Denver stepped out of the tight circle of brush he’d created using actual plants, and made his way along the deer trail to the falls. It wasn’t far to go and he was careful to walk lightly, not brushing leaves or snapping off twigs to show his passing along the way. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks was loud as he approached the waterfall, drowning out his ability to hear anyone sneaking up on him. He had to rely on his warning system and his gut.
Just like the deer he hunted, before he stepped out of the heavy brush he stopped again and sniffed the air, head up, doing his best to catch the scent of any enemy hunting him. The insects and birds continued their chatter. The wind touched his face and there was nothing to indicate an adversary was close, yet his hands had gone cold. Clammy even. His heart accelerated until it was pounding, making his mouth dry.
Denver stood at the mouth of the deer trail, peering out into the open like a wild animal, frozen with genuine fear for the first time in his life. He didn’t know why. There was nothing there. It was broad daylight. The sun was shining on the water. Birds were actually singing. He tried to draw in air, but his lungs had seized, and terror clawed at his gut until he was light-headed and feeling faint.
He stood there for several minutes, fighting for control. No myth was going to beat him. He wouldn’t allow that to happen. This was his game. His rules. He wouldn’t lose. He was superior. He repeated his mantra, the words that had saved him so many times in his life. After a few more minutes he managed to take several deep breaths, pushing the fear and dread away and gaining back control.
Holding out his hand, he waited until it wasn’t shaking before he smiled, showing his perfect, white teeth. “If you’re out there, Sam, looking for me, you don’t scare me. You can’t possibly find me. The forest is too big and I’m too good at what I do. I’ll take away the one thing in this world that matters to you and we’ll see how good you are when you’re thrown off your game.”
He didn’t whisper. There was no need. None. He was alone and he knew he was. He was absolutely certain of it. He had left no tracks. He had outsmarted anyone trying to figure out where he would go. The Inyo National Forest was far too large for anyone to find him. He had skills beyond even the rangers who had worked there for several years. He’d quietly gone about studying the area through hunting, fishing and his search-and-rescue efforts. He’d hiked and camped and climbed. He was familiar with most of the trails. He had waited for this time and prepared for it.
How Stella ever realized his intent, he would never know. That was the most shocking, and exhilarating and depressing, moment of his life, when he stared into her eyes and realized she knew. Someone saw him. The real man. All of him. That moment was one he took out over and over and examined from every angle. How had she known? What had tipped her off? He savored that recognition even as he despised it.
Had it been Sam? Had he realized what Denver was and told Stella? No, she’d been so happy to see him. That greeting had been genuine. Something he’d said or Jason had said had been the catalyst, but that would mean she knew about the others, and that just didn’t make sense. Had she been hunting him since the fiasco at the lake when he’d nearly killed Sam? He would probably never know.
Once more filled with confidence, he waded into the fast-moving water. Anchored by the rocks, he took one look at the view, just the way he always did before he filled his two bottles. Standing right on top of the powerful waterfall, high above the trees and the creatures making their home there, he always felt invincible.
He’d been drawn to this spot for a reason. It was his place of power. His center. He felt the wind on his face, felt it tug playfully at his clothing while it swirled in eddies over the water running toward the rocks just before it disappeared over the edge to make the long drop.
He had the bottles around his neck on a cord. He unscrewed the lid to the first bottle and bent to dip it into the fast-running water off the opposite side of the rock where it would normally drop into space to descend. The bottle filled quickly and he straightened to screw on the lid tight and unscrew the other lid.