Into the Light

Chapter 1

Running my hands over my body as I soak in the stream, I see the once clear water turn a muddy brown around me.  Will I ever really be clean?  As soon as the thick mud loosens from my skin my injuries start making themselves known again.  Small streams of blood make their way into the water and I watch as it moves downstream and disappears into the current.  I envy the waters ability to soak up so many impurities and still be clear, still be clean. 

After washing the mud from my wounds I dip my head back and soak my hair into the water.  Black from dirt and grease I don't remember what color it used to be, or if it really ever was a different color.  As water sloshes into my ears making my sense of hearing dim I focus on my peripheral vision to keep watch of my surroundings.  After a few moments, I feel as though most of the grime is out of my hair and start to comb my fingers through the mess while its still under water and work out the massive tangles.  Walking back to the water's edge I find the large boulder that I placed my clothes and my belongings on and sit next to them so that I may dry off.  

This is the first time I have felt at peace in a long time.  Looking around myself I see the tall trees that give me my shelter and my privacy from any creatures that may be walking about.  I can see and hear squirrels and rabbits roam around the area in search of dinner as I sit un-moving on my rock.  This is my favorite time of day, when the sun bleeds through the trees surrounding the trees in a golden halo.  As you look around you can almost forget that this is a deadly and dangerous environment.  Almost.  

Now that my body is as clean as I will get it and dry it is time to start moving again which means I need to mask my scent.  I don't know how they trained wolves to be hunting dogs but they did and I can see why those fuckers are so high up on the food chain.  No matter what I do they seem to catch my scent.  But, now that I am smarter it takes more time for them to catch up and gives me more time to heal.  

I hate this part.  I dress myself in the newly dry, rinsed clothing and place my bag on my back.  Walking to the edge of the water I start spreading mud across my body, face, and hair.  After I am fully covered I begin my trek to no where, only knowing that staying in one place is not safe for long. 

After hours of walking its dark.  I mean pitch-black dark.  I can still see pretty well though which is why I dont stop, the more distance I put between me and that pack of dogs the better. 

Coming from behind me and to the left is a sound, a snap of a twig breaking not far behind me.  Adrenaline does crazy things to my body.  I don't wait to find out what it is and I take off silently through the woods, jumping over limbs and dodging trees at a pace that doesn't seem possible.  My vision gets sharper as I see each opstacle that I come across and my nostrils seem to open further allowing even my sense of smell to search for danger that is lurking in the darkness.  

I don't stop running until all of my senses agree with my gut, that the danger has passed.  I don't know for sure what was behind me just then but, I have learned from experiance not to chance it.