18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
D eclan
It’s only after I get near the top of the hill that I consider that this whole thing might have just been a ruse.
Up to that point, I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. Even though the more I think about it, the stupider I feel. I haven’t believed in the existence of the Rainbow Pearls so far, but there was something about Rick’s gaze that convinced me to at least give it a shot. He didn't look like a man who believed in bullshit, and he spoke like he'd certainly seen them before.
So I drive my Jeep up the rocky trail, which seems to get narrower the farther I get. In an inverse relationship, the surrounding trees get thicker, blocking out what's left of the sunlight and only allowing hints of the orange sky. It's the only way I can tell when the sun begins to set.
Still, I keep going.
The Jeep got stuck a few times in marshy ground that I was concerned might be quicksand. But I’m able to rev it out and continue my climb. I don't stop, even though the fraction of my brain that houses common sense is screaming at me to do so. I should get out of here, and find my way back down, but I don't.
If there's a Rainbow Pearl anywhere in the vicinity, I will find it.
At least for Amelia, I need to try. If I find nothing by the stream, then oh well. I can rest assured that they don’t exist. And I'm almost certain they don't.
But if they do exist, then my father and everyone else in this town is right after all...
Then I will make Amelia’s day by getting her one.
That thought sustains me even after my car sinks into yet another ditch, this time with two front tires. This time I’m shit out of luck. No amount of revving can get it out. It only seems to sink deeper.
At this point, the sun has sunk behind the trees, and the darkness clouds the forest.
I take a break and glance at my phone that I mounted on my dashboard, with a picture of the map Rick highlighted for me. I'm close to the first stream and my phone tells me it's only five-thirty. It shouldn't be this dark yet. The phone also tells me there’s no cell service, which means no calling to ask about the weather conditions.
In hindsight, I should have asked before I went on this fool's journey. But here we are now.
That’s what you get for heading into the middle of the forest on the word of a man who clearly didn’t like you.
I should have known something was up when Rick suddenly started being helpful, even pulling out a map and annotating it for me. People don't often change their minds that quickly.
And I’m not typically so trusting, but I suppose this town has softened me.
No, not this town. Someone in it. Emma, of course.
I sigh and finally get out of the car, glancing around. Looks like I’ll have to continue to rest of the trip on foot. Luckily, before coming here, I stopped by the hotel to change out of my suit and loafers into a t-shirt, sweats, and sneakers. My other attire would have made this journey even more excruciating and probably more dangerous.
It's too dark to make much of anything through the trees, but I hear the subtle trickle of a stream nearby. Mixed in with the scent of dirt and grass, I think I can smell the slight tang of petrichor.
Which means it might rain. That can't be good.
If I do manage to find a rainbow pearl, it will be a long trek down the forest. Then again, it will be a long trek anyway so I might as well see if I can make this entire trip worth my while.
I start toward the sound, taking my time to avoid slipping. One hand shields my face, from the low branches slapping at me. My feet crunch against dead orange leaves, rustling in the breeze and singing with insects.
At some point, a bug embeds itself underneath my collar and starts trying to make a feast of my skin, before I smack it. Sweat slicks down my back from the humidity, and the more I think about it, the air becomes heavier.
It's definitely going to rain.
And then finally I reach a clearing, where I see a small stream on some rocks. The water is clear enough for me to see the rocks underneath, but I squat anyway, to inspect it closer.
A part of me thought it would be obvious, some magical glittering stones beneath a pretty stream.
But no. It's just an average-looking stream with some average-looking rocks.
A distant rumble warns me before I look at the sky. Through the branches, I make out the clouds shifting, warning me the start of the rain is close. And from the looks of it, it's not going to be a light summer shower.
Amazing.
I sigh and shut my eyes, considering what to do now. I suppose I can start heading back out, but from the darkness of the clouds, I doubt the rain is going to let up any time soon. And it would be massively unsafe to journey down a hill this steep in this kind of weather, especially since I’m so unfamiliar with the terrain. The best thing to do would be to search for shelter.
And where do I even start?
Me and a pal of mine used to go hunting and we would stay overnight.
Rick mentioned staying here on multi-day trips. Which means, there has to be shelter somewhere close to this stream. Of course, that could be in either direction, and it would be lucky if I were to find it before the rain starts.
But it's better than standing here looking like an idiot.
Suddenly, a very human-sounding cry breaks through the quiet. It echoes through the forest, and I almost think I imagined it, but then it arrives again.
A ghost?
I start heading toward the sound and the closer I get, the more I realize that the ghost is swearing. And also seems to be walking.
And then, "Declan!"
Emma?
It can't be. Emma wouldn't be here.
But then it comes again. "Declan."
"Emma." It's unmistakably her voice. I start down the hill, following her voice, heart beating. All of a sudden dread floods me. I wasn’t too worried when it was just me stuck here. I've survived worse.
But what the fuck is Emma doing here? It's too dangerous.
I burst onto the scene and see her bracing one hand against a rock, about to climb up a devilishly steep incline. Her legs aren’t quite long enough to make the stretch, but she’s going to attempt it anyway. I can tell from the determined little bite on her lip.
"Emma."
She glances up with surprise in her eyes. At the same time, her legs slip out from below her, and she screams, falling.
"Shit." I dash and throw myself underneath her, catching her before she hits the large rock behind her. I pivot away from it, but the force of catching her slams me back against a tree.
I absorb all the impact with a grunt.
" Caw !" A flock of birds takes flight from the tree we just hit. I clutch Emma tight, holding her until I'm sure we're stable. My heart is racing and I barely catch my breath when I ask, "Are you all right?"
"I think so."
She sounds pretty breathless herself, but it might be from the awkward way she’s sprawled in my arms, with my arm supporting one leg and the rest of her splayed open. She attempts to drop the leg to the ground but the minute she puts a little weight on it, she winces and bites out a cry.
"What’s wrong?" I immediately lift her off her feet.
She shakes her head, her eyes squeezed shut from the pain.
"Nothing. It’s just that I think I might have twisted my ankle."
"Twisted your– Damn it, Emma, what the fuck are you even doing here in the first place?" My worry turns into anger that bleeds into my voice. "It's dark and this place is dangerous. Why would you wander in here, at this time, especially when it looks like it's going to pour?"
"I should be asking you that question." She looks incredulous with just a touch of annoyance. "I came here to find you."
"To find me?
"Yeah. Rick told me that you were in here looking for Rainbow Pearls. You're not familiar with the Ashton Woods. It's even more dangerous for you to be here."
I blink at her, unable to believe what she's saying. I can’t believe she came all this way and risked her life to find me, because she thought I wouldn't be okay. I'm touched and insulted all at once.
I sweep her back up into my arms, carrying her princess style. She squeaks.
"What are you doing?"
"Well, we need to find shelter, don’t we?" I say, hopping onto a more stable rock embedded in the ground.
"Shelter?"
"Yes. It's going to rain, probably in the next fifteen minutes. If that."
My mind works as I walk. "We can attempt to find Rick's cabin, or we can sleep in the car. That’s the last option. If the rain is heavy enough it’s going to sweep us away. Also, a car won’t keep us safe from bear attacks."
"There are no bears in this forest."
"Great, but excuse me if I don’t take your word for it."
She grunts something as I step gingerly to the side, overcoming a steep part of the hill.
My leg slides a little on the soft ground.
Emma immediately barks out. "Be careful."
"I’m trying," I tell her, as I steady myself leaning against a tree for support.
"It would be easier if you let me walk."
"I will the moment you have two working ankles."
"My ankle doesn't hurt that bad. I can still walk. I just need to lean on you. This way is slowing us down."
"Your way will slow us down even more."
"I’m too heavy."
"Don’t insult me."
She lets out an exasperated sigh. "Why are you being so stubborn about this?"
"Oh, I’m being stubborn?"
The thunder rumbles again and renders us silent for a few seconds. It's enough time for me to spot a lodge in the distance, right as the downpour begins.
Amazing.
Emma huddles closer and attempts to put both her hands over our heads, but it doesn't do much to shield us as rain sluices down at us, soaking through our clothes, and making my vision watery.
"Hold on tight," I say.
She gives up her attempt at a shield and wraps her hand around my neck as I navigate quickly but safely toward the log cabin.
Luckily we make it there in one piece, before the rain increases in intensity.
The door is unlocked, and I push it open and shoulder it closed, as a gust of wind pushes at it. I hear Emma moving behind me and she bolts it. She also flicks a switch that washes the entire room with light from a dangling bulb overhead.
"Safe and sound," she says.
I analyze the cabin. It's small, with a fireplace, a couch, and not much else in terms of furnishing. But it's clean and looks well-kept.
"I'm guessing this is Rick's cabin," I say.
"Maybe. Or Old Man Shoreton's."
"I'll get a fire going," I tell her. "You get out of those clothes and off your feet."
She shivers and nods. I hear her shuffling behind me, as I head to the fireplace, arranging the leftover wood and kindling into a respectable pile.
Then I search the small space for a box of matches, finding one in a closet beside the couch. I also discover an old mattress there with no sheets. I drag it out, lay it beside the fireplace, and start the fire.
"Alright. If the storm doesn't let up, we can at least sleep here for the night."
I turn around as I speak, and then nearly choke on my saliva.
Emma is sitting obediently near the door, her hair wet and flat against her face.
She stripped down to her underwear, a pink bra, and black cotton panties. Not the sexiest pair I've ever seen, but the effect on me is explosive.
Desire pumps through me.
When I gave the order, I was simply focused on her safety and avoiding hypothermia. I didn't consider what seeing her near-naked body was going to do to me.
But now my heartbeat vies with the storm raging outside.
"Um...you should probably take those off too." She licks her lips and looks away, gesturing towards me. "I don't want you to get hypothermia either."
"Yeah." My voice is rough, as I immediately sweep my shirt off my head. Emma's eyes flare open in heat as I start unlacing my sweatpants, before pushing them down too.
I strip down to my briefs, and we stand there staring at each other like two hungry beasts trying to pretend we weren't starving for each other. Then I walk to her, and slowly pick her up, nearly groaning at the feel of her skin against mine. I slowly lie with her on the mattress, with her back against my chest.
"Body heat," I murmur in her ears, and she shivers.
And for the next few minutes, I try to do the decent thing. I try to pretend that we can just lie here platonically together without it meaning anything.
But pretty soon, I realize it's impossible.
Every shred of me is hungry for every shred of her.
And before I can stop myself, my hand splays over her stomach and I close my eyes, trying to fight the urge to do more.