13. Cabin In The Woods

The elk must have had a death wish.

That brainless animal appeared in front of me so unexpectedly, I had no time to slam on my breaks. With that bark-brown fur against the dense leafage of the forest, it was almost impossible to see him in the middle of the street. His breath, like vapor, clouded his soaring antlers as he stood paralysed, blinded by my beaming headlights, as I raced towards him like a speeding bullet. As his fish-like stare came into view, I sharply pulled the steering wheels to the left, and swerved into the other lane to safety.

As soon as my car zoomed past, the Elk woke from his rooted state and scampered back into the dark forest. Never to be seen again.

"Shit!" I held my heart still. "That was a close one."

Everything okay?

Swerving again, I barked in response: "Greyson! You need to stop doing that!"

I- he tried, but stopped himself. I'm sorry.

I took a deep inhale, suffocating the steering wheel with my deadly grip. It's okay, I told him, after a moment. I'm sorry I yelled at you.

I didn't mean to anger you.

You didn't. I was just startled, that's all. I sighed. Look, I was going to wait until we arrived at the cabin to tell you this, but... Greyson, we are about to live in the same house for a while, and I need you to stop roaming around my head anytime you feel like it. I don't want you eavesdropping on my every thought. Okay? Humans don't have that ability, so, I don't know how to block you out, and I certainly don't want to be walking around with a helmet just to keep my thoughts to myself. If it's not too much trouble, could you communicate with me by using regular speech only?

Yes. There was a tightness in his voice that sounded a lot like embarrassment. Of course, I can.

The whistle of the night air whizzed against my driver-window, and the darkness stretching ahead was unnerving. It made me thankful that I wasn't venturing alone in these woods.

Thank you.

It didn't take long for me to regret having been so stern with Greyson. At least, this way, I got my point across. Right? He now knew better than to use his telepathy without my permission. Still, I had to admit, I could have been more sympathetic. It wasn't his fault that I was this short-tempered right now, it was mine. Following through with the deal we made, had driven me to the knife's edge. And the closer we got to Leah's cabin, the harder it became for me to pull myself together. I was so damn worried about the future.

I glanced over at the dashboard. Only forty-five more minutes to go, before we arrive at our destination.

When I crossed the Agency's borders three hours ago, it had been an out-of-body experience. It was like I had been watching myself from above, the way I often did, when I was dreaming. None of the guards had stopped me when I crossed the gate, or asked why I was - yet again – driving home so late. Most everyone else, had left their office hours prior.

I shouldn't be surprised. Why would guards suspect anything from a gal like me? Being that I was the daughter of one of the most influential men in management... no one would ever expected someone like me to do something like this. No employee had ever - for as long as the U.N.P.A existed - hoodwinked the Agency like I had tonight. Throughout history, no one had ever even stolen a pen from the building, let alone an alien from the Filing Cabinet.

Given, most of the employees here were hired due to their close connection to one, or more, of our current staff members. In theory, this was how the Agency had successfully managed to avoid crimes against their code of conduct. The background checks were extensive, and most employees were bred into this world of paranormal investigation.

I was the anomaly that just threw that theory into oblivion.

"I hope dad learns to forgive me after this," I whispered to my nonexistent co-pilot. "And Clyde too."

Drawing closer to my and Greyson's new home, the mountain air felt cooler, and the inside of the vehicle had begun to require more heat. I wondered, worry tugging at my chest, if the trunk was adequately warm for Greyson. Since it was the trunk, I would be surprised if it received any heat from the radiator at all.

"We are almost there anyway," I reminded myself.

The headlight of an oncoming car dazzled my sight momentarily.

I had to look down to save my eyes from the blast, making my gaze land on the radio. It had been turned off since I'd deserted Percy at that parking lot, and I had stayed turned off in case Greyson needed my attention.

Earlier, once that trunk door had closed, and Greyson had been safely tucked inside the trunk, Percy wrapped a strong arm around my neck, and had pulled me into a hug:

"You'll be okay," he told me.

He seemed to believe it too.

Giggling, I felt the air prick the inside of my eyes. "I have my doubts about that."

"I know." Percy pulled away and rubbed each of my shoulders with both hands. "But, if anyone can find a way out of a big mess, it's you."

"Thanks." I blinked to keep my eyes dry. "I hope we meet again in the near future, partner." I punched him in the arm. "I'll miss you."

"Oh, thank you for reminding me! I almost forgot to give you this." He reached inside his hazard suit and pulled out a black flip phone. "It's a burner phone."

"What?"

"I got it the day you told me you were planning this little jailbreak. It can be a way to keep in touch with me. I, uh - " He paused and wiped a lone tear from the tip of his nose. "I saved my number in the contacts, you know, if you ever want to call, or chat."

"Percy are you crying?"

"Oh, shut up," he shot out. I feel a laugh seep out of me as a tear rolls down my own cheek. "I also added your father's phone number, as well as your brother's, in case of an emergency."

Taking the phone from him, I tucked it into the hazmat pocket, "You're the best, Percy," and pull my friend into a bear hug. "Thank you."

"When you make it to your destination..." He patted my back sweetly. "Call me. I want to know that you've made it there, safe and sound."

Pulling me away by the shoulders, he looked up to the sky and ballooned his cheeks wide. A large exhaled later, he was shaking his head and trying to regain his composure. "You'll be okay," he slapped my shoulder with one big hand. "You'll be okay."

A coy smirk. "Will I?"

He let his hands fall by his side. "You will!" He insisted.

"Alright. Alright." I put on a brave face, and put my right hand on his shoulder. "Let's not jinx it. Okay?"

"You're right, we shouldn't jinx it," he veered me towards the car and pushed me forward as if impatient. "Now, come on! Get out of here before someone catches you!"

"Hey, not so loud! People are going to hear you."

"I said, go on, get!" Percy said, shoving me around the vehicle. He opened my driver side door, and manhandled me inside, head first. Like a cop putting a criminal in the backseat of their car. "Go."

Slapping his hand away from my hair. "Percy!"

He gave me another little push, forcing my legs inside. "You're free now. Go. Get out of here!"

"Oh my god...Are you seriously re-enacting the famous scene from White Fang right now?"

Percy bit down on his lip, as if he was forcing himself not to cry. "It's helping me cope."

I smiled. "I'm going to miss that side of you most, Buddy."

"Hey, this is not goodbye." He pointed at me with a stern finger. "I gave you a burner phone for a reason, remember?" He leaned over the driver side door before closing it. "I'm serious. You better call me when you get there."

I extended a hand. "It's been a pleasure working with you."

He took it in his. "Likewise."

Then, the door closed, and I drove off until his figure was nothing but a blip behind me.

Thirty minutes had gone by, quicker than I anticipated. I took a turn and I was already driving down the long rocky path towards the house. Pebbles crunched under my wheels, and the metal body whined. The steering wheel vibrated under my clutch as I slowed down, easing my foot off the gas, and hating how ineffective reducing my speed had against the military of jumping rocks underneath me; those small earthly soldiers were still managing to slingshotting themselves against the undercarriage of my car, and I was afraid something might fall off.

A few rows of aspen trees speed by, and perished in the darkness behind me. And after what seemed like an eternity of turbulence, I spotted the shape of a white wooden cabin in the distance.

I made it, I thought, weighing down on the accelerator.

At the door, I screeched to a halt. I had been here only twice in my life, when Leah and I were children. I recognised the red door, the big white columns on either side of the front steps, and the dreamy little porch swing swaying by the side window.

This cabin was mostly used as a vacation home, or whenever Leah's mother wanted to escape society and hide away for her annual writer's retreat. Now, as winter crept closer, the cabin looked desolate, but still quite homely. In truth, it resembled a house more than it did a "cabin." It looked distinguished, like the type of cabin you would find on the cover of a Christmas card. It was two stories high, with a green colored roof that covered, not only the top of the house, but also the considerably large porch that was wrapped around the house, forming an L-shape. A large yard, with over grown yellowed grass, and aesthetically placed stones, was surrounded by a myriad of trees. And finally, by the weathering garden, was a small fire pit with a few large tree trunks around it.

I sat and let my engine idle for a few breaths as I took it all in.

"Ashlyn," Greyson said, voice muffled by the back seat. It startled me all the same. "Could I be let out? It's starting to smell like fuel back here."

To save me from being engulfed in complete darkness, I kept the car running. With one press of a button on my fob, the trunk lifted, and Greyson appeared from the illuminated chest that was my trunk. He swung his long legs over the edge, and hopped onto the stony floor below. His limbs must have been craving the extra room, because his stretch sent a agonising expression to his face.

By the mere sight of him, my insides clenched. It didn't seem real, how perfect he looked despite his unusual features. No one in the world had ever spiked my interest more than he had, by simply existing. He made me feel nervous too. All he needed to do was look my way, with those intense barred-owl eyes, his gaze boring into mine, and my mind would go blank.

He tilted his head to the side, as if questioning why I remained seated. With that, I unbuckled my seatbelt, opened the door, but just as I was about to climb out, my eyes snagged on the night sky and I halted. Craning my neck, I watched as a marvel of stars spread like glitter above me. My mouth popped open, as I discovered that, just beyond the blotches of fluffy white cotton, the milky-way traced across the heavens like a river of light.

"Wow." I couldn't help myself. I stood and shut the door, never letting my eyes stray away from the spectacular sight. "Holy."

Greyson came to stand beside me in silence. Neither of us seemed capable of using words to describe what we were witnessing, as if the mere sound of our voices could jeopardize the enchanting beauty suspended before us.

Together, we savoured every sight, every sound, and every smell that surrounded us. Listening to insects buzzing as loud as bead-filled maracas, and leaves crashing against each other across the solid ground. Under those colorful leaves, exposed roots clung to the earth like massive wooden claws, helping the massive trees stay rooted where they stood. The chilled autumn breeze smelled of dewy moss and spoiled foliage; an aroma I could only describe as... earthy.

The deep forest seemed to lured Greyson closer, like a siren song egging him to explore the hidden skeletons within. "We have to keep close to the house," I warned him quickly the moment he took a step forwards towards the dense vegetation. I hoped he would listen to me, even though he had no obligation to do so. "It's dangerous in the woods at night," I explained, "something bad could happen to you, and someone might accidentally see you and report it to the authorities."

His gaze dropped. He surveyed me with intensity. My stomach dipped at the sound of his voice, when he said in a low and soothing manner: "I understand."

Offering him assurance, I added: "But you can stay out here as long as you want. You're allowed to enjoy the night and relax, while I bring everything in the house." I pointed at the busy back seat of my car. Three big suitcases, an assortment of groceries and an array of winter gear that was waiting for my utmost attention. "You can come inside when you're ready. Sounds good?"

"You're going to leave me out here...Alone?" The idea seemed completely ludicrous to him.

I shrugged. "As long as it doesn't affect us in a negative way, you can do whatever you want around here."

He stood as still as a statue. Watching me with bewilderment as I opened the backdoor of my Honda and pulled the first bag from the backseat. I don't think he even blinked, until I shot him with a friendly grin. Maybe he was waiting for me to turn around and tell him I was joking?

I wasn't.

"See you in a bit, Greyson," I said, enjoying the way that sentence seemed to shock him even more. "Don't get into any trouble, now."

His face was like an open book as he stalked my every step. It read: she's actually leaving me on my own? There's no way.

Walking towards the house, luggage at my tail, a smile spread across my face. He's adorable.