Chapter Thirty-Five
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
MILLIE
I squinted into the distance, but the sun was too bright for me to see more than a few steps ahead.
Sweat clung to my body, causing a shiver to roll through me despite the harsh rays beaming down. My feet were ill-prepared for this trek and ached as I ambled over the rocky terrain. I couldn’t recall when I decided to go for a hike, but it was obvious I didn’t think the impulsive decision through.
The scent of fresh pine surrounded me as I walked. Still trying to navigate the trail with limited visibility, I recoiled as my side bumped into bark and pain blossomed.
The call of fowl overhead rang out like a siren, echoing through the wooded mountainside. I looked up, but the sun blinded me again. I reached to shield my eyes but felt a sharp sting drawing my attention downward instead—instantly captivated by the drop of blood that snaked down my arm and dripped into the underbrush.
The blood disappeared as it fell into a small bush of red flowers—their familiar appearance making me pause.
What a strange place for roses to bloom.
Did one of their thorns prick me?
The rustle of foliage made me step back as a small chestnut haired rabbit bounded onto the trail mere feet in front of me, and I watched in fascination as it reared onto its hind legs, extending its ears into the air.
I locked eyes with the small creature and held my breath. The moment stretched then snapped as the rabbit sprinted off down the trail. Whirling, I tried to pinpoint what might have spooked the tiny creature but found nothing.
A split second decision had me following after the rabbit—my instincts screaming to protect it.
My head pounded painfully in rhythm with my feet as they slapped the rough ground. Branches caught and pulled at my hair, as if they were trying to jerk me back and keep me within the confines of the forest. But I burst through the trees then stumbled to a stop. The fog finally lifted, and I found myself on a precipice—having unknowingly hiked so high I could nearly touch the sun that was blazing down on me. The view stole what little breath I managed to catch after scrambling after my woodland friend who was now perched at the cliff’s edge. I stepped closer, my movements slow and measured.
I reached into my pocket to grab my phone, hoping to snap a picture, but it wasn’t there. Panic bubbled up at the thought of being alone out here without a means to call for help. I tried to force down my growing alarm, but it was too late. My body began to tremble with fright, and my jerky movements had the rabbit scurrying back toward the thick of the trees.
I meant to spin, but my foot caught, and my body propelled forward. The force of my fall sent me over the edge. My scream was swallowed by darkness as I tumbled into the abyss below.