Rachel Riott (Preview)

Chapter 5

While Rachel drove, the sun started to crest on the hill. It brought her some relief since it gave her the privacy she craved, and no one would see her. The problem, however, was that all the wildlife would be coming out to play. Already seeing the occasional deer standing on the side of the road reminded Rachel that this wasn't the concrete jungle anymore. She was in animal territory, and it was indeed a form of nature in its most delicate state. Once she arrived at the small town that her father had claimed to be booming, it was a little more active than usual. People walked down the sidewalks, causing her to remember how she missed the simpler side of life. Even though what she was going to do wasn't that simple. Still driving down the quiet streets at night was relaxing, and it brought her hope as she looked around at the random people. Yet, just as quickly as she had entered the town, she was already on her way out.

Living just outside the town's outskirts, Rachel returned to the mountainous roads while the night sky consumed the rest of the world. The only remaining light came from whatever the headlights on the beast created. Weaving down the road, she finally came to the turn-off that led into the trees. Coming to a quick stop, Rachel turned down the gravel road and parked the car in front of the heavily secured black gate. It felt like it had been ages since she was last there; she climbed out of the beast and walked over to the chain that kept her from entering. Putting the key in the padlock that she had slipped off the keyring, she turned it until it clicked. Removing the padlock entirely, she hung it on the pole beside her, then pushed the metal arm inward. The old hinges squealed like no tomorrow, leaving her confident that she had alerted some of the animals, but after that, she was home-free.

Climbing back into the car, she drove forward until she was on the other side of the gate, then got out to close it all up. Locking the padlock back through the chain link, she pulled the key out and snapped it shut. At that moment, she was in seclusion as she returned to the Jeep and turned on the light bar she had installed on it. The world around her illuminated as she drove through the forest shrouded in darkness until inevitably reaching the waiting house. A mansion in the hills looking out at the lake. It may have looked like a mansion to some, but it wasn't nearly the size of other structures tucked away in the same hills. Yet, it was the perfect size for Rachel, and it had a fair amount of land, so no one in a two-kilometre radius could get to her. Knowing that, she drove up to the house and turned the car around. That way, it was ready to go in the morning when she went into town for food.

However, for that one night, she had some non-perishable food in the house precisely for this reason. Shutting the car off, she sat back for a second and stared at the world around her. It felt odd for her to be back, almost like she was in a foreign world, but at the same time, it also oddly felt like home. She exhaled deeply, opened the Jeep's door, and stepped out onto the gravel. Outside, she could hear the lake's waves in the distance, the tranquil rustle of the leaves swaying back and forth around her. It wasn't as busy as an office, but it would undoubtedly help her adjust to this new life.

Taking another deep breath of the fresh mountain air, Rachel felt the chilled breeze come off the water as she walked over to the dock she had requested to be built on the land. A solar-panelled lamp pole was attached to the side, illuminating her path as she stood there. The boards creaked under her feet as she got to the edge. Slipping off her shoes and rolling up her pant legs, she sat on the wooden boards. Delicately, placing her feet in the water, she shivered as its current wrapped around her toes in a cold embrace. She kicked the water ahead of her, then watched as it all splashed back into itself. She reached down, scooped some up in her hand, and tasted it. Fresh. The water was always so fresh on her taste buds, tasting like freedom as she sipped it from her palm.

All the water was from the surrounding snow-capped mountains, and it was crystal clear once it made it to the lake. It was something that Rachel had taken for granted for the longest time in the city. Only to now have no other choice but to enjoy it. This was her life as she laid on the dock, staring at the shimmering stars in the night sky. As they twinkled overhead, Rachel's feet continued to disturb the water. It was still hard for her to believe this was her life now. Then, the sound of distant howls came from somewhere in the surrounding forest. That was her reminder that even out there, predators were still around her. Only these ones ran with nature, not greed like she was used to. Sitting up, she figured it was as good a time as any to finally go to the house, as the world was next to being pitch black out. The predators would come out to play soon, and the last place she wanted to be was on their hunting ground. That said, Rachel had cameras on the property, so she always knew if the compound was safe. The only problem was she needed to be in the house to see them.