Shifted

Chapter 3

After photography class was over, I went home and started unpacking the boxes with my stuff in them. When I came across my camera equipment, I decided that I should figure out what hiking trails are good in the area. I pulled out my laptop and began researching. By the time I had found one I thought I could handle, the sun was beginning to get lower in the sky. I checked the clock to make sure I still had over an hour until sunset. The best light always happens about an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise. Photographers call it the golden hour.

I grabbed my camera bag, slipped on a pair of sneakers, and headed out. I road my bike a little ways out of town, toward the mountains and hills that surround it. The trees seemed to get larger and larger the farther from town I got. When I got to the trail head, I parked my bike and set off. I had picked the trail for its view of what sounded like a gorgeous waterfall. I hadn't checked to see the difficulty rating for the trail, but I figured that I was in shape enough to handle it. It didn't take long before I realized I was very wrong. It was hot and my clothes clung to my skin with sweat. Mosquitos buzzed around me, and I cursed myself for forgetting bug spray.

Eventually the dirt floor of the forest turned into large slabs of rock. Finally I reached the edge of a cliff that overlooked a tall, crystal blue waterfall that cascaded into a small pool of water. The rocks around the base of the fallen were sharp, and the mist sprayed high into the air. I was captivated by the beauty of it all. Then I noticed something moving at the top of the falls. I pulled out my camera and looked through the telephoto lens. There was a person standing at the top of the falls. I zoomed in more, and was able to make out the face of the person.  It was Jackson.  He stood shirtless on the very edge, looking out at the setting sun, the amber sunlight glistening on his tan skin.  I heard laughter and looked down to see a group of teenagers swimming at the base of the waterfall.  I looked back to see Jackson lunge forward.  I almost screamed as I watched him plummet towards the sharp rocks.  I let out a sigh of relief when he landed gracefully in the water below and came up safe. 

I couldn't believe that he'd been able to make such a dangerous jump.  I kept watching as he climbed out of the water and scaled the cliff face back up to the top.  He had no fear of falling.  This time as he stood on the cliff, I raised my camera and snapped a couple photos.  Through the lens I saw him suddenly wrinkle his nose and suddenly he was staring directly at me.  I snapped the photo before I realized that he actually was looking at me.  Suddenly embarrassed, I turned to head back the way I came.  I climbed down from the ledge I was on, but slipped on some loose rocks.  I fell on my back, my head slamming against a rock, and I started sliding off the edge of the rock.  Suddenly I found myself in free fall.  The rocks below came at me in a blur.  I didn't even have time to scream. 

My fall came to an abrupt end when I was caught by a pair of strong arms.  I looked up to find myself face to face with Jackson.  He gently set me down on the ground near the edge of the water, and I could see his friends in the water not far away exchange nervous glances.  Jackson reached a hand out and took hold of my chin, turning my head so he could examine where I'd hit it.

"You need to be more careful hiking around here.  It's easy to slip and fall."

I swallowed nervously, and nodded.  He stood up, and I tried to get to my feet, but suddenly my legs felt weak and my head was spinning.  I would have fallen back down if Jackson hadn't held me up.  The edges of my vision blurred, and I vaguely remember Jackson picking me up and carrying me before everything went black.

<•> <•> <•> <•>

I came to in a warm bed. It took me a minute to realize it wasn't mine. I sat bolt upright and looked around, and immediately regretted it. My head pounded, and I groaned. Next to the bed, Jackson sat forward in the chair he'd been lounging in.