four
As I stepped out of my bedroom the next morning, I glanced at the clock: 7:35 AM. I had a brief window before Reggie might show up, and I was determined to make the most of it. If I hurried, I could avoid the hassle of cooking his breakfast.
I raced through my usual routine, scrambling to get ready. Finally, I burst out the door, my hiking gear in hand. This day off had been a long time coming, and I was more than ready to indulge in the freedomit promised.
The sun was shining brightly, practically begging me to get outside for some fresh air. I only risked driving whenabsolutelynecessary. My car’s reliability was a game of chance, and today wasn’t the day to roll the dice. So, I decided to walk. Deano’s was my first stop. I ordered my usual latte, then settled into a quiet spot, savoring the warmth of the drink as I took in the peaceful view.
The mountains were breathtaking, their jagged peaks dusted with the first hint of autumn’s gold. I could see the trees shifting from green to fiery reds and oranges, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. There was a crispness to the air, not cold but refreshing, drifting in through the shop’s window, filling the space with the sharp scent of pine and earth.
I loved admiring the view, but nothing compared to the feeling of being surrounded by it. Hiking was my favorite pastime, and the connection I felt to nature went beyond appreciation. It was as though the world itself was alive, breathing with me, every step grounding me in a peace I couldn’t find anywhere else.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through my thoughts.
“Bryn, is that you?”
I turned to see Sadie standing before me, her eyes bright with warmth, her hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket.
“Sadie! So good to see you!” I waved her over, leaning back in my chair. “Come sit, relax.”
Her expression softened with apology, her shoulders lifting in a faint shrug. “I wish I could stay and catch up, but I have to get to the store and set up for the day.” She glanced at her watch, her eyes flicking away before meeting mine again, a trace of regret in them. “It was really good seeing you. You should stop by sometime.”
“Yeah, of course.” I nodded, forcing a bright smile. “Take it easy.”
But as Sadie hurried off, a pang of disappointment settled in. My social circle wasn’t exactly huge. Okay, it was nonexistent. It wasn’t for lack of trying, though. I’d made attempts at forming connections, but they always fizzled into shallow acquaintanceships. What I craved was a real, heartfelt friendship, one where I could be myself, without fear of judgment or rejection.
As I sat there, the sting of loneliness sharp, envy of Reggie and Sal’s close bond washed over me. It was a painful reminder of my isolation. How sad I had become, indeed.
I finished my drink, tossed the cup in the trash, and stepped out into the bright sunlight. The warmth on my skin was a welcome respite as I made my way to the trailhead.
At the entrance, I fought through thick underbrush until the narrow trail revealed itself. It was so overgrown and hidden that only someone who already knew it existed would’ve spotted the way in.
The terrain grew more difficult as I pressed forward, but I didn’t stop. After several miles, the landscape opened suddenly, revealing a breathtaking cliff. I followed the winding track down, savoring the view like a traveler stumbling upon an untouched oasis. A faint thread of sound teased the air, a whisper of water, hinting at a waterfall just ahead.
The descent stretched on, time blurring as my legs burned with each step. When I finally rounded the last bend, the roar surged into a deafening rush. And then, there it was—right before me, the awe-inspiring falls.
I claimed a rocky perch and sank onto it, exhaustion fading in the face of such beauty. Peeling off my boots and socks, I dipped my feet into the cool, crystal-clear water. Reclining against the warm stone, I closed my eyes and let the sound surround me. The breeze it stirred whispered through my hair, loosening the tension from my shoulders.
In moments like this, I felt something beyond myself. Like my soul had stepped out of time and into the rhythm of the earth. Everything aligned. I belonged.
The roar of the water softened into a kind of lullaby, steady and strong. My eyelids grew heavy. I let the sound carry me, and I began to drift.
But as I slipped into sleep, fragments of Ezekiel’s tortured face tore through my mind. His pupils were blown wide with terror, his skin slick with sweat, as if trapped in a nightmare. His bronzed complexion hadfaded to a sickly gray, and his form shimmered like a ghost struggling to stay tethered to reality. That hollow, desperate stare pleaded with me, but whatever he was trying to say remained just out of reach.
Disjointed words spilled from his lips, garbled and broken. Still, I could’ve sworn I heard him murmur, “Bryn,baby,where are you?”
His figure wavered, sliding in and out of view—until, suddenly, his face loomed inches from mine, flushed and panicked. His scream shattered the silence: “RUN!”
I shot upright, my own cry echoing through the trees. Heart racing, I scanned my surroundings, breath caught in my throat. The stillness around me felt unnatural, like something waiting just beyond sight. Whatever peace I’d found here had vanished, replaced by a knot of dread tightening in my gut.
I struggled to make sense of the dream, but its details slipped through my fingers like a memory just out of reach. Still, one feeling clung to me: the sense that he was out there—his eyes, his voice, somehow brushing against me through the trees.
I packed my things with shaking hands and set off, the terrain suddenly darker, more oppressive. Even the shadows seemed to lean closer with every step.
After hours of hiking, I finally broke through the trees, blinking into sunlight that felt too bright, too sharp. I stood there for a moment, trying to draw warmth from it, but the comfort didn’t last.
Am I losing my grip on reality?I wondered.Is it just stress…or something else?A flicker of unease crept up my spine. Had casting Ezekiel in my stories unleashed a dark force, one that now haunted my every waking moment?
Too drained to follow through with my plans, I headed straight home.
