"If you love something let it go. If it comes back it's yours, but if it doesn't, it never was" what bullshit she thought to herself as a bitter drop of sweat slid into her mouth welcomed by a parched tongue. Not in the rainfall could quenched a twisting dry sting that welled up in the back of her throat.
She felt her boots sinking into the mud she worried about them being pulled clean off her feet as she struggled to move forwards. The forest was a maze that stretch in every direction it kept her from seeing the stars but even if she could it was too rainy to look up without being blinded by rain that felt like rocks. She used her glove hand and whipped the water dripping from her hair it stuck to her neck like a wet rag nearly being shoulder length 'I need a haircut' she thought to herself. She was lucky that none of her superiors could see her getting in trouble for long hair is not something she wants.
Not like it would matter anyway unless she met back up with her squad. In the tyranny rain and mudslides she had been separated from her men. She could still exchange information which barley help their situation as there wasn't even a way she could pinpoint her location. It wasn't impossible, but not possible at the time.
'God I wish I had my XM radio I hate missing my shows' the silence and lack of human contact always left her feeling terribly depressed. A thunderbolt brought her back to here and now. She came to a hill that trees hanged to as if for dear life. 'I could climb that' she thought as she felt fatigue slowly gnaw at her. Her BDU clung uncomfortably to her skin making her stiff and her equipment seemed even heavier than fifty pounds should be. She had to find a position that was dry or she wouldn't catch a chill and she was days away from a hospital or a military base. Her hand went to the first tree when someone spoke to her.
"Are you lost, child?" a thick accented voice asked her 'English is excellent, though strangely toned' she spun around trying to locate where the voice came from what she could observe and hear it was coming from all around her.
"COME OUT! With your hands on your head…" her voice sounded horse, she aimed to where the footsteps where closes.
What she saw was a man in his 30s he had earrings, dark clothes that matched shoulder length hair that was pulled back 'euro trash? Ha really,' but he was deadly handsome like a euro Ted Bundy. But the stranger detail was he was not wearing anything to protect himself from the rain.
"Gabriel?" he asked trying to get a clearer view of her face that was drenched in mud. She frowned he couldn't be just a civilian this had to be a setup or trap.
"Who's this Gabriel, state your business here?" She said with her rifle at his chest. She moved a safe distance from the man so if he tried to disarm her she could protect herself. He seemed eerily calm with a gun that could saw him in half pointed at his head.
"I'm sorry he was an old friend of mine he's dead now," he sighed seeing that confession didn't tug on her heart strings "and my business… I was walking home until you stopped me and put a gun in my face" he paused thinking of a way of benefiting something he looked at her face again "do you need help?"
She stopped analyzing him stepping close to him "keep your arms up" she proceeded to pat him down to check for anything weapons, no cell phone 'not even an iPod, huh well it is raining'.
She paused to weigh the option given to her to go with this man and maybe possibly tortured or stay here die of exposure or he comes back with men and puts this mission at danger. She pulled up her radio, it was the smartest thing to do to let her comrades know where she was or who she was with.
"Dan it's me, over" she waited for a response. She looked to the stranger who passive looked at her his eyes locked onto her face.
"Dan here" he was gargled but she could make out what he was saying.
"Found a friendly I'm going to go with him, pinpoint a location and meet up over" she said releasing the button.
"Roger, with the mission complete team up, and go home over and out" Dan said then releasing the switch to his own walkie-talkie leaving a imposing silence to fill.
She looked to the man who was looking at her intently "Okay," pointing with her gun "lead the way" he nodded as they trekked through the woods she forgot to ask for his name. "Hey civiy what's your name?"
He didn't look back at her "I have many names but you can call me...Vlad" he said seriously.
'Weirdo, what is this a horror movie…geez' she thought with a roll of her eyes. They traveled the rest of the way in silence. He has this strange stride it was smooth as if he was gliding on air. As they came to a small bricked house settled in a clearing nestled nicely in the woods. He stopped to motion to the house.
"Hmm? Homey" she admired his house it was like a log cabin from movies where hunters would live. It was rather romantic looking she'd never seen anything like that in real life since she only ever lived in cities for most of her life.
"Thank you, but this is only…well it doesn't matter" he opened the door for her but she made him enter first. He seemed put off by her mostly un-lady like domineer. He calmly lit a candle for her and pulled out a brand new map of their current location "The former owner was a religious hunter and hiker so he has up to date maps." He walked off to another room without another word she nervously watches as he exits.
"Where are you going" she held her gun close sharpening her ears for any important sounds. He came back into the room with two white towels. He tossed one to her while he kept the other to slowly pat himself down.
She patted herself down quickly not wanting to drip water all over the map. She analyzed the map relaying information to the squad of her location and how they can regroup.
"OK eta. Is two hours do sit still until we get their okay" Dan said from the otherside.
"Understand eta two hours." She turned her comm off 'thank fuck that is over' she let out a mental sigh sitting down briefly. She pulled on her uniform 'god its cold'.
"Would it be rude of me to ask for some water?" she asked taking off her equipment and uniform so they could dry over the fresh fire Vlad had started.
"No you are my guest of course" he bowed slightly and left into the kitchen. He came back a minute later holding the glass with his fingers almost touching the lip. He placed the glass in her ungloved palm "Thank you" she then looked down to the glass her head spinning
"Hmm?" She mumbled through her closed lips squinting at the glass. "Why does this water have a red tint?" She said examined the glass holding it to the light.
"From what I know it's either from the pipes or the dirt I chose the latter" he said passively never breaking his gaze with her. When she noticed this her face started to twitch. She broke her gaze covered her cheek and drank from the glass.
She sighed after finishing the glass 'tasty' she handed him back the glass he set it on the table next to the candles that lit.
"Two hours hmm? Well that's enough time for us to be reacquainted" his voice resonated deep inside her making her shiver to her very core. She reached for her gun only to feel faint and unable to grip on.
"What the hell did you do to me?" As she spun around he waved his hand as if he was a magician waving his hand over an illusion and her body froze she felt her soul hanging over her head looking down on the event unfolding.
"Be still Gabriel."