Maya
I managed to claw my way up the hill by using vines, saplings, a tree, anything I could get my hands on. The ground was muddy underneath the dried leaves and green stuff. I kept sliding back. I paused at the top of the hill to catch my breath and looked around to try to see somewhere I could get to. Anywhere. I saw nothing but more trees. Where in the hell was I?
I’d been on my way back from Branson. A little weekend getaway meeting some high school girlfriends. No big deal. Then somewhere or another on the way home the car quits. Again - no panic. It was daylight. Nice, actually really sexy, guy pulls up. That’s good since there’s no cell reception this low among the Ozark hills. He volunteers to drive to the next station and send help back. No threat in that. He even says he knows offering to take me would get the big no since he’s a stranger. He leaves me with a bottle of water and a grin. He even twisted the cap for me.
The only thing I can figure is that he slipped something in the water because I fell asleep waiting. I don’t take naps and I wasn’t tired. At least I didn’t think I was though I did have a great weekend partying with the girls. I wake up in this totally luxurious huge room in a ginormous soft bed on silk sheets. That was all right. There was an elegant breakfast laid out with what looked like real silverware, a crystal goblet, and china. I was actually hungry and started munching bacon as I headed for the door to find out how I’d ended up there. I opened the door and sexy dude is standing there.
“Hey. What is going on here?” I asked nearly choking on my last bite of bacon. Forgive me. He had his shirt off and was he stacked. Yowzer.
“Enjoy your breakfast. You’ll find out.” He said.
“I’ll find out now, thank you anyway.” I said putting my hands on my hips. “Where’s my car?”
He chuckled. He sure had pointy canines. I hadn’t noticed that before, but I was worried about being stranded then.
“You’re worried about a car?” he said shaking his head, “Humans.”
He put a hand on my shoulder and turned me around like I was a one-year-old. A push in the center of my back and I flew back into the room. When I caught my balance, I turned to hear a lock click on the door.
“What the …” I went over and tried it, but it was locked all right.
What did he mean ‘humans’? I’d just read a story about sexy aliens but except for his teeth he looked perfectly human to me. Probably just envisioned himself something different as an ego boost. I’d read about weirdos who did that. Well, forget sexy weirdo even with his lovely pecs.
I stalked to another door. Closet. Another door. Bathroom. Needed that. It was gleaming tile, with a multi-spigot shower big enough for two, a hot tub sized bathtub with jets and double sinks. Somebody had the bucks. Another door, another closet. Clothes in both looked male and expensive. And the closets were each bigger than mine. So, clothes horse. Windows along one wall gazed over endless treetops. Not jumping out those. Looked to be three stories up. There was a curved driveway with multiple cars parked along it. Next set of windows overlooked a pool with a pool house, tennis courts, a basketball court, and worn trails leading into more trees.
I scooped scrambled eggs onto a piece of toast and topped it was another piece of bacon. On to the next wall of windows. There was a balcony. The glass doors were not locked, and I stepped outdoors. The view was again trees. What a shock. Probably be really incredible in the fall. Now it was all shades of budding green. I sat on the end of a lounge chair. If someone would just tell me what in the world the mystery was, I could get used to the luxury. But I was no princess to be kept in a tower. I had a life. Not rich. Not fancy. But mine.
I went back to the bathroom to wash my face. Could only use my fingers to comb through my brown curls since my purse was not in evidence. I went back to the balcony and leaned over the concrete railing. Okay. Not going to be a cakewalk but not impossible. Been a while since gymnastics but I still did aerobics three times a week. Flexibility was not a problem. I sat on the balcony and swung my feet over it until I got them into the open railings. Then I lowered myself until I was in a squat. I grabbed the railing and let my feet dangle. I swung my feet back and forth until I had a good angle. Then I let my grip go. I landed on the balcony below me. Fortunately, no one was home in this bedroom. I studied from their balcony. Drop down another floor or go out their door? I had no idea how many people were hanging out inside but there had been quite a few cars in the driveway. Fighting was not my thing. I picked another drop to the balcony below. Worked once. Why not twice? Bingo.
Then I just stepped over the balcony and started running. I figured north-ish was a good direction. Kansas City had been my target before the car quit. I’d have to hit a road eventually. A road meant people, hopefully the kind that wore badges. Maybe they’d tagged my car. Whoa!
I squatted by some outbuilding hearing a loud growl. They must have dogs. I peeked out. A man screamed clutching a tree as one man pried off one of his arms and another pulled. The two men were laughing at his efforts to break free of them. I didn’t see any dogs though.
“I don’t have time for this.” A man wearing kitchen whites yelled from an open doorway.
One of the men suddenly swiped at the struggling man’s neck. A fountain of blood shot into the air and he went limp.
“Happy?” the man yelled at the chef.
“Well, at least I can get going on lunch now. Bring him in.” gesturing with a butcher knife.
I lost my breakfast and stayed frozen on the ground until they’d all disappeared. Oh. My. God. They were cannibals. I had no idea such things existed. I had to get out of here.
I had stopped running. I didn’t want to end up going in circles. I’d read somewhere that was easy to have happen. I also needed my energy to keep going. Now I just kept moving, checking the sun to make sure it was still toward my left. I didn’t think there was anywhere in Missouri that had this much forest, but I suppose there was no guarantee I woke up in Missouri. My phone was gone, and I didn’t have an implanted compass to keep me going north. Maybe it was all these up and down hills that was confusing me, making me think I’d gone miles and miles. It didn’t matter how far I’d gone really. I just had to keep going.
Then I heard it. It wasn’t the first time. I had put it down to simply panic the first time; nerves, the second. This time I knew it was a slight growl. No mistaking it. I didn’t think there were wolves in Missouri or Kansas or wherev I was, but something was behind me. I started down the hill as fast as I could.
Mistake. My feet slid. I grabbed a tree and only succeeded in swinging around the tree. Now I was sliding backwards. I put my hands on the ground. My foot caught on something, and I was insanely rolling down the hill. I splashed into water. I jerked up. I was hurting but it felt like bruises and cuts. Nothing broken. I got to my feet. Hadn’t I read something about streams confounding scents or tracks or something? Whatev. I ran down the small creek ignoring the instant ache the cold water brought to my feet as my tennies got soaked. I heard a howl above me and ran faster.
A building! I fought my way up another hill to its door. There were lights on. Whoever was inside could protect me from the wolves. I just had to hope they weren’t part of the cannibal cult. I pulled open the heavy wooden door and ran inside. I smashed into someone big.
I looked up expecting to see a heavy man glowering at me. Instead, I met gentle golden eyes over sharp cheek bones. A scar ran from her forehead across one eye to her cheek. And it was a her as soft breasts against my chest testified. Her square jaw seemed more suited to a male but her sensuous lips denied the harshness. Her chest rumbled slightly.
“Help me.” I begged.
The lips wavered towards a smile as one hand stroked the strands of my hair. I was sure I had found my savior.
