Mystery Falls Page 2

  It was not a question I was expecting. Answering truthfully, I said, “I like the solitude.”

  “You don’t think it’s dangerous, being out here all alone?”

  I returned my focus to the man who was starting to feel less like a stranger, and more like a distant friend. “If you’re referring to the bear, that’s the first time I’ve ever crossed paths with one.”

  “Actually, I wasn’t thinking of the bear...” he paused, and then very slowly added, “I was thinking... of myself.”

  Caught off guard by his words, I gasped.

  Without taking his eyes off me, he left the rock and came to crouch down beside me. With a stare that could only be classified as intimidating, he asked, “How do you know that I’m not dangerous? That I haven’t come here with sinister intentions?” He leaned closer. “That I’m not some crazed madman who’s biding his time while he decides what to do with you?”

  I swallowed deeply. And for the second time since arriving at my favorite hideaway, my heart rate increased. Only this time, it was not because of fear, but because of the stranger’s proximity. He was close. Too close.

  A strand of my hair fell forward onto my face. Taking it between his fingers, he whispered, “Are you afraid?”

  My pulse raced erratically. My breathing grew shallow. Emotions I had only ever dreamt about began to rise to the surface. Emotions, that I was sure, I should not be feeling for someone I had only just met. Trying hard to ignore the sensations running rampart in my body, I returned his gaze and said, “No.”

  “Well you should be.” Letting go of my hair, he straightened and strode back to the water’s edge.

  Relieved that he had put some distance between us, I took several calming breaths in an attempt to regain control. Sounding more confident than I felt, I said, “You’re not going to hurt me.”

  He spun around on his heel to face me. Speaking in a voice designed to make me question my statement, he asked, “Are you sure about that?”

  Chewing nervously on my lower lip, I waited a few seconds before I replied, “Yes.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Why?”

  “Because... if that was your intention, you would have done it by now.” In all honesty, I had no idea what his intentions were.

  For a long time, he glared at me. Finally, when I was beginning to think he would never speak again, his face relaxed. Grinning roguishly, he said, “Well, you’re right Samantha. I’m not here to hurt you.”

  My eyes opened wide as I gaped at him in astonishment. Had I heard him correctly? Had he just used my name? But how, how could he know? I was absolutely certain that in the short time we had been together, I had not told him who I was.

  Uncertain, I asked, “What did you just call me?”

  “Samantha. That is your name isn’t it?”

  “Yes, but...” I hesitated.

  “How did I know?” he completed.

  I nodded once.

  “I’ve been watching you... studying you, and there’s not much about you I don’t know.”

  I eyed him skeptically. Was he serious, or just saying these things to unnerve me? Deciding to call his bluff, I said, “I don’t believe you.”

  His expression changed. Appearing more solemn, he said, “No? Then let me tell you what I know, and we’ll see if that convinces you.”

  “Okay,” I challenged. I was expecting him to flounder, but instead, he began to rattle off my life like he was reading it from a script.

  “Your full name is Samantha Hunt, but your friends and family call you Sam. You were born in Mystery Falls. Up until your eleventh birthday, your life was close to perfect. Then, due to a tragic accident, you lost both your parents. With no other family to take care of you, you were left with no option but to live with your aunt and uncle. Unfortunately, after less than a year, your aunt left, leaving both you and your cousin Claire to wonder why. Blaming yourself for all the misfortune you’ve suffered in your short life, you have shut yourself off from most of the world. The only person you trust now apart from your uncle is your best friend Mia.” He stopped. Smiling smugly, he asked, “How am I doing so far?”

  I stared at him in stunned disbelief. How could he possibly know all those things unless what he had said was true? That he had been studying me. But why... what possible reason could this stranger, a person I had never met before, have, for wanting to learn so much about me? Suddenly, I felt completely exposed. It was not a feeling I liked.

  Determined not to show that he had finally succeeded in frightening me, I asked as lightheartedly as I could, “Are you a stalker?”

  He laughed. “Hardly...”

  “Then...”

  “Why am I interested in you...?” he finished. “That, I can’t explain.”

  “Why not,” I demanded as I pushed aside my fear.

  “Because the explanation is not simple... and definitely not one you’ll accept without question.” Returning to my side, he looked down at me. “Now, if you’re up to it, I think it’s time I take you home.”

  Home... considering how much he knew about me, I was under no illusion that he would not know exactly where I lived.

  Rising to my feet too quickly, I was overcome by a sudden wave of dizziness. In an attempt to stop me from returning to the ground with a thud, the stranger’s hand shot out. As his fingers circled tightly around the bare skin of my upper arm, I could feel a wave of electricity transfer from his body to mine—electricity that seemed to pulse into every cell and make me feel connected to him in a way I didn’t understand. Locked in each other’s gaze, we stood frozen.

  Then, just as swiftly as he had grabbed hold, he let go, breaking the spell.

  Frowning heavily, he took several steps back.

  I waited.

  I was expecting him to say something in relation to what had just occurred, but after what seemed like a full minute of silence, he simply asked, “Are you ready?”

  Confused, dumbfounded, I stuttered, “Um... yeah... I guess.”

  Without further comment, he bent to retrieve my backpack from where I had dropped it, and slowly began to lead the way out of the forest.

  Following in a daze, I wondered why he had chosen not to acknowledge what had transpired between us. Was it possible that he had not noticed? That what I thought I had experienced, had not been real? That I had only imagined it? Replaying his initial reaction over in my mind, I knew that was not the case. We had both felt the strange sensation, of that I was sure.

  Plodding along behind him, I pondered the idea of confronting him, of asking him to explain. But not sure what to say or how he would react, I opted against it. Shelving the memory, I turned my attention to the immediate future and asked, “Are you planning to accompany me all the way?” I had travelled this path many times before and knew exactly how long the journey would take. Within twenty minutes, I would be home.

  Without breaking his stride, he gave a curt nod.

  “Why?” I enquired further.

  “I want to make sure you arrive safely.”

  “You don’t think I can manage on my own?”

  Waiting for me to draw level, he fell into step beside me. “Actually, I think you can manage very well on your own. But if I were to read the paper tomorrow and discover that a young girl had been attacked in the forest while walking alone. And that that young girl happened to be you. Then I would find it hard to forgive myself, knowing that I could have prevented it.”

  “I see. So you think the bear might return?”

  “No. I don’t. But then again, anything’s possible.”

  “Yeah, I guess it is.”

  We continued in silence. It was only when we neared the end of the track that he stopped and spoke again. “Well, this is as far as I go.”

  Standing not far from the edge of the forest, the trees were thinner here. Through their trunks I could see the small three bedroom house I shared with my Uncle Mike and Claire. Recently painted a creamy white, it stood out like a beacon amongst the green foliage.

  The man removed my backpack from his shoulder. Handing it to me, he said, “Take care Samantha, and remember what I said, the forest is not a safe place for you to wander on your own.”

  As he turned to leave, I suddenly found myself wanting him to stay. That despite his being a stranger and someone I knew nothing about, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

  Without pausing to consider my words or the possible consequences of them, I blurted out, “Do you have to go? I mean... wouldn’t you like to come inside?”

  He grimaced. “I don’t think that would be wise.”

  “Why not,” I demanded.

  Regretting my tone instantly, I slid my eyes to the ground and tried to think of something to say which would delay his departure—something that would stop him from leaving. But nothing suitable would come to mind. Sensing that he was no longer standing before me, I looked up to see his retreating figure. Remembering that I still didn’t know who he was, and hoping that he would tell me at least that much, I called out in desperation, “Wait! You haven’t told me your name.”

  He hesitated. Turning only slightly, he stared for a moment. Then, without responding, he disappeared into the dark shadow of the trees.

  I gaped after him. And when it became obvious that he wasn’t coming back, I stumbled from the forest and trudged into the house.

  ***

  Late that night as I stood by my bedroom window staring up at the stars, an image of deep blue eyes and a perfect smile floated into my thoughts. It was not the first time my mind had focused on the stranger since arriving home from the woods. Throughout the afternoon and well into the evening, his face had been there, drifting in and out as I moved through my Friday night rituals.

  Initially, I had considered sharing my experience with Uncle Mike. But then remembering how protective he could be, I had chosen not to. If my uncle believed for even one minute that I was in any kind of danger, that this man whose name I had not learnt posed a threat, then he would insist that I never enter the forest again. Unwilling to risk losing my freedom, I had decided to keep the knowledge of the stranger to myself... at least for now.

  Alone and able to take the time to reflect on the events which had occurred by the stream, I began to wonder what my savior—his word, not mine—was doing at this very moment. Was it possible that he was thinking about me in much the same way as I was thinking about him? Or was I already forgotten?

  Suddenly recalling an admission he had made during our brief encounter, I stepped back from the window and out of the moonlight. If he truly was studying me as he had suggested, then he could be out there right now, watching me from the shadows. The concept should have frightened me, but instead, I felt a rush of excitement ripple through my body. Unable to explain why, I hoped that he was nearby, that he was hiding amongst the trees. And that somewhere in the not too distant future, our paths would cross again.

  Crossing to my bed, I slid beneath the covers and rolled over onto my stomach. Plumping up the pillows beneath me, I let out a sigh. Whoever this young man was, he had captured my attention completely, and for the first time in six years, I no longer felt like I wanted to hide from the world.

  Chapter Two

  “That’s… the guy you were talking about.” Mia was literally drooling as she stared unashamedly across the school parking lot.

  “Yeah, that’s him,” I confirmed for the second time.

  Shortly after pulling into the space beside a red Toyota, Mia had dragged me from my car and pointed me in the direction of a large and expensive black SUV. At first I had shown little interest. Then, as my eyes slid along its length towards the hood, I’d let out a gasp. Lounging against the shiny paintwork was a young man, and gazing at his beautiful face, it had taken less than a second for me to recognize him as the stranger I had met in the forest.

  In a tone which could only be described as incredulous, Mia continued, “Why did you leave?”

  “What do you mean, ‘why did I leave’?”

  “Well, if I was lost in the forest with someone who looked like that, I’d want to stay lost.”

  I frowned. “I wasn’t lost.”

  “Whatever,” she shrugged.

  Mia Taylor and I had been best friends since the beginning of middle school. After suffering both the loss of my parents and the demise of my relationship with Claire, I had become withdrawn... shy... unsociable. Thinking I required some assistance in coping with my grief, my sixth grade science teacher had taken it upon herself to partner me with Mia, an enthusiastic student who had an uncanny ability of raising the spirits of all those around her. At first I had found Mia’s vivacious nature overpowering and difficult to tolerate, but as the bond between us grew, it became less annoying, and more endearing. And now, I would not be without her for the world.

  As close as two friends can be, we share everything, every event which occurs in our lives. And so it is not surprising that I told her of my experience in the forest.

  In true Mia fashion, she had been, and was still, more interested in the guy who had rescued me, than in the bear which had threatened to take my life.

  “So, do you want to go over and say hi?” Barely able to contain her enthusiasm, she took a step forward.

  About to lean into my car to collect my bag and note book from the passenger seat, I paused. Glancing over my shoulder towards my savior—as he had dubbed himself—I found that he was no longer alone. A small group of juniors and seniors had gathered around him, most of them female.

  “Um... No. Not particularly,” I lied. In truth, I wanted nothing more than to race across the lot to the stranger’s side and continue the conversation we had started three days earlier. To learn all I could about him, and hopefully, form a solid friendship. However, not prone to speaking openly in front of my peers, I didn’t feel comfortable approaching him with so many of them acting as spectators.

  Completing the task of gathering my things, I closed and locked the door before turning my attention back to my friend.

  With her focus still firmly on the stranger, Mia said, “You know... I still can’t believe you didn’t get his name.”

  I moaned softly. “I told you, he wouldn’t tell me.”

  Running her fingers through her auburn hair, she cast her dark green eyes in my direction. “Well, let’s go over there and find out.” Linking her arm in mine, she attempted to pull me towards the growing crowd.

  I remained unwilling. Refusing to move, I said, “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not.”

  Her face dropped. Disappointed, she asked, “Why? Don’t you want to find out who he is?”

  “Yeah, of course I do. But not right now, maybe later... when he’s not so busy.”

  Aware of my aversion to public display, Mia accepted my decision, albeit reluctantly. “Okay.” Releasing her hold on me, she added, “But understand this, by lunch hour, I will know his name, along with every other personal detail he’s trying to keep hidden.

  “Good luck with that,” I replied.

  Although I knew Mia could be quite tenacious when it came to seeking answers, I doubted that she would have much success with this newcomer. During my brief time with him in the forest, it had quickly become apparent that he was not a person who would give up his secrets easily.

  In the distance, a bell rang, officially marking the beginning of our final year in high school. Turning my attention towards the buildings, I began to walk to my first class with Mia following close behind.

  ***

  The morning passed in a haze of assignments, term papers and due dates. Entering the cafeteria with my head spinning from information overload, I wondered if I would see my savior. So far, his path and mine had not crossed once since I had left the car park, and I was beginning to feel a sense of disappointment.

  Pausing in the doorway just long enough to determine that he was not in the room, I made my way towards the table I usually shared with Mia. Not surprisingly, she was not alone.

  Acknowledging Tom’s presence with a brief nod, I sat down directly opposite them and dumped my bag into the vacant seat beside me. Tom Miller, a tall lanky boy with soft brown eyes, a lazy smile, and shaggy blonde hair, had been infatuated with Mia since the tenth grade. However, apart from the occasional date, she had not yet committed to a serious relationship with him. I had to admit, I admired his patience.

  Sliding my eyes to Mia whom I had not seen for the past hour, I couldn’t help but notice the huge grin plastered across her face. Curious to know what was causing such a victorious expression, I asked, “What’s up?”

  Unable to contain her excitement a moment longer, she blurted out, “I discovered his name.”

  Although I was completely aware of the person to whom she was referring, I pretended otherwise. “Whose name...?”

  Casting a ‘you’ve got to be joking’ look in my direction, she said way too loudly, “Your mystery man of course.”

  “He’s not, my… mystery man,” I hissed. Noticing the glares of nearby students, I added, “And if you don’t mind, can you please keep your voice down?”

  “Okay, okay, keep your shirt on or I won’t tell you.” Even though she tried to sound offended by the tone I had used, I knew she wasn’t. Continuing to keep me in the dark, she said, “You’ll never guess what it is.”

  “Then why don’t you just tell me,” I snapped in mock frustration.

  Repeatedly tapping her chin with her index finger, she sighed, “Hmm… no, I think I prefer it if you guess.”

  I could see she was enjoying this, but in no mood for her games, I said, “Why?”

  Smiling mischievously, she responded, “Because it’s more fun this way.”

  “Maybe for you,” I replied, feeling genuinely annoyed now.

  Adopting the puppy-dog expression she liked to use when she was trying to get me to comply to her demands, she mashed the palms of her hands together and began to beg, “Oh, come on. Please... just try and guess.”