Part Two
The melodious sound of birds chirping in the canopy above
complimented the early morning light. Once I had stepped through the gateway to
the Midnight Trail, it was like I was in a whole other world. The light seemed
brighter here, the birds sang sweeter and the shades of green seemed more
vibrant. I couldn’t help but smiling at the joy around me.
The path wound its way through the underbrush, along a
stream that bubbled with fresh water. I stopped for a moment and touched the
surface with my finger tips. I hadn’t expected the cold shiver that ran up my
back. It must have been runoff from the mountain nearby, but it was summer. I
had thought it would be somewhat warmer, another surprise on the trail.
It had been an hour when I stopped for a break. The path had
been fairly easy and well worn as it twisted through the forest. By my
calculations I had already gone several miles and I was making good time. If I
could keep up this pace for another hour or two, I might make the end of the
trail before lunch time.
There was a fallen tree on the side of the path that
beckoned me to rest on it. How could I say no to such an offer? I let my
backpack rest at my feet and pulled my water bottle from its pocket. As I
drank, the underbrush behind me began to rustle. At first, I didn’t notice it
because it was so slight, but as it became lauder, my mind began to wonder what
was coming closer.
I jumped to my feet tripping over my backpack and falling to
the ground. From the sound of limbs snapping and the amount of rustling that
was coming toward me, I expected a bear or a mountain lion, Bigfoot even to
come charging onto the path. My heart raced as I tried to stand only to be
surprised when a doe and her fawn jumped from the forest and bound across the
trail to drink at the stream.
My heart nearly beat out of my chest when I realized that I
was safe and Bigfoot hadn’t come to take me away to its hidden nest. “Get a
grip, Shelby . Nothing out here is
coming to get you.”
I told myself that even though I didn’t believe it one
hundred percent. There was always something out there that was coming for you. No
one was immune to it, not me, not even Jarrod my twin brother.
The day that he died I had found myself on the ground a lot
like I was now. We were crossing the street in Downtown Portland, headed to the
water front to partake in the festivities of the Rose Festival. The cross walk
turned green, I stepped out into the street not noticing the car that had just
ran the red light on the other side of the intersection. Jarrod pushed me out
of the way just as the vehicle struck him. That was the last time I saw him
alive. That was the reason I was here on the Midnight Trail, to try and forget
that horrible sight.
I pulled myself to my feet and dusted the dirt off my pants.
The feeling of ease was gone, replaced by the weight of my loss. This was going
to be a long day.
Do you think Shelby
will ever be able to forgive herself for her brother’s death? Find out what
excitement awaits her on the Midnight Trail.
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