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THIRTY-FIVE

Friday

Crisp cool air lifted Maya Brooks’ hair as she ran along the trail. A gentle breeze rustled the trees, bringing the fresh scent of pine and snow from the ice-capped mountains. As the first light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy of pines, it cast golden spears of light across the forest floor, sparking her imagination with dancing fairies. At this time of the morning, the forest was magical and gave her a sense of peace. After a run, she could face the day and any stress that came along with it. As she moved along the familiar pathway, a break in the canopy drew her attention, and engaged by the view, she stopped. The sky changed from deep blue to various shades of pink and orange and moments later the sun illuminated the peaks of the surrounding mountains. The forest came alive all at once. Squirrels scampered up trees, and birdsong filled the air. She moved on, taking in the fresh green ferns and wildflowers along each side of the trail. As usual she would run to the first bridge, cross over to the other side of the ravine, and then take the trail back to the parking lot.

As she crossed the bridge, the smell of fire came on the wind. Aware of a brushfire in the forest the previous day, she turned to look in the direction of Bear Peak. No smoke was visible and she turned to scan the forest below the bridge. If there was any danger of fire on the other side of the ravine, she would turn back and go the way she came. Seeing nothing, she proceeded across the bridge and headed down the track on the other side. People used this trail for hiking and running. This area of Stanton Forest was never a designated area for hunting, so everyone could move around without fear of being shot. Two hundred yards along the trail, she noticed a makeshift camp. Three discarded sleeping bags sat beside a small fire. As they were some distance from the river, and hunting wasn’t allowed, she wondered why these people camped in the forest. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of the smoke. What had made them leave an unattended fire? She scanned the forest, turning around and looking in all directions. A wildfire this close to town could cause massive destruction as all the outlying homes were made of wood.

With no one in sight, Maya headed toward the fire. Whoever had lit it had dug a small hole first, and she used the soil to kick over the embers until it stopped smoldering. She spun around at a sound behind her and stared into the faces of three smiling men. She lifted her chin. “You can’t go off and leave a fire unattended in the forest.”

“Is that right?” One of the men allowed his jacket to fall open, displaying a gun in his belt. “And you’re the law in this forest, are you? Or are you just a busybody?”

Suddenly afraid of the men leering at her, Maya turned and ran. The men were blocking her way back to the trail, so she zigzagged through the forest. A gunshot rang out and a thump hit her leg. Searing agony shot through her thigh, and staggering a few steps, she fell flat on her face. Unimaginable pain streaked through her in red-hot waves. Pine needles filled her mouth and she spat them out, panting through the agony. They shot me.

Terrified and trembling, she scanned the forest searching for the men, but no one followed her. Lying as still as possible, she waited and listened. The forest had fallen silent after the shot as if everything was holding its breath. She looked all around again and breathed a sigh of relief. She’d lost them. Struggling to sit up, she gaped at the groove cut through one side of her thigh. Shrugging out of her backpack, she found the first aid kit she always carried with her and bandaged her leg. Unsure if she could walk, she pulled out her phone. She needed help and dialed 911. She gave her details and approximate coordinates to the woman who answered the phone. She needed to get back on the trail where she could be easily found by the deputies and paramedics who would be on their way. Using the trunk of a pine to pull herself to her feet, she moved slowly from tree to tree in an arc to avoid the men’s camp. Maybe they didn’t know that they’d hit her and only shot to scare her away. Surely if they meant her harm, they would have come after her? A rustling came from the left, and gripped by panic, she hobbled faster, trying to make out the trail through the trees. If she made it there, the deputies would find her.

Pine needles crunched, and a soft laugh came so close behind her terror shattered through her. She didn’t have time to run before a hand clamped on her forearm and closed like steel, crushing her bone. She screamed and lashed out, punching the man in the throat. When he gasped and let go of her arm, she tried to run, but a second man stepped out from behind a tree and scooped her up as if she weighed nothing. “Let go of me.”

“That’s never gonna happen.” The man carried her to the trail and body-slammed her to the ground.

Air rushed from Maya’s lungs and it hurt to breathe. The man stood over her laughing. Trembling, she stared at him and held up her hands. “Please let me go. I won’t tell anyone you shot me.”

The man ignored her and looked into the forest as the man with the gun came crunching through the underbrush.

“See, I told you if you wait long enough, they’ll come to you. You don’t need to risk going into town.” He pulled a knife from his belt and handed it to the other man. “You can have this one. If I start killing now, I’ll never stop and there are plenty more where she came from, but don’t shoot her. It’s too quick.”

“I’ve waited twenty years to smell a woman like that, all hot and sweaty after running.” A third man crunched out of the forest, bent over her, and inhaled. “The kitty kittys at the prison smell like antiseptic but they scream the same—if you can catch one.” He snorted with laughter. “Even her blood smells sweet.” He grinned at the man holding the knife. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Maya gaped at the men, discussing her as if she weren’t human. Tears ran over her cheeks in hot streams. “Please don’t hurt me. I won’t tell anyone.”

“They always say that, sweetheart.” The man with the gun stared at her with cold dark eyes. “It turns on guys like us and makes us want to hear you plead and moan for a long time. It takes skill to slice and dice.”

“I can never make it last long enough.” The man with the knife chuckled and looked from one man to the other. “You sure had it right when you said once you kill again, it’s hard to stop. I sure like being free. You guys can do what you like, but I’m gonna head back into town and have me some fun.” He stood over her smiling. “Run.”

Terrified but not beaten, Maya rolled onto her knees determined to run away. She crawled, dragging her injured leg behind her. I must get away. She had escaped these men before and could do it again. Deep laughter filled the suddenly silent forest, and the next second, someone grabbed her hair, wrenching her head back. Cold steel crossed her throat, stinging her flesh. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound came out. She fell forward into the well-worn dirt path and then the beautiful magical forest spiraled into darkness.