Is This True?

Chapter 20

Tracks?

How could they be here? Why were they here? Whose were they? Had I missed them from earlier? How long had they been there, if I had missed them?

Questions spilled into my mind even before I could collect them all to come up with at least one reasonable explanation. But I was fresh out of ideas, as usual.

"Maybe it was that same woman that I had encountered with."

I thought to myself,
"Maybe she was the one who broke inside. But why?"

Before I could decide on what to do, I knelt to the ground and gently brushed my fingers against the tracks. I could tell from the print that it was a female and that it hadn't been more than a few minutes since she'd been here. So she had a few minutes head start from where I was, but that didn't mean I couldn't catch up to her.

Wrapping my fingers tightly around my small backpack, I carefully started sprinting-- keeping an eye on the tracks below me. The last thing I would want to do is lose them or mistake mine for them, but they kept leading me further and further away from civilization and from Samantha's house. They kept going on and on, but the more I walked, the more conscientious I became that someone or something was watching me. Thoughts kept getting jumbled in my mind, but since it was cold; I didn't even know what my conscience nor my heart was telling me.

My hand grasped a tree for balance when I paused for a breath. Who knew trudging through inches of snow was so exhausting. It seemed like every step you took, you sunk deeper in the snow; taking away each and every single amount of strength you had left.

Once I paused for a few seconds, my world seemed to be moving at a small pace. My head started to throb a bit, but it was probably because of the lack of oxygen I was getting. Cold air does that to you so why did it just suddenly hit me? Even my stomach churned in pain and my heart all of a sudden started racing, the adrenaline pumping through my body.

"Isn't that what happens when you're in danger?"

A thought ran through my mind, but the only word I heard was: danger.

"What if this whole thing is leading me into a trap?"

I didn't know what to think, but I pushed myself off the tree and kept going. I needed to locate the source of the tracks! Even if it might threaten my life? I had no choice though; I was alone. But why would Mr. Woods give me a case knowing my life had been placed in jeopardy twice already? Wouldn't he think that a bad idea? Surely, he must have. I mean Denise could have easily come with me, not that I was afraid or anything; but she has kids to take care of. And I certainly wouldn't want Miss Harper(Lydia) to come with me either. What about Scott? Where did he drift off to so suddenly?

Snap!

My instincts kicking in, I spun myself behind a tree to hide from the noise. It sounded like a branch had snapped in half from someone or something stepping on it, but I know for sure that it wasn't me. It couldn't have been.

Breathing in. Breathing out.

I closed my eyes, feeling the tightness of my chest tense even more within each passing second. Again, how had I gotten this job? I wasn't even mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared for this, I mean look at me.

Whispers.

The throbbing in my brain hurt worse than ever as a voice somewhat close and distant speaks out to me. I can't quite grasp as to what they're saying, but I know I heard a voice come from somewhere. Doing the only thing I could think of, I reach for my gun from out of my belt and held it close. I wasn't going to let anything happen to me, not this time. But I wasn't even thinking straight so what makes me think my aim for whatever I'm shooting is going to be accurate?