I’ve already committed. I have to keep going.
Branches hit my sides as I venture further. My feet get stuck every other minute, but eventually, I make it to a clearing.
Still…no barn or Gavin in sight. I keep going, walking into more trees for what feels like forever, until I spot a tire. I track it, my eyes going north until it lands on another tire and then another. My heart skips out of my chest when I see a beat-up, crumpled vehicle.
“It’s my rental!”
I rush toward it, hopping over branches, almost tripping over my own heel, when I hear something crack behind me. My brows raise curiously. I’m hoping it’s Gavin, but when I turn around, there’s no one. Trees, more trees, and snow whirl around in the storm.
Before I can keep venturing, something catches my eye in my peripheral vision. A tall, thick shadow steps out from behind a tree. Is that Gavin?
“Gavin?” I call out, but the shadow doesn’t respond.
“Gavin, is that you?” I walk toward him, biting my freezing lip. I can’t feel my face. I squint my eyes as if that’ll help me miraculously see better through thick flurries.
“Gavin!” I shout once more.
Suddenly, the shadow reveals more of himself and starts to run, straight toward me.
A wave of unease crashes into my soul, and my eyes widen.
It’s not a human.
It’s an animal.
A small moose appears through the fog. Its black eyes look straight at me. It’s chewing on something, looking anything but spooked. I’m the one who feels like their soul has left their body. I thought it was the one after me. I instantly feel relief. I sigh, my heart rate evening out.
Placing my hands on my thighs, I lean over and chuckle. It’s so cute. It doesn’t even have antlers yet. Brown thick fur, two pointy ears that stick out above its head, and extremely long legs—almost too long for such a small body.
“It’s just a baby moose. It’s just a baby moose,” I chant out of relief, but then I realize what that entails. Horror spreads through me. “It’s just…a baby moose.A moose that’s a baby…” Another sound of a twig snaps nearby, and my brows raise. “Oh, shit.”
If there’s a baby nearby, then that means its mother is too.
A tall, massive older moose slowly guards its calf by moving in front of it. It huffs, making a grunty sound before it’s heading toward me with its head down, using its antlers as a weapon.It’s charging me.
I can’t outrun an animal.
Oh my god.
Gavin warned me about the wildlife out here, and I didn’t listen.
I whip around and sprint toward the open field. I run, the icy air burning my lungs, but I don’t care. I peer over my shoulder, hoping it’s a symptom of my brain injury, but no, it’s not. It’s not a delusion. I hear the thud of this moose’s hooves on the ground, and it keeps closing the distance, not giving up.
I keep running, and don’t dare to look over my shoulderagain. My hair gets caught several times in the branches as I weave through the trees and head straight for the wreckage. I ignore the pulsing pain in my scalp as the sounds of its footsteps grow closer and louder. I’ve read somewhere that moose attacks are not uncommon in Alaska, but can be fatal. I’m not ready to die and definitely not like this.
I lean down, my hand curling around a rock. Grunting, I hold it over my shoulder, ready to launch it, just to scare it away, not hurt it, but when I turn around, it’s gone. My lungs burn, my chest tightening with each shallow breath. Adrenaline is simmering in my veins as I hold on to the rock so tight like it’s my lifeline.
Standing still, I search for it and its calf in every tree.
It’s really gone.
With every passing second, I wait for it to pop out again—charging me, but it doesn’t. I guess the moose gave up and granted me mercy. I don’t waste another second.
Still holding onto the rock by my side, I rush toward the wrecked vehicle. I skim through the snow until I find the driver’s seat. The car door is closed, but all the glass is shattered. I peek through the open window and search for a purse, bags, or anything that I can take back to the cabin. But most importantly, why can’t I find my cell phone? It’s been a few days, so it might be dead.
Great. My cellphone is nowhere to be found, but something glistens, calling my attention. Dipping my upper half into the car, I grab my ring with a wedding band attached to it. I pinch it, twirl it around, and set it back on my ring finger. It fits like a perfect glove.
I find the ring from Liam—my cheating, despicable ex, whom I can’t seem to separate from in my heart fully and a sting hits my eyes. I hate it when you fall in love because it can be scary. The one person you promise yourself to and build a life with, stabs you in the back and isn’t even sorry about it.
