Empath: The Flawed Series Book One

by Becca J. Campbell

  “The only problem is that my truck’s a good hour’s hike from here, and you aren’t wearing hiking boots.” He gestured down at her feet. “It’s a little far—and pretty rocky. And if you haven’t eaten lunch yet, you’re going to be starving by the time you get back. Do you want to grab a sandwich at my campsite before we hit the trails? Or are you in a big hurry? It’s just past those trees.”

  Her stomach growled loudly. He chuckled, and she blushed.

  “Guess I was right about lunch, huh?”

  “Thanks. That’s nice of you.”

  He held his hand out to her. “What’s your name?”

  “Jade Edwards.” She shook his hand.

  “I’m Logan Henry. The campsite’s this way.”

  It was only a few hundred feet before she glimpsed a gray peak through the trees. A small tent was planted in the middle of a clearing, next to which were several coolers and a camping chair. Only the smallest sliver of light filtered down through the canopy above, highlighting the campsite.

  “I didn’t realize there was a campground here.”

  “There isn’t. It’s just a place I found once when I was hiking. I like the fact that it’s remote. Sometimes I have to get away from civilization.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “Do you camp out much?”

  “No. I never have,” she said, wondering why that was. Suddenly the idea of camping struck her as the perfect way to find the escape she needed. “What I meant was, I need to get away, too. I definitely get wanting to be alone.”

  Logan opened one of the coolers, and rummaged inside. “Is chicken salad okay?”

  “Sure, that sounds great.” Jade’s empty stomach thanked her for staying for lunch. She wondered if she should be uneasy about taking food from a stranger. But she trusted her sixth sense more than anything, and it said he was okay.

  He pulled out several sandwich bags, apples, and sodas. “Is this all right, or would you rather have water?”

  “It’s great.”

  Logan set the food down on a large rock in the center of the clearing and plopped the camping chair beside it. “Have a seat.” He sat on a rock nearby.

  “This is really good,” she said after wolfing down a few bites. “Did you make these yourself?”

  “Yeah. The Food Network is my guilty pleasure. That Ina Garten has some really tasty recipes.” At her surprised expression, he shrugged and cleared his throat. “So, how is it that you ended up lost in the middle of the forest without proper footwear?”

  “I didn’t really plan ahead. I needed a break from school, and taking a hike sounded refreshing. Like I said, I had other things on my mind.”

  Logan grunted, his mouth full of food.

  “What about you?” she asked. “What made you come out here all by yourself? It’s not even the weekend. I mean, don’t guys usually take camping trips in a group as some sort of bonding experience or something?” The words seemed to come out in a rush. She hadn’t planned on speaking so much, but something about him made her want to talk.

  “I go camping all the time when classes are over. It’s sort of my routine to come out here. Usually for a week or two at a time.”

  “Are you in college?” she asked, surprised, since he seemed older.

  “No, I’m an adjunct professor at Colorado College. And to answer the second part of your original question,” he continued, “I’d rather be alone than sit around with a group of lazy guys who only want to escape their wives and drink themselves silly. I like to spend my time working on my photography portfolio or writing—in between hiking expeditions, that is.”

  “I go to Colorado College, too.”

  “Really? I’m surprised I’ve never seen you on campus. I’m there so much that sometimes it feels like my first home.”

  “I’ve only taken online classes—until now, that is. The intersession class I’m in now is the first one I’ve actually taken on campus.”

  “What are you studying?”

  “I’m undecided. I’ve only been taking a few classes at a time, and I’m nowhere near a degree yet. Hopefully the summer classes will get me there a little faster, but at this point it feels like it’ll be ages until I graduate.” Not to mention her problem being around people.

  When they’d finished eating, Logan stuffed all the trash into a garbage bag and a large, plastic container with an odd, locking closure device.

  “You lock up your trash?”

  “It’s a bear-proof waste bin.”

  “Is that really necessary?”

  “Better safe than sorry. When people get careless, bears can turn aggressive. They can smell food a long way off.”

  She cocked her head at him. “You a bear expert?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve watched a lot of nature shows.”

  The back of her neck prickled. She imagined meeting a bear out here. A loud crack made her jump suddenly, but a second later raindrops landed on her hand, and then again on her cheek. She looked up at the sky. Dark clouds had moved in, sending the sun into hiding.

  Logan glanced up, then gestured at the tent. “Come on.”

  She grabbed her hoodie as he snatched first a small black bag from the ground, and then a camera from a nearby rock.

  They didn’t beat the rain. A few seconds after the first drops, the clouds opened up and the sky showered on them. The only saving grace was the foliage above, which tried its best to shield them from the downpour.

  Logan unzipped the tent and they scrambled inside. While he fastened the door, Jade scanned the interior. The tent was barely tall enough inside for her to stand up, but it was large for only one person. There was a sleeping bag near the left corner made up with a pillow and blanket. On the right sat a large hiking backpack. A stack of journal-sized notebooks, some other books, and a tripod were strewn beside it.

  She plopped down, cross-legged, in the middle of the tent. Logan sat next to her and examined the camera. He rummaged through the bag and pulled out a cloth and a bottle of solution. Then he began to carefully wipe the camera where rain and dirt had spattered. He was silent while he worked, absorbed in his task, and for a while Jade just listened to the downpour. Any traces of lingering tension dissolved with the rain. Something about Logan’s methodical, calm motions relaxed her. The silence was comfortable. In a way, she almost felt like she was with an old friend. But how was this possible? How could someone just turn off his emotions? His lack of feelings was slightly unnerving. What did it mean?

  “Can I ask you something?” she asked. Then she grimaced. “It’s kind of weird.”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “What are you feeling… right now?”

  “Feeling?” There was a pause as he considered her question. “Nothing, I guess, just a sense of peace. The sound of the rain is nice.”

  She pondered his answer. Was peace an emotion or the lack thereof? She’d always thought of peace as a feeling, but now, in this setting of complete and perfect tranquility, her own emotions came alive again. Sitting only a foot away from her was another person, and yet she wasn’t sensing his emotions, only her own mixed feelings.

  This phenomenon didn’t happen with even her closest friends. It was something she’d only experienced with her mother and father. She wondered if she should be worried. It was odd that she felt so at home with a stranger.

  She watched the unusual man clean his camera, sitting so close but unaware of her focus on him. How could he remain in such a state of perfect peace, devoid of emotion? She studied his features, as if they might hold a clue. His face was calm, but his hair was tousled and damp from the rain. One lingering raindrop trickled down the side of his face and across the sharp line of his unshaven jaw. His hazel eyes were bright, even in the shadowy tent. He looked striking—almost wild—as he worked.

  She wasn’t prepared for the surge of attraction that welled up inside—her own strong emotion, and at a time when she wasn’t alone. It intensified both her breathing and her he
art rate. Fortunately, Logan didn’t seem to notice. A drop of water fell from the ceiling of the tent onto her arm and ran down the inside of her elbow. Despite the warmth inside her, she shivered.

  At that, he looked up and turned to grab the flannel blanket from off the sleeping bag. He slung it around her shoulders and, in doing so, moved closer to her but somehow seemed oblivious to the fact that their knees were touching. The warmth of his leg burned through Jade’s jeans, even with only the very small spot of contact at the tip of her knee. The warmth radiated all the way to her fingertips.

  After a few minutes, the sound of the rain turned to a trickle, leftover raindrops dripping from branches. Logan crawled over to the tent door, unzipped it, and peered outside.

  “It looks like the worst has passed. You ready to head back now?”

  “Sure,” Jade was still taken by his presence—or lack thereof.

  She crawled out of the tent and looked up at the sky through the treetops. “The sun’s coming out.”

  “That’s good. Hopefully we’ll have clear skies for the hike back. Your shoes will get muddy, though.”

  They began the trek, following a dirt path from the clearing into the forest. Jade memorized her surroundings this time. The trail was covered with rocks and leaves, but unlike the one she’d followed into the woods, it was never completely obscured. She wondered how often Logan came here to keep the path worn down, especially if he was the only one who knew about the clearing and the lookout bluff.

  Jade was in her own world, not paying attention, when her toe struck a rock, sending her flying. When she yelped, Logan spun, and barely caught her before she fell. Instinctively, she threw her hands out to block the fall, but instead ended up flinging herself into him.

  Heat crept over her cheeks. “I’m sorry!”

  “Are you are all right?”

  She nodded and pulled back quickly. She’d expected the hard blow to knock the breath out of him, but he hadn’t even flinched.

  After that, he stayed closer to her. He turned back frequently to check on her, and reached out several times where the path was slick to take her elbow. Eventually they reached the end of the forest, where a well-worn, blue Ford truck was parked in a gravel lot. They climbed inside and began the search for her car. After a while, Jade spotted the lane where she’d turned off earlier. They followed it and found her car.

  “Wow,” he said. “You were on the complete opposite side of the mountain.”

  “That’s weird. I didn’t realize we’d walked so far.” All that time without feeling anything…

  “It was nice to meet you, Jade. Maybe I’ll see you around campus sometime.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” She wondered if it were true. “Thanks for the sandwich. And for helping me get unlost.”

  “Anytime,” he said with a warm smile. “Rescuing you wasn’t so bad.”

  Jade returned the smile. “I really appreciate it.” And meeting you wasn’t so bad, either.

  ~

  Magnificent.

  Ethan sat in the dirt, hidden in the shadow of a creosote bush, watching the animal. Some might be terrified by being so near a dangerous creature, but the only feeling gripping him was the thrill of adrenaline. The moon’s faint rays glinted off the sleek snake, highlighting its diamond pattern. A Mohave rattlesnake.

  He itched to lunge out, but patience was a valuable tool he knew well. Controlling the urge, he held his breath and waited for the snake to slither closer to him. When it was at the ideal spot, his arm snapped out lightning-quick and snatched the rattlesnake. He held the writhing creature between his fingers, pinching at the back of its neck where it couldn’t harm him.

  Bringing it inches from his face, he gazed at his prize for a few moments. He admired its power—the wild thrashing of its tail, the telltale rattle at the end shaking angrily. The contrasting dark and light shapes on its back made it a striking specimen. The snake’s jaw opened wide. It hissed loudly, displaying razor-sharp fangs. Beautiful.

  His collection had been incomplete for too long, but now he was one creature closer to a perfect set.

  After a moment, he reached into the backpack and retrieved a large glass jar. He unscrewed the perforated metal lid and lowered the snake inside, speaking in a soft voice. “I know it’s a bit cramped, but this is only for a short while. I have a much more comfortable space waiting for you.” He carefully screwed the lid back onto the jar, eased it into his backpack, and shouldered the bag.

  He breathed in the warm, dry air, stood, and made his way across the deserted plain. A nocturnal hunter, he thrived in the darkness like the rest in his collection of creatures. The night's potential for producing victims was so much greater than the day's.

  Caught thrashing in a whirlpool of emotions where treading water meant failing exams, Jade struggled through her intersession class. It took all her concentration to keep her face calm and unaffected by the moods around her. She could almost manage the façade for an entire class period now. Unfortunately, with the level of focus it required, there wasn’t much room left in her mind for absorbing the material. And there was the additional problem that she had skipped a few classes.

  After class on the Friday of her second, intense week, Jade allowed the eagerness exuding from one classmate to propel her past the other students and through the door. It had been an especially grueling day, and she needed out.

  As the emotions around her faded, Jade wondered how in the world she was going to pass philosophy class. She couldn’t recall a word the teacher had said that day, and her frenzied notes resembled the scrawling of a kindergartner—less than legible. She sighed, wishing she didn’t have to be stuck indoors studying all weekend.

  The campus was nearly deserted, it being Friday afternoon during summer break. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny with a mild breeze. She wandered toward an empty bench in the shade of a large fir tree and sat down, plunking her book bag next to her. Maybe she could capture a few minutes of calm before she had to tackle her grocery list and brave the depressed singles in the frozen foods section.

  “Well, hello there.”

  That’s odd. She hadn’t felt the emotional presence of anyone else. She spun around, and a familiar face greeted her. He resembled the rugged woodsman she’d met in the forest a few weeks back, but there were some major differences. Today Logan had only a trace of a five-o’clock shadow. His hair was much shorter—barely long enough for some of the thick, brown waves at the top to hint at unruliness. His eyes met hers, reminding her how she’d felt the last time she’d peered into them.

  “Hi. You got a haircut. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

  “What? Oh, yeah, I guess I did.” He looked thrown off for a moment, but quickly recovered. “I thought you weren’t on campus much.”

  “Not usually. But it’s so nice out today that I decided to enjoy it for a bit.”

  Logan eased onto the end of the bench and turned to face her. “How’s your class going?”

  She looked down and dug the toe of her shoe into the dirt. “Not too great, actually. I’m having trouble figuring it out.”

  “Really? What subject?”

  “Philosophy.”

  His face brightened, almost with excitement. “Plato, Aristotle, Parmenides?”

  “All of it, I think. I don’t really remember specifics. It’s all Greek to me.” She smiled wryly.

  “Well, I’ve studied philosophy quite a bit, and even subbed in a class once or twice if you want some help.”

  “Really? Are you sure?” She sighed. “I have a huge test next week and I have no idea how I’m going to pass it.”

  “It’d be no problem. I’m free tomorrow. Would you like a studying partner?”

  “That would be great. You’re a total lifesaver!”

  “No problem. Where do you want to meet?”

  Jade thought for a moment. “How about the library? Around ten o’clock?”

  “That’ll work. I’ll see you then.” Logan rose to l
eave.

  At first surprised by her own uninterrupted happiness, Jade realized she was looking forward to their time together. Now to conquer the grocery store.

  ~

  Cold air pricked Ethan’s skin as he stepped into the lot of the twenty-four-hour grocery store, feeling his shoes crunch a loose patch of asphalt. The impatient cab driver hadn’t been courteous enough to drop him at the door (one of the problems with prepaying), but he didn’t mind the chance to stretch his legs across the dark, nearly deserted lot. He was rarely impatient, and liked to fully enjoy even the smallest of tasks. Like this one: picking up a bottle of wine for his date later in the evening.

  When he shut the car door, the taxi zoomed off. He could’ve asked the cabbie to wait, but stealth was paramount. He tried not to use any driver too often, which was one reason nomadic living benefited his hobby.

  He took in a deep breath of the cool Colorado air—so different from that of Arizona—and scanned the lot. The dinky streetlamps did little in the way of illumination. A lone car was parked at the corner, shrouded in darkness.

  He thought about his upcoming date, the waitress he’d met at lunch, Carrie—or was it Sherrie? Her name eluded him at the moment, but it wasn’t important anyway. After he met at her place, he’d suggest going somewhere secluded—romantic, she’d think. Maybe the overlook on the bluffs… yes, that was the perfect spot. The drop-off would be smashing—literally. She’d mentioned a fear of heights. That made it a perfect spot to play on her fears. He licked his lips just thinking about it.

  At that moment, he noticed a young woman cross the unlit corner of the lot. Her arms were full of grocery bags that blocked her face, but he watched until she neared the single car. On pins and needles, he waited for her profile to come into view, and when it did, he gasped. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder, digging for her keys. Her thin figure and pristine, ivory complexion confirmed she was most definitely his type.

  Ethan eyed her for a moment, wishing he could cancel his evening’s plans on a whim and focus on this girl instead. He juggled the idea of each woman, considering a change of plans. At the same time, she juggled her bags precariously, navigating her purse.