The Forest

At this point Sara knew she was lost. There was no escaping that fact anymore. It all came slamming down onto her like someone had just dropped a bucket of water on her head. She realized at this point that she may never see her boyfriend again or her parents, or even that funny guy Steve that lived across the street from her.

Steve was always making jokes, and he was really nice. She had been with her boyfriend Josh for about 4 yrs and she really tried to make it work, but he could be such an ass sometimes. Steve though, was always doing nice things for her like finding her wildflowers or just random gifts to make her smile. She supposed in a perfect world she would be able to have someone like him.

"Stop" She said to the animals and woods around her. She saw a squirrel give her a funny look as if saying are you dense? She guessed she was but this was no time to be thinking about who she should and shouldn't be in love with. She had bigger problems then that at the moment. She started scanning her brain for all those stupid things Steve had told her about the wild. "Well I guess Steve might have been helpful after all" she muttered to herself. She saw a creek not too far away and decided she would follow it downstream. One of the things that Steve had told her that you could always find your way back if you followed the water. It always leads to a river or a lake.

Anything was better then where she was now. It was starting to get dark and she didn't like snakes and other animals that she was sure would jump her at any moment. She wanted to be out of these woods before dark, but it wasn't looking hopeful. She wished she had brought her cell phone with her. "I'm such an idiot, why the hell didn't I bring my cell phone" Her voice echoed through the nothingness around her. It occurred to her that she had left it because Josh told her she wouldn't need such things. Oh yea where was Josh now she thought to herself, big help he is right now.

"I'm going to find us some wood for a fire. If you decide to go for a walk just walk a straight line, and when you are ready to come back turn around and go the opposite way. Ok?" Josh said to her with his sweet smile. He could be sweet when he wanted to be, and she supposed that is what made her love him so much. "Ok" she promised as he walked into the woods. She could have sworn she had walked a straight line, but when she turned around to go back she never did see the camp again. She wished that Josh would hurry up and find her.

Her head screamed that something was wrong, and she realized that everything had gone quiet. She looked around the woods and could see nothing out of the ordinary. "Josh?! Josh?! Is that you Josh?! This isn't funny you know I'm scared already if that's you just get out here!!" She screamed to the woods. Again she could have sworn the same squirrel was looking at her with that funny look. There was no way it was the same Squirrel she had been walking for hours now.

She continued to scan the woods and the darkening skies looking for anything that might have scared the animals away. There was nothing, not a sound. Somehow the silence was more terrifying than being lost. She could feel her heart racing.

The crash of noise came out of nowhere. Was it a wild animal she thought to herself looking at the dark shape that bounded at her. She had a sudden realization of what it was. It was him, but something wasn't right there was no sweet smile, and he looked to be extremely mad. Like the days when he had told her it was just an accident honey I promise. She saw the glint of a knife and began to scream, "Josh!!! What are you doing to get away from me!" She started to run towards the creek thinking to herself this is a funny time to run for a creek.

She couldn't understand what she had done wrong. Why would he want to hurt me now. I hadn't done anything to upset him. There was no need to be punished she hadn't done anything stupid. Maybe he was mad because she got lost.

She felt the weight slam her to the ground, and she couldn't move suddenly, pinned stuck like an animal in one of those traps Josh had shown her once. She felt a searing pain as the blade tore through her arm. She kicked slammed her head back as a desperate act and heard an audible crack, and then Josh was screaming out in pain, "You stupid bitch! You can't even die right!" She realized suddenly that it was him or her, and she was already bleeding. She got up and started running for that damned creek again. Somehow she just felt like it would help her as silly as it was.

Finally reaching the creek she looked over her shoulder. Josh had recovered and was running straight at her. She could only think of one thing to do. She jumped over the creek with a scream. She fell to her knees. The creek was a bit wider then she had anticipated. She heard a grunt and a muffled "bitch" slip from his lips.. and braced herself for the pain of another blow.

She guessed it was her time, and that god had just wanted her now. She closed her eyes in acceptance of the inevitable, and started thinking of all the people she would never see again. Sweet Steve and his smile, her mom and her cookies, her dad and his stupid car that he never gave up on. He had had that thing since the late 80's and it still ran. She had laughed at him time and time again because of how many times the old clunker had broken down. He always said, "I'll fix it, don't worry it will work as good as new," She began to cry at how this wasn't fair. She was only 33 and there was no rightful reason she should have to die this young. What did she do to deserve someone like Josh.

It was about an hr later when she realized that she should have been dead by now, but nothing had happened. She turned around and it was dark now. She slowly walked towards the dark mound on the ground. He wasn't running at her and he wasn't really moving for that matter. She got closer and found that Josh was just laying there like he was sleeping. The few times that she found him attractive when he was asleep. She felt for a pulse on his neck and found none. What could have happened she thought to herself. Instead of questioning she started to rummage in his jacket pockets and found what she was hoping for.

A cell phone but wait it was hers. "Why would you have my cell phone?" she asked as realization suddenly hit her. This was not something she had done wrong. Everything about this trip had been wrong. The way he had asked her to go the urgency in the time off from work. He had been planning this. He was going to kill her and leave her in the woods where no one would ever find her again. Her parents would have been so sad not even having a body to settle things once and for all.

She kicked him out of nowhere and couldn't figure out why, but she kicked him again. She kicked him over and over and over again. She suddenly realized that she should have been doing this years ago. Finally she got control of herself and turned on her phone. It was ringing she knew what she had to do now. "Hello" The voice at the other end said, "Hello Steve? This is Sara I am lost in the woods and I need help Josh is dead I'm calling the police. He tried to kill me please help me!", she practically screamed into the phone. "Where are you at? what road did you take there." He asked. "I-95 South" she said as calmly as she could, "About 5 miles from the house". "I'm on my way sweet, don't worry ok everything will be ok" His words were so nice to hear when everything was wrong. She then realized she had to call the police to, and she did.

She sat in the darkness and waited. "Sara?! Sara!?" She heard him in the distance. Her heart leaped with joy at that voice. "I'm over here Steve!!!! Hurry!!!" She could see him now, but he wasn't alone. Funny she had half hoped he would be. He had about 4 police officers with him. He rushed up and grabbed her in his strong arms. She felt her feet leave the ground, but it was ok. Everything was ok now. He sat with her by a tree while the police worked. She had been questioned numerous times. Steve had made her show them the bruises on her back and the marks on her stomach. A distinguished older gentleman in a suit came over to her. "Sara?" "Yes?" she replied. "Detective Jones, We found a note in his car he was going to kill himself. It was a good thing you ran for that creek because he tripped on the branch there and fell. Bad luck for him I guess since he fell on his own knife. It's good that you used your head and all. Don't suppose you know what happened to his face though? He has a broken Jaw and cheekbone and his nose is broken as well", the officer asked her in his calming voice. "No idea" she said quietly, " I was fighting him the best I could, "Right, she responded with a knowing look, "I will put it down in the report as something that happened in the struggle or the fall. Glad you're ok Sara, these paramedics here will take you to the hospital for that shoulder. I'm afraid you will need some stitches."

She walked with Steve and refused to let him go the whole time. They got to the ambulance, "He is coming with us?" one medic asked? "Yes, yes he is," She replied. She watched the doors shut off the blue lights and the scene outside. That detective was still watching her and shaking his head as if saying I know what happened to his face. Maybe it was just remorse for what had happened to her. She knew she shouldn't have kicked him. No! No! She told herself she had done no wrong. The door was finally shut and she realized it was over now. She laid down and closed her eyes.. Everything was ok now she thought... She could still feel the warmth of Steve's hand and him next to her. Yes it will be ok now she thought to herself.