Abigails Sin

Hasty Negotiations

Warmth spread across my bare legs. The breeze brought the soft smell of the woods to the room, its calming effect almost instant. I took a deep breath and stretched my arms out to the sides feeling the aching muscles tingling. My eyes shot open looking from one side of the room to the other. I was alone in an erie silence, the belt that had held me in place was gone only leaving small red welts to show that it had ever been there at all. Rubbing the skin softly and sitting up I waited for his voice to carry to me, a sound he could make in the living room with his movements, any indication that he was still in this cabin at all but nothing came.

"John?" I breathed silently, waiting for his response. I waited and and waited but the cabin was empty. To confirm the suspicion in my chest I tip toed out to the small area containing the fireplace. The fire was nothing but cinders now, dirt and grime covered the floor with a mixture of both our blood. Small random objects were scattered here and there from when John had been rummaging through them but there was no sign of John, even his tattered clothing was gone.

I could escape. I hobbled over to the door swinging it aside. I still couldn't see John as rays of sunshine beamed down through the treetops into my eyes. I couldn't go back the way we had come, Jacob no doubt was already at the crash site looking for us but who knew what way John went. I looked left and right weighing my options. I could scramble through the thickest part of the forest using trees to lean on. Dragging my leg behind me I placed my weight on the nearest tree, the rough bark providing stability I wished my leg could. Roots and stray rocks scraped my bare feet but I felt no pain, only the thought of freedom and seeing Matthew again after everything that had happened. My chest was rising and falling heavily, the exertion of movement was too much, I would tire soon but I was still too close to the cabin. The sound of rushing water captured my right ear. If it was a river the water could bare my weight and I could half float half crawl towards safety. Blood drummed in my ears, adrenaline coursing through me to push my broken body further than it was willing to go. The clearing came into view, a small river surrounded by trees with a vert small bank. Sun reflected off its surface, the rushing water bubbling and flowing down in a rainbow of colours from the sunlight. He crouched there, the water running through his open fingers. I muttered a curse under my breath ducking behind the truck of a large tree. His bare back was to me. I turned hoping I could just turn around when he spoke

"don't make me come get you" he sighed

"how did you even know I was here?" I stepped from behind the tree, adrenaline slowing and bringing me to a crash. My leg burned with an intense pain I had never felt before and I felt my strength wavering.

"You came crashing through that forest like a moose, I doubt theres anyone around who didn't hear you" he snorted shaking his head. I hobbled over to where he was sitting, keeping my distance from him while letting myself gingerly down to the ground, sticking my bare feet in the water. It was cold to the touch, rushing over my bloodied skin, carrying away the flecks of it softly. I watched the water surround me and rush over and under my feet whichever way I turned them

"did you know I'd come here?" I inquired to which John shook his head slightly

"I've been out here for hours, it's almost noon, God gave you the opportunity to escape and here you are" water rushing around his calloused hands, flicking a small stone out over the whitecaps of the strongest part of the current.

"Or merely coincidence" I challenged

"do you not believe in God?" he kept his face focused on the river, out of view

"I used to" bringing my good knee up to my chest to set my chin on

"what happened then"

"I used to go to church with my mother and step father, once we ran away church just never felt right again" it was a simple answer, nothing too detailed but it still felt like I was exposing my secrets to him. Why was I speaking to him at all? This felt like an effortless interrogate on on his part.