The Elementals - The Ice Princess

Chapter 38

The only real conversation Jared and I had on the way back dealt with what I saw, or rather, thought I saw at the gas station. I am confused, about why if it really was an Achlys that it didn't kill me on the spot. I was more or less defenseless. This makes me lean more toward me just being paranoid and not actually knowing if I truly saw what I thought I saw.

Somewhere just outside of Chicago, Jared asked me to drive. We had been up most of the day and he had done the majority of the driving since we had to make our getaway from Columbus. It took only a few minutes, for us to make the seat exchange on the side of the road. The nice thing about it was that there were absolutely no cars for us to worry about which made watching for things following us pretty easy.

It took me a minute to get used to driving, seeing as how I've never done it and I was incredibly nervous being the only one awake in the vehicle with the least amount of driving experience. To be honest, I think my nervousness kept my adrenaline up which helped me concentrate on learning how to drive and then successfully doing it. I constantly check speed, watch in the rear view mirror for any cars that may be tailing us and finally, make sure that I stayed in my lane.

The last thing that Jared said to me as he curled up in the passenger seat was simply "don't stop for anything and keep us close to the other cars around us." and then he was out.

Being the only one awake in the car gives me some time to think about what we are going to do when we get to the place where dreams are made. I don't for the life of me know what the next step is once I get there. The message that my dad was trying to leave was for me to simply get there. But he obviously didn't have time to explain or give me instructions.

From time to time, I look over in the passenger seat at Jared curled up sleeping. It makes me feel guilty that he put his entire life on hold the last week to help me. Not only that but he is risking his own personal well-being just being near me.

As I drive on further into the night, I think of ways to send Jared on his way home. Whatever we find on that cliff, will be Jared's last part of this adventure. I will tell him that he cannot come with me any longer. I am sure that by now, he's had his fill of adventure and danger. He can't continue on being here any longer.

It's nearly 5am when I finally make the off-ramp on highway 70 that leads into the Nicolet National Forest. From this off ramp, I gather that it should be no longer than a twenty minute drive to the trailhead and then another hour hike to the cliff.

The drive slows a bit in the forest because the roads are not maintained very consistently. I slow my speed to make sure that I don't hit any hidden ice and spin out.

Ironic, I think to myself. The ice princess being afraid of spinning a vehicle out on the one substance she can control.

The closer I get, the closer I feel that I might get some more answers to the questions that I have. My excitement and adrenaline begin to pick up which is a good thing, because never in my life have I gotten so little sleep.

Jared becomes a bit restless as his body starts to reject sleeping in the hard seats that the Jeep has to offer. I imagine that we both will be wishing for one of the hotel room beds again before too long.

"Where are we?" Jared asks through a yawn, as he stretches in his seat trying to get the creaks out of his body. There is limited space under the hard roof of the Jeep, so Jared has to contort his body in several ways to get the desired effect. I hear several cracks from tired joints that have stayed in the same position for far too long. The hike will actually do us both good.

I bring the Jeep to a stop on a road that doesn't look well travelled in the winter. There are few tire tracks and the ones that are here, are very faint. I exit the Jeep and go into the back grabbing my pack which doesn't include much other than snacks and water. Jared exits the Jeep shortly after me and grabs the same gear.