A Girl Out of Place

Chapter 8: Dragged Through the Mountains

There hadn't been any trees around our Surgical Unit. Rocks and hills, dirt and mines. It looked nothing like it did here. These were full forests. With brush and thicket that clawed at my pant legs like it wanted to rip me too pieces.

I stumbled over every twig and rock in my path as we followed the soldier in front of us. It also didn't help that my focus was not on the path in front of me, but on Ryn and her kidnapper.

His uniform was darker, with several extra red patches. Even among the rustic setting, he appeared clean even regal. Though I didn't understand the patches on the enemy uniforms, I could tell his rank was higher than most. Even Kim-Young paid him extra respect though he lacked signs of admiration for him. In fact, irritation would be a more accurate description for his interaction.

Several soldiers approached offering to relieve his burden. Carrying a lowly prisoner was probably below his pay-grade. Yet, he refused them every time, with his eyes forward, never glancing down at her.

"That's the first time I've seen her sleep." Captain Tarin panted. He hadn't complained for a whole twenty minutes. I had forgotten he was there.

I nodded to agree and stumbled again. This time Tarin reached out to steady my elbow. I quickly pulled away. "I'm fine."

"No, she's fine. If you don't stop watching her and pay attention to where you're walking, you're going to break your ankle."

Sadly he was right. I paused to adjust my boots and taking a moment to be thankful Henry had petitioned to get me permission to wear mens attire.

I wondered if Henry ...

I shook the thought from my head and stumbled back into an acceptable walking pace beside the Captain.

"You know Captain Tarin, you're sounding dangerously close to caring about my well-being."

His face scrunched with distaste, "All in your head I assure you."

I decided to ignore him, "Regardless, thank you for helping me pause to think clearly."

"You women allow your emotions to do your thinking. Without a male voice of reason, you're bound to get hurt in these situations." That one I couldn't ignore so I placed my next step with great care.

The instant his right leg locked and he lifted his left foot to step, I kicked the back of his right knee. His leg buckled and gravity pulled him to the ground. Tarin succeeded in bracing himself with his hands, and he easily pushed himself back onto his feet. He wasn't injured but the snickering from the Korean guards surely poked at his pride.

"I beg your pardon." He snapped.

"That wasn't me. Those pesky emotions have a mind of their own." I smiled, wondering if he caught the sarcasm.

More time passed and the guards breathing became as labored as our own. My legs burned as we stepped out of the forest onto a large flat rocky shore. The rivers rushing current roared around us. It splashed against piles of jagged rocks, all through the valley. The last rays of daylight reflected off the rushing surface.

Kim-Young signaled for the group to make camp.

Tarin and I were quickly shuffled to the edge of the trees and forced to sit on the cold hard ground.

"Down grade from the truck," Tarin grumbled.

"But we get to sit," I added my entire body cheered the opportunity to be still.

"They don't expect us to stay the night-"

"Yes. That's exactly what they expect."

Fires were lit, blankets and bed rolls were pulled from packs. Even our personal guards dug through their packs in preparation for the night. We had nothing.

The man carrying Ryn found us. His sharp dark eyes startled me as they connected with my own. They weren't hard and full of hatred like the others. Instead they were steady with certainty.

I studied his face as he approached. His complexion was smooth, with high cheekbones and thick eyebrows. His black hair was not buzzed short like the rest. Though the sides around his ears were neatly cut short, it was longer on top.

Ryn was still and peaceful in his arms. Her head resting on his shoulder. He was quite large for a Korean, so much Ryn didn't look oddly long in his arms.

My breath caught in my chest as he crouched close to me and gently placed her on the stone beside me. Her head slumped over and I slid close, catching it on my shoulder. Then I wrapped my arms around and pulled her in close. That's when his hand gripped mine.

A sharp electrical charge rushed up my arm. I tried to pull away but he held it tight and close to Ryn's middle. Tense and shivering, I looked from his hand into his face. His eyes wrinkled in the corners as his gaze burned into me. He held my gaze with such fixation that it barely registered when a rough texture pressed into the palm of my hand. I didn't look away but I felt his hand wrap my fingers around it.

Then he let go. Leaving Ryn resting peacefully on my shoulder.

Several minutes passed before I moved again. My backside ached, the sun was down and the moonlight sent shadows across the ground. Though it was dark, it was bright enough I could see each collection of soldiers huddled for the night. A few fires were sparking through dying embers. Besides the few out on patrol, almost everything was still.

That's when I chose to look.

With my palm clinched shut, I slid Ryn from my shoulder into my lap. Her heavy head and shoulders quickly warmed my legs like the blanket I wished I had. Her breathing changed slightly but otherwise she remained at peace.

Keeping my hand close to my body, I peered between my fingers to see a brittle piece of paper.

One last time, I glanced around to be sure no one was watching. Tarin was asleep and the two guard nearby were dozing. My cold fingers unfolded the wrinkled paper, revealing a few carefully written words:

I am here.

My eyes widened. There was no signature. Nothing but those words, and yet, that handwriting; I knew it.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I swallowed hard to keep them from surfacing, but regardless they wouldn't listen. Silent streams of water slipped from my eyelids down my cheeks.

He's alive! Henry is alive! And, he's coming for me.

*. *. *.

Cradled in the scent of Hibiscus with notes of tree bark and an after taste of Kimchi. It didn't matter where we were, he always carried that smell with him. It relaxed my muscles, allowing me to float on a cloud more delicate than cotton.

After months of restlessness I welcomed this dreamless sleep and I sunk deeply into it. So deeply I wouldn't have been surprised if I never woke.

Then, something wet touched my face. One drop ... Two ... then more. Quiet sniffles reached my ears.

Someone was crying.

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