Chapter 9

We had driven in the dark and in the cold for days now. I had been thankful when the small town came into view. It wasn't much. A few wood cabins huddled closely together, a post office and a general store near by.

Victor followed the road straight through town and back into the bare wilderness. It was a couple more hours before we came across the remains of an old wood house. It was burned and rotted with time. Nothing but a foundation.

However, within the foundation was a small one man tent and a poorly constructed camp fire with a cooking pot hanging over top off a branch. I couldn't stop the thumbing of my heart, the blood racing in my veins. This was it, I was going to see him again. I could feel it, deep down in my soul. With every fiber of my being.

I could FEEL him.

Victor had barely stopped the car before I jumped from the back seat, racing towards the tent. I jumped over the fire, pushing the small tent flap back.

Nothing...

There was nothing there. An empty sleeping bag. A worn pack. A map. A few clothes. No Logan.

I felt my heart break in my chest. Heavy. A deep heaviness filled my chest. I barely noticed Remy pull me from the tent and against his chest. Everything just stopped. It was another dead end, another wild goose chase. Maybe we were never met to be. Maybe I was never suppose to find him.

I knew Remy was holding me up. I knew Victor was trying to hush my painful sobs. I ignored them, I ignored everything in and around me and except for my breaking heart and my thoughts of Logan.

I cried, I cried out to the wilderness, praying for a response to my pain. Maybe from some god, maybe from the earth itself. I really didn't care. I needed comfort. Remy was everything to me, everything except Logan.

My body began to ache, shut down from the overwhelming emotions coursing through my system. I could feel myself blacking out against Remy. Unable to find any reason not to I let the darkness take me.

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The light stung my eyes as I once again began to become aware of the world. I could hear slight sounds of nature outside. Deep breathing from near by. My throat burned, and my head pounded. I tried to open my eyes to the world around me, they stung.

"Here." a rough voice whispered as I felt plastic hit the back of my arm. I weakly opened my eyes to see the side of a yellow tent. I didn't roll over as I reached over my shoulder to take the water bottle. "You're dehydrated."

I nodded slowly. Propping myself up on my elbow. I closed my eyes to stop them from stinging as I opened the water the drank it greedily. When it was finished I recapped the bottle and tossed it aside before dropping down on my back, my hand over my eyes.

The body next to me shifted, but didn't leave. I let out a long sigh. I didn't know what to do. Was there even any point going on anymore? Should I just pack up and go home?

"Having a rough day?" The rough voice asked.

"You have no idea." I began. "What's the point? I'm never going to find him. I should just pack up and go home."

There was a chuckle, "What makes you think you'll never find him?"

In a fury I pushed myself up into a sitting position. "How can I!? We have been all across this country, following the clues! I left my home and everything to find the man I love and after all this time I have nothing to show!" I wiped around to face Logan. "And that's why..." I trailed off when I met he's stormy eyes.

He smiled at me. I tried to talk, form words to say something, anything to him. His smiled widened when I couldn't, before I felt him place a rough hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry I've been gone so long. I needed answers, and when I got them I wasn't sure what to do. I'm still trying put all the pieces in place."

I felt his fingers being run through my red hair. "But... You... No... This can't be real..." I final said. I felt lost, my head was spinning.

Logan took me into his arms, setting me down in his lap and pulling me against his chest. "Nikki, its ok I'm here baby. I'm here and I promise I'm not going anywhere."

"You left." I began, not knowing where else to start. "You left, and sent no word. No letter, no email, a text, anything, for eight months. I was so worried. I had no idea what happened. Then Victor showed up and said he could find you and now..." I looked up at him, "You're here. I mean I'm here with you." My tears stung my eyes as they fell. Being back in his arms, I still felt lost but I was once again starting to feel whole. The deep hole that had been left was slowly starting to fill itself.

Logan once again brushed my red hair back. "You cut it." He simple stated. I just nodded before he continued, "I like it." He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled my lips to his with great force. The kiss was rough, filled with passion and promises that didn't need to be spoken.