Chapter 3
THREE
He genuinely cares about everyone.
BAILEY
“So, this mascara”—I held up the tube to the camera so my viewers would be able to see it properly—“is supposed to be sweat proof. I’ll be testing it on my hike today.”
I opened the tube and used the mirror behind the camera to apply the mascara, being careful not to get it anywhere other than on my eyelashes.
“The trail I’m walking is called East Ridge Track, and it passes behind Destiny Falls waterfall and climbs above it.
” I put the mascara down and chose a nice pink lipstick that wasn’t too bright and swiped it on.
“There’s quite a lot of uphill, so please don’t laugh at me when I’m struggling for breath. I swear, it really is steep.”
I blotted the lipstick and reapplied, then checked that all of my makeup was in place. I kept it light for outings like this, but my audience liked to see me do something, even if it was basic.
“If you want to check the actual terrain details, you can look the trail up on the New Zealand Trails app.”
I blew the camera a kiss and subtly adjusted my shirt to ensure that the brand logo was visible onscreen because they were one of my sponsors. Then, I turned and started packing supplies into my backpack, explaining what each item was as I added it.
I wouldn’t need much for a quick day trip, but there were some basic safety items that I wanted to ensure my viewers knew they ought to have on them at all times, like an emergency blanket and a personal locator beacon.
Once the hiking supplies were in place, I turned off the camera and made sure my phone was fully charged and that my selfie stick was ready for use once I started walking.
If I was more than a one-person operation, I might take proper camera equipment out on my hikes with me, but when doing things solo, it was easiest to use a smartphone while on the move.
I strapped a water bottle to each side of the bag, tucked a couple of homemade bliss balls into the front pocket, and carried my gear out to the car.
It was only a short drive from my place to the parking lot behind Destiny Fibers, where the trail to the waterfall started. I’d be using a different trail today, but it came out nearby, so this was the most convenient spot to park.
I secured my phone on the selfie stick, drank enough water to wet my throat, and checked once again to make sure I had everything. That done, I switched the video recording function on my phone on and started walking.
As I made my way into the trees and along the trail, I chatted to my invisible audience and paused every now and then to point out a bird or something pretty that I thought they might appreciate. My followers—statistically 80% women in their twenties and thirties—were all about the aesthetics.
The climb became steeper, and, as I’d expected, I began to huff and puff my way up the trail.
God, I was grateful that I could edit out any long breaks to catch my breath—not to mention the worst of my gasping. I was fit, but the hills around here were no joke.
An hour in, I reached a spot where a small, almost invisible track split off the main trail, heading toward a rundown hut that was occasionally used by park rangers. It would make a nice detour and a good pit stop to sit down for a couple of minutes and eat one of my bliss balls.
I paused at the intersection of the tracks and maneuvered my phone to show the camera.
“Usually, I’d warn you not to go off-track, but there are a couple of cases where it’s okay to venture off the marked path: if you have a good map, a guide who knows the area, or if you’ve been there before.
I’ve taken this side path before, so I’m familiar with the terrain. ”
The side trail was more overgrown, with branches infringing on the walking space. There were shoeprints in the dirt, so clearly someone had come this way recently, but the park rangers can’t have been in the area for a while or the trail would have been clearer.
A fantail, or piwakawaka, swooped down in front of me, and I waited for it to land on a branch, then moved closer.
It was adorable, with its tiny brightly colored body and the fanlike white-and-black tail feathers.
The bird stared back at me for a moment, then flapped its wings and darted off to another tree.
I continued along the trail, grimacing when I walked face-first into a single strand of spider’s web. Swiping it off my face, I was just grateful it hadn’t been larger. Perhaps someone else had been through earlier and cleared out the bigger webs.
The hut appeared through the trees, hardly more than three meters long and perhaps four meters across. The timber had obviously been painted red at some point, but now it had mostly worn off, and the corrugated iron roof was rusted.
There was only one small window near the door, and the step up to the entrance sagged in the middle. I shook my head. Someone needed to fix this place up. It was an accident waiting to happen.
As I got closer, there was a scuffle inside.
I frowned, curious. Perhaps I’d been right, and someone had come this way, and they were still inside.
I moved my selfie stick aside as I reached the doorway and opened my mouth to call out a greeting.
But then I stopped, the words dying on my lips.
The floorboards had been torn up, and a man with a shovel was standing in the center of the hut, his knees bent as he scooped dirt and tossed it aside.
My heart skipped. Oh shit. These must be the vandals Connor had talked about.
I backed up but squeaked in surprise as my heel caught on a root and I tripped. My arms windmilled, and I dropped the selfie stick, my stomach rolling sickeningly as my phone hit the ground hard.
I managed to right myself and knelt to pick up my phone, but as I did, the man caught my eyes.
I froze. What the hell was I supposed to do now?