Alek's POV:
The day that changed everything had, untill around 9 pm, been perfectly boring. That is, it was both perfect and boring all at the same time. School was on break, and I had no people to hand with. So I basically lounged around my house all day doing every possible sedentary activity. I re-watched all my favorite movies, re-read my entire library, and listened to all my music again. Every action was unsuccessful in filling my empty life. Sure I had everything, but at the same time I had nothing. No true purpose in this world and no one who would miss me if I were to disappear tomorrow. My Mom has been gone for three years, and she was the only one who really cared. I was the only reason she stayed with the senile ass known as my father. Since she left, I am alone all the time. My dad is always going off on one business venture or other and no one bothers to speak to me at all. It's not that I'm ugly, quite the opposite actually, it's just that I am invisible. No one looks twice at me of even listens when I talk. I swear, sometimes it feels like if I were on fire no one would notice enough to put me out.
I can probably guess what you're thinking now. "Poor little rich boy, has everything and still has problems." It's not that I don't like what I have, I'm just not a fan of being obsessed with owning things. Yah, I could probably have friends if I started flaunting my money like most people in my position would, but those wouldn't be the kind of people I would want at my back. Trust me I had to learn that the hard way. So instead there I was, on a sunday night with no school the next day to ruin it, all alone in my house re-reading The Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy for the thousandth time. It may have been lonely, but it's not all bad. If I had been out that night who knows what would have happened. As it is I am glad that I was there.
I was right at one of the climaxes when I dropped the book in startled panic. The source of my sudden reaction was what sounded like an explosion about a mile away. I ran to my back door, which took about five minutes alone (seriously my house is huge), and looked out into the night. The moon and stars shone particularly brightly tonight. and it was truly a sight to see. Had I not had to worry for the safety of anybody out there, I would have done some star-gazing. What really caught my attention what the plume of smoke rising in the west. A million questions raised through my mind, but this was not the time or place to ask any of them. I knew those woods well so getting to the disaster zone would not be an issue. On the other had, it could still be dangerous and I had no way of knowing what I would be walking in on. I rationalised that explosion like that could no happen on their own. There for there had people there and those people could very well use my help. Then again, if those people caused an explosion that could very well burn down the forest, were they really worth trying to save. "OH MY GOD, the forest!" There was a good chance the fire department of Seattle wouldn't even notice the smoke or hear the explosion, and even if they did it would take them hours to get up there. If someone didn't get there, the whole city could be in danger. That settled it in my mind. I had to get up there ASAP. At the very least I could see if the forest was in danger and make sure the fire department got the message.
I dashed out the door, pulling on my jacket as I ran. I went straight for the tree line and ran straight in, dodging around tree trunks. There were plenty of trails for hiking around my house, but none of them would take me to where I needed to go. The explosion had come from deep in what I call the "restricted zone", so named for its barbed-wire, chain link fences and its many "No Trespassing" signs. No amount of wire and signs had kept me out of there in the past and they weren't going to stop me then either. That place was full of tall, beautiful trees which provided a fantastic view of the entire forest and the city to boot. Now there was no time to enjoy the scenery I had to move and move fast. I went in the straightest line I could manage with all the trees and undergrowth in my way. The ground was uneven and I nearly lost my footing several times. All I had guiding me was the distant smell of smoke which got stronger and stronger with each minute. It was lucky I had good night vision and the moon was so bright or I might have gotten lost in that thicket. As it was it was hard enough to get anywhere following a scent.
In the end I did find the fire, only to discover that I had worried for nothing. There was no danger of anyone getting hurt. The fire and smoke were coming from a culvert leading to some sort of underground tunnel system. I couldn't see much due to the fact that the place was on fire. Under normal circumstances I would have gone in and looked around for any survivors. With the fire however, it was way too risky. It really was a shame though. I had never been this deep into the restricted zone and this was a mystery worthy of Sir Arther Conan Doyal. A quick look around showed me that the fire was perfectly contained. There was no way for it to leave the underground and there didn't seem to be anyone around besides me. I had just resigned to turn and go back home when I saw something on the ground reflect the fire light. There was some kind of liquid on the ground in small droplets. There was a trail of it leading away from the fire. I bent down and touched one of the drops. It was a dark liquid and the smell proved my suspicions. It had the distinct iron smell of blood.
I knew that there was still some work to be done. I may not be able to help anyone sill in the tunnels but there was obviously someone hurt out there and who ever they were, they needed help. I looked in the direction of the blood trail. I noticed that were I was standing provided an excellent view of the city from here and the blood seemed to be heading twords it. That only made sence I though and followed the blood as best I could. It was now that I berated my self for not bringing a flash light in my haste to get up here. Still I followed it around trees and through brambles, staying in a fairly straight line the entire time. I couldn't move too fast or I might lose the trail. It was hard enough to follow as it was, especially now that I was farther away from the fire. I just hoped I would get there in time to help the poor guy who got caught in that fire.
As I went on I saw another fire, this time a camp fire. I knew full well that no one was supposed to be up here. Not even the police came this far. Sure I snuck in from time to time, but I only ever sayed on the outskirts. What kind of person sets up camp in a place which extremely clearly told trespassers to get lost. I creeped forward. I saw in the fire light a standard camp site. Tent, cooking fire, distinct smell of beer. Everything seemed to be in order. Except that this was a camp site for one and there were two people. The first one I noticed was distinctly female. I couldn't make out much about her like her cloths and hair color, but her silhouette made in the fire light was defiantly feminine. She looked about my hight and she was not speaking at all. She was most likely the one whose blood I was following. It was her companion, a tall guy with facial hair, a hunter's cap, a flannel shirt, jeans, and hiking boots. He held and bottle of beer in one hand and his face was oddly familiar. He was speaking to the girl in a low voice which seemed to elicit no response from her. While I could not hear what he was saying, I knew that tone of voice quite well. He was trying to seduce her, which did not sit well with me at all. I redoubled my efforts to remember who this guy was.
Then it clicked in my head. I knew who he was. This guy had been all over the news last night. He was a criminal, wanted for rape and robbery in three states. No wonder he was hiding up here in this cop-free environment. One other thing was made clear to me in that moment. This girl would be his next victim if I didn't step in now. I took off down the small slope, twords the creep who was moving much to close to the girl for comfort. "Hay!" I barked at him. He looked over the girls shoulder to stare at me. "Who the hell are you" he said, his voice slurred with drunkenness. "The guy who's telling you to back away from the girl," I retorted. "What are you, her boyfriend. HA(snort) please. You're too scrawny to land a girl this fine." "Listen scum," I started, really angry now. I may not have known who she was, but it was down to me to defend this girls honor. "I know who you are. You're a wanted man. One call to the police and you won't have a breath of free air for the next fifty years. Now, keeping that in mind, I am going to tell you one more time. Back away from the girl" "Why you little..." he said, drawing a long hunting knife with a black handle. That was a big mistake on his part. As the son of a rich corporate billionaire, I had taken martial arts. I was actually a red belt in kung fu, one level below black.
He charged at me, knife in hand, clearly ready to kill. Like I was going to let that happen. Rather than meet his charge head on, like most people would expect, I elected to do the unexpected. The swift kick to the stomach I gave him was clearly quite unexpected. This knife went flying out of his hands and I caught it as he fell on his ass. He scrambled up and lunged at me again aiming, I assume, for the knife. I gave it to him alright. I sidestepped and bashed him in the side of the head with it. He went down and didn't get back up. I could see he was still breathing so he wasn't dead. I stood there for a moment trying to figure out whether that was good or bad. I couldn't decide
Then I walked back to the girl. Only now in the fire light could I see her face clearly. She was absolutely glorious. Her hair was long and dark. It hung straight down her back in thick waves. Here eyes were dark to. Dark brown like a dears, and they had a very dear like shape to them. They were hard to look away from. Her mouth and nose were well-shaped to. I could definitely see myself kissing those lips. At that point I had to mentally shake myself. I was trying to help this girl not date her. I was not that kind of man. "Are you alright?" I asked in what I hoped was a reassuring voice. "Are you hurt?" She didn't respond at all. She just kept looking at me with those beautiful brown eyes. "What is youre name?" I tried. Still nothing. I got the distinct impression that she could not understand a singe word I said. What ever happened to her in those tunnels, it hadn't been good. She needed help that I could not give. I had to think of something however difficult I found it to think clearly while looking into those eyes.
I finally managed to tear my eyes away from hers and look down. Big mistake. It was only then that I noticed something that really made me feel stupid. She was completely naked. Yah, I know what you're thinking right now. "A naked girl is standing right in front of you and you don't even notice. What the hell is wrong with you?" What can I say? That was twenty years ago and I still feel like an idiot. I felt heat rush to my face and I felt really uncomfortable. I mean come one. No one expects to see their first naked girl why out fighting criminal hunters and trying to prevent forest fires. "Um," I started awkwardly. "Here." I took off my jacket and drapped it around her shoulders. Then I put my hand on her shoulder and started guiding her away from the camp. "I'll bring you back to my place" I told her. "You can sleep eat and sleep there tonight and tomorrow we can start figuring out who you are." That was the course I had set myself on. This girl, who ever she was, needed someone to look out for her. Untill I found her family, I had decided to be that person. Best Decision Ever!
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