Chapter One: Escaping
Dark leaves flitted before her eyes, the shadows sending chills down her spine. Tree trunks surrounded her, ghosts in the late dusk of autumn. Light, barely enough to generate the shadows, faded rapidly as she tiptoed through the foliage, cheeks pink and chilled, young eyes bright, yet sunken with sadness, breath coming easily after days of hiking. Stopping abruptly, she glanced around her, suddenly tense, but relaxed at the sight of no one. She hiked a few more meters before deciding on a resting point for the evening, sliding her arms out of her knapsack straps and sitting back against a thick, sturdy tree. She rummaged through her knapsack till she found a small blanket and a water bottle, then covered herself with the blanket and took a sip of water.
She felt too awake to sleep, yet knew she must, to keep her energy up, though she felt as though it would never drain. Though used to living with a huge lack of energy, the wilderness brought back everything she thought she had lost forever.
Everything, that is, except for one thing.
A rustling interrupted her thoughts, and she rolled to her knees groping for a stick, fingers finding purchase on a baseball-bat-sized stick. The rustling grew louder, and she froze.
A light flashed on, exposing his face. "Hi," he said brightly, and though he seemed friendly she waved the bat at him. "I'm not going to hurt you." He stepped back and held up his hands to show he held nothing but the flashlight.
"Who are you?" she tried to growl, but failed miserably, her voice betraying her fear.
"My name is Jarod." He paused and looked around. "You know, you shouldn't be camping in these woods all by yourself. You could run into a bear . . ."
"Yeah, yeah," she interrupted, surprised at her rudeness.
"Ashton is about two miles from here," he offered. "I can show you the way, and you can stay there."
"I don't have any money, and besides, I want to stay in the woods. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here."
"Is that why you're taking such foolish risks?"
"Keeps me on my toes."
"Are you running away?" he asked softly.
"No; I'll head back soon enough. This is scheduled time off."
He raised a solemn eyebrow, as if pondering her statement. "You never did tell me your name."
"That's because you don't need to know."
"How long have you been out in these woods?"
"How long do I have to tell you to go away?"
Again, Jarod raised his hands in a universal symbol of peace, turned, and left.
She sat back down, covered herself with her meager blanket, and shivered. There would be no sleeping that night. Curiosity crept through her brain, and before Jarod's shadow could disappear, she packed up her blanket and water bottle and followed the man at a distance, stick still clutched in one hand. He moved quickly, and she could barely keep his pace, much less discreetly, but she managed, though there were times she felt certain he knew she was following him. Ashton appeared, and she followed him through streets, creeping through shadows to avoid the glare of golden streetlights. Once, he glanced over his shoulder, and she ducked into an alley to avoid his notice when she heard the sound of heavy breathing and felt a hand clamp over her mouth.
Mind racing, she squirmed and kicked, but it was of no use. She could not escape her captor's grip. Her consciousness deteriorated with the panic . . . until she felt herself released and ran like never before.
"Ma'am?" The voice was familiar, but it took a while for her to place it.
Jarod, she realized finally and stopped running, turning toward where he stood, a man lying on the cement beside him.
"Are you okay?"
Panting, she nodded, her panic reverting to sobs.
"You're safe now," he reassured her, walking over to squeeze her hand.
Grateful, she managed, "Ari. My name . . . Ari."
"It's good to meet you, Ari."
"Shouldn't we . . ." Her voice trailed off.
"Shouldn't we what?"
"Call the police."
Jarod pulled out a cellular phone and dialed a number, providing a description of the location and nature of the attempted crime. Finally, he put his phone away. "They'll be here," he said.
"Is he . . ."
"Dead? No. Just unconscious. And he'll stay that way until the police are here. I promise."
Ari nodded.
"Why were you in the woods?"
She stared at him for a moment, trying to remember herself, for the recent drama had brought about a temporary change in her priorities.
"Escaping," she confessed.
"Escaping what?"
"Aloneness." She closed her eyes, and it all came back, the isolation, the frustration, the despair.
"The middle of nowhere isn't the best place to find company."
"I'd given up trying to find company. I wanted to escape being lonely. I can't do that when there are people around."
"Why not?"
"Because."
"Because of what?"
A siren sounded in the distance, growing nearer and nearer until she saw the police car, followed directly by an ambulance. Jarod rose to greet them. Ari shied into the background as the man spoke, but she could not escape the police's notice. They questioned her shortly, then rode off with the man in tow.
"I know someone," Jarod began, "whom you could stay with tonight. Her name is Mama Moses. At least, that's what everyone calls her. She lives about a quarter mile from here. Are you up for the walk?"
Ari shrugged slowly, but followed Jarod anyway.
"Do your parents know you're gone?"
Ari shuffled her feet, as if to avoid the question. Then, "No," she said. "Of course, they're gone for the week, so they're not looking for me." Under her breath, she added, "No one's looking for me."
"You don't know that," Jarod said.
"You weren't supposed to hear that," Ari shot back. "Though you're right, I guess; I can't know everything." Her tone darkened. "But I know enough."
"And what do you know?"
Ari's eyebrows knit together in befuddlement. "Why would I tell you? I don't even know you."
Jarod declined to remark past the next few street lights, stopping before a slightly weathered but otherwise gorgeous Victorian style home. "Mama Moses' house," he explained, then stepped up onto the porch to ring the doorbell.
An elderly lady answered the door and smiled, delighted. "Jarod. Come in, come in." She paused at the sight of Ari.
"She needs a place to stay for the night," Jarod explained.
Mama Moses nodded, understanding, then said in a bright tone, "Well, Jarod, any friend of yours is welcome to stay as long as they want." She welcomed the two in and asked, "What's your name, honey?"
"Ari, ma'am. Thank you for letting me stay here."
"No trouble at all. Would either of you like some tea? I've just baked some cookies for the church potluck tomorrow, but I think I can spare a few."
"Um . . ." Ari began.
"Please," said Jarod, so Ari followed him into the kitchen, where Mama Moses offered them a seat at the table. She pulled a container filled with cookies from the counter and set it before them, then set to work pouring their milk.
"You know," began Jarod, "I've seen some fascinating commercials on TV."
"'Got milk?' Hmm?" Ari deadpanned.
"Yes," Jarod said brightly and raised his glass to take a sip.
Ari smiled at his childlike
innocence, taking a few more bites of cookie as she listened to Jarod and
Mama Moses talk. Slowly, her eyes began to droop, and before she
knew it, Mama Moses was leading her upstairs and to bed, Jarod having waved
good-night and left. Ari lay her head on a down pillow, pulled the
heavy quilt over her head, and soon fell asleep.