Back to the Dream Page
Chapter 5
As Mel continued along the path, keeping up with their group's trail guide, her heart lightened at the serenity of the surrounding woods. She took in a deep breath and smiled, closing her eyes for a few moments to savor this peace.
"You sure are enjoying yourself, Mel," a voice came from beside her after she'd focused once more on the trail ahead.
She flashed a smile. "And why wouldn't I be, Mark? It's a refreshing difference from the same old routine in the industrialized world."
"Very true. Still, I can't help but wonder how you're managing to keep up in the lead this time. Years ago, we would have left you behind a long time ago."
"So what's your point? You said so yourself that was years ago. A person can change and get healthy again."
"You're lucky you've gotten in shape, but there are others of us who have lost the habit. It looks like someone's taken your place at the end of the line." Mark pointed back of the group and sure enough, someone was struggling just to stay in their sight.
"I think I'll keep him company. We're just going back to the lodge, right?"
"We sure are, Mel," the trail guide answered for her. "We'll meet you in a little while."
As the rest of the group went on their way, Mel backtracked a little to Don's side. "Hey there, buddy. What's up?"
"Wipe that big, stupid grin off your face," he scowled.
Mel, unaffected by his sour mood, retorted, "Wipe that big, ugly frown off your face and smile. It's a wonderful day!"
"How can you say that? We've been hiking for how many miles now?"
"Don't look at it that way. We're almost there."
"You call a mile left almost there? I may just pass out on the trail right here and never make it back."
"Spoil sport. Here, let me take your backpack for you." Before he could even protest, she'd made her way behind him, reached up, and freed him of the straps. "There. That should be a little easier for you."
"But what about you? That's heavy."
"This? Nah, I'm fine actually. I've carried heavier."
Don gave her a strange look and she laughed. "Something's gotta be wrong here. You were never the physical type before. You just stuck with your books. You actually make room for it now?"
She shrugged. "Strange things happen sometimes."
He looked at her, expecting her to go on but she just kept her mouth shut and wouldn't look back at him. Don didn't know what he'd said wrong, although he had his suspicions. Her face had taken a shadowed quality to it all of a sudden. "Like …" Don trailed off.
"What?" She waited as he wondered how to phrase his next question delicately.
"Well, maybe it's none of my business but I was wondering why you got so cold when I asked you how you've kept in shape. I mean, you look great after all this time."
A bitter smile accompanied her bitter voice. "Try saving the world." Again, she didn't bother to elaborate and Don watched as her eyes clouded over, as if she was seeing something in a place faraway.
As he tried to think of something else to say to alleviate the uncomfortable strain he suddenly felt, something bright flashed in the corner of his eye. Instantly, he stopped and turned his head, trying to find the source. Mel had similarly halted in her tracks at the flash and her wary eyes scanned the brush to the right side of the trail. Those eyes narrowed dangerously as she spotted the source and carefully made her way into the small field.
On the ground in front of her was a thin, wooden X set firmly in the ground. In the middle of the x was a glossy picture of herself. Standing in certain spots, she saw that the picture caught the sunlight and gave off a glare. The picture had dark, red marker ink crossing her out of the cut out picture. Bending closer though, she noticed that it wasn't marker ink at all but fresh blood staining the picture. "What do you think it means?" Don's voice reminded her that she wasn't alone and she looked up to find his face wrinkled in confusion. She knew it was only the first warning that danger was actually near. Why they warned her of this soon to be tragedy left her intrigued however. Why no one else had seen it a few minutes ago left her scrambling for other answers. Hatred and fear mixed inside her as she wondered why she'd been targeted and yet she said nothing to betray her mood and thoughts. "I don't know," she muttered. She took off her backpack after laying Don's on the ground carefully. She took the x and put it inside her own pack. Silently, she slung both packs on again and went back to the trail, patiently waiting for the bewildered Don to catch up.
"Are you going to report that?" Don questioned after a minute of silence.
"Nah. It's just a prank."
"You call that a prank? That was blood on your picture, you know?"
"Yes, I know," she snapped. Looking over, she saw that she'd hurt him and felt guilty for taking it out on him like that. "Look, I would report it if I knew what this was about or had more clues or whatever. The fact that the blood was fresh means that anyone could have left it there in the past ten minutes, judging from how it looks. The group walked past here not five minutes ago. So it's either them playing a strange prank on us or…" She shut her mouth, not wanting to voice the possibilities that floated in her head.