Moments before the crash
There were three things the Ghost Girl knew as fact. One: she was lost, somewhere deep within the Oregon woods in the middle of winter. Two: she was naked, and hyperthermia was setting in. And three: She was free.
But if death wanted to claim her, so be it. She was ready and willing to submit one final time to a force that was more powerful than her. But she'd die on her terms as a free woman. Not a slave nor prisoner to any man, woman, or child.
She was FREE.
Lost in thought, she stumbled forward before collapsing to the rocky ground. She raised her hands and flinched at the lifeless fingers that grazed her burning cheeks. In an act of desperation, she slipped a dirt-covered finger past her lips, bit down, and then examined the offending appendage with a critical glare. Teeth marks left visible indents, yet she couldn't feel a thing.
I'm dying. The girl slammed her hand against the ground; sure she'd feel something – anything - but still, the pain didn't come.
You need to turn back while you still have the chance to make this right. He'll be more forgiving if you go to him. Her body tensed as though preparing for the punishment he was sure to deliver to her.
The fire inside her ignited once more.
NO! She pulled herself to her feet and staggered forward a few steps before crashing against a nearby tree trunk. Her cheek took the brunt of the impact, leaving behind grated skin and blood.
I'd rather die. The girl clamped her eyes shut against the agonizing pain in her cheek when another thought entered her mind. But how am I to survive without him?
Stop it! Exhaustion was taking over. She only needed to rest just for a little while. I'll sit down and take a short nap. I'll feel better when I wake up.
Her knees weakened beneath her, and at the last moment she caught herself and shook her head to clear it of the thoughts that would only get her killed.
No! She forced herself to stand on her own, her numb feet feeling like cement blocks. If you sleep, you'll freeze.
She continued, forcing her aching muscles to move despite the pain and stumbled through the underbrush. The key to survival was concentration. When she thought she couldn't go any further, she took one more step and another and another. Never stopping and never slowing her pace because if she did, she didn't think she'd ever start moving again.
Step.
Step.
Grab that branch there and steady yourself. She snagged a low hanging branch with a frozen hand to heave her leg over a thick branch that had fallen. There you go.
With her concentration focused solely on the placement of her feet, she didn't notice the changes to her surroundings. In fact, she didn't figure it out for another few steps.
The trees were thinning out, as was the underbrush, which made it easier to walk through. No more misplaced steps or stumbles. This sudden change fueled the flame of hope within her.
I'm going to make it!
When the darkness started to turn from a pitch black to a muted grey, she uttered a laugh.
A trail! A few more hurried steps brought her into the open air and solid ground. No, not a trail, a road!
Lightning cut jagged streaks overhead, and a deep rumble followed suit. Then drops of freezing rain began to pelt her skin.
I'm alive. She closed her eyes, and as her lips curled up into a genuine smile, the girl began to cry. I'm free!
A glaring light came barreling towards her and all she could do was stare at it like a deer in headlights. She shielded her eyes. The thought of it being a car, or something else that could easily kill her, never crossed her mind.
Suddenly, the lights jerked toward the side of the road and were off of her. There was the awful sound of squealing breaks as the car skidded past her. She stood that motionless throughout this whole ordeal. It shot into the other lane before slamming against the trees.
Then reality set in. He's found me.
It was fear that sent her into motion. Her hope faded away with the dying headlights.
Run! She darted back the way she came, back into the darkness of the towering trees and away from him.
How could this happen? He- She slipped, landing hard on her backside and slid to a stop in the mud. Her skin burned as it's raked over the rocky ground.
Lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled overhead.
Then all was silent.
Was he still alive? But if it turned out he was alive then what? Would she go back to the woods where she'll surely die?
She eyed the car one last time then headed towards it. When she spotted the words highway patrol printed in bright white letters on the side of the vehicle she broke out in a run and pounded fiercely against the door.
But her mouth wouldn't form the words she so desperately wanted to say. Thus she was reduced to a stuttering mess of sounds as she slammed her hands against the glass.
The Ghost Girl knew a fourth fact now.
She was alive, and that's all that mattered.
