Goldilocks Page 10

  “So what about…?” Paul’s question stopped short, his satellite phone suddenly ringing.

  Sliding it out of his shirt pocket, he glanced apologetically from the screen to Hannah, shaking his head as he answered.

  Hannah watched his face as he spoke briefly with the person on the other line before disconnecting, knowing already that he would be apologizing about having to leave.

  “I’m sorry,” Paul muttered with a shake of his head. “There’s been another collapse at the mine.”

  “Go,” Hannah forced a smile, knowing that she couldn’t be mad at him about work.

  They ate dinner together almost every night, and talked every single day in person and not just on the phone like it was before. She had her dad back. That was enough.

  “An hour or two at the most,” Paul promised, grabbing for the keys he’d just set down on the kitchen counter.

  “Be careful,” Hannah murmured, following behind him as he hurried to the door.

  She waved as he pulled ‘Big Red’ out of their driveway once again, her hand shielding her eyes from the setting sunlight. It would be a few more hours before dusk started to fall, and she had too much energy to go back and sit in the cabin alone. A good run would pass the time more quickly and hopefully keep her mind off of what the cross country season would bring now that Lindsey was her official teammate. She couldn’t wait to beat her again.

  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 lived 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 certainly 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 ca
me 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 tangled 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 inched 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 thoughts 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 smaller 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 through 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 second 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 bedr
oom 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.