This far away from Destiny City it would have been a slim, far below even 1%, chance that anyone would have ever found the unconscious woman; at least not before the wildlife descended upon her first.
By what she was wearing it was easy enough to conclude that she had not intended for this adventure she had set herself upon which made him more than curious as to why she was out here in the first place. The weather alone would have done her in with at bare minimum a fever if she was lucky with how cold it got at night. The tattered sweater and torn jeans she wore would have provided her no semblance of warmth in the coming hours and truth be told Isaac wasn’t convinced she wasn’t already sick given the sheen of sweat across her brow.
Between what he had learned as a kid from his parents as well as the field medic over in Iraq, Isaac had a fair amount of knowledge on how to access the severity of a situation and provide medical support with the resources he had on hand. The two most concerning injuries he saw without removing the woman’s cloths were the large egg-like lump on her head and her arm which had been twisted in an almost unnatural way beneath her.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he tried to blink away the floating spots that obscured his from staring at the fire far too long. When that didn’t seem to work he rubbed his face with both of his rough calloused hands and drew in a deep breath.
Leaving her to get help was not an option since there was no cell phone reception this far away from any city. Plus, there was no guarantee that she would stay put if she woke up and he was nowhere near. Not to mention that moving her more than he already had could cause any unseen damage to become worse if he wasn’t careful. Sprains, cuts and scrapes he had come prepared for medical supply wise; anything outside of that would force him to improvise.
When finally Isaac could see again he glanced over at the raven haired woman with almost startling blue eyes the color of frozen water. Beside her, a ziplock bag with a rag soaked in cold lake water rested against her head to help minimize the swelling as she slept soundlessly in his sleeping bag. He had done what he could to clean the obvious scrapes on her face, palm, elbows and knees to the best of his ability without removing her clothing completely aside from lifting her shirt to check for any broken bones or internal bleeding which thankfully he saw no indication of.
For the next several hours he sat in silence a safe distance away on the other side of his makeshift camp while watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed before leaning his back against the tree and looking up at the cloudless sky hoping she would wake up soon.
Bright red eyes slowly began to flutter open. It was soft motion at first. A few delicate blinks as she felt her eyes begin to focus. Blurs of colors became shapes and finally took on forms. Tree branches blocked her vision directly to the sky but in their leafless form, she could make out the darkness of night. But she couldn’t see the stars…
Shadows dancing on the branches she saw drew her eyes sideways ever so slightly before a pain pulsed to life in her head. “Oh God…” Her voice was hoarse, dry even. It felt like she hadn’t had anything to drink in days. However none of that mattered with the pain going through her head.
Pulling her hand up, she placed it against the side of her face. Nothing was strange at first until her fingers found the lump. A knot that she was sure had to be so lovely throbbed even at the light touch.
Something cool was against it but she paid no mind to it as the words “How long was I out…” Left her lips.
They were words to no one. Words meant only for herself as she tried to process things. She was lying on her back under a tree. Some light source was to her side and by the movement, it was a fire. Fire and trees logically drew her mind to camping. Had she gone camping today?
She couldn’t...remember…
“At least seven hours, maybe eight. It was about 4:00 when i found you and it’s about 10:00 P.M now.” Isaac replied.
With her now conscious he was careful enough not to make any abrupt movements lest she think he was some predator out to take an advantage of her given her current state. If anything his goal was to seem as non threatening as possible if only to keep her from bolting. “I wouldn’t suggest moving around too much; there’s a chance you may have injured your shoulder or wrist.”
The white haired young man leaned forward and picked up the still sealed water bottle next to his foot. “Here, you should drink something.” He suggested, voice calm and non demanding as he reached it out towards the now lucid woman for her to take.
Her question had been to herself. So when it was answered, headache be damned, her head shot to the side. For a split second, she could see him. A man sitting across from her, his face lit in the flames of the fire, white hair atop his head. Then it went to a blur as the pain washed over her head once more releasing a heavy moan.
“Who…” The word started but she didn’t finish the sentence as red eyes closed into a squint. Pain was clear on her face as she tried to push through it to open her eyes again. She wasn’t alone. But she also didn’t have a clue who was talking to her.
But she wasn’t going to say no when he offered her something to drink. Slowly, she managed to force one eye partly open and pulled her left hand free. That was when she felt the first shock of pain all over again. This time though, it was her wrist. He had been right.
Quickly bringing her arm to her chest, she wrapped her wrist with her other hand and held it tight. “What happened to me?” The words were through pain and movement. She was trying to sit up. Slowly…
Bending at the waist, she didn’t stop until she was sitting up. Now, she could see the fabric around her waist of his sleeping bag. She could see the red and bruising around her wrist. She could make out the soil around her. Yes, clearly camping…
But that made the other questions.
“Do I know you?”
“No…” Snow colored brows furrowed in concern. “I have no idea what happened to you. If anything I was hoping you could tell me.” Isaac stated as he rose from his perch to hand her the bottle but not before removing the lid.
Her question was startling to say the least and made him wonder if she even remembered who she was. “What is your name? I didn’t see any belongings with you other than a cellphone and a pen.” Both of which were placed beside her inside her shoes. No wallet or ID and without her password there was no way to identify her by looking through her phone.
“My name?” She spoke, her hand finally releasing her wrist and reaching for the water bottle. Without even looking at it, she placed it to her lips and took a long slow slip. The liquid felt good as it soothed her throat and mouth. She realized she had dirt around her lips and could taste blood coming loose. So she had fallen?
“My name…” She said again, pulling the bottle from her lips and turning to look at him. Those lips opened and then shut once more. Eyes darted slowly from side to side as realization came over her. “I…” The word croaked out, panic clearly riding up her body and into her face. “I don’t know...I don’t know my name..”
Isaac’s lips pursed into a thin line. Clearly that wasn’t the answer he was hoping to hear.
“I need to get you back to Destiny City, take you to the hospital.” If she didn’t remember her name then there was no doubt in his mind that the blow to the head was more than surface deep. A concussion at the very least and that is if they were lucky but the memory loss was had him deeply concerned.
“If you’re unable to walk I’ll carry you.” The man looked around the campsite as if he were trying to determine what could be left behind and what was essential to take with them. Compared to soldiers wearing full body armor and carrying weapons she weighed next to nothing but the trail head where he left his car was a good three hours away.
Truly her face was flustered.
As her eyes darted back and forth, she was trying to recall anything. Who she was. How she got there. Where here even was!
“Destiny City?” The words seemed strange to her. Familiar yet...not. “No, I think I can walk…”
Her right hand shot out, to support herself as she tried to stand. It was slow going but she finally made it to her feet. Now she could look down at her body. There were places that hurt as she moved but nothing worse than her head and wrist. Her knees stung but it was as if she had skinned her knees….
A momentary sway and she stood still. “Where...where are we anyway?”
Regardless of the shadows that danced across his face the look he gave her seemed somewhat disbelieving. “We’re about three to four hours north east of the trail head. Dark Hollow Falls is about fifteen minutes that way.” He nodded his head in the general direction as he stuck the first aid kit back in his hiking backpack. The lake he had come out here to see was a bit closer but had no name that he knew of so there was no point in telling her its whereabouts.
Before rising to his full height Isaac reached over to pick up the waterbottle and again handed it to her. “You need to finish this before we go.” He stated simply, least she lean over to get it and find herself face first in the dirt from being off balance. “And if you can-” there was a bit of a pregnant pause as he rifled through his belongings until he produced another ziplock bag however this one was full of trail mix with M&M’s, nuts and a mix of cranberries with raisins. “Eat these. I don’t know how long it’s been since you last had food but i don’t want you passing out on the way down hill.” Once you start going there’s typically no stopping the built up momentum unless your leg gets wedged between rocks or body gets wrapped around a tree. Neither being something he wished to have happen to either of them if it could be helped.
“Dark Hollow Falls…” Every name he gave something, she tasted on her lips. Try as she might, nothing seemed to stick.
“I’m sorry. It’s still not ringing a bell. None of it.” She reached out and wrapped her fingers once more about the bottle he offered her. But as her hands closed, she felt the grip begin to tremble. Her body was shaking as frustration began to set in.
“None...nothing. So is this what it feels like to be alone…” She was shivering as she tried to drink the water once more. He was calm in a way that seemed surprising. At least maybe to her it did.
One long deep breath and she lifted her head back up to gaze at the white haired man’s face. “Could you tell me your name at least? Please?”
Her question made him pause and put his bag back down. The urgency of the situation was not completely lost upon him but her trembling definitely did not go without notice.
A careful hand place upon her shoulder he looked at her with an amount of concern that was difficult to discern with the lack of light in the area. “Come on, sit down. We’re not going to go anywhere until you’re ready.” Isaac grabbed the sleeping bag she had been laying on and ushered her towards the thick roots he had been sitting on.
“First off, you’re not alone. I’m not going to leave you out here on your own; like I said I’ll carry you if need be. Secondly, my name is Isaac.” He lowered himself down to her level lest she find him imposing or intimidating. The scars on his face had a story to tell but now was not the time.
His touch was...warm. In a strange sort of way, the pressure he placed on her shoulder did not make her jump. In truth, it made her relax. At least enough to have him guide her over and take a seat on the tree roots.
“Isaac…” As before, she echoed the name but this time, instead of appearing lost, she smiled. Clearly it was a half smile but behind it, there was hope. “Thank you then, Isaac. But if this lump tells me anything, and what you say is true, I didn’t fall here. You carried me once already so I’m sure that is more than enough…”
As he knelt before her, she could see his face. The beautiful blue eyes set into a face that clearly had seen its fair share of hardships. She found herself fighting back the desire to reach up and run a hand over one of the long scars. That was...invasive.
“If you could just give me a moment. I guess I wasn’t ready to move just yet.”
“Don’t worry about me, I’ve carried men much larger than you and for longer distances.” The circumstances surrounding those incidents were irrelevant as they were, on several occasion, under enemy fire. None of which related to the here or now and would serve no purpose to tell her the specifics.
“Just- take it easy and if you need to stop we’ll stop.” Isaac dug around the font pockets of his camping bag for his small flash light. “Hold onto this and…” He looked around till he spotted his jacket that was half covered by the sleeping bag. With a bit of a tug he pulled it free then swatted it with an open palm to get the dirt to fall off. “Put this on.”
Despite the weather being a bit nippy Isaac seemed a bit unconcerned by the temperature, if he anything appeared to be rather content in his Under Armour t-shirt.
She followed his movements with her eyes, putting the water bottle down and taking the flashlight he offered her. Her left hand was clearly functional but she was favoring it because of her wrist. Refusal to look at it was by sheer force of will. It hurt.
When the jacket was offered, she slipped the flashlight into the fold of her left arm and took it with her right. “Are you sure? I have a sweater on already and that shirt seems very thin.”
Though she questioned, she still put the jacket on, albeit slowly. Red eyes scanned over his form that was now exposed to her. It was pretty clear she could see why he might have carried other people with ease. He was handsome. Muscles in every place that shirt could cling too. Oh she believed he could carry her and many others. She just didn’t feel right asking.
“Oh. My shoes…” She slipped out, starting to rise towards them, putting the flashlight into the coat pocket. As she stood, her foot slipped and she stumbled forward.
Isaac’s reaction was quick for one who had his back partially turned to her.
Unbothered by their closeness especially considering he was not a shy man. Strong arms held her close; one around her lower back and the other about her shoulders. “Are you ok?” He asked with concern and an amount of worry feathering the edge of his voice as warm air brushed against her ear as he spoke.
Isaac’s heart maintained a steady rhythm against his chest as did his breathing despite having to be quick on his feet. His muscles remained taut beneath the fabric of his shirt until he was sure she could stand on her own again.
Red eyes blinked quickly as she processed the stumble. Her foot had caught something and she had lost her balance. Was she always this clutzy or were her muscles still waking up?
“I’m okay.” She whispered against his strong body. The feel of his breath made her shiver but for the moment, it was nothing more than a passing feeling down her spine. Something she accused the night air of. “I just slipped. A root must have caught my foot…”
Gazing up at his face, she could feel him breathe under her touch, his heart steady under her hand. For a second longer than she should, she stayed right there before warmth hit her cheeks and she looked away. “You have amazing relaxes…”
A light chuckle shook his chest as he gradually loosened his hold around her. ”Occupational requirement. Always be aware of your surroundings...” More like a life lesson which was applicable to almost all aspects of a person's day.
Questioning her reply would serve no purpose and if anything it would likely be met with a stubborn disregard for her own needs only to make herself seem capable of being self reliant so she wouldn’t need to accept his help.
A sharp gust of cold air snapped through their makeshift camp site causing the fire to flickr. “I will get you your shoes okay?” Glacial blue eyes locked with those of cut rubies and it was made clear in an unspoken conversation that he’d prefer it that she sat back down, for now at least.
She did not have room to argue. That was crystal clear with the look those eyes gave as they held her own. Did he realize how strong of a presence he gave off? Something about him meant she had very little room to dispute what he said or asked of her. However, memory of not, the feeling of being a burden on something made her stomach turn…
But for that moment, she was under the spell of those eyes.
Without question, she returned to the seat on the roots, her good hand helping her guide slowly back into place as she shifted in the jacket. That little wind made her cold. It felt as if it cut straight through her body and the only thing that stopped it was this jacket.
What was stranger was it was even colder in the places he had just touched. Her ear, her back her shoulder. They all felt as if they had been exposed to ice. It made her want him next to her…
No, the fire would do. That is what she said as she gazed back at the flickering light. It danced in the breeze and made the world seem darker on the edge of her vision.
“Where did you find me?”
“Hmm?” Isaac set her shoes beside her then sat down on the ground with an almost thoughtful expression.
“It was about five minutes northwest of here. I honestly don’t think I would have found you had I not of heard you fall; at least… that’s what I assumed happened.” At the time the sounds of branches breaking had been startling and had forced him to draw his concealed carry he kept with him at almost all times.
Raccoons, squirrels and insects… all small critters that made barely any noise save for the birds that rarely ceased their constant chatting. But crashes usually meant something bigger was near. A cougar perhaps or even a bear, either way Isaac wasn’t going to take the chance. “I didn’t hear nor see anyone running away and aside from a chipmunk there were no animals either.” Which still made no sense. The clothes she had on were not exactly meant for hiking let alone being out in the woods for several days and she carried next to nothing with her, not even a pocket knife which was greatly concerning.
“And you still don’t remember anything do you? No faces of someone who could have dropped you off her or pushed you down the hill?” A part of him hoped that something he said would have triggered a memory; anything, hell he’d even take just a name.
Taking one shoe in hand, she pulled out what was clearly a phone. From its placement, she guessed it was her phone. Turning it over in her hands, she shook her head. “No...nothing.” She spoke, pushing one of the side buttons and seeing the screen asking for a password come to light. Behind it, a picture of a rose. The image made her stop and look at it a moment. Why would she have that? Turning it to face him, she tried to give a weak smile. “Not even how to get into this…though I guess I like red roses?”
Putting the phone on her lap, she reached for her second shoe. What she pulled out from it though made her stare. A pen. White and red with a large symbol of a dove on the top. “And I guess I like to write?” She added, but still didn’t put the pen down. Something about it told her she should never let this go. This was her’s and very, very special.
It was the movement of a log on the fire that made her blink. “But nothing else. I’m sorry. I know it isn’t helpful but with the headache this thing keeps causing…” She spoke, moving her right hand to brush her fingertips over the goose egg on her head. Wincing, she dropped her hand again. “But you don’t really think someone would have pushed me...do you?”
“Unless they were hiding when I got there,” he shrugged “but I didn’t see anyone leave.”
“I can’t exactly imagine why you’d be out here in the first place by yourself. I only say that because I haven’t heard anyone since I found you. You’d think that if you were out here with a group of friends that someone would have come looking by now.” He flashed her a lopsided grin, rueful and apologetic for the blunt nature of his statement.
“There are a lot of unknowns and until you’re able to remember something I’m at as much of a loss as you are.” At this point the only thing he could really do is make sure they make it back down to the trailhead safely.
“I know you have no reason to trust me but I’m going to get you back to Destiny City which means.” He paused briefly as he held her gaze once more. “I need you to be honest with me. If you need to stop we’ll stop and if I need to carry you I will. Believe me when I say I have a lot of experience when it comes to concussions. Like I said earlier, we’re pretty far away from the trailhead.” Leaving her while he went in search of help was not an option especially when she had no way of defending herself and he wasn’t exactly going to leave her with his firearm. Too many things could go wrong and Isaac wasn’t willing to take the risk.
Sitting there, taking in all he said, was hard. “You are right. On all accounts I guess. I’m sorry for putting so much on you. Just...I thought maybe you might say something that triggered a memory? A name...something…” All she had gotten was more questions.
“Well then, I guess Destiny City it is. And I promise, if I feel strange, I’ll stop you. I’ll also try to be more careful over tree roots.” She returned his lopsided grin with a soft smile of her own.
At least she had small clues about herself. A Pen. A Phone. Decent jeans and a sweater. So she wasn’t poor or homeless. No ring so not engaged or married. At least that meant she didn’t have to worry about remembering a husband or kids.
But those thoughts made the hole inside her feel...deeper. Shaking her head, getting the pain back from it, made her come back to reality. “Alright. No time like the present! Thank you Isaac. For being kind enough to deal with me.”
Isaac shook his head causing loose strands of hair to fall in his face. “You’re no burden.” What he had done was nothing special; anyone who was worth anything would have done what they could to help her. “But you’re welcome” he added so she didn’t think he was being dismissive of her sincerity.
“Let me just finishing putting everything away then we can go once I’ve taken care of the fire.” He leaned forward then, bracing his hand on his knees to help him up he motioned his hand towards the sleeping bag she was sitting on. “May I?”
At first she just blinked at him as if he was asking for her shoes back. That was when her eyes looked down to catch the edge of the fabric she was sitting on. “Oh!” Sitting up, she reached behind her to pull the sleeping back up and offer it to him. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I was on it…”
Returning to her seat, she pulled her knees to her chest and watched. He was so fluid with all he did that she was convinced this was far from the first time he had done something like this. The camp was broken down before she knew it and they were on the way.
Following him out of the woods, she could only hope that he was right...someone in this Destiny City could help her.
There were a few stumbles along the way but Isaac had been walking in front of the raven haired woman for that very reason, so he could break her fall if need be since most of the trek was down hill from where they had been.
At the first bar of cell service Isaac made sure to called 9-1-1. He calmly explained the situation and requested an ambulance meet them at the trailhead which managed to arrive just minutes before they did. The paramedics did their due diligence in checking her over before taking the unnamed woman to Destiny City Memorial Hospital where Isaac waited for word of her condition.
Sirene Naiads
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