The Essence of Water

OLD VERSION Chapter 21

Aiden steps beside me and together we look upon the darkened cabin. I sniff the air but though the smell of pine trees is strong, there is no scent of wood smoke. This cabin has been deserted for a long time. If I listen hard enough, I feel as though I could heard the echo's of my parents memories in this place. "Come on." I walk to the cabin.

There are two steps that creak as I walk up them, the porch is small, but Aiden and I are able to stand under it comfortably. I grab curved wooden handle of the door and push, but the door doesn't budge. "I think it's locked."

Aiden kneels, slipping the bag off his back, and then he looks up at me. "There's no key hole."

"What?" I lean down for a closer look. Aiden's right, there's no key hole. Which means the door can't be locked. But that doesn't make sense, not unless my parents truly believe this place to be completely safe.

I push on the door again. It still doesn't budge. It doesn't even make a sound. "What do we do?" I ask.

"We could break it down, but if we tend to stay here I think we'd better avoid breaking things."

"I agree." I nod.

Aiden and I both push against the door and try to find some form of latch but the door doesn't move and the sun gets lower and lower on the horizon. It will be dark soon. I try peeking through the small windows but there are dark curtains pulled over them. I can't see inside either.

"Maybe the door is blocked." I drop the back onto the porch and walk along the side of the cabin. Here there is another door. It swings open without any trouble, but the stale room is full of dried wood and nothing else. The back of the cabin is built right against the rock face. There is no back door.

"There's nothing here," I call to Aiden. "What are we going to do?"

He shrugs. "We're out of the snow here on the porch. We could build a fire and try again in the morning when there is more light."

How frustrating to be here at my parents safe haven without a way inside. "There is a wood room here, I'm not sure how much will be rotted away or if it will burn at all." I open the door again, Aiden comes and takes some wood.

"We'll give it a try," he says.

I go about making the porch somewhat comfortable. I lay out a sleeping back and lay our bags against the door like large pillows while Aiden builds a fire at the base of the steps. But far enough away so it won't catch the cabin on fire.

The fire begins to burn hot and soon it roars before us, sending off heat into the cold air. I can barely feel it from here, but there is enough warmth to keep most of the chill away. At least I'll be able to sleep without getting a neck ache.

"Here," I hand Aiden the open packet of jerky. He takes out a piece and together we eat in silence. Watching the fire chase away the shadows, space separates Aiden from me. I glace over and watch his face against the firelight. The shadows dance across his skin and make his eyes look fiercer than the ocean. His jaw works on the jerky underneath his beard.

You had your first kiss Adie, don't you feel special?

He didn't mean it.

Right, so why did he do it?

Because he's insane.

You'd like to think so.

I glance at Aiden again and lick my lips. I taste nothing but the sharp taste of salt and meat. I don't even remember what he tasted like. I pushed him away and punched him. I had my first kiss, but I only remember how good my fist felt when it connected with his face. I drop my hand into my lap and stare at the fire, my appetite gone.