Chapter I

A Chapter by Nadia

"Would...would you jump for me?" a melodic voice drifted into the air. I was standing on a cliff gazing at the dangers below. I took a deep breath and slightly nodded. A warm breath tickled my temple. "Silly girl." The voice then uttered a husky laugh. I nudged myself closer to the edge. I felt different, willing. How did I get here? Why am I doing this? So many questions swam in my head but none were answered. I looked over the ledge and watched as the powerful waves crash into the rocky sculpture below. I imagine myself falling like a stone crashing into rapid waters. I also imagine being impaled by the pointy rocks with a satisfying look in my face. Will I feel pain? I wondered if anyone would know where I am or what happened to me.

"Beautiful..." the voice whispered. It sounded like it was talking to itself. "If I jump, will you catch me?" I asked, challenging it. Fear crept its way into my beating heart. "I will always catch you." it answered. I nodded again and took a deep breath. I'll jump, but am I doing this because I wanted to or because of a intangible craving? I leaped from the ledge and jumped into the air.

"Don't!" the voice became harsh. A hint of regret leaked from its voice. I heard a audible curse and what felt like a hand curling around my wrist, pulling me into its warmth. Excitement was now the source to the rampant beating of my heart. 'What am I feeling?' I thought as I dangerously approach the jagged rocks below. I decided not to care any more as long as this presence, this feeling was here. A warm breath brushed my cheek and to my ear. "We'll fall together..." it said as we submerged to our rocky grave.

I woke up with a start, rolling off my bed and my face landed against the hard wooden floor. I groaned as I sat up straight, rubbing my aching cheeks. "It’s just a dream." I said to myself. Waves of disappointment engulfed me. I glanced at the clock. Six-thirty. It was time to get up anyway. I got up and trudged into the bathroom. I then hit the switch and hissed at the sudden invasion of the light. I looked into the mirror that hung above the sink and cringed at the awful sight. My heart-shaped face was pale like the rest of my body. Large ringlets of blonde curls - that was out of place - decorated my head and icy blue eyes that seemed more visible in the light. Mom told me that dad could never keep his hands off me. "God's fallen angel." He would say. Mom would agree with him every so often. My stomach made a weird noise, pulling me from my trance. "God, I need some food."

Later that morning, I bounced down the stairs with the dream still boggling in my mind. "Oh honey, you’re awake!" My mom exclaimed, taking me back to reality. Her brown hair was tied into a bun and her grey eyes glimmered with morning happiness. She was wearing her business suit with an apron over it. "Yeah." I mumbled. I took a deep breath, eggs and bacon filled my nostrils and I coughed at the sudden smell. I walked into the kitchen and found my little brother, Matt, and my dad watching the morning news. "Good morning." I sighed. There was nothing but the blaring voice of a frantic reporter. I mumbled something under my breath and sat down on the breakfast table. My dad and Matt’s eyes were glued to the TV. "What’s for breakfast?" I asked although I already knew. Once again, I was greeted by silence. Nowadays, silence became my best friend. I shrugged and joined them.

"The serial killer is on it again. This time his last victim was a middle-aged woman. Her body was located in east Naples near a creek deep in the forest. She was to be known missing three days ago when a hiker found her lifeless body floating nearby…" The TV suddenly turned off. "Hey!" My brother and my dad said at the same time. "Eat." Mom said with the remote in her hand. Our breakfast was already displayed in front of us. I was so engrossed with the TV that for a moment it almost felt that I disappeared from the real world. My brother took a forkful of scrambled eggs and stuffed it in his mouth. "It’s the fifth one this month." He managed to say with a mouthful of food. My mother gave him a deadly look and he swallowed the eggs in one gulp. "We should be more careful. East Naples is not too far from here." Dad said picking up a newspaper and scanning the sports page. We live in Iowa near the outer skirts of The Yellow River Forest. "I guess." I said playing with my bacon. I heard a certain grunt and I saw mom giving me a threatening glare. I popped the bacon in my mouth and gulped slowly.

We continued to talk about the murders and moved on to other topics. Minutes later, dad finished eating his food and praised my mother. My brother and I groaned while my parents nuzzled each other. I pushed my plate away. "I’m leaving." "Yeah, me too." Matt said. "Be careful." My dad warned.

I followed my brother out and we walked together down the sidewalk. "This stuff is getting pretty serious." I said with a worried look. My brother made face and said, "Don’t worry about it. Knowing you, it’ll be fine." I smiled at my brother’s maturity. Sometimes Matt and I can see eye to eye, and that’s what I like about him. "You’re a scary person; you often make that ghastly look on your face. You’re likely to scare away the killer before he even gets the chance to kill you." He added. I take back what I said. "For a thirteen year old, you sure got a lot of mouth!" I gritted my teeth. "Look there it is! You’re doing it again." "When I’m through with you, my face will be the least of your worries!" I growled. Matt threw his hands up as if he trying to be scared, mocking me. I was about to lunge for him when one of his dorky friends called out his name. "Look sis, I gotta go. Don’t be too much of a burden of the killer, will ya." He walked ahead of me.

I watched as he and his friends disappear from sight. I glared at him as the remainder of my anger ooze out of me. I took my usual short cut through the forest despite of what my father said. I strayed away from the sidewalk and walked into the thick trees and down a steep hill. Since I was a young child, I would come through here all the time. Sometimes I come here to clear my mind or to just "be." The morning rays of the sun slipped through the trees and created yellow spots on the dead leaves below. There were small bushes here and there and squirrels that rustled through the trees. Small birds chirped throughout the forest and I was skipping through, humming my favorite tune.

I suddenly tripped over a log or something and I began to fall. I cried out as I landed on my face…again. I sputtered out the dead leaves and looked to see the cause of my fall. A small gasp escaped from me as I stared in shock of what I saw. There before me, lies a lifeless body…

****

I quickly scrambled to my feet and hurried to the body. I panicked. What am I supposed to do? Maybe I should turn in his body to the police… I shook my head in disagreement. "I should throw this body off the cliff." I suggested out loud. I smiled to myself of the memory of the outer skirts of the forest and the beautiful landscape below. It contains the small jungle with a mini waterfall in the distance. Although I’ve never set foot below, I know that the hungry predators will thank me for him. I searched his body for any type of identity until I got to his face. My jaw dropped. His face is gorgeous. It’s like I was looking upon an angel. Was he a celebrity? He had a prominent jaw and a well defined nose. His face is calm and serene. It was almost like he was sleeping. 'Oh my god I was about to kill a celebrity!' I thought as I threw myself on him in great relief.

I lightly caressed his face and he sighed against my hand. All of a sudden, my heart began hammering painfully against my chest. It felt like I knew him from somewhere. I breathed heavily as I looked upon his face once more. His full lips created a small ‘o’ and he let out another breath. Oh! He's waking up! Terrified, I quickly retreated to a nearby tree. I focused on quieting my poor heart when I heard a small moan. I looked back at the body and watched as he drowsily sat up and yawned. I quietly laughed to myself. This was like this movie I saw when I was young. It was Mattt's favorite movie. The main character was a mermaid who fell in love with a human. She saved him from a ship wreck and swam away before he came to. The Little Mermaid is it?

I looked closer. His back was to me as I watch him get up and dust himself off. So he’s not dead after all. It was quiet in the forest. It was like all the animals stopped their current activities just for this adorable creature. I kept quiet along with the other animals.

For a second, he stood there. Then, He slowly turned his head towards my direction and his eyes unexpectedly connected with mine. I gasped and hid myself. Several seconds later, I looked back. He was gone. I quickly got up and surveyed the area where he once stood. It was like he was never there. I panicked. ‘Maybe it was a ghost.’ I thought. "Hello?!" I yelled into the forest. Hope filled my heart that he would answer me back. But all I hear is the quiet rustling of the leaves and the animals resuming their noisy activities. It was like he never was here or even existed. Chills went down my back and I hurriedly took my usual shortcut to school. Questions pushed their way into my mind. I knew he was real and I definitely knew I wasn’t crazy. Why is he here, sleeping in this dangerous forest?

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