by Jamie Knight
Putting my hatchet back onto my hip, by sheer force of habit, I ran over as fast as I could, covering the distance in about 10 seconds flat, my robo-leg actually coming in handy for once, and pulled the woman, whoever she was, back from the brink.
Chapter Three - Anne
I wasn't sure what was happening at first. I could feel a sudden force pulling me back before my brain had time to register it.
When it finally did, I yanked out of the zombie-like trance the sheer beauty of the valley had put me into, and then I went straight into fight or flight mode, my brain flooding with adrenaline.
Left with those as my only choices, I went with the latter option. I threw back a hard elbow, making the creep stumble back. I jerked hard to the right, getting out of his grasp and nearly stumbling over the cliff in the process.
The lumberjack-looking guy grabbed my arm and pulled me back again. I was still panicking so I dropped hard, again breaking his grasp and rolling away, raising my fists.
If some mountain man thought that he was going to pull a Deliverance on me, he had another thing coming. Remembering the knife that I had brought up with me, I pulled it out and got into the best fight stance I could muster up.
“What are you going to do with that? Widdle me away to my death?” the man asked, with a gruff chuckle.
I looked at the knife, which had seemed pretty impressive to me when I had seen it in the store. I had been so proud of myself for carrying it on me in case I needed it. But I had never stopped to ponder what good it would really do, should I actually need it.
As I was distracted, the mountain man sprang, grabbing my wrist. I kept struggling, pounding at his chest as hard as I could, which admittedly wasn't very hard at all. He got a hold of my other wrist and I started to cry. He had me and I knew it.
“Go on then, do it! You've got me, so just fucking do it. Kill me or whatever it is you want to do! Just make it quick.”
“Anne.”
The voice was really familiar sounding. I looked up into the kind eyes that appeared hurt. They didn’t look like he had been planning to hurt me at all.
“Sawyer?” I asked, wondering if that was him, and if so, how I hadn’t recognized him at first.
But then I went easy on myself, considering that he looked a lot scruffier than he had when I’d last seen him. His beard and hat masked him, and I had been used to seeing him in regular City people clothing.
Not to mention the fact that I had been scared out of my wits. I still felt a bit shocked and didn’t want to make any decisions about whom I could trust or not, in this panicked state I was in. I had already been in one before I came here – which was the whole reason I had come here – but he had really made it worse. I was still questioning reality.
“Prove it,” I said, backing away, still suspicious.
He pulled up his pant-leg and I instantly realized the mistake I had made. I felt so awful for not recognizing him, but in my defense, he really had changed a lot since the last time I saw him.
“I was just trying to see if you were okay.”
“Of course I'm okay,” I lied, not wanting to get into it.
Though I was as fine as I could be under the circumstances.
“Not from what I heard.”
“What do you mean?”
“Something about being so scared that you wanted me to kill you quickly.”
“I was panicked, you scared the shit of me and forgive me if I didn't recognize you instantly, Grizzly Adams.”
“Fair enough,” he said, absently stroking his beard, “what are you doing up here anyway?”
“You invited me, remember?”
“Well, yeah, but when you didn't show up after the first month or three, I figured you weren't interested, I mean, I can take a hint.”
“I-I just needed to get away, for a while.”
“Well, I certainly understand that,” he said.
His shirt smelled like woodsmoke at sweat. It was really nice. I wanted to go in for another whiff but didn't want him to think I was weird. Or any weirder.
Suddenly the chill hit me, and I hugged myself. Without a word, Sawyer took off his lumberjack shirt, leaving him in a long-sleeved T-shirt, and wrapped it around me.
“I thought it would be warmer,” I said, by way of explanation.
“The air is thinner up here,” he explained, gently rubbing my shoulders, trying to warm me up faster.
“Didn't think of that.”
“Do you have any warm clothes?”
“Not really. I didn't really know how much colder it would be up here and I kinda left the City in a hurry.”
He gave a nonchalant shrug. I could sense that he was trying to not care too much about me while also giving me space, actually taking several steps back. He had always been sweet like that.
It was difficult to walk, I was in such a daze. I had actually packed up and driven up to the mountain in hopes of what? Sanctuary? That was probably closer to the truth than I was willing to admit.
I had always felt really comfortable with Sawyer and his place sounded so beautiful. I knew I wasn't thinking righ,t the deep shock and trauma still doing a number on my mental state. I didn't mean to fight Sawyer off so hard.
Was I seriously planning to stab him?
I hadn't known it was Sawyer at the time but still, it was a huge over-reaction. He was just trying to save me from jumping.
My stomach started to growl so loudly that it interrupted me from my thoughts and caused Sawyer to look over at me. I hadn't eaten since the day before. Once I had decided to go, I just went, everything in me focused on getting out. Getting away.
“Would you like to come to the house for some food?” he asked.
“Okay,” I agreed, still not sure I was thinking straight.
I wanted to ask Sophia to come up with me, keep me on the straight and narrow, but she was living with her new boyfriend, which was a face of life that necessitated me having to move to a much smaller place, and I didn't want to wrest her from her happy little life just because I was so miserable.
It didn't really seem fair to rain on her parade. I wasn't sure she would mind. She had always been there before, but I really wasn't thinking about that at the time. I wasn't even thinking of seeing Sawyer again after so long and I even wondered what it might be like after so long.
What must he think of me?
Did he still think I was hot, even though I was such a mess?
Would he still want to fuck me?
It didn't take much for me to realize that no, he wouldn't. At least not while I was in this state. I had basically outright told him to kill me and he seemed horrified.
I could only hope that things would calm down between us now that that initial reunion was over with – and it hadn’t gone quite the way I had planned. But I hadn’t really planned anything, since I had just suffered a tragedy, and that’s not the time that is known to be best for making detailed plans.
Sawyer still kept his distance as he led me thought the thick trees, touching me only lightly now and then to steer me away from hazards. I felt really comfortable with him. Whatever might happen next, I was glad I had made the seemingly crazy decision to come up here.
Chapter Four - Sawyer
I wanted to take Anne’s hand to help her through the woods, but she seemed pretty jumpy still, and I was trying not to upset her again. Any fool could see that she wasn't fine, despite her claims, and my mama didn't raise no fools, God rest her soul.
Still, I tried to leave her be, while deciding I would continue to keep an eye on her. I didn't want her getting hurt and figured that as long as she was at my place, she was under my protection.
“Why were you up on the cliff with almost nothing on?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
She didn't answer. Her silence had a weight to it that I recognized. She had clearly been though some kind of trauma and was trying to block everything out. Including me. I could understand that in a way
.
I tried a few more, lighter questions, getting the same icy silence in return. She nearly went down after tripping on a root. I took her gently by the shoulders to keep her from going falling.
She made a sound of distress and shrugged away from me. She didn't try to stab me again, though, so I considered it an improvement. I stayed well away from her after that and let her walk in silence. Though I couldn't help but wonder who had hurt her so badly and what their blood might look like on the blade of my hatchet.
I could hardly believe she had suddenly just reappeared in my life like that. Just when I had been feeling like I missed her and would never see her again. Feeling a bit lonely and wanting of human interaction.
I had kind of gone out of my way to separate myself from the rest of the world, but the world had come to find me in the form of this uninvited and unwanted drama, in the shape of a beautiful, curvy goddess. Just when I had given up on seeing her or finding love or dating ever again. The fates had a really fucked up sense of humor.
I caught myself looking at her body. Even in my big shirt that hug off her like a dress, she looked amazing. She really wasn't wearing much. Her shorts cut off so high I could see part of her lovely ass and her top stopping just below her bountiful tits. A lot of that was covered by then, but her gorgeous legs were still on full display.
I knew it was wrong when she was in such distress. She really didn't know what she was doing and barely seemed aware that I was there. Soon enough, my protective instincts kicked back in and I pulled my eyes away, looking steadily forward, scanning the tree-line for potential threats.
My previous fantasy tried to push its way back into my mind. The devil and angel on each of my shoulders having an almighty shouting match, making my ears ring. In the end, virtue prevailed, and I managed to keep my thoughts and intention chaste.
I wanted her, yes, but there was no way in Hades I was going to take advantage of her. At least she was somewhere now that she could be safe from whatever had upset her so much. So much as a strange car coming up the road was enough to make me go out with the Mossberg at that point.
After what seemed like an eternity, we got back to the main part of the compound. Punching in the code, I opened the door, letting Anne in first. I had left the heater on before I had gone out to work, knowing I might well be cold by the time I came back in and I didn't want to have to wait for the place to warm up.
Anne dropped the shirt as soon as she got inside, putting her arms out, basking in the warmth. I hung up the shirt next to the door and did my damnedest not to look at her, instead slipping away into the kitchen to start making food.
I had no idea if Anne ate meat or not. Playing it safe and not wanting to assume one way or another, I started up a veggie stir-fry.
After warming herself up in front of the heater, Anne came strutting in. At least that's how it looked to me. To be fair, that was really just how she walked, her hips being of the overly curvy type that always wiggled when she walked. Her tits also had a natural tendency to bounce, even when she was wearing a bra.
These were the things my fantasies had been made of ever since I had met her, yet I had never acted on them while she was my physical therapist, and now, I wasn’t sure I ever should, since she seemed to be going through a hard time and I didn’t want to take advantage of her.
She still seemed really out of it, so I decided to play it gentle and gave her only a terse nod. I was wary of doing anything that might accidentally spook her. Getting herself over to the handmade wooden table, Anne sat down there and lay her upper body across the table top.
“You like stir-fry?” I asked.
“Okay,” she said, not sounding like she had heard me or really cared.
My guess was that she was just really hungry and would have eaten anything I put in front of her. Her tummy gurgled again as though in agreement. She reached down and rubbed it as I cooked.
Despite her lethargic demeanor, she ate ravenously once I was finished, going through the entire pan of stir-fry, a whole bag of cookies, most of a loaf of fresh baked bread with butter and an entire tub of Ben & Jerry's before she stopped, collapsing again, letting out a happy little sound.
I cleared up the remnants and did the dishes, leaving her to rest with her face against the table, which didn't look too comfortable.
“Are you ready for bed?” I asked her.
She just shrugged in reply, not even lifting her head. I decided not to push her and just helped her up from the chair before guiding her into my room. She started to panic as we walked in.
“I want you to have the bed. I'll take the couch,” I said, before adding, “you are safe here.”
She didn't say anything but seemed to relax. I took a step back just to be sure. I really didn't want to freak her out.
“There are some sweatpants and T-shirts in the bottom drawer. They might be a bit big on you, but see what you can find, if you want to.”
She didn't even look at me. She was lost in her own thoughts, more than likely trying to figure out what was real or not. I had to admit it was pretty surreal for me, too. But there it was.
“You need some sleep,” I said.
She just went into the room, taking off her shirt, no doubt in preparation of finding something to sleep in. I looked away so fast I nearly got whiplash, jumping back and closing the door, doing my best not to upset her by slamming it.
It is odd how the mind can work. How easily things can slip your mind. I was due to go to a conference for a prosthetics company, to help people who needed them.
The goal of the conference was to help them heal physically as well as mentally, since those two traumas are often experienced together. I had not been looking forward to it because it would mean coming down off my mountain, and I had realized I didn’t prefer to do that.
Going to my computer I pulled up a video call and dialed Pat, who was the liaison with the company putting on the conference, and who was also a friend of mine. He was a therapist who helped PTSD patients. It was the only reason I had agreed to go in the first place.
“What's the good word, Sawyer Who Saws Wood in the Woods?” he asked me.
He had started calling me that ever since I’d moved up here.
“Hey, pal. I'm not sure I can make it to the conference,” I said.
“You what now?”
“Something came up,” I hurried to explain. “Something really important and I'm not sure I can leave right now.”
“Is this an excuse not to come down off your damn mountain again?” he asked.
I had blown off prior engagements for the same reason.
“Not entirely. Something really did come up. Very much out of the blue.”
“I worked really hard to set this up, man,” he complains.
“I know you did.”
“Don't let me down. This is really important. You are the key-note! My patients going through amputations or facing it as a possibility really need to hear from you. It will give them hope to know all of the promising technological advances that are available to them now.”
“I know, friend. I'll my best,” I said, lamely.
“You'd better.”
I felt bad but I really was in a jam. I didn’t want to leave Anne up here alone, not in this state. Sure, she hadn’t exactly asked if the timing was convenient for a visit. But she clearly needed me right now for whatever reason, and I wanted to be there for her.
No sooner did I hang up than some very disturbing sounds started up from down the hall. Moans and groans and not of the sexy variety. More like those of someone being tortured.
What the fuck?
I got up quickly and went down the hall to see if I could help. Though by the time I got to the door, it was quiet again. I couldn't help but wonder if I had imagined it.
I thought about checking on in just to be sure, but I didn’t want to be intrusive into her privacy, especially after I had told her she could have my room to sleep, and she
likely wasn’t expecting me to bother her.
I head back down the hall, telling myself I’d only knock if I heard those same noises again.
Chapter Five - Anne
It wasn't the first time I had woken up screaming. I really should have been used to it by that point.
Then, of course, after I thought about it for a moment, I realized I hadn't actually screamed at all. Not in the waking world, anyway. My expression of terror and pain remained in my head with the nightmare that had caused it – and that is where I had been screaming.
I had been trying to pull my dad out of a wrecked car. I wasn't even sure if he was alive. There was blood everywhere and it didn't seem likely. I just knew I had to get him away from there or he would definitely die, if there was still any hope worth fighting for.
Then he pushed me away just as the car blew up, taking him with it. That would have been just like my dad. Making the big gesture to save me, even if it meant sacrificing himself.
Luckily, that wasn’t exactly how it all gone down, or I might feel even worse about it all, if that was even possible.
In my dream, I got up from the wet pavement and looked down, realizing that most of the blood I'd been so worried about was actually coming from me.
Now, after waking up, I shook my head hard, apparently mistaking my brain for an Etch-A-Sketch. It was as if I was trying to shake the badness away. I knew I couldn't dwell on it. It wasn't healthy. I might break down and Sawyer, who had been kind enough to let me stay at his place, would think I was crazy.
He wouldn't have been wrong. I was slowly going crazy, but he didn't need know it. He would only worry.
I heard him talking softly outside my door. It took a minute to realize he was on the phone and he wasn't talking softly. Instead his voice was muffled by the door.
Was that why I'd woken up?
I wondered who he was talking to, suddenly realizing I didn't really know much about him outside of our physical therapy sessions. We had talked of course, but nothing terribly deep.
