Switched and Fears

by Shannon Rieger

  I climbed down, one leg at a time, holding onto branches, planting my feet to steady myself. I had to release my hands and fall to the ground, bending my knees to soften the blow. As soon as I balanced myself, I sprinted to the river.

  The water ran very fast but I could see the rocky bottom and it didn’t look terribly deep. To my left, I could hear the roar of a waterfall in the distance. To my right, a few yards the other way, I could see an area with the rocks protruding from the water surface. If I could get across before they were upon me…

  I ran towards the rocks, listening as, suddenly, the birds in this area fell silent. Branches snapping echoed against the trees and they seemed closer than I had hoped. I turned to see the shimmer of a swarm of creatures clamoring towards the forest edge. My heart leaped.

  I scrambled and jumped across the rocks, slipping and sliding, making it to the other side just as I glimpsed the light flashing off the bodies as they emerged from the forest.

  The insects were assembling and their reptilian voices squealed and screeched to one another. Their eyes blinked red to green. Their pincers opened and closed, snapping together with a clicking sound that made me tremble in terror. At least a dozen.

  My chest heaved. I sprinted back along the bank to a place where the water deepened and moved like race horses towards the finish line. If these creatures were intent on capturing me, I hoped they would utilize a direct route and not detour to the rocks to help them cross the river. They ventured along the bank in my direction until I stopped. They stood directly across the fast-flowing water.

  Their bodies were a white and clear iridescent shimmer but they were visible in the dappled sunlight. Their pincers opened and closed and their lights blinked to green the moment that I let out a breath. It was as if they were, suddenly, certain that it was me.

  My hair was a wreck and a different colour. My clothes. The mud. The scent. But maybe, they could sense my breath. Something told them it was me and their abdomens began to shake. Their legs reached towards the water.

  I scanned the water and it appeared to be as deep as my waist in this area, well above their heads. I watched the white water as it rushed towards what I hoped was the Brosrock waterfall a hundred yards away. As it was natural in my world, I hoped that it was similar to the waterfall where water flows over a series of steep, rocky drops, to the lake below.

  The shade from the trees on this side of the river chilled me. My clothes dripped and the cold mud was freezing against my feet. I watched one after another of the creatures skittered out of the forest. They stood in a group, inching towards the water, almost piling on one another to get closer. I glanced behind me, looking for a tree I could climb if they made it across.

  I thought about running fast to the edge of the falls and hoping that these creatures would anticipate my fall and jump over. If I sprinted towards that edge, I’d have to slow to decide if it was going to do what I had hoped and if it didn’t, then what? They could be on top of me. It wasn’t an option because they might just follow me from one end to the other, never crossing and blocking my way.

  I glanced behind me. A tree within the forest looked like one that I could climb. I could run towards the edge of the waterfall and then climb a tree once I got there, in hopes that I could decide, but then they could get across and swarm at the bottom of the tree. Perhaps they could use their claws to climb the bark. Perhaps they would stay there for days calling for reinforcements. These were solar powered. They had no need to go back for recharging.

  The creatures spoke to one another in a reptilian array of voices, and then in the distance, more came. Then one creature put one leg into the water. They were programmed to hunt me. They’d stop at nothing. They’d never tire.

  When a vicious squeal erupted, I shrieked and turned to run to the tree in the forest. I climbed as fast as I could, screaming and imagining them using their bodies to build a bridge across the river and clamoring across to grab at my feet. When I thought I was high enough off the ground, I turned to see them. Were they coming?

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The creatures stumbled towards the water’s edge, pushing and shoving, their legs pressing on each other’s bodies and then one was in the water.

  It splashed against the current, but then went under. It popped up a few yards down the river, but was unable to fight the current. I gasped as I watched it splash and tumble towards the edge of the waterfall. It was trying to grab onto the rocks but the water was too powerful for it to gain a hold.

  Then, as if they couldn’t register what was happening to the one bobbing in the river, each took its turn to swim so that each could have the opportunity to come after me; to stampede across the river to get to me, and each, one by one was swept away in the current.

  “Oh, my goodness,” I whispered.

  I watched as they careened all the way to the end, despite their many legs scrabbling in the white-water rapids. Then the mass of creatures grappled and climbed on each other to try to get out of the water.

  At one point, they appeared to be making a short tower, and I thought, if they lean to one side, they would likely make a mechanical bridge to this side but it was too late. They were swept over the edge. It was now or never. I had to make a run for it. I had to make it home. If the drop didn’t destroy them, or if they were just getting out of the water now, they’d be coming. I couldn’t sit in this tree any longer. I glanced back at the river and there was still one on the shore. Motionless. Its lights turning red, instead of green now.

  A strange whistle began to sing from the unit. I climbed down to try to coax it to come after me, into the water.

  When I reached the edge, I watched the mouth of the waterfall and listened to the quiet roar of the water rushing. I imagined legs reaching out from that ledge. Nothing stirred except the water. I turned to the creature.

  “Hey!” I screamed. “Over here!” I jumped up and down and waved. But it remained. Had it lost its power? Was it safe to cross back now?

  I bolted towards the makeshift rock stepping stones and then I heard a whirring sound which stopped me in my tracks. An arm rose from the machine, and I couldn’t be certain if it had a way to shoot me with that arm or if it was readying itself to record me but either way, I stood transfixed. “Just come in the water,” I whispered. “Come get me!” I urged.

  A liquid squirted from the arm. It was trying to paralyze me. The clear liquid spilled into the water. It couldn’t reach me from this far. Despite this notion, I backed up just in case.

  Then it whistled again, as if getting orders from a remote control, and then its arm twitched. The creature began to spasm, and fold its legs under it. When it formed into a ball, I thought that perhaps it was going to ram me but there was still the issue of a river between us.

  I stood ready to run towards the shallows. Behind me, that tree was an easy climb for me. I still didn’t know what would happen if I jumped off the edge, at the end of the river. I couldn’t chance falling down onto rocks. I heard nothing from the creatures and imagined them climbing back up the cliff. “Come on!”

  Then the creature began to move again, and rolled towards the water, and then branched out from the back, a strange tail. The front began to elongate and then, before I knew it, it seemed to transform into another creature. No longer an insect, but one resembling a fish. It was going to swim at me?

  I held my breath as I watched. It moved towards the water, and I backed up a step. Then I glanced at the rocks to my left, yards down the bank…my way across. I thought about the tree behind me. I readied myself and then I thought I heard whirring from a distance away. More were coming but I couldn’t catch where the sounds came from.

  The creature edged its way to the bank and then it seemed to spring into the water, and I let out a shriek. It tried to move its tail, and bend its segmented body, and it seemed to almost do it, but then the current spun it, and it couldn’t get momentum to swim to the bank where I stood. It was washed away by the curr
ent and a few seconds later, it, too, was swept over the edge with the other lemmings.

  I jumped into action. I ran down the river to get to the rocks to make my way back to the other side. I scanned the forest for more creatures. Snap! The sound of a breaking branch made me think that if I didn’t hurry, I would be starting over. The sound made me think it was a few yards to my left, but the sounds carried through the trees in strange ways. I couldn’t be certain how many stalked me.

  I knew it was imperative that I keep moving but I trembled and felt light-headed. The thought of leaving the river behind me nagged at my mind. To remain still is death, so I ran.

  How long could I scramble along, low to the ground? How could I keep moving and still avoid bringing attention to myself as the swarms assembled?

  Snap!

  Another branch snapped and I was sure it was behind me. My adrenaline rush had exhausted me but my heart rate cascaded into overdrive. Keep moving! You gotta get back!

  I felt like they were closing in, just like a pack of coyotes. I needed a tree. They were gaining on me. I won’t make it in time, my brain torments. But what if I can make it back to the brook? Douse myself with a new smell of mud. I have to change my scent or I could lead them straight to the cabin. I groaned in frustration. I don’t know what to do! What are my options?

  Snap!

  A robotic screech in the distance suggested its quite far behind me, likely at the river. Maybe any new ones have gathered there. I needed a new scent. A lilac bush bloomed. Its purple blooms were like puffy balls of heaven. I sprinted towards them and grabbed handfuls of petals, crushing them as I fast as I could. I spread them over my arms and legs. I went back for more. I, practically, emptied the flowers from the bush to mask my scent.

  I directed my search for a tree as I made my way towards the brook. I passed the trampled white flowers. I climbed up a steep hill, slipping, sliding and inching ever so slowly until I made it over the top. The wind rustled the leaves.

  When I reached the water, I immediately noticed the robotic prints in the mud. I smashed the prints into the ground so they couldn’t be seen. I did the same on the other side of the water. I grabbed my shoes.

  A weeping willow towered and I realized that with a little effort, I could climb that tree and hide in its tresses of drooping leaves. I could stay there until I was certain I would not lead my pursuers back to Amber.

  I reached for a branch and easily pulled myself up. I climbed high and settled into the leaves and, though I could barely see the ground now, it meant that I would not be seen either. I found a comfortable position to sit without the risk of muscle pain and tried to rest my body just in case I had to stay put for a long while. I couldn’t risk moving once I found a position. I could not allow the branches to snap under my movement, or the sound of the leaves rustling as I repositioned. I had to remain still.

  I listened to the snaps of branches and the screeches of the creatures in the distance. They were hunting me in the direction of the river. More had come. Perhaps the others had climbed back up. That’s all I needed. Time. And once they realize that my scent is no longer in the forest, the hope was that they would leave the area.

  My body shook as the wet clothes clung to me. I was as cold as I was when I sat inside those locked cell walls.

  Exhaustion and drowsiness began to take over as I sat in that tree waiting for the robotic wails to cease. Hours went by, nighttime had fallen and the sound continued. If I left the safety of the tree too soon, what chance would have if I am swarmed again? For now, I’m going nowhere in the dark forest.

  The squeals and screeches, finally, fell quiet. No branches snapped under foot. Just as I contemplated about climbing back down, an owl hooted in the tree I hid and it just about knocked me out off the branch in my fright. I laughed to myself and listened once more for the whirring of the creatures. Nothing. Crickets had woken.

  I began my slow, careful descent. No one was in sight and I, quietly, made my way to the cabin.

  At the sight of my disheveled appearance, Amber panicked, yelling my name. I smelled like earth and rotting things and with any luck, a side scent of flowers. I bled. I was damp and muddy. But I was alive.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Meryk said, as he grabbed my arm, guiding me to the house, scanning the trees and yard.

  “I’m sorry. I went for a walk…”

  “A walk?” Amber said.

  “It’s been hours, for Pete’s sake.” Meryk stormed into the house after me.

  “I ran into some trouble.”

  I didn’t like Meryk’s contorted face when I told him what had happened. I left out the part where I thought I was quite brave, because he would have countered with ‘quite stupid’.

  Immediately, Meryk shouted for everyone to pack up. “We gotta go now!”

  Ruby and Amber packed, quietly, and efficiently.

  “You are very brave,” Amber leaned in to whisper.

  “You shouldn’t have been out there,” Meryk said. He leaned in to kiss Ruby. “Hunting cabin until further notice. I will a send message there. Right now, I am going see what they know. I will send word,” he said, panting, rushing and packing.

  Ruby was exasperated. “I thought we would be safe here, Meryk. What happened?”

  “My guess? Jaxson learned where we are.” He slammed his palm to his forehead, “It’s the only thing that makes sense.” He slammed cupboards and stomped about the house, throwing things into his bag. “Change her scent before you leave!” He nodded at Ruby. Meryk gave one more kiss to Ruby’s forehead and a hand to the hair for Amber, and he rushed out the door.

  Ruby threw food into a bag. “Come on. Hurry! We can’t stay here. They will come back. They will have new criteria. They’ll have changed your appearance in the system.”

  Amber rubbed ham grease into my hair as I spread the thick goop over my body.

  “Smells bad.” Amber stuck out her tongue.

  “Amber, where did you put the scissors?” Ruby rummaged in the drawers in the kitchen.

  “Bathroom.”

  Ruby came back with the scissors and while Amber rubbed the grease on my back, Ruby cut my hair more like a boy’s. “Sorry to do this to you.”

  “I deserve it. I shouldn’t have been out.”

  “Now, let’s hide the hair and get out of here,” Ruby said. She charged to the vent, opened it as she knelt. After wiping the grease on the loose hair, she shoved it all into the hole, replacing the vent.

  “I have to find Sky-Guy,” I whispered to Amber.

  Amber’s eyes widened. “Mom, the cat!”

  “Nope, no time. Let’s go.”

  Amber looked sorrowfully at me, and then followed her mother out the door. As I walked, I looked back for the cat. I whistled. It didn’t come.

  In the yard, I whistled again, and waited for movement from the shack but nothing stirred. Glowing eyes in the dark only meant animals, Amber said. I just wished it meant that my cat was following and I kept checking behind.

  A half an hour of fast-moving feet, I felt frustrated. I felt guilty. “We can’t just keep running. Place to place to place. It’s not working. They will always find me. Those insects will never stop. I need someone to help me,” I said. I rubbed at my face.

  “We are helping you.”

  “There’s got to be someone else other than your sweet family. I cannot put you at risk again. I can’t. I have to find someone else. Someone that the other Saige knew here. Someone who loves her.” I kept looking back for the cat. Amber thought I was looking for the robotic insects.

  “Like my mom loves me?”

  “Yes! That’s it! I can find my Mom.”

  “What if that puts her in danger though?”

  “That’s true.” I thought about it.

  “They would likely be watching her house.”

  “That’s true, too. I sure would like to see her right about now.”

  “She isn’t your mom. She is the other Saige’s mom.”r />
  “I know. But she would look like her. And probably would help me.”

  “You’ll get her hurt if you try to go to her house.”

  Who else could help me?

  When Ruby turned to look at us, Amber spilled the beans. “Saige wants to go see her Mom to see if she could help her.” Ruby’s face looked tortured.

  “What is it, Ruby?”

  “It’s something Meryk told me the other night.”

  “What did he say about my mom?”

  She drew in a long breath, while monitoring the area. “Well, he said your mom in this world isn’t…”

  “Isn’t what?” I asked, jogging towards her, to catch up. I heard Amber’s feet speed up, too.

  “Well, she died long ago.”

  “My mom died?”

  Amber piped in. “She isn’t your mom, Saige. You have your mom in your world. The one here isn’t your mom.”

  “She kind of is. It’s still a loss.”

  “But not to you.” Amber shook her head.

  “How about my sister? Is she okay?”

  “You don’t have a sister in this world, Saige.” Ruby apologized.

  “She died too?”

  “No, your mom never had a second child here. She died long ago.” Ruby looked behind us, which only made Amber check, too.

  “Of what?”

  “Heart attack.”

  “How do you even know all of this!” I said, exasperatedly.

  “Because Meryk looked Saige up. He wanted to know who we were dealing with. She had no one except her husband.”

  “She’s married.”

  “Yes.”

  “Again, not your husband,” Amber said, in a high-pitched voice.

  “I never married in my world.”

  “See!” Amber blurted out.

  Ruby added, “People Saige knew in this world are not the same as the ones you know in yours. Anything can happen that will change how the world is.”

  It made me wonder. I didn’t let on, but I thought he might be the one who could help me. As long as I was careful about my timing, and made sure no one was watching, I could ask him for help. He could know something about the portal. He might have asked his wife to hide. Why hadn’t he visited me at the prison? Perhaps he stayed away because he knew that I wasn’t his wife.