Stepping out of the plane Melissa took a look around and felt nature's beauty calm her ruffled nerves. The golden sun was going down behind a green mountain, casting rays that made the clouds in the sky seem like layers of blood floating, mingling and threatening to pour down. Insects had begun to sing their night songs and the last chirps from the birds indicated the descending darkness that was soon going to shroud the trees.
"Feels good to breathe in the fresh air doesn't it?" said Psyche as she came around the plane carrying a heavy canvas bag on her back and two torches. Giving a torch to Melissa she headed back inside the plane and within a few minutes came out, along with Adam who was strapped with more bags and was holding heavy cans of gas.
Giving Melissa a friendly smile the slightly overweight pilot said dryly "It's quite an uphill walk but once you reach the lodge the panoramic view will take your breath away."
Taking a heavy bag from him, Melissa juggled the two bags she was already holding and raised an inquisitive eyebrow and asked "Lodge? I thought it was a cottage."
Adam laughed and said "Psyche and her family like to play down everything that they own. Their mansion is a mere house, their limo a mere car and so the lodge is a cottage. Harold, her father believes in playing down their wealth and made sure that the kids never became spoilt brats, just head strong like him."
"Hey if you guys have finished chit chatting maybe we could start moving before it gets dark?" Psyche asked impatiently
"What's up with you squirt? Why are you so antsy?" Adam asked her retreating back
Following Psyche's footsteps Melissa answered for her "It's a long unbelievable story."
Shaking his head Adam muttered under his breath "With these people everything is unbelievable."
As they walked up in single file on the inclined trail, Psyche began to rethink her strategy and battled the doubts that were besetting her mind. She wondered whether she would really be able to accomplish the tasks or better still even if she managed to get past the task would the irate mother let Psyche see her son.
Holding the bags closer she picked up a brisk pace and chided herself. The time for doubts had passed way back in the asylum. There was no going back and she realized that she would have to be strong not only for herself but for Melissa too – who did not know what lay in store for her. Unable to deal with the headache that had been hounding her since the flight Psyche began to feel the inner pockets of her jackets for painkillers.
Walking behind Psyche, Melissa saw her fumble awkwardly for something and on hearing the rattle of the painkillers in the bottle she realized that Psyche was having one of her migraines.
Concerned, she quickly caught up with Psyche and asked "Are you having a headache again?"
Taking a swig from a water bottle to swallow the pills she answered "I had been having a migraine through the flight."
Melissa put a hand on her arm and made her stand still. "Why didn't you tell me back then?"
Shaking her hand off Psyche answered impatiently "One of us was going berserk on the plane remember?"
Melissa let her hand fall limply to her side and felt a pang of guilt. She was supposed to be looking after Psyche and not the other way round. Pulling herself together she started to walk in her patient's footsteps and determined that she wouldn't let her personal neurosis get in the way. She was here for Psyche period.
The trek started to get steep and as darkness began to descend the group of three switched on their torches and walked up at a brisk pace. Melissa could hear Adam panting behind her and was glad that she had been working out on a regular basis but as his panting became louder and louder she slowed her pace and fell into step with him.
"Would you like me to take one of the bags?" She offered,
"No, I'm fine besides you are already carrying more bags than what a little lady like you should be allowed to."
Melissa laughed at his good natured ribbing and replied "I was brought up in a farm so I'm quite used to hauling heavy weight."
Smiling back Adam continued walking alongside and after a few minutes when the distance between Psyche and them was enough to be out of her hearing range he spoke to Melissa in a low voice, "Harold is most concerned about her and has given me a cell phone to give to you which has his direct number on it incase anything goes wrong."
Melissa didn't like doing things behind Psyche's back so she asked in a measured tone, "What exactly could go wrong? It isn't as if she would get a chainsaw and hack me into itsy bitsy pieces."
Shaking his head Adam said "Look don't shoot the messenger - I'm just doing what I was ordered to do."
Juggling a bag he freed a hand and pulled out a tiny cell phone and gave it to Melissa and said "The first number on it is Harold's and then mine. Plus the local sheriff's phone number and address has also been fed in, his name is Jon and he owes Harold a favor or two so don't hesitate to call him for anything."
Shoving the phone into her parka Melissa muttered "I still don't understand what the hoopla is all about."
Adam continued to stare into the receding light of Psyche's torch and spoke in a normal tone "Psyche is the sensitive one between the two sisters. She might come across as a real strong person willing to take on any burden but inside she is very fragile. I have seen her since her diaper days, seen her cry over the little animals and birds that she couldn't save and would you believe it even now she cannot deal with an animal in pain. She needs to be taken care of, the burden she carries, whatever it maybe, is eating her up."
