Chapter Two
Otto
Even though the weather’s warm during the day, the nights are starting to get cold. If I had an electric furnace, I’d turn that on at night, but my place is off-grid. So, lighting the wood-burning furnace is my only option as the temperature starts to dip.
That would be all fine and good, but I haven’t been collecting firewood the way I should be. So, instead of settling into my place and relaxing with a book that my friend Ace lent me, I’m walking through the woods to take care of a chore that I should have been worrying about during the summer.
Oh well, I enjoy evening walks through the woods.
I know this place like the back of my hand, so it’s not like I’m too worried about any bears or wolves I might come across.
I’m confident enough in my skills with my axe and the pistol that I carry with me that I don’t think any predators will cause me any problems.
Honestly, I think that the wildlife here has accepted me as one of their own. I’ve been living in these woods since I was ten. I know the way that the animals here operate, and they know how I do. We’ve got a symbiotic relationship.
After chopping a third fallen log in half and carting it back to my place, I stop for a breather.
I’m enjoying the unique type of not-quite quiet when I hear something out of place.
At first it sounds like an injured animal.
There’s rustling and whimpering. Those sounds aren’t exactly strange, though I rarely hear them around my house.
It’s when I hear a high-pitched hitch of breath and a sob that I realize what I’m hearing isn’t an animal. I curse quietly to myself before taking a few hesitant steps toward whoever it is. There aren’t many people that know I live out here, and I’d like to keep it that way.
The sound of stumbling footsteps gets closer. The mystery person isn’t accustomed to being out here. I suppose not many people are, especially not this far out. I’ll have to call Robert, my friend who works for Cherry Peaks Search and Rescue. This is clearly the case of a missing person.
Finally, the person – a short, pretty girl with shoulder-length brown hair – comes into view.
I stay still, not wanting her to realize that she’s being watched.
As soon as she passes by, I’ll head inside and call Robert.
I’m glad I remembered to charge my phone the last time I was in town; I never use it except for emergencies, and thankfully there aren’t many of those.
As the girl walks past, I feel my resolve start to crumble. It’s so obvious that she’s scared, lost, and innocent. She isn’t here by choice, I can tell by her posture, the way that she’s holding herself as if trying to comfort herself. It reminds me of me, the way I ended up here.
I know what it’s like to be lost and alone in the world. Dealing with it yourself is awful, devastating to your soul. I can’t call search and rescue to come pick her up. They won’t understand her. Still, I stay where I am, watching her as she looks at my house, her sobs and whimpers unrestrained.
She shakes her head and turns, and it’s then I see it. There are bruises on her wrists, and she’s rubbing them as though she’s trying to get rid of a sting. I can’t stay where I am any longer. Someone dumped her out here, and I can’t stand to see her face this all alone.
“Hey,” I say, coming out from my hiding spot and approaching her slowly.
“No!” she yells, immediately trying to dart off.
I move quickly, catching her by her bicep to avoid touching her bruises. She fights in my grasp, but her heart really isn’t in it. Tentatively, I say, “You’re okay. I just want to help. You’re lost, right?”
She looks at me with wide, terrified eyes, and there’s an ache in my chest. After observing me for a few seconds she nods, still not saying anything.
“It gets scary out here at night,” I say, keeping my voice low and gentle.
“Yeah,” she replies, her body relaxing a bit. I take that as a good sign.
“Let me help you,” I murmur, shifting my grip down to her hand, interlacing our fingers together. “That’s my house right there. I can make you something to eat.”
I think about offering her use of my phone, but something like an epiphany shoots through me – I don’t want her to leave. Normally, I’m happy to be alone out here, but this girl is different. I don’t even know her name, but I know we’re kindred spirits.
“I–” she starts, and I think she might be having the same realization as I am.
“I’m Otto,” I say, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “And what’s your name?”
“I’m Penny,” she says, the stress on her face fading away slowly. “And uh. Food would be nice. But you don’t have to. I–”
“I want to,” I say.
She swallows thickly. Her eyes dart around the space surrounding us. It seems like she’s looking for a predator, maybe weighing the pros and cons of taking off. She nods to herself, apparently deciding that the danger I pose is less serious than the danger these woods hold.
“Okay,” she says after a beat, her eyes finding my face again. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Just a warning,” I say as I lead her to my front door, turning back to give her a reassuring smile. “I’m off grid, so it’ll be a little dim.”
“I’m not worried” she murmurs, a hint of a smile on her face.