Parahuman (Parahuman Series)

by S. L. Hess

Devan’s thoughts were in turmoil over what Laney could be experiencing at the moment. That Jarrod had had her in his possession for ten hours was generating an emotional avalanche. The anger he’d had been feeling just thirty minutes ago at the thought of leaving was nothing compared to the savagery flowing through him right now. It was a consuming conflagration…that he didn’t bother to control. In fact Devan could feel his senses heightening as a result of it. He could feel the blood humming through his veins; his hairs were all standing on end, and the air coming in through the window seemed more heavily scented than ever before.

  There were a number of vehicles lining the road and parked in the ditches at the turn off to the falls. Continuing on past for another mile Devan found an alcove off the road and out of sight to park the jeep.

  Stepping to the back of the jeep he open the back hatch and pulled on his hunting vest and slipped his assortment of knives into the fixed sheaths on the front. Every pocket on his vest had something of use, a flashlight, navigational device, rope, matches, water flask, and some first aide. His vest wasn’t the standard orange vest, it was camouflage. He didn’t go out into the woods to be seen, the opposite actually.

  Reaching back in the jeep Devan decided to take the crossbow instead of the longbow for this undertaking. He slung that over his left shoulder along with the quiver and arrows.

  Supplied with what he needed Devan ran full out for the falls staying alert for any portion of the search party. When he was within one hundred yards of the falls Devan slowed detecting strong human odors in the wind, but he could see that the only thing that lingered were the people’s scent, not the individuals themselves. Secure that he was alone he continued into the clearing.

  The area was completely saturated with the smell of humans, many of them. A collection of different deodorants, shampoos, and soaps lingered heavily in the air as well as coffee and donuts.

  The search party had trampled the area, obliterating any possibility of finding a physical trail; which meant that the only way Devan was going to find the trail was through scent. The only problem was the immediate area was contaminated by all the other smells. Devan was going to have to extend his grid search beyond this segment to diminish the number of odors overlapping one another. Laney’s scent would be easier to locate and track without the interference of four dozen other individuals masking it.

  Striding out fifty yards Devan began to meticulously sniff every branch and leaf for any detection of Laney’s scent or Jarrod’s imitation pine scent deodorant and musk cologne.

  Each minute seemed like an hour as he worked his way around the grid. Thoughts began to torture him that he might be in the wrong place. What if Jarrod had taken her someplace else? Could he have left his truck as a red herring? Devan hadn’t thought of Jarrod as being that clever but he’d only come across the guy a few times. Devan really didn’t know anything about him, only that he was obsessed with Laney, and loathed Devan.

  Heck, in one way they had that in common…their obsession with Laney. Only Devan had been trying his best to pull away while Jarrod had been doing his utmost to get closer. Laney had made the comment that Jarrod’s odd behavior had coincided with Devan’s arrival on the scene, and he realized that this kidnapping undoubtedly occured as a result of Devan’s presence in Laney‘s life.

  Crushing grief settled alongside the savage anger he was feeling. It was an emotional barrage inside his head and chest.

  The minutes continued to tick by. Additional thoughts flooded Devan’s head on what Jarrod could possibly be doing to her. It added to his maelstrom of emotions and he began to become more agitated by the second.

  Finally, after five minutes, a faint smell of Laney and cinnamon drifted in the wind past Devan’s nose. Yes! He would know her scent anywhere. Jarrod’s scent was there along with a few others. This told him that at least one search party was going in the right direction.

  Finding Laney’s scent loosened one of the chords that had wrapped itself around Devan’s heart, allowing it to beat a little easier, but there were at least a dozen more coiled around it hindering its ability to beat normally. He inhaled her natural fragrance deeply into his sinuses, letting it imbed itself there. As he did Jarrod and Laney’s trail lit up like a beacon and Devan was on it instantly, running and jumping as fast as he could.

  For the first half hour the forest whipped past Devan in a blur. When the scent would start to weaken he would stop, realign himself, and set off again. Around five miles into the woods the group who had been lucky enough to find the correct route altered their course, which took them north-east of the trail.

  As Devan shadowed their route he noticed that there were no digressions or doubling back; it was as though Jarrod knew where he wanted to go; like he had a set location in mind.

  When Devan hit the thirteen mile mark the scents deviated sharply from their easterly route, turning south-east instead. This new trail was more trampled than the other; more branches were broken and the marks left in the ground were deeper and farther apart. Like someone was running…running away…and another person followed, chasing after them.

  Had Laney tried to get away and Jarrod ran after her? Devan’s heart pounded at the idea. He so wanted her to be as far away from that guy as possible.

  Thirty yards into the new trail Devan came across a deep indent in the dirt, like someone had fallen. Crouching down he inhaled, smelling the distinct aroma of blood. Examining the ground he found a small stick contained a small amount of blood on one of the points indicting that whoever had been cut only obtained a scratch. Whether it belonged to Laney or Jarrod was the question, and though Devan knew it was only a scratch his anxiety for Laney deepened.

  The trail continued on for another fifty yards and then split, one going west, one going east. Devan paused, thinking. Looking down the western path he could almost visualize Laney running to get away, stumbling through the brush, panicking as Jarrod pursued her. And then Devan saw Jarrod catching up with her, stopping her, and hauling her back through the same trail to go back the way of his intended route.

  His heart raged at the thought. That she had tried to get away meant she was concerned for her safety. What was Jarrod using to coerce her; a knife or possibly a gun? Devan’s torment and fury shot up another notch at that contemplation.

  He turned and followed the eastern trail, his eyes blazing over the path, seeking more clues to what could be happening. After another two miles he came across more indentations in the earth…another fall. They had both hiked approximately fifteen miles up to this point, they had to be tired. Checking his phone Devan saw that it was eleven. Where it had taken them several hours to get to this point it had taken him only an hour.

  A few feet from the depression Devan found a torn piece of cloth snagged on a branch. It was of a light weight material…silky and thin. He plucked it from the branch as he ran by and raised it to his nose…Laney. The idea that she wore such a thin material wasn’t comforting. It was only mid-spring and the temperatures dropped considerably at night, particularly in this high mountain region. It had been in the low thirties last night.

  Devan was passing the seventeenth mile, scanning the surrounding area when his gaze latched onto a structural dwelling set in a group of trees. It was a small, ten by ten hunting cabin completely covered by brush, making it almost undetectable―at least to most eyes.

  The scent trail went straight towards it, and it was strong; indicating that they’d arrived at the cabin not too long ago.

  Devan was still quite a distance from it, over two hundred yards at least, but he crouched instinctively. His heart quickened at the thought that Laney was just ahead, in that building, with Jarrod. The last thought elicited a low feral growl from deep inside his chest.

  All was still around the cabin. Devan was able to see fresh foot prints leading up to and into the building, a positive sign that someone was in there, but unfortunately there were no windows so he wasn’t able to peer inside.

  T
his had to be the destination Jarrod had in mind the entire time; the trail had been too linear for it to be otherwise. Had Laney known this cabin was here? Did her father know? Devan hadn’t seen hide-nor-hair of the search party since the five mile marker.

  Devan wanted to run right in there, grab Laney, and give Jarrod the beating of his life The urge to get to her almost overpowered his rational thinking, but he breathed through it knowing that wasn’t the sensible move to make at the moment. He didn’t know what kind of weapon Jarrod had, and he would have to have something to be able to coerce Laney all this way. She wouldn’t have let him otherwise.

  No, Devan needed to get Jarrod to come out; for him to show his weapon.

  Moving to within fifty yards of the cabin Devan was still unable to hear any sounds. He told himself that it was because they were probably too tired from their hike; he wouldn’t let himself think of any other reason.

  Scaling a large oak tree that was facing the entrance of the cabin Devan took a position on a branch halfway up in the concealment of the foliage. He was relieved to find that the climb had caused no twinges in his arm. He hadn’t checked it this morning, but he was sure that all the subcutaneous tissue had now mended, and instead of deep slashes they probably looked like kitten scratches now.

  Unhooking the bow from his back Devan loaded it with an arrow. If Jarrod made himself an obvious target he wouldn’t hesitate it take it. Taking a medium sized stone out of his pocket Devan gave it a good toss at the side of the building. The stone arced through the air making a resounding ‘thunk’ as it hit the outside wall, and he finally heard something of interest from inside…a soft creak and some footsteps. Devan waited with the bow aimed at the door, hungry for any sign of Laney. The footsteps halted at the door, as though uncertain whether to open it. Devan held his breath, almost chanting for it to open.

  After ten excruciating seconds the cabin door eventually cracked open and he was able to see an arm, unfortunately the body stayed out of his range of sight. Devan may have better than average sight but he still couldn’t see through doors. After another second a head peaked around the corner of the door, looking around. It was dark in the cabin but Devan could see just as clearly as if it was lit up with a spot light. It was Jarrod. Devan could also see what he held in his right hand; a 44 hunting revolver…with a scope.

  Devan’s gaze slid past him rapidly searching for any glimpse of Laney. All he was able to glimpse was a part of a silky clad leg on a cot before the door closed and everything was blocked from view. It all took three seconds; from when Jarrod peered around the door to when he closed it.

  Laney had been in the shot trajectory and Devan had been unwilling to take a shot that might have gone astray. Devan was confident in his bow abilities, but he wasn’t going to take a chance with Laney’s life.

  The revelation that Jarrod had a gun wasn’t good news. It meant that any attempt at subduing him would have to be foolproof. If he wasn’t incapacitated completely or relieved of the gun he would have a chance to use it. Devan wouldn’t be much help to Laney if he got shot and he certainly didn’t want to put her in danger.

  His thoughts were interrupted by a quiet voice from the cabin.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “Jarrod, what are we going to do now?” Laney asked wearily. She was cold, tired and her feet hurt. She’d curled herself up in the corner of this shack they’d come across as soon as he’d pushed her in the door. They had been hiking all night and she’d bypassed frightened to exhausted a few miles past. She was still concerned, but she didn’t have the energy for full out scared.

  When Jarrod had text her close midnight saying that he was outside her house and needed to apologize she’d been stupefied. While he definitely needed to kiss some butt for his jackhole behavior she didn’t understand why he felt the need to do this in the middle of the night. So she’d text back the she was happy he was going to apologize but that he’d have to wait till tomorrow when it was light out. She’d laid down to go back to sleep, but then a few minutes later he’d had texted back and threatened to go to the police about Devan’s so called assault that afternoon if she didn’t come out and talk to him.

  Those words had her hopping out of bed in fury; first, because he’d lied about his so-called apology, and second, because he’d threatened Devan with the one thing that would make him run.

  So Laney had thrown a coat on over her silky pajama pants and tank, slipped into a pair of booty slippers, and gone out to talk to him. He’d been sitting in his truck near the garage and as soon as she’d climbed in Jarrod had immediately launched in to complaints that ever since Devan had appeared Laney had completely forgotten her real friends. That she was dumping them all so she could spend all her time with Devan. He’d gone on and on about it and couldn’t seem to comprehend that it was his own behavior that had morphed into something contrary to his normal conduct.

  When she wouldn’t listen to him anymore and made to go inside that’s when he’d pulled the gun. She’d been completely shocked at the sight of it and had almost laughed, whether from nervousness or in disbelief she wasn’t sure, but Jarrod’s serious tone when he’d grabbed her arm and told her she was coming with him had smothered the laughter real quick.

  He’d driven out to the falls and made her hike through the woods with the gun pointed at her the entire way. She couldn’t understand what had gotten into him. He’d always been a little high-strung, but they’d known each other forever, and it just didn’t make sense that he was doing this.

  Any minute she expected to wake up and for all this to fade away, but that wasn’t going to happen, and as cliché as it sounded a part of her waited for Devan to come save her. She just knew that if anyone could find her it would be him. However, the way Jarrod felt about him there might actually be some shooting, and while the gun made her nervous she really didn’t think Jarrod would truly shoot her…at least she was pretty sure.

  Jarrod turned from looking out the front door after hearing a noise outside. “It’s not like I planned any of this, Laney. If you would have just listened to me this would have never happened. I’ve been in your life for a long time, longer than that Devan guy, but would you take the time to listen to me…No! Instead, you just spent more time with him and ignored me.”

  Laney wanted to argue about him not planning this; because carrying around a gun wasn’t his normal MO. Instead, she remained calm and tried to get him to see reason. “I came out to talk to you, didn’t I? We’re still friends, but you were acting like I couldn’t be friends with other people.”

  Jarrod expression twisted angrily. “You didn’t want to be just friends with him. I saw the way you looked at him. You never looked at me that way.” Jarrod’s voice rose in an alarming way and Laney tensed.

  “I didn’t know you wanted me to look at you that way.” Laney replied carefully.

  Jarrod frowned. “How could you have not known how I felt about you? When your mom was sick I was there for you, when she died I was there for you, all those months afterwards I was there for you.”

  Laney nodded. “Yes, you were, and I thought it was because we were friends. It was the same when your mom left and I was there for you.” Laney was still having a hard time figuring out why Jarrod was doing this.

  “That’s right, we’ve been there for each other,” Jarrod said heatedly moving closer. “With all that’s happened to us…well…it’s like were connected.”

  Laney stared at him in mystification. Was he thinking on spiritual planes or something? “We are linked…in friendship, and because we’ve grown up together. That’s all I’ve ever thought was between us, Jarrod.”

  “If this Devan character hadn’t shown up it could have turned into something more, but he ruined it all.” Jarrod looked down at the gun in his hand. Laney’s heart skipped beat at that look.

  “Our relationship has nothing to do with Devan. You’ve been in my life forever Jarrod and you will always have a special place in my life.” L
aney said urgently.

  “It could be more, I love you Laney. I believe you could love me too if you just gave us a chance.” Jarrod’s words were fervent as he walked closer.

  Laney shrank back at the look in his eyes and the gun in his hand. He bent down on one knee and ran his fingers through her hair. The gun rested on his knee and was aimed straight at her. Laney had a hard time pulling her gaze from the barrel up to Jarrod’s face. His hand had moved from her hair to her face and neck, moving downward.

  “Jarrod…don’t…please.” Laney choked pleadingly. This really couldn’t be happening. If she could just get that gun away from him…God, she couldn’t shot him, but she could definitely threaten him with it, maybe even hit him upside the head with it…really hard.

  A scratching noise outside against the walls of the cabin caught both their attention. Jarrod swiveled around raising his gun and Laney gasped at the action. He stood up walking over to the door, but didn’t open it. It had probably only been an animal but Laney wasn’t going stop him from looking. It at least took his attention away from her.

  Jarrod unlatched the small wooden bar that locked the door and slowly cracked open the door peering out the slit he’d made. Apparently comfortable that it was safe he opened it further and stuck his head out.

  All of a sudden he flew backward across the small shack and another body rushed inside. Laney couldn’t stop her startled scream as Jarrod crashed into the opposite wall hard causing the boards against her back to shake from the impact. The person that had charged in was now holding Jarrod up by the front of his shirt while Jarrod’s body was slumped inert; his head lolled to the right and Laney could see through the blood coating his face that he was knocked out cold.

  Laney’s gaze jerked to the figure holding Jarrod up and her heart swelled as tears filled her eyes. He’d come; Devan had found her. Cliché’s rocked.

  “Devan?” She whispered, hoping like heck that she wasn’t in some exhausted dream state.