by R. A. Rock
But I guess being in the bush with no distractions let me tune in, in a way that I never had in the past. I thought hard. In other circumstances, I had almost one hundred percent of the time wished that I had listened to my instincts. So, it made sense that since I was actually paying attention to it this time and had the choice to actually follow my gut, then I should.
I began walking back towards the falls.
It wouldn’t hurt to do the rounds again and make sure that Matt hadn’t arrived while I was busy leaving.
Since I had only just come from above the falls, I was going to skip checking up there, but then I thought that that wouldn’t be thorough at all. So, I went up to the top of the falls and meticulously checked everywhere I could think of along the way, making sure he wasn’t anywhere.
Then I searched the washrooms, and the picnicking area. All that was left was the swinging bridge below the falls but it didn’t make sense that he would be down there, since he would be coming probably either by the road or the snowmobile trail.
But I was being thorough, so I made my way down the steep hill anyway, my calves burning, being careful not to trip on the roots that snaked their way across the wide trail.
When I arrived on the bridge, I crossed it quickly. I wasn’t scared of it per se, but bridges made me slightly nervous because of my fear of drowning in a river. I speed-walked, holding my hurt wrist to my chest with my good hand to keep it as immobilized as I could.
It hurt a lot to move this fast because of the bouncing, but I wanted to get this over with and get out of here. I wanted to get to my cabin and lock the door. I needed to feel safe. Even if it was only an illusion.
I arrived on the other side of the river and did a visual inspection, looking for any trace of Matt — but there was nothing. I followed the trail to the other side of the falls.
When I arrived, I took a deep breath of the damp, misty air and listened to the crashing of the water, so loud you wouldn’t even hear someone yelling twenty feet away. I shook my head.
No Matt.
Once I reached the bridge again, I crossed, and then in the middle I paused to do a visual inspection again. I looked upriver towards the falls and then leant against the other side to look downriver.
Nothing.
Where are you, Matt?
I bent my head sadly, making my way off the bridge.
Well, I had tried.
Then I had the feeling of dread again.
I scowled.
What in heaven’s name was going on?
But I had committed to listening to the feeling by starting this whole last tour of Pisew Falls thing, so it didn’t make sense to start ignoring it at this point.
I strode back out on to the bridge feeling the dread disappear. I searched everywhere for whatever had led me back out here, blowing out my breath in frustration when I couldn’t seem to find anything important.
I was about to leave, when I thought I would go all the way across the bridge again before I went back up — in the interests of being thorough, of course.
I got to the other side, and was about to turn around again when something caught my eye. I twisted my head to look over my shoulder and there it was.
One step less and I wouldn’t have been able to see it at all.
There was something bright red on the ground.
And beside it lay a body.
Matt
“Matt? Matt. Are you alright? What happened to your head? Can you move?”
I smiled to hear her voice. It was like a miracle.
“Matt? Can you talk?” She slapped my cheek. “Hey, talk to me. Tell me you’re okay. Or as okay as you can be with that gash on your head.”
After what I had been through, I could hardly believe it was her. That we were here. Together. That I had made it after everything that had happened. I frowned as my mind replayed the past days against my will. But none of that mattered now. Nessa was okay and we were together. The loud noise of the water rushing past filled my ears but I barely noticed.
I tried to speak but nothing came out except a grunt. I tried again and this time managed to talk.
“I’m okay,” I said, pressing my lips together and trying to ignore the memories that flooded my mind. I pushed the negative thoughts away and stared up at her concerned face, drinking her in.
Well, I was as okay as I could be under the circumstances.
“Good,” she said, seeming relieved and somehow at the same time worried. “I’m glad you’re okay enough to talk. But I have a feeling you’re going to need some help.”
She got me up and under a big pine tree with branches growing nearly to the ground where we could shelter for the night. I was still having trouble staying conscious and after only a couple minutes, I passed out again.
When I woke up, it was full night and Nessa was curled up next to me. Her eyes opened immediately when I moved a little.
“Matt? How are you feeling?”
And all of a sudden I was overcome with emotion. Being here now with her, after everything I had been through gave me such a feeling of relief that I felt overwhelmed.
“Oh God, Ness,” I said and she must have sensed what I was feeling because she sat up and leaned over me, pressing her lips to mine.
I kissed her back with all the longing and desperation that had filled me when I had thought that I wouldn’t see her again. I would have held her but my hands were still bound and I probably had some broken ribs that would make that difficult. When she let me up for air, I gazed into her eyes that looked like dark pools in the deepening evening.
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
When I remembered how close I had come to dying, fear spiked through my chest. None of that mattered, though, I reminded myself. I had found her and we were together. That was what was important.
Nessa’s eyes filled with tears at my words and she opened her mouth — probably to ask something about my story but there was no way I was telling her that. Not yet.
“Look, Nessa,” I said. “I know you have some questions about what happened to me but they’re going to have to wait. Alright?”
I studied her face and watched as her eyes went from concerned to resigned.
“Yes,” she said, with a sigh. “Now, how are we going to get your hands untaped? I won’t ask how you got them taped up in the first place because I sense that’s one of the questions that I’m not supposed to ask.”
“I promise to tell you everything sometime,” I said, not really feeling sure when that time would ever come.
She nodded.
“And you can get the knife out of my pocket.”
“Aw,” she said, looking irritated. “It’s been there all this time? I wanted to cut that off you right away but none of the rocks I found were sharp enough to pierce duct tape.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I said, watching as she took my knife out of my side pocket of my pants and carefully cut the tape off between my hands. I tried not to wince as she ripped it off my skin. Finally I was free. I stretched my arms a little, holding my breath when the movement reached my ribs and a stab of pain went through my entire body.
Nessa grimaced and pulled up my shirt. The expression on her face turned to dismay as she checked out my torso, which was likely pretty bruised by this point. I was glad I couldn’t see what I looked like.
“You think those ribs are broken?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “They’re for sure bruised. I fell from up there.”
With a nod of my head I indicated the edge of the cliff that I had fallen off of in my confusion yesterday.
“Are you kidding me?” she said, gazing up at the twenty foot drop, clearly appalled.
“Unfortunately, I’m not,” I said and then I felt another wave of sleepiness hit me. I hoped my head injury wasn’t serious but there was no way of telling.
“I see you didn’t lose the medicine.” She ran her finger under the edge of the money belt I still wore strapped to my b
ody.
I shook my head.
“No way.”
She clucked her tongue and cupped my cheek with her hand, giving me a kiss on the forehead.
“I’m falling asleep again, Ness,” I said, my eyes halfway closed already.
“Rest, Matt,” she said, clutching the large hunting knife in her hand as she kissed me gently on the forehead. “You’re safe. I’ll watch over you.”
And as I caught sight of the fierce look in her eyes, I had no doubt that she would.
Matt
We had considered waiting another day before we hiked to the lake but both of us were itching to get there, in spite of our injuries. We had slept curled up together for warmth — and comfort. But as soon as it was daylight, we got up and headed out.
Though it couldn’t have been more than seven o’clock, the bright sun was over the trees and already warming the air. I felt stiff but wonderful. Finally things were looking up. I had found Nessa and we were heading to the lake. Today. We would be there today.
When I stood up, my whole body felt sore, but better. Much better. Like I had healed a lot the night before. My head ached but my vision was clear and my brain didn’t feel fuzzy like it had the last day or so.
A squirrel startled me, running up the tree we had been sleeping under and I noticed that I actually had reflexes again. Thank goodness. I hadn’t been sure that I would be able to walk the last few kilometres to the lake but the way I was feeling this morning, I knew I could do it.
Nessa opened her eyes and immediately glanced around. When she spotted me she smiled, looking happy. Her hair was disheveled, her face was pale. And her clothes had definitely seen better days. But she looked beautiful to me with the happiness I saw on her face.
About a half hour later, we were slowly making our way down the river towards the bridge. It took us awhile because we were barefoot, our pants rolled up to keep them dry. Then when we had to splash into the icy water, only our feet got wet and they dried easily enough.
“So, you’re sure you can do this walk?” Nessa said, stepping off the rocks and wading in the shallow water around a large willow bush that was growing right down at the river’s edge. I watched her natural grace and caught my breath. She was so beautiful, even with her hair looking crazy and her hurt arm clutched against her chest.
“I’m sure, Ness,” I said, following her into the water and trying not to gasp at the frigid water. “I can’t tell you how much better I feel today. I mean, I’m sore and everything aches…”
She shot me a glance.
“But, that’s all it is. Everything is healing. I’m good. Okay? Stop worrying.”
“I’m not worrying,” she said, sounding grumpy.
“Hey,” I said, catching up to her on the next rock that was warm on my feet from the morning sun. I grabbed her good arm. “I wouldn’t mind if you did.”
She frowned and then searched my eyes as if she was looking for something. We gazed at each other and the moment stretched. We were finally startled by the sound of a branch breaking near the bridge that we had almost reached.
“What was that?” Nessa said, fear written all over her face. We both studied the forest. A couple minutes passed, while we scanned the area for what had made the noise. My breathing was coming fast and I could feel Nessa’s pulse beating rapidly against my hand because I hadn’t let her go.
But no one appeared.
Must have been an animal.
“Nothing, I guess,” I said, letting her arm go. But the knot in my stomach wouldn’t relax and I sat down to put on my shoes. Nessa did the same. It was all dry rock till we got to the path that led up to the park.
We made our way up the steep bank to the wooden stairs and climbed in silence.
“Matt,” Nessa said softly. “I wanted to ask you something…”
Her voice trailed off as she got to the fork in the path. To the left another wooden walkway led down to the bridge. And to the right the dirt path through the forest wound up the steep hill and eventually ended up at the park.
I looked at her to see what she was going to say but the look on her face made my guts churn. She was staring at something up the hill. I turned to see what it was, my body going into flight or fight response — muscles tensed, blood pumping, ready for the threat.
“Matt,” she said again, this time it was a whimper.
It was Brett and Zoe coming down the path.
I noted that this time they had brought a friend.
And they all had guns.
Nessa
No. No. No. No. No. No. No!
What were they doing here?
Goddamnit.
“Ness,” Matt said, grabbing for my hand and pulling me quietly to the left on the wooden walkway that went down to the suspension bridge. They hadn’t seen us, yet, too focused on picking their way down the sharp slope in order to maintain their footing.
Brett was moving pretty slowly with what looked like a lot of stiffness, probably from whatever injuries he had sustained from the homemade bomb. His neck and face looked odd and his arms were red but I had no time to figure out why.
We weren’t quite running but almost.
They really ought to take better care of this park because as we moved as fast as we could down the walkway, I tripped on a loose board and went down with a hard thump.
Matt pulled me up immediately but a shout went up from the little group. I turned to look and saw that Brett was yelling and pointing, a vicious, angry expression on his face.
A moment later, Zoe and the other guy were running full tilt down the hill towards us.
“Matt,” I said, pushing him. “Go, go.”
He started to run, letting go of my hand and I followed right behind. We tore along the walkway and clattered down the small sets of stairs between the long, straight stretches. My breath was coming hard already and if I ever survived this I vowed to finally get into shape.
I risked a look back and saw that Brett was still climbing carefully down the hill like his whole body hurt and Zoe and the other guy were gaining on us.
Matt had reached the stairs that turned once and then ended at the bridge, slipping down the last few steps but catching himself on the railing. He turned and looked back at me, a strange mixture of emotions in his eyes. Guilt, fear, sadness, and then it all turned into a fierce look of protectiveness. As I reached him, he took my shoulder and pushed me ahead of him.
“Run, Ness. Go,” he said, shoving me again until I started moving, running across the bridge. My fright only increased as we shook the bridge, which moved a fair amount when someone was only walking on it, and was now shaking and swaying back and forth making my stomach flip flop.
Soon we were across, though, and I panted as I ran up the flight of wooden steps on the other side. Ahead there was a set of natural steps that led up the hill — they were rocks that had somehow been cut by nature to form rough stairs. We both stepped off the stairs and ran up the path.
I had a stitch from all the running and climbing. And my hurt arm ached from all the movement. I glanced back and saw that Zoe and the man were on the stairs now, following us up.
“Keep going, Ness,” Matt said, taking a quick look back. “Follow the path to the falls and then take the left up the river.”
“I’m not leaving you again,” I said, anger flaring inside of me.
Did he think he had to be a big hero and save me?
I didn’t need him to save me. I needed him to be with me. I needed him to not die. We could fight them together.
“Of course not. But if we get separated, I’ll go that way, too.”
“Matt…” I said, wanting to argue with him but realizing that it was hardly the time.
Soon Matt was slightly ahead, his leg muscles bulging against his dirty pants as he clambered up the natural rocky steps that were set into the hillside. I followed closely behind hearing our pursuers steps behind me. I slipped, banging my knee hard on the edge of the last rock step and
letting out a groan.
Reaching out with my good hand, I clutched a thick tree root that had been exposed by all the feet walking the forest path. I pulled myself forward and scrambled up. Matt and I ran side by side till the path narrowed and I ended up in front.
The cool wind from my speed dried the sweat on my face but I could feel that my underarms and back were soaked. There was the sound of flesh hitting flesh behind me and I turned to see the man punch Matt, sending him reeling backwards.
No!
We were almost there. Almost safe. This wasn’t supposed to happen!
Zoe ran up and her eyes twisted with hatred when she turned them on me. She lifted the gun and aimed it right at me. I felt my eyes go big and a huge shot of adrenaline hit me like a starburst, energizing every muscle in my body to run.
When a shot hit the tree beside me, I realized that running probably wasn’t the best idea.
But I wasn’t thinking at that point.
I was running for my life.
Nessa
The meandering path through the open forest suddenly stopped at the river’s edge and I put on the brakes, breathing hard, my heart pounding. I did not want to fall in here.
From where I stood, I could only see beautiful morning sunlight sparkling on the smooth, calm river. But only a few feet away thousands of gallons of water poured over the forty foot rocky drop into a huge, churning, frothing whirlpool of certain death. The rushing of the waterfall filled my ears, overpowering every other sound.
Pisew Falls.
The proper pronunciation is something like pih-say-oh, it’s the Cree word for Lynx, which is like a Bobcat. Supposedly the sound of the falls is like a Lynx hissing. From here all it sounded like was the terrifying noise of being pushed under the water and dragged down, unable to breathe until either your neck was broken on one of the many rocks or you gave up and breathed in water, drowning in a quick and horrifying death.