Goldilocks (11 page)

Chapter 12:

Hannah smiled wide as she zipped her IPod securely in her pouch before tucking the
connected ear buds into each ear. Her favorite running playlist started with a hard core rock medley that set her feet pumping to the beat of the drums, her knees almost touching her chest as she practically danced across the backyard towards the old miner’s trail. Nature’s sounds had become the song that drove her run forward over the last few weeks, but tonight she wasn’t running to train, she was running for pleasure, celebrating her official place on the team. It felt good to stretch her muscles out, her long legs carrying her up the first hill in no time. With the sun this low, the pinkish orange rays spilled through every gap between the thick tree trunks surrounding her, giving the entire forest an enchanting glow. Eyes wide, she pushed herself forward into an easy jog, marveling at how the woods seem to spring alive right in front of her.

She was used to seeing birds and squirrels overhead, but
tonight was the first time she’d ever spotted a herd of deer, close enough to touch, their ears perking in interest when she passed right by where they were munching on a bed of tangled vines. Stopping would have meant scaring them off, so she continued, winding her way up two more hills before she finally slowed to a walk, her face thrown up against the warm sunlight.

She’d only spoken on the phone to her Aunt Maggie twice since moving but was surprised to realize that her aunt had been right about Hinsdale being a good thing. Despite her lack of friends at school, the ever present ache in her chest had eased without her even noticing it. She’d live
d with it for so long; it had become a part of her. Hannah now looked forward to her father peppering her with questions, and his smile when she launched into a tale about her day. She hadn’t even realized how much she missed being his little girl, their relationship stronger than it had ever been back in D.C.

Her very own trail certain
ly helped. In D.C, the parks were always full of people, and with her mother’s brutal murder always in her mind, she’d never been able to fully relax on her daily runs. Here, it was just her and the animals that lived in these woods, her mind free to wonder instead of staying alert to every potential danger. She’d had lots of time to think over the last few weeks, and despite her encounter at the base of the mountain, she still found comfort in having a place that was all her own.

The first few lightning bugs were just starting to appear when she reached her three mile mark, veering off the trail when she spotted the familiar beaver dam. Her special spot right by the creek’s edge wasn’t hard to find, her legs curling under her as she took a seat against the thick moss covered trunk of a
massive oak tree. The creek was a little higher than the last time she’d been here, the rain over the weekend causing the water to rise so that it lapped against the exposed gnarled roots that the sole of her tennis shoes rested on. She hadn’t even told her father about this spot. He would have never approved of her leaving the trail, and would have certainly only worried more than he already did if he knew. But it was her thinking spot. The place where her thoughts were free to roam, uninterrupted, and she wasn’t giving it up.

Sometimes she thought about her old life, but mostly she thought about her new one.
Right now, she thought only of her mother, something that she rarely allowed herself to do for fear of not being able to stop the tears that usually came. She’d thought that she would miss her more, being away from the place that she was buried, but it was only now that she realized that her previous weekly ritual of visiting the grave site was only keeping the pain fresh. There wasn’t a day that she didn’t think about her mother, but it was no longer a weight on her shoulders, or a reminder every day on her way to school. There was no cemetery to pass by anymore, and no one here looked at her with sympathy because of what had happened. No one knew, and she was fine with it being that way. Being in Hinsdale had made her reconsider a lot of things, including where she might go to college. Finally she felt like she could breathe again, and each breath was becoming sweeter than the last.

Hannah’s eyes closed as she rested her head against the trunk of the tree, a smile spreading across her lips as one of her favorite singers crooned softly in her ears.
It had been too long since she’d just let go and relaxed, letting her mind wander as it pleased. It felt good, and she was tired of holding on. Her mother would have been proud of their new beginning, and Hannah had never felt as close to her as she did right now. She only hoped that she would be okay with her moving on. It was time…

**********

The wolf’s howls were getting closer, almost on top her now, but her legs were stuck. Hannah’s hands reached blindly out in front her, grasping for anything in the darkness that seemed to be sticking to her eyelids. Another wolf’s call was joined by several others and her lids fluttered open, her thoughts disoriented as her eyes adjusted to the moonlight filtering down onto the steady flowing creek. The glow of lightening bugs now dotted her vision, their iridescent bodies alerting her to the fact that she’d drifted off right where she sat along the creeks edge.

Her mind was suddenly alert again, her fingers jerking the ear buds free from her ears as she pushed herself to a stand against the tree trunk she’d been laying against. The scattered dream she’
d been having was long forgotten, but one thing was for certain: the wolf’s howls she’d heard wasn’t part of her dream. Her muscles stiffened as another lone howl sounded so close that her head jerked toward the opposite bank of the creek, her eyes squinting as it scanned the entire length for movement.

Rustling
, in the leaves behind her, brought a sharp yelp from her throat, and before she could get her bearings she was off and running, sprinting between the trees in the direction that she thought the path was. There was definitely something heading towards her fast, below her on the trail she realized as her feet skidded across slick moss, almost throwing her into a snarl of thorny vines waiting on the other side. It was coming faster still, its howl cut short as a series of growls started up more rustling in the leaves on the bank of the creek. There was nowhere to go but up, but Hannah knew that even if she made it to the base of the mountain there would be no shelter there.

She refused to scream, her teeth drawing blood as she bit her bottom lip in determination, hurtling herself forward up
the next hill and off the trail once again. Her sneakers sunk down almost immediately into the thick carpet of rotting leaves and vines covering the forest floor, her balance only steadied by the tree trunks she managed to grab on to, the flesh of her hands burning as they scraped across rough bark over and over again. She climbed faster than she ever had before, changing her direction as the growls came closer behind her. Slick ground turned into roots and then more thorns, the thin jacket she wore catching as she scrambled over a boulder and then another, the material ripping as she went.

Her climb was almost perpendicular now, her fingers clinging as she pulled herself up a wall of ta
ngled shrubs, the soft rich earth giving way to more loose rocks that offered no support. The wolves were under her now, snapping at her heels as she scrambled to reach the top, her heart thudding in her ears as she crawled her way over the edge. She was high enough now that bright moonlight filtered through the waning treetops, her eyes searching for any type of covering she could take. There was nothing but more hills above her, and a dangerous drop below that would leave her as dinner for the mutant beasts determined to climb their way up.

There was no time to catch her breath, her legs scrambling to right her body as she stumbled forward to
the other side of the hill she’d just climbed, looking for a way down. In the darkness below there was no way to judge how soft her landing would be, and no time to wait. Hannah fell to her belly now, swinging her legs over the edge so that they dangled down into thin air. Her fingers caught and held in the thick waterfall of vines spewing over the edge, her face pressed into the lush greenery just as the wolves’ heads became visible on the other side. There was no hiding from her attackers, their furry bodies massive and shrouded in darkness as they cleared the steep hill in unison, finding her scent almost immediately.

She had no choice but to let go, her eyes squeezing shut as she anticipated the excruciating pain that would surely bring death in one way or another.
She was free falling, her piercing scream cut short by the hard thud her body absorbed within seconds, the wind knocked out of her. She flailed wildly, the bones of her spine screaming in protest as she forced herself to roll over to stop the nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Void met her fingertips as she dragged herself forward on the jutting slate lip she’d landed on, a scream constricting in her throat when her eyes flew up to meet the two ferocious wolves growling down at her. She was trapped once again, the rocks below even more jagged on this side of the hill. Sure that this was it, Hannah tucked herself back into the wall of vines, stumbling as they spread under her weight, depositing her once again onto the cool slate.

They closed like a thick curtain in front of her, shrouding her in inky darkness a second before one wolf
took the plunge towards the narrow lip, its claws screeching across the rock as it missed and tumbled over. A second of silence and then a sharp yelp echoed in the sticky night air, freezing Hannah against the cool rock she’d scooted against. A lone mournful howl sounded just above her, and then silence once again, the other wolf’s footsteps retreating almost immediately.

Hannah’s breath refused to steady itself, her heart pounding in her ears as she forced herself to a stand, pressing her aching body against what felt like a stone wall. Her eyes adjusted slowly, a cool draft sending goose bumps down her arms and legs as she inched her way forward into what appeared to be the mouth of a cave.

She had no choice but to go further in. Judging from the fallen wolf’s yelp, jumping from the lip wasn’t an option at all. Her fingers shook as she yanked open the zipper of her waist pack, extracting the mace she’d kept in the hidden back pocket. It wouldn’t do much for whatever could be hiding in here, but it made her feel like she had somewhat of a fighting chance.

The further she i
nched her way into the cave, the wider it seemed to get, the ceiling rounding and lifting as it smoothed out into a narrow tunnel. Hannah froze as her eyes found the source of the light, her brows knitting in confusion at the burning torch jutting out over a stone archway. It was as impossible as her standing here, alive and well right now. There, only fifty feet in front of her was a wooden door so wide and tall it could have been meant for a castle. It was as out of place as the mutant sized wolves that had been chasing her, but it was safety and shelter. She ran towards it as fast as her aching body would allow, her breath holding as her fist lifted to knock.
Please…

Chapter 13:

“Please open!” Hannah whispered out loud, her injured hands wrapping around the crude looking iron handle of the door.

She
’d knocked until she couldn’t knock anymore, her knuckles now swollen from her effort. Breaking into someone else’s property hadn’t been her intention, but there was no lock, not even a keyhole. The door was heavy, and a quarter thick as it was wide, but it swung inward with ease, thumping as it settled against the wall behind it.

Hannah once again stood frozen in surprise, her eyes searching the open space in front of her. A million and one thought
s had run through her mind in the last few seconds, but not once had she envisioned the interior of an actual home. Flickering light from five ceiling lanterns illuminated the cave like space, their glass domes casting prism like colors across the moss covered ceiling. Just beyond the stone entry way, wooden beams ran the length of the domed room that had to be at least three times the size of her entire cabin. Directly in front of her, a gigantic handmade wooden table took up the middle of the floor, three matching wooden chairs set perfectly around it, like a picture straight out of a magazine. There were even thatched place mats at each seat and a twine rug that spread the length of the eating area.

One careful step in and Hannah’s eyes widened at a cubby holed area off to the right that housed a wooden bookshelf made to the curve of the cave. It took up most of one wall, and was completely filled from top to bottom with books, three wooden chairs centered around it in a semicircle.

Every stick of furniture in the place was wooden, including a curving counter top that ran the length of the far wall behind the table, stopping only when it reached a square shaped opening that had been purposely carved out of the rock and framed with white stone.

Her footsteps were lighter than they needed to be. The place was empty, dead silence greeting her as she passed two small
er wooden doors on her left. She almost giggled as she paused in front of the first one, taking in the huge wooden bed, dresser and night stand. It was simple, yet cozy, a practical bedroom when there should have been none at all. The second room was more of the same, the wooden bed in the middle of that floor, twice as big and wide as the first. Fresh flowers stood on each nightstand in this room, and Hannah suddenly wondered if a woman really lived here.

For a moment she forgot
all about finding help, her feet carrying her across the main room to inspect the square hole in the wall. Heat warmed her chilled skin the second she was close enough to see that it was some sort of stove, coal embers still burning bright down in the pit that was made beneath it. From across the room she hadn’t noticed the scorched pot sitting within it depths, but her stomach growled in appreciation of the hearty smell she inhaled now.

This was definitely someone’s home, and they’
d left dinner in the oven, which meant they could be back at any moment. Hannah’s stomach twisted as her mind ran away with her once again, picturing the worst. She fought for deep breaths, picking her way back around the cavernous room, searching for anything that she’d missed. Unlike her home, there weren’t any pictures to give her clues as to what these people could possible look like. Three chairs could mean a nice family, but it could also mean three axe murders who hid out here so they wouldn’t be found.

The lack of electricity dashed any hope that she might find a working phone, but the door that she’d come thro
ugh couldn’t be the only way in. If she hadn’t fallen, she would have never found the entrance to the cave. There had to be another way out.

Hannah started towards the se
cond room, stopping just as a muffled yelp sounded from somewhere just outside. Her eyes flew to the main door that she’d left standing open, her legs suddenly trembling beneath her. Her feet wouldn’t move fast enough, her back pressing against cool stone as she reached the wall and fumbled for the bedroom door behind her. Something was in the tunnel, its deep throated growl echoing throughout the space, sending her stomach into a dive.

She scrambled now, slipping into the second bedroom and behind the door so that she was hidden from whatever was coming. Through the crack she could see a sliver of the living space she’d just invaded, her heart pounding harder in her chest when she spotted the muddied footprints she’d left during her search.

It was sniffing for her, its humongous shadow cast across the main room long before its furry brown body filled the frame. Hannah’s hand clamped over her mouth as her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening at the animal standing in the entry way. Fierce sable colored eyes swept the cave as it inhaled deeply, a low toned rumble starting in its chest when it looked towards the bedroom she was hiding in.

It was a bear!

Possibly the same bear from the base of the mountain
, she realized, following its gaze as it lifted to the crack of the door, its furry brows seeming to knit together at the site of her footprints. She’d been discovered, and was still weaponless. She was also trapped in this room if she remained behind the door. Her only hope of escape would be to use the table in the main area as a barrier between her and the animal.

Even as she slid free of her hiding spot, it seemed too ludicrous an idea to try and execute, but there was no time to think about it.
It was now or never.

**********

Jake still had the taste of the wolves blood in his mouth, but there was no mistaking the familiar scent he’d come to look forward to in government class. The secret entrance to his home had reeked of oranges and vanilla, and the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach had only gotten worse, causing his head to spin. His father had forced another collapse at the mine, but was unable to get to either of the two escapees before they’d made it into the woods. Jake had been put on alert and had been tracking them for the last two hours.

There scent had remained steady, heading North towards the upper loop like they always did, but then it had all changed. He’d caught whiff of what they’d probably also gone after, their trail growing cold as they backtracked before heading southeast. Finding a human out here in these woods would give them direct access to the freedom they sought, and Jake had only had to sniff once before he knew that Hannah was in danger.

He was well behind the chase that had taken place through the woods, and up over the slippery hills, the wolves scents scattered and dodging as well as Hannah’s. Jake had balked at the metallic odor fresh blood left in the air around him, but had pressed on surprised to find himself standing just under the entrance to his home. One of the wolves had fallen a treacherous twenty feet from the top of the hidden cave, it’s severely broken neck just starting to heal when he’d found the limp animal.

Jake had been ready for the second wolf, his claws spearing straight through the animals chest as it had hurtled itself from a low boulder on top of him. He’d tried to leave as little blood as possible on the ground, but slitting their throat before dragging them to a thick pocket of brush had proved messier than he’d intended. It had only bought him precious minutes, his mother undoubtedly in the area, hunting. Upon her return she would panic the second she smelled all the blood, but she would panic more if she found Hannah before he did.

Jake hadn’t thought it possible, but muddy footsteps started right at the lip of the secret entrance and then staggered back behind the waterfall of vines that had long since hidden the place from prying eyes. He ‘d sniffed in disbelief as he entered the open door of his home, searching the main room for the girl he’d done nothing but daydream about over the last few weeks.

He could hear her quiet pants, her erratic heartbeat practically thudding in his sensitive ears. She was hiding, and he didn’t want to scare her, but shifting wasn’t an option. She’d spotted him, once again as a bear, her green eyes wide and flashing as she dashed from his parent’s room with a shrieking scream.

Without thinking Jake shot upright on hind legs, his paws shaking as he tried to tell her that he meant her no harm. But what would have been completely normal to his parents, frightened Hannah even more, his words coming out as a ferocious roar to her ears.

“Stay back!” Hannah screamed as she grabbed a
carving knife that had been left on the kitchen counter, spinning so that she faced Jake from across the table.

She
looked almost comical to him, swinging the blade wildly as she inched her way along the counter top, her eyes darting from him to the door.

Jake
immediately dropped to all fours, frustrated that he couldn’t douse the fear that etched every line of her beautiful features. Tears fell from wide green eyes as she repeated her warning, her lower lip trembling when he moved to follow her around the table. She couldn’t see that he was trying to give her space to exit without worry, and the low whine that whistled outside the cave only caused more tears to fall, her face crumpling as she stopped frozen halfway between the door and the table now.

The wolves would be fully healed in a matter of minutes, and he had to get her out of
there before either that happened or his mother arrived. Jake felt silly, slumping to the floor on his belly, but he did his best impression of a sad looking puppy, his muzzle resting on his spread front paws as he stared across the room at her.

Hannah’s mouth hung open in surprise, the knife lowering slightly as she looked Jake over before meetin
g his eyes. Her head shook in disbelief, her hands trembling at her sides as they fell.

“You’re not going to hurt me are you?” she whispered, her face pleading as she looked towards the door once again.

Jake thought better of trying to answer, only turning his head slightly so that she saw that he wasn’t something to be afraid of.

“I think I might have better luck with you in here than out there,” Hannah
muttered, swiping at the wetness on her cheeks.

She still regarded him warily, but he could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she looked around his home, and then to him again sprawled out on the floor.

“I know you can’t understand me, but maybe you’re a pet?” she guessed, shaking her head at the thought. “A pet bear, who doesn’t eat people hopefully,” her brow lifted, her eyes going to the knife in her hand.

Jake
’s head rose from his paws, watching in surprise as she squatted enough to set the knife down on the floor between them. She watched him carefully as she talked, inching closer until there was only a few feet of separation.

“You wouldn’t believe the night that I’ve had,” she whispered. “These wolves…the sizes of bears!” she shook her head at the thought regarding his massive size in disbelief. “Well I thought the size of bears, but then again I’ve never seen a bear as big as you are!” she exclaimed, her hands on her head.
“Great now I’m talking to myself,” she muttered, and Jake almost laughed, watching as she started back around the table towards the door. “I’ve got to get out of here!”

It was a low mournful moan
that sounded more like that word ‘no’ than a growl, but it stopped her in her tracks once again. Jake’s weight shifted as he lifted slowly onto all fours again, hating the fearful look Hannah tossed back at him. She was poised to run, but at this point she’d probably run straight into the mouths of two almost fully healed wolves.

There was no more time to show her how docile he could be, Jake had to get her out of her now. He walked slower than he wanted, giving her a wide birth as he headed back out the open front door. Halfway down the tunnel, a glance back showed her still frozen to her spot. A gargled howl from outside of the cave set her moving before he could think of another way and she was behind him almost immediately, following at a safe distance.

If it was a snake it would have bit her…

Hannah hadn’t searched the full length of the lip to the cave to see if there was any kind of footing she could use, she’d b
een too scared. But the bear led her right down a stone staircase, imbedded at an adjacent angle in the hill. The waterfall of hanging vines were wide enough to cover their existence from the ground, but far enough out so that the bear could move easily down them without being detected.

Flat ground had never felt so good. Hannah would have hugged the animal had it not been for the way its sharp teeth barred at the sound of another howl.
She followed the bear’s gaze down over the hills she’d been chased up, surprised to find a dot of yellow light twinkling through the treetops.

Only a generator could create that type of electricity out here, and Hannah’s he
art leapt as she thought of the cabin. But there were a whole lot of woods between her and the safe haven, causing her to hesitate as she thought of the possibility of more wolves.

One look at the bear and Hannah’s breath exhaled as she took a step forward in the direction of her home. Call her crazy, but the bear’s look said: ‘I’ll protect you’, and for some strange reason she believed he would.

Jake watched as Hannah backed away hesitantly, her lips pulling into a determined line when she finally turned and started down through the trees. Had he not had business to take care of, he would have walked her home. The thought brought a smile to his lips, his head turning to face the direction his father should be coming from at any moment. Another day, another time; he was already going to have a lot of explaining to do.