Beautiful Souls (13 page)

    
              Emmy bounced back and forth, from subject to subject, and currently was chattering on about last night’s dance. She was smack in the middle of speculating whether or not Will was about to kiss her goodnight, when she was interrupted by the bell announcing that our pizza order was up.

    
              We both walked to the pizza shop counter to extract our plates of pizza from underneath the intense heat lamps. We carried our plates holding oversized pizza slices so large they draped the edges of the plates and moved to the end of the counter to grab napkins and our drinks, then made our way back to our table still flanked by piles of shopping bags. Emmy and I ate our oil-drenched slices while she continuously chattered on about various frivolous subjects. I made certain to be a good listener by chiming in with correct responses when the conversation called for them. It’s the least I could do for Emmy, after the last few days of being consumed and occupied with a suddenly erratic, chaotic life.

    
              “So,” Emmy started. “How’d your night go with Leo?”

     
              “Fabulous,” I answered, grinning from ear to ear.

    
              “Are you two love birds engaged yet, or what?” She asked, taking a bite out of her greasy pizza slice.

    
              “I don’t know, are you and Will?” I threw back at her playfully, sending a wink her direction.

    
              “Touché. But in my defense, Will and I haven’t known each other since we were five.”

    
              “One,” I corrected her. “Leo was one when I was born.”

    
              “Wow. You two are really lifelong friends, aren’t you?”

    
              “Yep.”

    
              “Is that weird, though?”

    
              “Is what weird?” I questioned.

    
              “You know, the whole kissing thing. Isn’t it weird since you’ve known Leo your entire life?”

    
              I took a giant swig of my pop. “It kinda started out that way when I first began thinking that I like him, liked him. But then, once I knew he felt the same about me and we kissed…it just felt right. Like we should’ve always been together. You know what I mean?”

    
              “Aw, you guys love each other. You’re gonna get married. You’re gonna have babies,” Emmy giggled, taunting me in her sing-song voice.

    
              I laughed, rolling my eyes, and took another bite of pizza.

    
              Emmy and I finished eating, then took one last lap around the stores in the mall to make certain there was no article of clothing or piece of jewelry left behind that we simply couldn’t live without. That said and done, we drove home with our stomachs and shopping bags full. Since it had been my idea for the movie and shopping day, I’d offered to drive. I dropped Emmy off at her house before heading home myself.

             
I arrived home about an hour before I was supposed to meet Leo. I ran upstairs to freshen up before heading out to the woods.

    
              While making my way out the back door to begin my hike out to the trees, I could see that Leo was not yet there, but I decided to continue across the lawn to the cornfield, eventually making my way toward the woods. I knew Leo would be there soon enough.

    
              When I reached the front row of trees, I decided to walk into the woods a short distance while waiting for Leo to show up. Knowing that I would be able to see him through the thickly branched but almost bare trees, I stepped into the forest just a couple yards farther.                   I listened to the sounds of the woods that I had missed out on so much lately, and they were begging me onward. I ached for more, so decided to walk a few yards deeper into the serenity of the trees and surrounding elements. A large boulder sat just a few steps away, enticing me. I sat there for a little while and enjoyed the woods and all of its tranquil sounds, the same way I’d done so often when I was younger.

    
              The minutes passed, and I began to wonder if maybe Leo had forgotten we were meeting this evening. It wasn’t like him to be late. I checked my watch and realized that fifteen minutes had already passed while I had occupied myself with listening to the peaceful sounds of the irenic forest, and I decided to wait five more minutes before heading back to my house to call Leo.

             
I hadn’t brought my cell phone with me. The image of it tossed on top of the comforter on my bed crossed my mind after I’d reached into my pocket and come out empty-handed. The sun had already begun to set, and I knew that I only had a few final minutes of eventide before the threatening darkness of twilight would fall.

    
              Another couple minutes passed, and I was almost ready to call it quits when I heard a twig snap. The snap happened just a few feet behind me. I fully expected to turn around and see Leo standing there with his gorgeous grin and apologetic look in his eyes for keeping me waiting.

             
Instead, what I saw frightened me to my very core. I instinctively turned and stood away from the rock, backed up slowly while simultaneously pondering how to make my escape. I didn’t know how to make this decision. Choosing the wrong one could mean my life. Should I make a break for it back to my house, or stand firm and take my chances with the impending evil that stood before me.              The shocking sight that existed only a few feet in front of me now, was a growling snarling coyote that must have been scavenging for food and happened upon me. From the hostile appearance of the animal, I deduced from the look in its eyes that I wasn’t going to be able to stand firm and overpower it or scare it away.

    
              I peered powerlessly into its dark emerald eyes, and I could see my tormented reflection shining back as we connected glares. There was no doubt that it was considering an attack. I read the certainty in its squinting eyes. I accepting the fact that the coyote had made the decision to pursue its prey ---
me
.

    
              I knew that coyotes usually didn’t attack this way, but on occasion a truly desperate and hungry animal would be known to make a rare exception. My parents warned me of this fact several times when I was younger. This coyote, however, was larger that any average sized coyote I had ever seen scavenging these woods. I assumed from its size and demeanor, that it was very capable of a devastating attack.

    
              It was clear that I needed to plan an escape, but I was frozen with fear as I continued to stare into the eyes of the wicked animal. I attempted to read its next move. Could I muster the courage to commit to a plan of action and pursue a line of escape? I knew I only had seconds left to react before this animal would make its vicious and possibly deadly first lunge. I was scared stiff, and I had to force my trembling leg to raise and take its first step of retreat.

    
              For every backward step I took, trying to close the distance between me and the edge of the woods, the monstrous aggressor took two. I knew it wasn’t going to let me get away, and he now stood undeniably too close for anything but the inevitable to happen.

    
              I gave up all hope of making it out of the woods unharmed and back to the safety of my warm home.  I grabbed the only thing I could find, a long branch from the ground to ward off the animal, and braced myself for the attack. I placed my hand over my chest covering the antique necklace with the palm of my hand and protecting it at all costs, just as Leo had asked of me.

    
              The coyote gave one final snarling growl as it lowered its front legs and prepared to pounce, then it lunged into the air with me fully in its sights. I closed my eyes and turned my head away, not wanting to see anything further.

    
              I could hear the attack begin as if it were all happening in slow motion, but I was confused. I could hear the fight taking place, but I felt nothing. Shock and relieve had begun to take over, but I didn't want to get my hopes up too soon.

    
              Instinctively, I peeked through the slits of my squinting eyelids, not wanting to completely commit to what I may see. I barely made out the passing, blurry images of a coyote fighting, but it wasn’t fighting or attacking me.

    
              Shockingly, the coyote was fighting with another animal. A larger, more muscular golden-colored animal that looked like ---
a mountain lion
?  Where had this other animal come from? Why would it put itself in harms way to protect me? Is that even what it was doing, protecting me? Mountain lions were not at all common in this area, so why was it here? Now?

    
              I crawled on all fours, backing away from the fight. The  mountain lion, which must have jumped in front of the coyote just in the knick of time to prevent it from attacking me, had just bitten down ferociously onto the neck of the relentlessly attacking coyote.

    
              With a flick of its head, my savior had flung the coyote --- that had just lunged toward me with incredible determination and anger --- into the giant, stationary boulder situated only couple yards between me and the brawling animals. The coyote hit the boulder with so much force that it propelled itself off with a hissing growl while it twisted in the air, fighting to make contact with the ground in order to finish its attack on me.

    
              The flung coyote was sailing directly toward me, and I immediately tried climbing to my feet to get out of its path, as it came crashing inward. I was still scrambling when the air-bound coyote came within only inches of my arm, and it became perfectly clear that I wasn’t going to be able to get out of this vicious animal’s pathway. I braced myself for the hit again, but this time I kept my eyes open for some insane unknown reason, and I watched in horror as the coyote hit me.

    
              The animal was jolted as a shock wave flowed through its entire body. It writhed and kicked, falling and rolling, then limply crumbled to the dirt floor of the forest. Even though I’d been hit, I remained unharmed while I looked down at the now helpless, dying creature.

    
              I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what I did. I double checked myself, unbelieving that I had escaped this charging animal. My eyes raised and locked with the other animal, evaluating the situation to see if I’d remain safe from it as well.

    
              The mountain lion simply stood there, staring at me with what appeared to be consoling eyes, and after an intense moment of reading each other's body language --- almost as if it were making sure that I was unharmed --- it took off running in the opposite direction, easily bounding over rocks and fallen tree trunks. I heard the unmistakable growl from the mountain lion as it faded into the woods, soon too far away for me to make out its figure. It eventually disappeared altogether in the deep and ever darkening forest.

    
              I didn’t waste any time. I ran for home, glancing behind me every couple of seconds to make certain the dying coyote didn’t find its second wind and chase after me. I ran like I’d never run before, tripping over sticks and vines, stepping onto soft spots in the ground that would slow me down momentarily before I’d regain my speed and pace. I finally broke through the row of trees standing at the edge of the woods, the dividing border between forest and field.

    
              I still didn’t slow down. I kept running full speed across the cornfield, gasping for air and continuously glancing back at the path I had just blazed through the woods. I was still alone. I reached the middle of the field in only a matter of seconds, when I heard someone call my name from the other side of the cornfield.

    
              “Becca! What’s wrong? What happened?” Leo yelled frantically.                   I couldn’t speak. I just ran full force toward him, totally absorbed in the thought of reaching him. I was so relieved that Leo was now here to protect me, I practically sobbed as I dashed through the sawed-off cornstalks, thankful this whole ordeal would soon be over.

    
              Leo and I ran toward each other, him not knowing what was wrong with me, and me wanting nothing more that to be safe in his arms.

    
              I hurled myself into his chest as soon as I was within arm’s reach, and I wrapped my trembling arms around his neck more tightly than ever. He pulled me to him, hugging me back and lifting me off the ground, as warm tears streamed down my frigid cheeks from the crispy, fall air that smacked against them as I ran.

    
              I didn’t even attempt to speak. I just kept my head buried in Leo’s chest as he carried me across the field toward my home. He put me down when we reached the back door, then placed each of his warm, consoling hands on the sides of my still frozen, tear-stained cheeks. He lowered himself to bring his face down to mine, and looked me dead in the eyes.