Chapter 01: The Meeting
The brush parted in front of him as he ran. "Crack" a branch fought back knocking him to the ground and the air from his lungs.
"Over here!" one of the pursuing men screamed. "He's over here, hurry" Ryan managed to push himself to his feet. His head throbbing and his lungs aching, body demanding he stop but knowing if he did he was a dead man.
He could hear the sound of moving water not far away. "Just a little longer." he whispered to himself, his hand pressed against his sides now as he stumbled towards the sound. The earth seemed slippery under his feet, suddenly he was tumbling down the bank, landing in the water.
"Here!" the man yelled again, Ryan could see the torch pushing the darkness away, illuminating him briefly before the water took hold and drug him down stream.
"He's getting away!" one man yelled, "follow me!"
"You fool!" another spat, "you don't go running down a river bank at night, the falls will get him and we'll collect him in the morning."
As the water pulled him faster down the stream Ryan realized he had to get out of the water but the current held him firmly. Soon it was all he could do to avoid the rocks In the stream, until finally the river dropped out from under him completely. Gravity seemed to fail for a moment as he floated there, then he felt it reach out for him and he feel what seemed an eternity.
He managed one deep breath before his feet hit the water and darkness and cold engulfed him. "At least I will be free" he thought as his consciousness left him.
The light penetrated his eyes, he took a breathe. "ugh" a moan erupted from his throat as his body erupted in pain it could no longer ignore.
"Relax" a femine voice whispered, a hand bringing a cold cloth over his head. "You are safe, rest"
Unable to escape or resist sleep any longer his body automatically relaxed, his mind sending him back into a sleep so deep it rivaled on a coma.
What seemed an eternity later his eyes opened, the sun was muted, was it morning or night? His clothes were in shreds but still somehow clung to his body.
"I'm Nicol" a voice said, making him jump. "And you are very lucky"
"That is yet to be seen" Ryan replied, managing half a smile. "I'm Ryan, how long have I been out?"
"You've been in and out for nearly three days, fever and then chills."
"Thank you for helping me, not many people would."
"You are welcome ..." she paused. "Who are you running from?"
"What makes you think I'm running?"
"Your dreams, you moved and spoke to yourself. And men came to the bottom of the falls the morning after I pulled you out, they seemed to be looking for something."
"Ah, observant then!" he replied, pausing for a moment. "I am running from men that would kill me not for what I've said or what I've done but because of what I am."
"Curious, and what is that?"
"If I tell you they will surely kill you too, help me up, I should be gone!" He tried to stand but felt the world begin to spin around him, sitting awkwardly back down
"You can not go tonight, your injured still." she said, placing an hand on his shoulder.
"I can not bring trouble to you" he replied, relenting.
"and I can't let you go until you are healed, I have lived here a long time, they loud, clumsy and inept, they will not find us here."
"Maybe I will rest, a night before moving on" His head swam as he laid it back on the cot and in a moment he was lost to sleep.
The sound of breaking twigs ripped him from sleep, his eyes flying open. "It's only me" Nicole said, entering with a plate of food. "You need to eat"
As he took the offering from her he realized he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. "Thank you"
The next few minutes he ate, savoring both the food and the opportunity to relax just a bit. His eyes met the girl, in fact now he saw lady's. She was quite striking, brown hair resting on shoulders, her collar bone soft soft and perfect it must have been sculpted by God himself.
His eyes pulled as though by magnets found her breasts and lingered.
"Hello?" her voice breaking him from his trance. "I'm sorry ... it has just been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful woman, let alone one that would tend to me at risk to herself."
He saw her face brighten, and he was grateful the moment passed. She stood and leaned forward, pushing away a hasty bandage, his nostrils catching the scent of the woods and her skin. "You heal quickly stranger" she said, stepping back.
"I do have my strengths," he said pushing himself to the edge of the cot and standing, wincing only for a moment. "Another day or two and I will be fine." "I'm glad, I was worried, I have never seen anyone survive the falls as you."
"With help from you, and now I will begin to repay that debt, surely there must be something you need help with."
"If you insist you can collect some wood for this evening" she replied, "be sure to be back before dark though, there are dangerous animals in these woods."
"Yes I know, I will be" Ryan said, stepping from the tent. "I leave only to return" and with that he started off into the woods. It felt good to be moving again, soon his muscles relaxed and the pain faded to the occasional throb.
As he walked he began to question himself. "I shouldn't return, it only brings her danger" he mumbled, but his mind recalled her smell and thee soft lines of her shoulders, her breasts, and he knew he would return.
