Chapter 1

Grace

“What possessed me to come on this camping trip?” I grumbled to myself, stumbling through the woods away from our campsite to find somewhere to pee. I’d gone with my friend, Dana Nolan, her parents, and brother, Jared. Every previous year, I turned them down. This time I caved. Initially it was because I thought he wasn’t going to be there, but then as soon as he learned I was going, Jared was canceling his plans with his latest girlfriend. He was a horny twenty-year-old shithead, who eyed me anytime I was in the room. We’d only graduated high school this summer and I was in the process of going to a community college. Living on my own made boys a last priority and Jared was one I wouldn’t even consider being friends with let alone anything more.

We had set up our camp just outside of the Black Mountains in North Carolina. Getting as far away from him as possible was what had me in this mess. The clearing made me think it was a thinly wooded forest, but as I tried to get out of viewing distance, I felt like I was swallowed up by large brush then massive trees branches. The forest floor was covered in plants, dirt, fallen branches, and leaves.

It was getting dark since the sun was setting earlier as fall approached. I knew I shouldn’t have gone too far out of earshot of the campsite, but I didn’t trust Jared not to spy on me. The entire ride he kept making excuses to talk to me. I was beyond annoyed with him. It wasn’t like I was special, he flirted with any female, so I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt when I told him to go fuck himself. Hell, I was barely legal and he’d been hounding me well before that time. In truth, I was afraid that he would corner me where no one could hear. I continued to look over my shoulder as I found a place to use as a makeshift bathroom.

Now, I was in the middle of the wilderness looking around for a spot to pee. This was wrong and I wanted to get it over with as fast as possible. This was a first for me, tinkling in the wilderness. Animals would probably pick up my scent and have me for dinner.

I squatted near a tree and did my business. I used wipes and a trash bag so I didn’t litter or go back smelling like I peed myself. I’d just pulled my ponytail out and tucked my hair back into place before tying it back up. The heat was oppressive and even with my hair off my neck.

Before I could take another step, there was a crack of a branch and I freaked out, spinning around in a circle only to see it was a rabbit. I took a deep breath to get a hold of myself.

I marched back the way I came…or so I thought. I’d been walking a few minutes and couldn’t see the clearing approaching. How did I get turned around? I continued to walk in the same direction for another five minutes and still nothing. The humidity was high. Sweat slipped down my blue tank top, making me feel sticky. Fall was around the corner, but not close enough. The temps were in the high eighties.

A brief moment of fear blanketed my flesh as a stiff breeze passed through the trees. I shivered, but continued to move forward. I knew that I must be going the wrong way, but for some unknown reason I pushed along. Why did I leave my bookbag at the camp with my cellphone in it?

Another thirty minutes later, I found a clearing. It wasn’t the same one, but at least there was a home in the center next to a dirt road. Maybe I could get help there. I walked onto the dirt road, looking to see if there were any signs. Nothing. I felt like I was tripping on something good. Was I so dehydrated that I’d become delusional? I shook my head and walked to the large country house.

A veranda wrapped around the front and sides and I cautiously approached the house, then searched for the doorbell. I didn’t see one, but then I turned my head and saw a rope with an old-fashioned bell attached. I’d seen it in classic movies, so I tugged it down. It chimed like a perfectly shaped, miniature church bell.

I shook as I waited for someone to appear. Nothing. I walked around the back, thinking maybe they would be out there grilling on this hot day. I did smell something delicious. I couldn’t tell what it was, but as I got to the open backyard it was empty. It was beautiful with a large flowerbed and a fountain in the center. Water cascaded down in an arc over the flowers, allowing just a mist to land on them. I’d never seen anything like it; I was mesmerized. My nostrils flared as I had a sick feeling that I wasn’t alone anymore and it wasn’t a human that joined me. A low growl emanated from the forest behind the yard. I could see it. A cougar. Shit. It would be fast so I had to be even more so. I slowly took a step back, hoping the animal already ate and that I was safe.

I wasn’t. It jumped from a large branch into the yard, just behind the fountain with only about twenty feet between us. I closed my eyes and booked it out of there, seeing an open window. I felt the cougar’s breath on my neck. I flew through it, my life depending on getting inside. I felt the burning sting of a cut on my arm from a slash of the cougar’s claws. My body crashed into the large kitchen table, smashing into a chair and breaking it as I landed on the floor. The air escaped my lungs and ached as though I broke my sternum. Fearing the animal would jump through the window, I turned my head and used my arms to lift my upper body. It was gone. I got up as gingerly as possible, my body suffering more damage than it ever had. I looked around the large kitchen and saw that I managed to knock the table over and another chair into a large glass cabinet. I was going to be in so much trouble with the homeowners.

The pain was still there as I stood. I looked toward the window, and I could see the cougar pacing the yard with his gaze in my direction. I slammed it shut. Well, I should say that I tried to, but it was a struggle. My chest hurt badly. I took a seat in one of the other chairs, trying to cope with the pain, but I was so thirsty. I looked around the room for the sink, but it seemed so far. The fridge was about two feet away from me. Maybe they had bottled water or something. I hobbled over there, apparently my leg was bruised as well. Opening it, I saw what looked like a homemade protein drink. I took a whiff of it and yes, it was. I drank it down feeling my thirst being quenched.

A sudden overwhelming feeling of exhaustion swept through my bones. I needed to rest. I dropped the cup onto the counter, making a mental note that I was going to have pay them back for everything I broke or used, but right now I had to lay down.