It didn't take long for the twins to pollute the water of welcome amongst all the students at the town's one and only high school, Bartonan High. They deliberately avoided her and some even went as far as to cast her hateful glares, as if they had all received a copy of the everyone must hate Charli memo.
Charli slumped into depression. She missed her father, she missed her old life, and she missed her friends. Even Milli avoided her, which hurt her more than she would have liked to admit.
Oh well, I deserve it. She had been as inhospitable and unfriendly as can be towards poor Milli – what did she expect?
The bell rang. A feeling of gratitude seeped in. Lunch break, at last.
She sat down under one of the oak trees and took out her cellular phone. She tried tweeting her friends, but her thoughts refused to form any appropriate sentences. Impatiently, she shoved her phone back into her jean pocket and leaned against the tree, closing her eyes. Her heartbeat slowed a little. The ringing in her ears, which had been there since the news of the accident, paused momentarily. A deep whiff of freshly cut grass teased her nostrils and she almost felt at home again. The welcoming warmth of the sun seeped into her being and caressed her body, and for the first time in two weeks, she felt relaxed.
As the birds chirped happily in the tree above her, a gentle breeze whisked past her and she felt her tension drift away with it. Appreciatively, she nudged closer to the tree trunk, making herself more comfortable. In her douse of heavenly bliss, she managed to ignore the tightening in her stomach alerting her that she hadn't eaten a decent meal in weeks. This was also the first time that her appetite had returned.
The school bell brought her blissful retreat to an abrupt end. The thought of returning to class was daunting, so instead of jumping up, she remained seated, grasping at the last wisps of heaven.
The sounds of rampaging feet and hushed voices moved past her as if in slow motion, making her feel as though she were standing in another dimension, looking in. Her arms and legs felt like lead. Still, she sat.
Once the noise had faded, the swirling sound of the breeze in the trees could once again be heard.
With forced effort, Charli stood. Not a soul remained in the schoolyard. She was about to walk to class when something caught her eye. She turned and - gasped. The image, as distorted as it was, was that of her father. His apparition stood at the school gate beckoning for her to come to him. She looked around to see if any teachers were in the vicinity. There weren't. She looked back at the gate. Her father's image had vanished. It had obviously been a figment of her imagination, probably due to her longing for him, but seeing it still managed to shake her to the very core of her being. She gazed at the school and then at the gate and decided she would bunk school. With her heart rate pulsing at high speeds she hurried towards the school gate, looking constantly over her shoulder to see if anyone saw her. Please don't let anyone see me.
Then, once out of the gate, she took off, with no destination in mind, and sprinted down the main road.
Once the school was out of sight, she slowed down to a walk. Her father's apparition suddenly appeared to her again, this time standing by a bridge that narrowed to a single lane for traffic to pass. He beckoned once again to her. Was she losing her mind?
She anxiously scanned the perimeter and was thankful all was quiet. Not a car or person in sight. Once she was satisfied that no one was around, she turned her attention back to the bridge where her father's image had been. He was gone. Her heart sank. This time, in a languid gait, she walked towards the spot where he had stood. Her eyes brimmed with tears. Why was she doing this to herself? Why couldn't she just let him go? With a heavy heart, she walked towards the middle of the bridge, peered over the low cement wall barrier, and was instantly greeted by the deafening sound of the river's fast-flowing currents. It appealed to her.
The far drop down to the river was not too steep, maybe twenty feet or so. But it would be a rocky, hazardous descent. Unperturbed Charli attempted it anyway. She jumped over the wall and a relishing feeling of exhilaration washed over her as she descended the rocky slope. A smile dawned on her face for the first time in weeks.
Once or twice her foot slipped but not even the pain from the rocks grazing her skin, nor the sight of blood trickling down her arms and legs from her scratches was enough to curb the sudden boost of energy and exhilaration that now claimed her. The temptation of shouting out with joy was almost too much to contain but she forced herself to keep it in. The last thing she wanted was to alert anyone of her presence.
Once she reached the riverbank, she kicked off her sneakers, tore off her jeans, and bravely approached the rushing torrents. She put one foot into the river. Freezing. She pushed forward until she was fully submerged in its icy waters. Despite her slim build, she was athletic, and she was confident that her strength would hold her. Her boldness rocketed and without thinking it through, she plunged deeper into the crushing tides.
It wasn't until she sank into the depths of the water's relentless icy grasp that she realized her mistake, but it was too late. The river dragged her along, knocking her into underwater rocks and crags as it raced by. She gasped for air every time her face was above water but there was no escaping the river's relentless clutches - she was its helpless victim. She battled hopelessly against the river's undercurrents as the claws of death threatened to envelop her.
I won't give up, you hear me! Her voice screamed in her mind, but her strength was fading fast, yet inexorable determination kept her kicking and splashing.
The river swept her into a protruding crag. A blinding pain shot through her as she hit her head against the rock. For a moment, she was paralyzed and helpless as the current carried her weary body along with it down its catastrophic path.
For a split second, she thought she saw a man running alongside the riverbank but just as she tried to get a second look, she was dragged under again. As soon as her head bobbed above the water, she saw him again. A glimpse of fear lined his face. The tide pulled her under again. As he continued to run alongside her while the current swept her unremittingly along, he seemed to urge her to fight.
I can't. She was too weak. There was no fight left in her. In that instant, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to fight for her life. What did she have to live for? A flood of despondency filled her, numbing her and paralyzing her worse than any rock could have done. Then just as everything started to fade, she saw him again. His face was filled with desperation. He shouted at her, but she couldn't hear him over the thunderous river currents. Another bolt of pain tore through her when her hip bone hit a rock. This time she grabbed onto the rock and held on with every ounce of strength she had left.
The man approached her and stood on a rock a few feet away, staring down at her. He never said a word, just glaring at her with concern in his eyes. She closed her eyes.
"No, you must find your strength. Get out of the water now. Climb up onto the rock before the current drags you under again." His voice was rife with urgency.
She opened her eyes again and stared up at him. His eyes, a bottomless depth of blue, seemed to reach out to her. She nodded nimbly.
Drawing on her last reserves of strength, she dragged her body out of the water and lay sprawled over the rock for a while, too exhausted to move another inch. She wanted nothing more than to succumb to the beckoning arms that sleep offered her. She closed her eyes again.
"Don't give up, get up." His urgent tone of voice was combined with warmth and concern which was so alluring that she peeked through heavy eyelids to regard him thoughtfully.
He was handsome, with ash blonde hair that was cut in a fashionable style. His eyes were the most startling blue she had ever seen. He was so riveting she couldn't look away, even though she was exhausted.
A gorgeous smile lit his face and it was as if the ominous dark cloud that had loomed over her while she was sure she was facing her watery doom, suddenly dispersed. She weakly returned his smile. A flicker of hope surged through her and a rush of energy spiralled downward and then dispersed outward, feeding every cell and vein in her body. With emerging determination, she pulled herself up and tried to balance herself on unsteady legs. Once she felt steady enough, she wobbled her way to the river's embankment and then collapsed onto the sand. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.
For several minutes, she just lay there, exhausted but relieved. When she looked up, the stranger was gone.
An overwhelming disappointment tore through her and she lay back down again, glaring up at the sky, lost in thought. Where did he go? Then thoughts of her father returned to haunt her. Why had she seen her father's apparition? Was it her mind's desperate attempt to pull her out of her misery and bring her comfort? But why would her mind want her to come here, to the river? Then her thoughts drifted to the beautiful stranger again. Who was he?
The warmth of the early afternoon sun did little to warm her shivering body. Reluctantly, and with little enthusiasm, she forced herself to get up. It was time to go home, not that Aunt Lydia's house could be called home.
The steep climb up to the bridge was challenging but she pushed on until she reached the road. With laboured effort, she climbed over the cement wall onto the street.
Suddenly a horn blasted through the air. She flung herself hard against the cement wall from fright and the force of it knocked the wind right out of her lungs.
Screeching tires screamed through the air as the van came to an abrupt halt. Seconds later a man jumped out of his truck and stormed towards her, his fists swaying angrily in the air.
"Stupid kid! I could have killed you. What's wrong with you?" he blurted, then angrily wrapped his bulky hand around her thin arm and shook her relentlessly.
"And you're wet? Are you mad? You can't go swimming in that river, especially after the huge storm we've just had," he scolded.
Charli mumbled a few incomprehensive words which only fuelled his outrage.
"Speak up, girl! Where are your parents? I think I need to have a word or two with them. This is nonsense, allowing a kid to wander the streets. Why aren't you at school?" He shook his head in disgust and without warning, dragged Charli towards his truck.
"Spit it out. Where do you live? Who are your folks? I bet you're probably one of the Wilson brats. They have so many kids, I can't keep track."
The thought of docking up at Aunt Lydia's doorstep with this antagonistic man performing madly was enough for her to wish she was back in the river, battling her chances of survival there.
"I live with my Aunt and Uncle Moore in General Street," Charli offered reluctantly when it was apparent that he was not going to relent or release her.
Hesitantly, she climbed into the front passenger seat of the truck, shivering from cold and apprehension.
The man climbed into the driver's seat – a strange expression on his face. He appeared astonished by what she had said as if she spoke another language, but then her words finally registered, and he nodded.
"Of course, you're Catherine's daughter. I thought you looked vaguely familiar." He stared intensively at her for a long moment.
"Same long reddish locks and pretty green eyes. Can definitely see the resemblance now. A scandal, that it was when your mum ran away. Damn that rotten man, Tom, for casting a spell on her and stealing her away from us. She broke many a young man's hearts that day when she left."
"Don't you dare talk about my father like that! He was a good man. No, he was a great man - far better than anyone in this wretched town," she blurted angrily.
Her anger boiled her blood and steamed within her like a kettle ready to explode if not turned off. Swiftly she flung open the truck door and hurled out, almost falling. She regained her balance and then, with endurance and speed that she only dreamed of possessing on the sports field, she took off in a sprint across the road, making a beeline for the forest on the opposite side of the river. Within minutes she was out of sight and grateful she could no longer hear his curses.
It felt like she had been running for hours. Her lungs were on fire, tears stung her eyes and her heart thundered in her ears. When her legs could no longer carry her, she collapsed beside the trunk of one of the forest's densely populated trees and sobbed. She cried for what seemed like hours and when there were no more tears left to shed, she just lay there, motionless and numb. When exhaustion claimed her, she welcomed the darkness and drifted off into a restless sleep.
It was nightfall when she slowly awoke from her dark cocoon. She was welcomed by a choir of cheerful crickets and the heavy scent of flora.
Painfully, and with compelled effort, she lifted herself into a sitting position and looked around. The cold air was so brutal she shivered uncontrollably and tightly wrapped her arms around her legs to keep warm.
In the distance, she heard dogs barking. It grew closer and then she heard sirens blaring. Her heart skipped a few beats as fear tore through her. She didn't want to go back to Aunt Lydia.
When she heard voices too, fingers of fear closed around her heart and she desperately hoped it wasn't a search party out looking for her.
Even though her joints ached, and she was numb from the cold, not to mention the hunger pains in her stomach, she had no desire to be rescued. Not now, not ever. She sat dead quiet, not daring to breathe as they grew closer but her efforts to remain undetected proved futile. Within minutes, dozens of torch lights blazed through the trees, blinding her.
"I found her!" someone shouted. His voice was rough and deep. He rushed over to Charli, knelt down beside her, and immediately started to examine her for any injuries.
"I'm Dan. Can you tell me your name?" he asked, his voice gentle and calm.
"Charli Thompson," she volunteered, and a knob in her throat formed but she stubbornly refused to show emotion.
"Hi, Charli. Your uncle Richard and Aunt Lydia have been worried sick about you," Dan informed her, smiling reassuringly.
"I doubt that very much!" Charli exclaimed through chattering teeth as she shivered from the cold. Her Aunt and Uncle were probably more worried about what the townsfolk would say that about her well-being.
"Are you experiencing any pain?" Dan asked as he probed her arms and legs.
"No," Charli mumbled irritably, pushing his hands away.
"Can you stand?" He was extremely patient with her.
"Yes." But I don't want to, she wanted to scream but sighed instead, as she reluctantly rose. Her legs ached from all the bruises and scratches, and she almost lost her balance, but Dan caught her.
"Take it slow," he urged gently, holding her steady.
Many people surrounded them, blinding her with their obtrusive flashlights and speaking in hushed tones that reeked of judgment.
"Who's got the stretcher? Okay, great, bring it here." Dan immediately started delegating tasks and before long she was lying on the stretcher and lifted into the ambulance.
Even though she wanted to protest, her body refused to budge, and her mouth refused to open. Finally, she gave up trying and closed her eyes instead. She drifted off into sleep.
When she awoke, she was in a hospital bed. All was quiet. The lights in the corridor burned brightly. Luckily the lights in her room were off and she was alone.
Her throat was dry. So thirsty. Swallowing hard, she looked around and was relieved when she saw the water jug on the bedside table. Forcing herself into a sitting position, she shakily reached for the water jug and poured the liquid into the glass. Once she thirstily gulped down the water, she lay back against the pillows again, looking around dismally. No flowers, no cards, no balloons. If her father were still alive, the room would have been filled with them. This sullen thought brought a lump to her throat.
She stared out the door at the fluorescent lights in the corridor and a solitary tear escaped her eye and slid down the side of her cheek, falling softly onto the pillow. She turned to face the window. The curtains were closed. If only they were open, she could at least glimpse the stars. Unfortunately, she had no energy to get out of bed to open them. Sighing, she turned to face the door and immediately gasped in surprise. The young man from the river that morning of her near-drowning now stood beside her bed. Her heart fluttered and her cheeks burned.
"Hi, I'm Chris. I'm glad to see that you're okay," he said with a smile - a gorgeous smile that instantly uplifted her spirits.
"Where did you go?" she asked in a hoarse whisper.
He didn't reply. He just kept smiling at her. In the depth of his sky-blue eyes, she could see his concern for her and wondered why he cared about her. He didn't even know her.
"Well, I better be going," he whispered softly.
"No!" She hadn't intended to raise her voice so loudly, but she really didn't want him to go.
"Please - stay." This time her voice was more subdued.
He smiled, but his eyes revealed a depth of unfathomable sadness. He sat down in the chair beside her. Neither of them spoke, yet the silence between them was as comfortable and pleasant as if they were enjoying a Sunday afternoon picnic, sitting on a blanket under a tree and gazing out over the scenic views of the valley.
Her gaze fell on his hands. They were so beautiful, so perfectly shaped and flawless, yet so masculine. Shamefully, she found herself wishing she could touch them. Still staring at his hands, she drifted off into sleep again, a more pleasant and peaceful one this time. By the time she awoke, he was gone, the curtains were open, and sunlight flooded the room. Regret seeped into her heart and soul and the silence that enveloped her now screamed at her.