forehead, and I wiped it away. I took several deep breaths. When my heart rate no longer sounded like a speed bag pounding against the inside of my chest, I continued cleaning up. I walked to the river and filled my bottle of water. Movement at the water’s edge caught my eye. It was the rope. I tugged on it until the fish were in sight just under the surface. I thought about filleting and cooking them for our guests, but I didn’t have a knife.
“Maybe we can take them with us,” I said out loud, “and cook them at the cabin.” I let the rope go, returned inside the cave, and looked around. There was nothing more to do except put out the fires, but I wasn’t about to do that until Charlie returned with the posse. So I waited.
Throughout the day, dozens of deer walked along the opposite riverbank and a bear stalked the area around midday. He stopped to smell the spot where Charlie had stored the fish, he chewed the piece of fish meat I’d dropped on the ground earlier, and then he walked to the edge of the river and pawed at the rope that held Charlie’s catch. It took him some time, but he finally pulled the fish to the rocks of the riverbank and started biting into them. I grabbed my spear and stepped cautiously out of the cave.
“Get out of here!” I stabbed the air with my spear as I yelled. “Go on! Leave that alone, you thief!” The bear turned his head, mouth agape, exposing two huge bottom teeth. He fixed me with his cold stare, and I just stood there frozen. He made a husky blowing sound and I regretted my decision to play the hero. I backed toward the depths of the cave, and he resumed his meal, realizing I was no challenge. When he was done, he ambled away, his large rump swaying back and forth as though waving his goodbye. I knelt on the ground, exhausted.
What seemed like a few more hours dragged by and still no sign of Charlie. The sun had alre
ady dipped behind the distant mountains to the west. Although I’d kept the fires burning bright, the area around me was cloaked in darkness. I tossed more wood on the fire and walked to the edge of its orange glow.
“Charlie!” I screamed as loud as I could. There was no response, except for my own voice echoing off the nearby mountains. I called his name for several minutes, stopping often to bend over and catch my breath. Lightheaded and weak, I crawled into the cave and assumed the fetal position next to the fire.
My mind began to wander and a recurring thought tried to creep its way into my reasoning, but I kept pushing it aside, trying to dismiss it as impossible. Instead, I focused on the possibility Charlie might have been attacked by a bear or hurt in some other way or… Holy crap! What if Leaf Creature had finally found us? What if it had killed Charlie and was backtracking him to the cave?
I began to tremble. If Charlie had been killed or taken, it would be up to me to get help. I wasn’t sure exactly where he’d found the cabin, but I knew the general area and I might be able to track him. If I wanted to survive, I had to get to that cabin.
As the night dragged on and there was still no sign of Charlie, I began to consider all the possibilities—including the idea Charlie might have abandoned me. I shook my head to clear it. He would never do such a thing, no matter how bad he wanted to live out here. He would get help first and then disappear if that was what he intended. After all, I reasoned, if he wanted to abandon me, he would’ve done it by now, while I was sick and didn’t know better.
* * *
At first light, I was on my feet. I made a dozen trips from the river to the fires, using my water bottle to douse the flames. When I was certain they were completely extinguished, I wolfed down two pears, drank a full bottle of water—even though I didn’t feel I needed it—and slung my rucksack onto my shoulders. I stopped to catch my breath, then took one more look around the place I’d called home for the past week or so. With the spear dangling in my hand and the bow and two arrows tied onto my pack, I set off in the direction I’d last seen Charlie.
I followed the riverbank until I came to the clearing in the trees that marked the route to the meadows. I paused to catch my breath and wondered if I should continue following the river. Charlie had simply said it was ten miles “that way” and had pointed downriver, but that didn’t mean he followed the river the entire time. Still unsure, I decided to follow the river. I counted my paces as I walked, using my spear as a crutch and stopping every half-mile to rest.
While I did feel stronger, this walk was zapping my energy reserves. I stopped at the three-mile mark and sat on a rock beside the river. I ate a pear and drank the entire bottle of water. I felt weak and seven miles seemed an impossible feat in my present condition. What would I do if I couldn’t make it all the way? What if I couldn’t find the cabin? Where would I sleep? What if I couldn’t find proper shelter from the weather and animals? I suddenly felt vulnerable and alone.
I swear, if Charlie abandoned me on purpose, I will never—
A twig snapped somewhere downriver and to my right. I snatched up my spear and jumped to my feet, scanning the forest. There was no movement, no sound…nothing.
“Charlie? Is that you?” My voice surprised some nearby birds, and they darted away, their wings flapping a frightened tune on the wind. I held my breath and stood like a statue for several long minutes. A light breeze tickled the leaves—and my face—and I figured that must’ve been what made the noise. Satisfied there was nothing to worry about, I bent, picked up my water bottle, and refilled it in the river. I shoved it into the side pocket of my stained and matted cargo shorts and continued my trek along the riverbank.
I had paced off a hundred yards and was just walking by a patch of underbrush when I caught a flash of movement in my peripheral vision. It was behind me and to the right. I started to turn around, but something was shoved under my left armpit. It looped up in front of my left shoulder and hooked over the left side of my neck, forcing my head downward. Pain shot through the center of my spine. I started to yell, but a flash of white cloth slapped me full force in the face, cupping over my mouth and nose. I shot my right elbow backward with all the strength I could muster, but it landed on some sort of soft leafy cushion. I felt claustrophobic.
Panicked, I sucked inward and was surprised at how easy I was able to catch a breath. The air in that cloth was sweet. I took slow, deep breaths, trying to remain calm. I reached up with my right hand to grab at whatever it was that was holding the white cloth across my face. I grabbed a handful of leaves and twigs.
I’m being attacked by a giant bush!
Just as the realization struck me, my vision began to blur. My already weakened legs grew weaker. I felt dizzy. My body went limp, but I didn’t fall. The powerful arms of the attacking bush held my sagging body upright. My last conscious thought was that my feet were dangling above the ground and it felt like I was being hoisted into the air.
CHAPTER 16
Soft hands caressed my face, and a soothing voice whispered in my ear. My head pounded. I eased my eyes open, allowing the light to shine through a little at a time. When my eyes were fully open, everything was cloudy, and I could only make out fuzzy shapes. I blinked several times, then reached up and rubbed them.
“It’s okay. Take your time,” the sweet voice said. “It’ll take a few minutes to wear off. You’ll feel a little nauseous for a while, but it’ll pass.”
The next time I opened my eyes, they were clear. I gasped. A girl was leaning over me. Her face was pale, her hair blood red. Although she was five years older now, there was no mistaking who she was. “Mable?” I asked. “Are you Mable Bragg?”
She jerked back. “How do you know my name?”
I started to sit up, but Mable gently pushed down on my chest.
“You need to rest,” she said. “If you get up too fast, you could be sick.”
“But where am I? Why are you here?” My mind raced like a crotch rocket zipping along the open highway. I looked past Mable at a shadow in the darkness of the enclosure. “Who’s that?”
The girl came into view. I jerked to my feet and tried to rush to her, but my head spun, and I collapsed to the ground. She rushed to my side. “It’s okay, Abraham. You need to rest.”
My eyes were wide, and I was afraid they were deceiving me. “Joy! Where were you? Where are we? What happened? I thought you were dead!”
Joy placed a finger on my lips and looked at Mable. “I knew seeing me would upset him. I should’ve waited until he was stronger.”
I shook my head. “I’m good. I promise. I’m just so glad to see you! I…oh God…I thought you were dead.”
Tears flowed down Joy’s face. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again—and that’s what killed me the most!”
I couldn’t contain my own emotions. I pulled Joy into my arms and shoved my face into her shoulder. As much as I hated to do so, I cried, too. “I’m so sorry, Joy. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have broken up with you. It was so stupid of me. I do love you. I don’t know—”
Joy pushed me back and pressed her lips to mine. I don’t know how long we kissed, but it was the softest and most passionate kiss of my young life, and I didn’t want it to end. When we stopped, I wiped the tears from my face with my hands so no one else would see.
“The important thing,” Joy said, “is that you came for me. That tells me all I need to know about you.”
“How do you know who I am?” Mable asked.
“There are signs—posters—by the trail we came in on. And Charlie found a news article online about all of y’all. Wait—where are the others? And where’re Charlie and Brett?”
The girls just stared at each other. I pushed off the floor and sat up. The room spun a little, so I took a moment to gather myself and checked out my surroundings. Joy and Mable wore matching white T-shirts, men’s jeans—cut off at the knees—and flip-flops. The clothes looked to be the same size, but they fit Joy much better. I tu
rned my attention to the room. We were in some sort of prison cell in what appeared to be an underground cavern.
“Where are we?”
“Somewhere beneath the Blue Summit Mountains,” Mable said.
Our prison cell was about twenty feet by thirty feet and was furnished with four cots, a small table, three chairs, and a sofa. Off to the back of the cell there was an area sectioned off with what looked like an oversized shower curtain.
Mable followed my gaze. “It’s a bathroom—a sorry excuse for one, but a bathroom nonetheless.”
The cavern was dimly lit by a number of lanterns that hung from pegs in the hallway outside the prison bars. Through the rustic bars, I could see the cavern opened up into a large storage area off to the right. Metal shelves lined the walls and the shelves were stocked from top to bottom with boxes upon boxes of goods. With Joy’s help, I stood. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder until the room stopped spinning.
A narrow hallway separated our cell from another cell. I looked through the bars directly across the hall and realized it was a mirror image of our cell. There were two girls leaning over a figure lying on a military cot. I immediately recognized those cargo shorts. I stumbled to the bars, wincing as my head seemed to split in two. “Charlie! Charlie, are you okay?”
One of the girls looked up. It was Jillian Wagner. The other girl was Jennifer Banks. They were dressed identical to Joy and Mable. My head spun again. I grabbed the bars to keep from falling. “What’s going on? How are y’all alive? Everyone thinks y’all are dead. What’s wrong with Charlie?”
Mable appeared beside me. “Who thinks we’re dead?”
“Everyone. The whole world. The park rangers say y’all committed some ritualistic suicide or something by going back to nature.”
“Me, too?” Joy asked.
“They think you ran away or something because of the fight you had with your dad.” I walked to our cell door and shook it as hard as I could. It rattled, but was held in place by a chain and padlock. The bars appeared to be something straight out of the Civil War era, but the chain and padlock were modern. I began to panic. “Charlie! Charlie, get up! We need to get out of here.”