Interlaced souls

Chapter 1: I hate hiking…

Why me?

Why now?

The weather did not really push me to follow him but he was so keen... Josh loved hiking and even a cold and rainy weather does not daunt him.

We arrived a week ago, a long week with his family, in the suburbs of Washington, to spend my time smiling and learning hopelessly the names of all members of his huge family... When he offered me a way out, I jumped at the chance, without really caring about its nature... I should have had in the final analysis. At first glance, a weekend in the mountains, beautiful scenery and lovely evenings around a large fire, nestled in the arms of the one who had stolen my heart, did look promising. However, an icy and rainy weather, a muddy and slippery ground, the total absence of view, completely obscured by the permanent haze, and now blisters, turned this beautiful escape into an endless torment.

"Josh, I really can't go further... could we have a break? Please?" I begged him, breathless and certainly as red as a peony. The last thing that should have crossed my mind before accepting was the fact that I am in no way the sporty type! An afternoon of shopping or maybe climbing four floors, this is a sport within my grasp, but certainly not a long walk of six hours with a definitely uncooperative drop...

"Sweetheart, I really want to reach this clearing before noon, you'll see, with any luck the sun will come!"

Always hoping for the best… I have always liked his optimism but then I began to regret his disproportionate enthusiasm: this country had a charm that I really found difficult to appreciate... I was brooding, concentrated on my difficult breathing, for what appeared to be hours, when at last we reached our destination.

"And this is our little corner of paradise!"

"Hmm, Josh, without wishing to offend you, my idea of paradise is completely different... it would be a desert island, with warm sand, turquoise water as far as the eyes can see and especially a splendid sun caressing my skin of its soft rays... "I sighed.
Unable to stand one more minute, I collapsed on the ground covered with thick moss and shut my eyes so as to picture myself in this idyllic setting. Despite the shivers which were travelling all over my body, pressed against the cold ground, I seemed unable to get up before at least two weeks...

"Concerning the sun, I'm sorry it didn't get my message." I smiled: he truly felt sorry for this climatic fiasco.

"But I can still try to replace it" he added, stretching beside me and embracing me tenderly. He softly stroked my cheek and laid a gentle kiss on my lips, drained by endless hours of hiking.

After all, one says 'after the effort the comfort comes', another point which had escaped me: we had finally arrived and we had before us a whole weekend to rest into the arms of one another... His thoughts must had been similar to mine as he began to embrace me more impetuously, his hot breath warming my cheeks, his lips, so soft on mine, that I forgot all sense of time.

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I let him get back on his feet reluctantly: the sky was darkening and we had to prepare the camp for the night. Hardly upright, he held me gently and straight in the eyes fixed me.

"Lena, I love you".

His soft green eyes stared at me, nervously awaiting my reply, while, lost in my contemplation, I let my glance detail each feature of his face. His pale and thin lips, his aquiline nose, his forehead covered with a few rebel locks, his chocolate-brown curly hair in which my fingers loved to get lost, and especially his eyes, of a limpid and yet so mysterious green, to believe that although we were together for nearly eight months, they were still unknown to me... I left my reverie when I realized that his free hand gently pressed mine, anxious to know my answer.

"You do not feel the same thing for me…"

Now he lowered his head, depriving me of the show that my eyes would never tire of admiring. Although this was the first time he declared his love for me, his statement did not surprise me: each of his gestures, each of his glances betrayed the feelings he wore to me. However, I'm not the type to wear my heart on my sleeve. Out of modesty or education, the words 'I love you' were not common in my family...

"Josh, do you think I would have endured this ordeal if it was not the case?"

A smile stretched his lips but he obviously needed to hear it.

"I love you Josh, never doubt this," I whispered softly, but loud enough for him to hear. He suddenly started to laugh.

"Was it really so hard this small morning hiking in the woods?"

He dared asking!

But no, oh no, I'd just been simulating my stitch and my shortness of breath!

"You do not want to know my answer, believe me!" I snapped.

He burst out laughing, such a melodious sound despite my annoyance.

"I promise you an unforgettable evening to make up for it, sweetheart. But first, we need to get wood and set up the tent."

"Chores? What an interesting start for an unforgettable evening!"

"But it's still daylight..."

"OK, but I will take care of the tent; I have no desire to return into this dark and damp forest"

"You'll be able to do it on your own?" he said half-joking, even if I refused to see any mock on his tone.

"It isn't rocket science; I have already done it many times" I lied shamelessly.

"Well, then I'll soon be back dear" he answered by stealing a kiss before plunging into the forest.

I had no sooner turned back that I heard a dry cracking, followed by a sudden gust of wind and a muffled cry. I then turned over to be the witness of a scene that would haunt me for the rest of my days, were they counted.

A terrifying man, with pale skin and beastly black eyes, had his blond head leaning on the neck of my lover. One would have thought he was gently kissing it if Josh's eyes were not betraying an intense pain and indescribable terror, fixing me as for the last time. His trembling lips only managed to pronounce: "Lena, run..."

Then panic succeeded stupor, releasing my body, and especially my lungs, of their sudden paralysis. In a huge breath, I began to scream, scream as loud as possible, hoping in vain that the loneliness of this place, so dear to my heart a few minutes earlier, was a decoy and that a road or path frequented by hikers who all came the same day in this very place was there, just below, that someone would hear my cry for help, that we would not die of the hands of a bloodthirsty madman, moreover cannibal!

A brief sense of relief invades me when I caught sight of two shadows at the edge of the wood: I had been heard, aid came to rescue us, hold on Josh, someone's coming... but the man with his blood-dripping mouth raised his head, staring at me with his now red eyes, the most terrifying of all nightmares, and growled like a enraged beast, rising to full height to better melt on me. A cry that was not mine resounded: "Jasper... no!", but already the ground shrank under my feet and I welcomed darkness almost with relief... it was over... and I was surprised by my last thought: I definitely hate hiking...