Waiting for the Sun - 10 - Into the Woods
[MASTER POST]
credit: searchingfortomorrow
Somewhere along the line in Port Dixon Academy’s history, the idea of wilderness survival had been deemed a necessary skill for each of its students. So a tradition had been established where once a year, the seniors would camp overnight in the mountains and learn to be one with nature. Some of my classmates eagerly trekked up the leafy path full of romantic imagery of the vast mountains, whereas others trudged behind underneath stuffed backpacks, dreading a night without even the most basic modern luxuries.
Since breakfast we had gained substantial elevation, and finally came to a fork in the road. Our teacher Mr. Clemons pulled out a map and asked a few of us to interpret.
“We can just use a GPS.” Landon, damp and grumbling and in want of a cozy bed, protested from the rear of the assembly.
“What if your GPS runs out of batteries or you don’t have a signal, Mr. de Graaf?”
“Technology has advanced so that major satellite connections can’t be distorted by a few trees. Plus, there are solar-powered GPS’s nowadays too.”
Mr. Clemons sighed wearily. “Just enjoy nature for what it is, Mr. de Graaf!”
We tried to hide our giggles and marched onward.
There was one unfamiliar addition to our midst: a young man not much older than us, with bronze skin, a sharp jawline, inky eyes and equally sleek dark hair pulled into a low knot. He seemed to be as tall and moody as the trees, and at home in them as well in the way that he effortlessly maneuvered the winding trails. His name was Adam, and he was our designated S’Klallam guide - we were in their land.
Rob, always the extrovert, tried to pry some words out of the taciturn stranger. “So, Adam, what else do you do? Fight forest fires? Track wild bears?”
Adam seemed burdened to reply, “I do mostly wilderness restoration, which is all that stuff and more. A lot of educational programs like this, too.”
“Nice, are you getting a degree for that?”
“I’m not in college.”
“Oh, why not?”
Claudie and I shot Rob a disapproving look.
A thin-lipped smile came across Adam’s strong features. “College isn’t that simple of a choice for most people.”
“Bro, I didn’t mean--”
“Plus, my family really needed me to stay here. I have a lot of tribal responsibilities.”
“Ah, cool, cool…” Rob nodded, trying to brush off the tense air.
Time drew on our bodies began to grow weary, and topics of conversation were exhausted, so the group was left with the crunching of our steps on the soft earth and fallen leaves, and the hissing of the winter winds. For fear of losing my footing, I kept staring up at the towering, majestic boughs, wondering just how old and wise they were. I didn’t realize how slowly I was going until everyone had disappeared around a bend and Adam had turned back to fetch me.
“You don’t want to fall behind.” he commented dully. “Do you need me to carry your bags?”
“No, I’m alright - I’ve just been caught up in all of…”
“All of what?”
“… The beauty of it all. Isn’t anyone else amazed?”
Adam’s stern expression dropped for a moment in disbelief. “I guess you’re not from here, huh?”
I shook my head. “Sorry, I don’t want to drag everyone. I’ll go faster.”
Adam easily kept stride alongside me with his long legs as we marched onward.
After a moment I muttered to break the tension, “You know, Robbie wasn’t trying to be rude back there.”
Seeming to debate what to say next and for some reason, he took it farther. “… But it’s not just him, it’s - it’s all of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“If any of you took one second to listen to yourselves complain about the most asinine problems… All that privilege man, it’s ridiculous.” He added with some gruffness once noting my knitted brow, “Not trying to attack you or anything…”
“No, I understand, and I suppose it’s true, but you never know what anyone is truly going through behind closed doors.” By then we had caught up so that the rear of the group was in sight. I could pick out at least five different people who wore fragile coats of armor to disguise divorce, eating disorders, bullying… I hadn’t even admitted my own to anyone - except to Jasper, who had not joined us for the trip.
---------
… The small, pristine edifice stood proudly on its own just off of the main road that ran through the reservation. Little else but the importance of the clinic was keeping the clan from dragging the vampire off of their land, or worse. Instead they kept hawk eyes on his every movement as he tended to the blueprints and the ceiling. Now that dinnertime had passed, they were growing even more restless.
Jasper tried to make conversation. “I heard that there were usually four of you.”
The leader Leon crossed his arms. “Don’t think that means you could even try and take us on.”
Even though their glares were tiresome Jasper knew, for the most part, not to take it personally. It wasn’t like he was exactly fond of the wolves either. Their stench was almost distracting.
“You know,” Jasper sighed, “I could make you all like me if I wanted to, but I’m not going to use that trick. That should prove something, right?”
The youngest of the three, Victor, ignored this. “So have you found the problem yet, cold one?”
He replied politely, “Thankfully it’s not a foundational issue. If we add some crossbeams for reinforcement, I think it’ll solve the problem.”
As much as he naturally detested the vampire, the third one named Gideon couldn’t hide his fascination at the complicated sketches and notes. “How does that work?”
“Well you know how a triangle is sturdier than a square? I found the weak spots and…”
Meanwhile, Victor saddled up to Leon who paced with a worried expression. “What’s the matter?” he whispered.
“Adam is feeling restless. There’s something amiss out there.”
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The crackling campfire slowly disintegrated and my classmates, tired from s’mores and folk singing and the hard wilderness lifestyle, began to retire for the night. Claudie and Hillary quickly sank into slumber beside me while I stared up at the nylon ceiling. In time the sounds of liveliness were replaced by the soft hoots of owls, but ever since Stephan had recounted his zombie hunter horror story at the bonfire, every crackling branch sent my heart palpitating. I closed my eyes and tried to force myself asleep, but the rustling grew louder and closer and I pulled my sleeping bag tighter. When the zipper to our tent began to slowly unwind I believed I was going to die - before Rob’s goofy face popped through.
“Are you guys coming? Coast is clear!” he hissed.
“What’s going on…?” Hillary grumbled groggily.
“The tradition!”
credit: coyhand on Flickr
Rumor had it (I learned as I dragged myself through the freezing cold behind the others) that every year on this hike the seniors would stay up to stargaze, and those who managed to catch a glimpse of a shooting star would get into their top choice university soon thereafter. It was worth a try. Our group trekked up to even higher ground and found a breathtaking view.
Now deep into the heart of the mountain, the world had grown eerily still. My eyes adjusted to the ghostly moonlight cast over the gorge, a vast bowl of shadows underneath the murky sky. We sighed in disappointment - the infamous clouds were too thick for us to see any stars. Claudie settled next to me with a huff and we stared off at the expanse together.
“What’s your dream school?” I murmured.
She replied in a bittersweet, hopeful tone, “UPenn.”
“Isn’t that where Robbie wants to go?”
“… That’s why.”
From a distance, Claudie’s eyes trailed the boy who had been her first reading buddy in kindergarten, the only one she would allow to copy her homework, the single person who had driven to Portland to support her at the regional debate tournament last year. Rob caught her gaze and instead of looking away, gestured her over.
“Yo C, check this out.”
She followed him to the edge and looked down curiously. “What is it?”
Suddenly he lifted her from behind and lunged as if he were about to throw her over the precipice. Claudie cried out angrily at his prank and smacked him to put her down while he just cackled. Their loud voices echoed through the woods - and to our dismay, the voices of our teachers yelled back.
“That’s where you all are! What are you doing out of bed?” We were in big trouble - but only if we got caught.
In an instant to react we scattered like rats in all directions. I scrambled amidst the confusion into a dark patch of thick bushes, crouched low, and breathed as silently as possible. Beams of light scanned through the leaves but the teachers could not find my hiding spot and so they moved on. After several minutes of silence I finally dared to venture from the shadows, and saw not a soul. I felt startlingly vulnerable in the emptiness.
Just as I turned to find the path an icy wind brushed my cheek. I froze - in my path stood the same phantom-like man from Halloween as still as a statue. His hungry, garnet red eyes almost glowed in the darkness.
“I finally have you alone, dearie.”
My blood ran cold.