Unspoken

Chapter 1

The trees are flying by in a blur.  I can feel the bushes scratching my legs as I run.  A twig snaps behind and to the left of me.  'FASTER, I have to run faster.'  I try to remember Coaches lectures about proper breathing while running.  Was it in through the mouth, out through the nose or vice versa?

SNAP.  'Oh, shit, that was close.'  I take hold of the trunk of a tree and turn to the right without losing speed.  'RUN. BREATHE. ALMOST THERE.'  The cliff I have been zig zagging towards is just beyond the tree line straight ahead of me now.  If I can just make it to the cliff, I can jump in the river and swim away.  No one would dare jump from that cliff because no one knows about the deep part of the river.  I try to run faster even though my side is cramping, my legs are burning and my lungs feel like they are on fire.  

I can feel the sun as I break through the tree line into the clearing just before the cliff.  I try to stop and spin around at the same time and I, of course, trip and land on my face.  I scrambled to my feet and slowly dust myself off.  I scoot closer to the edge of the cliff and look down at the raging river at the bottom.

I hear a twig snap behind me and spin towards the sound.  Seeing nothing, I scan the tree line.

"Come out.  Show yourself."

"Why here, Cici?" a man's voice comes from a little to the right of where I came out at.  A man, a huge man, walks slowly out of the trees.  I don't think I have ever seen a man so big.  He looks about 7 feet tall and is built like a tank.  His t-shirt stretches across his rock solid chest.  His arms are so big that he had to cut off the sleeves on his shirt just to fit comfortably in it.  And gorgeous, oh my, he has the looks of a God but there is something familiar about him.  I would remember if I had seen him before but I can't shake the feeling.

"Like what you see?" he asks and cocks his eyebrow.

"W-w-w-" I clear my throat and try again.  "Who are you?"

He laughs and cocks his head.  "Why did you run here?  Would you really jump into the deep part here?"  He looks towards the tree line behind him and says, "Leave us.  She isn't going anywhere."

I can hear twigs snap and brush rustle as whoever is beyond the clearing starts moving away.

He turns to me and we lock eyes again.  His are the prettiest green I have ever seen.  Almost yellow, they are so mesmerizing.

"Again, like what you see, Cici?" he snickers.

"How do you know my name? Who are you?" I choke out.

"I will explain everything after you back away from that cliff edge, I promise.  We don't want you falling into the river or getting hurt, now do we?"

"Why should I trust you?  You just chased me through the woods for miles?  Give me one reason why I should trust you?"

He cocks his head to the side and chuckles.  "Cici, I would never hurt you.  I was not chasing you, I was following you.  The ones who were chasing you have been lead on a wild goose chase and are not stupid.  They will figure it out and circle back so we need to leave.  Trust me, I won't hurt you."  He holds out one hand as if waiting for a child.

"Why? Who are you?  I am not going with a perfect stranger.  Why should I believe you?"  Hell no am I going anywhere with this man.  How stupid does he think I am?  Something, though, is keeping me from jumping.  How does he know my plan?  How does he know about the spot?  Why aren't I jumping?

"Cici, please.  I will..."

"NO, I WANT AN ANSWER, NOW!"  I yell at him.

He bows his head, drops to one knee and whispers, "I am your brother and I'm trying to save you.  Please, come with me.  They are coming back now.  Please, I will explain everything, I promise.  If, after I explain everything, you want to leave again, you may.  I won't harm you, nor will I stop you.  Just, please, let me get you somewhere safe so we can talk.  Please?"

I cannot believe I am even considering going with this man who says he's my brother.  How could he be Joel?  Joel died two years ago and was 14.  This man is at least 21 and looks nothing like anyone's "little" brother.  No way, but the eyes are the same I see when I look in a mirror.

"I will go with you but only if you can answer one question.  What happened to my cat, Snowball?"

He laughs and says, "Snowball was a dog, not a cat and he died, even though Mom and Dad said he ran away.  We found his bones buried in the back yard when we were playing pirates.  Now, please, come with me?"  His eyes are pleading with me and smiling at the same time.  No one knows except Joel and I that we had to rebury Snowball.  He's right.

"Ok, let's go.  BUT you are going to answer my questions."  I demand as I put my hand into his.

"Of course, Cici I promise.  Now come here, I need to carry you and I need you to put your face down and close your eyes, ok?"  He holds his arms out, waiting.

"Really, why?"  I ask as I raise my eyebrow at him and look up into his eyes, eyes just like mine.

"They are here and I need to run, now, Cici, please."

I hear the sounds of pounding feet running fast in our direction.

I jump into his arms, close my eyes and put my head on his shoulder.  I feel the wind against my face and start to open my eyes.

'Don't open your eyes, not yet.  I'll tell you when.'  I hear Joel's voice in my head.  'Sleep, I'll wake you up when we are safe.'  I feel his hand squeeze lightly on my neck.  As I feel the air whooshing by my face, I feel myself falling further and further into the darkness of sleep.

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