Absent Link

Chapter 1: Implantation

"But the fire is warm."

WINTER

DECEMBER 12

'Don't breathe... Don't move... Don't cry. Don't breathe... Don't move... Don't cry.'

These thoughts repeated endlessly through her mind. She was seven years old, hiding under a snowy bush. It was winter, and the cold gnawed at the small girl's body, but she dared not shiver lest she catch her predator's attention. About two yards from her hideout was a fox. It had chased her from home and into this position. She could see it vaguely through a gap in the leaves. It walked cautiously, sniffing the air for her location. Beautiful red and white fur covered its body, but its mouth seemed coated in some disturbing, furry red substance. Its eyes pulsed a deep red and twitched awkwardly every couple of seconds. The girl knew foxes didn't usually hunt large prey, but this one certainly wasn't usual. The fox's ears suddenly perked up.

'WHAT? Did I make a noise? Should I run?' She thought in fear.

The fox made a sharp left and dashed into another bush, with an eerie silence following the sudden rustling. The girl felt even tenser; she couldn't prove her theory, but she believed it was planning to surprise her from her unwatched back. She jumped up and sprinted away from the fox's perceived location. Dressed for the cold weather, with a thick coat and snow pants over her regular clothes, she couldn't run to her potential, but still, she was small and agile, weaving her way quickly through the snowy underbrush of the forest. Her curly red hair bounced behind her, perhaps enticing the fox even more. Now and then, she looked back in fear of seeing those evil red eyes.

In the distance, she heard the familiar roar of the large river near her house. She could follow it home, but in what direction? She didn't have time to think about this, though, as a different sound came from behind her— a determined growl.

The girl's breath was getting harsh, and whimpers sounded from her lips, but no one was around to help. The river was getting close, so she would have to change direction soon. Before deciding on any action, she felt the fox's paws hit her back. She fell forward from the impact and onto the floor. The fox rolled off of her and tumbled onto the leafy ground in front of the girl. She gasped for air, but her chest was suffering from the impact. The fox looked worn out as well.

The girl's knees were burning with scrapes, but she wasn't ready to give up.

'I have to get up. I have to fight!' she thought.

The little girl tried to push herself off the ground but was too weak. She felt scared and alone, wanting to stand up again... but she couldn't. Her arms trembled, and try as she might, she couldn't make her way onto her feet. It was as if her small body had simply given up. As she closed her trembling eyes, she was at the mercy of the fox, yet an awfully long time seemed to have passed since she fell. Why hadn't the fox come upon her yet? What was it doing? She forced herself to look up at the fox, undoubtedly charging at her, but something else caught her attention. About a foot from her face was a stick. Arm length, about an inch wide. Just right for a weapon.

She threw her arm out and grabbed it. As the fox jumped up to pounce, her other hand seized the stick, and with both hands, she turned onto her back and held the stick out in the path of the fox's drooling mouth. Its teeth scraped on impact, and it squealed in anger. With newfound adrenaline, the girl jumped up, cold eating away at her joints, and continued running limply, but the dreaded river was only a few yards in front of her. She stopped running and slid to a stop, looking up and down the water for a way to escape. Running along the river wasn't an option; the fox would definitely catch up to her at this rate.

She noticed a nearby log. It was halfway submerged into the river and ran perpendicular to the shoreline, extending to the other side. She had crossed this log many times, but today the water was higher than usual.