Twenty

CHAPTER 20

SANTIAGO

Is this fate?

I heard the sound of a twig breaking in the deep dark wood. Only then did I realize I had run this far into the woods without realizing it.

I was jogging, and a lot had been on my mind lately. The undiluted darkness that clouded the woods contributed to it, but notwithstanding, I paused and let the rapid, rugged breaths out slowly.

It was euphemeral and exhausting.

I suddenly realized how long I had jogged and how exhausting it was to jog for that long.

It finally dawned on me but it was so damn late and I was in the woods.

I paused and turned, staring at a particular direction like I could see the cause of the sound that had brought my jogging to an abrupt end.

I doubt I would have ended it anytime soon.I never would have realized it until it was too late. But on second thought; what was that sound?.

I took off my hoodie and instinctively moved towards the sound.

Call it guts, hunch or whatever, but I didn't stop moving, even when my brain was screaming for me to stop and turn.

Turn and go back home or continue jogging.

Hell no...I didn't.

The unfazed night cold swept through me bringing out an ouster of the cold I didn't know I could feel.

My heartbeat rose by two cents as I found myself walking farther and farther away to God knows where.

All I had in my head was the sound and locating it. I etched my brows, my senses highly heightened as I took distinguished steps closer.

" It can't be that bad" I told myself, using it as some sort of self consolation for my strong-headedness.

I got closer to the direction I heard the sound as I moved past rows of trees.

I suddenly stopped right on my track, my heart fleshing and my countenance changing and unyielding at what I was witnessing.

The sight was disheartening and I heard rumbles which seemed to displease my eardrums, and all of a sudden, my mouth flew open in shock.

A woman - dirty, was hanging on a tree, trying to fight for her dear life.

"What the hell?" I had almost screamed, but managed to hold myself back.

The shock I felt was electrocuting and I could do nothing for the next few seconds, other than stare like a zombie wannabe.

I snapped out of it immediately and as I walked closer to her, I suddenly realized I had seen her somewhere, but where??.

I racked my head for a few more minutes trying to etch the confused state I was in.

Her face did ring a bell, and then suddenly it clicked, yeah, she was the same woman I had almost hit with my car earlier the day before.

Holy Moly!! How could I forget that face? I would never.

Without thinking, I ran towards her and cut her down from the tree.

I held tightly onto her as I brought her down from the tree, her weight weighing on mine as we both landed quietly and soundly to the ground.

She had a weak pulse and her skin was unbelievably warm...in an abnormal way.

I gently turned her over to the side and sat upright, staring directly into her face.

I did my best to help her calm down as it seemed she was having difficulty breathing.

The night was the quietest I have ever seen.

The breeze gently shook the trees and they swirled and danced to the rhythm of the birds chirping.

It was like a collaboration of some sort.

It was an awfully quiet night and these were the only source of noise.

No wonder the sound that has attracted me to her was so definite.

I could have easily brushed it off if it had been during the day.

I could have easily waved it off and taken it as one of those many dramas that happen in the woods, but no…I knew something was amidst right from the moment I heard the sound of the twig breaking.

The night silence really helped and it got me thinking if I would have been able to help her.

Now that she was down, so many thoughts ran through my mind. Before, I wasn't able to think of anything because all that was in my head was to help her get down...to save her.

But now, I couldn't help but wonder and ponder on so many things.

How did she get up there? Was she trying to kill herself or was someone trying to kill her? If it's the latter, why would she do that, and if it's the former, who??.

Why here and by this time??.

I patted her back slowly as I held onto these thoughts, and just then, she started coughing.

I patted her back even more to help her calm down and relax.

She had an episode of coughing with spittles trailing down her neck.

I was by her side the whole time.

I don't know but I felt this sudden connection towards this stranger whom I've never seen or know anything about other than the fact that I had almost ran her over with my car.

She was here suffering and I was by her side, how cheeky was that??.

Is it just a coincidence or is it fate?.

They say once is a coincidence, two is fate and three is destiny.

It's very late and it could have been anything that has made that sound...it could have been a beast.

She seemed different from any woman I had seen, but I couldn't just point out why and how?. I couldn't point out what it was.

At some point, I felt she was an insane woman, judging from the way she looked.

There sure was something different about her.

A total stranger!.

I couldn't wrap my head around it.

It sure took some time, but she did calm down.

She suddenly opened her eyes and stared deep into mine and all of a sudden, she shut it again and suddenly lost consciousness, taking me by surprise.

What the hell??.

I had to quickly check her pulse, heartbeat and other vitals to be sure she was still alive.

I gave out a relieved sigh when I discovered she had only lost consciousness.

Could this night get any worse??.

There was no way to know why she had suddenly lost consciousness, so I sat there close to her, pondering on what to do next.

The night was far gone and I couldn't possibly leave her there all by herself, not just because she was feeling okay, but because it was too dangerous..

I doubt if she would wake up anytime soon and even if she does and danger comes lurking, I'm very sure she wouldn't be able to protect herself.

Her pulse was weak and her heartbeat faint.

I brushed off the hair that was close to her eye away from her face and tucked it in behind her ear.

It was dark so I couldn't see her face very clearly now, but I could tell she was very pretty.

Why do I feel somehow around this stranger??.

I couldn't bring myself to answer this question.

I looked up at the sky to see it was beautifully decorated by the stars.

It was so beautiful and that was the only source of light.

The awful silence of the wood was beginning to get to me and make me feel uneasy and that was when I made up my mind.

I lifted her up and proceeded to carry her all the way to my house.

It's been long since the last full moon and so there were no howls or screams from anywhere.

That also contributed to the awful silence.

With the strange woman laying carefully on my arms, I traded with caution and watched my path.

Thanks to the moon goddess for my brilliant senses, I was able to locate the way to my house easily, even amidst the thick darkness that was now like a fjord, threatening to take over the wood.

I don't know how long I had walked but I felt an uneasy movement.

I looked at her to see her eyes were now wide open.

She stayed there, completely quiet as I carried her in a bridal style.

I thought she was going to ask the obvious questions, like "Where are we? Why am I in your arms?", but no, infact, her next word shook me to my bones and left me utterly speechless and confused.

" You" she muttered under her breath, but I heard anyway and had my lids in an arch.

What's she saying??.

I brought my ears closer to her lips like I hadn't heard her the first time and she repeated the word:

" You" I was dumbstruck and even now perplexed when she suddenly lost consciousness again.

I didn't know when a scoff left my mouth.

You've got to be kidding me? What was all that about??.

Maybe I was right when I thought she was insane.

But why exactly was I attracted to an insane woman and what exactly am I taking her to do in my house??.

" Snap out of it. You're just going to take care of her. She's injured . That's all" I convinced myself and continued what seemed like a journey to my house.

She was unbelievably light and that made things easier for us.

Often, she would turn and sputter things that didn't make sense.

But again, for the second time, she regained consciousness and repeated the word she had said earlier, and again, she lost consciousness.

I couldn't make out what she was saying.

She was acting really strange and weird.

This was strange and baffling, but I wasn't ready to let go of her.

I still proceeded and took her to my house.

And finally, we got there.

I took her to one of the many empty rooms in the house and laid her on the bed.

She slept soundly on it like a baby and that was when I discovered the bruises on her neck.

They were quite faint. Obviously from her episode earlier.

I wished she would wake up soon..I had a lot of questions for her.

I took out cold water and poured it in a bowl and a neat white napkin.

I placed it on her bruises after dipping the napkin into the cold water.

The night was a cold one so I doubt it would have any effect.

I proceeded to place the napkin on her forehead, before getting rid of the cold water.

I came back and sat close to her at the edge of the bed.

I watched her as she slept soundly. A lot of thoughts ran through my mind as I did.

Where's she from? What was she doing there? How did she get there? Who's she and why does she have this strong hold over me?.

The night was far spent and I could hear the birds singing melodiously outside, but I wasn't feeling sleepy one bit.

I was determined to stay awake and watch her all night if need be.

I just couldn't get over her face.

I couldn't tell if it looked familiar or felt familiar, but I do know there was a connection and that was something I just couldn't understand.

Other than the near accident with my car, I haven't seen her before, so it was unsettling for me.

I stared at her pretty face, observing and taking note of every feature - her nose, eyes, eyelid, eyebrows which were incredibly long, lips; they were all beautiful and I was lost staring at them for some seconds.

Her breaths were still faint but I was sure it was only a matter of time. She would get better before morning.

I was sure of that and a little smile escaped my lips as I stared deeper, but in all of this, I still couldn't get her face out of my head and the thoughts of who she might be kept lingering on and surpassing any other thought.

Just who the hell is she??.

I pondered.