Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone lived here. I’ll just leave.” I can hear myself talking but I don’t know where I got the breath to do so.

I can’t breath. I don’t think I’ve ever known fear like this. A man I’ve never seen before is standing in the doorway of the small shack. He’s large, nearly the size of a bear but he moves so quietly.

His blue eyes are piercing and even in the dim light of the fire I can see how clear they are.

His clothes are tattered but they do look clean. He’s taken care of himself. In some way at least. The only issue is he’s standing between me and the only way out.

“Do you make it a habit to break into people’s houses?” He asks tilting his head and letting his eyes roam over me.

“No, like I said I didn’t know anyone was living here. I just wanted to get out of the cold for a minute. I can leave now.” I take a step forward thinking he’d move from the door and let me leave like he so clearly wants me to do.

“No.”

There’s no explanation, and I have to suck in a breath to keep myself from crying. What is he going to do to me? What have I gotten myself into.

“Please don’t hurt me.” I whisper hoping that it’s enough of a plea to get through to him.

He blinks a few times and straightens up. His face contorts like he’s confused about something before he answers me, “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The statement comes out more like a question than anything else.

“You can’t go back out there tonight. There’s nothing for miles in the other direction, and based on your face I don’t think you want to go back where you came.”

I raise my hand to my face and can feel the bruise there. It’s not as bad as I thought, in fact my eye is already going down. I’ve had worse.

“Do you have a phone?” I ask taking another step forward.

“No, I’ve no one to call. Why would I need a phone?”

“Emergencies, like this one?”

“I can take care of myself.”

He takes a step closer, and I instinctively back away, my heart racing. The fire crackles behind me, its warmth a stark contrast to the chill running down my spine.

"Sit," he says, gesturing to a worn wooden chair near the fire. It's not a request.

I hesitate, weighing my options. Run? Fight? Neither seems viable against this mountain of a man. Reluctantly, I lower myself onto the chair, its joints creaking under my weight.

He moves to a small cupboard, his back to me. For a moment, I consider making a dash for the door, but something tells me I wouldn't make it far.

"Here," he says, turning back and handing me a chipped mug filled with steaming liquid. "It'll warm you up."

I take it cautiously, the aroma of herbs filling my nostrils. "What is it?"

"Tea," he replies simply, settling his large frame onto a stool across from me. "Now, tell me why you're really here."

I sip the tea, buying time to think. It's surprisingly good, soothing my frayed nerves. "I told you, I was just looking for shelter."

He leans forward, those piercing blue eyes boring into me. "No one comes this far into the woods by accident. You're running from something. Or someone."

There’s no use in me lying. In fact I’ve lied so much for Clyde in the past I don’t have the strength to do it again. In fact I want to scream it to the world how much of an asshole he is. At least to someone who will believe me.

In the small town we live in Clyde is the best to everyone he knows. No one would ever think he is capable of hitting me. No one knows him like I do.

“My boyfriend, ex boyfriend now, he beats me. I’ve never had the courage to leave before but now that I have I don’t know what to do or where to go.” I sigh and take another sip of the tea.

“Do you think he’ll follow you out here?” The man asks.

“Yes, without a doubt. That means I can’t stay too long. I need to get far away. Maybe to another state.” I shrug and look back up at him.

“If he’s willing to come this far into the woods for you, going to another state isn’t going to stop him.” The man shakes his head and let’s his head drop forward almost as if he’s contemplating a solution to my problem.

“I don’t know what to do then. I never thought I’d be in this situation.” I let my head fall forward this time. Tears roll down my face and land into my cup of tea with a small splash.

“Don’t worry, Macy, I’ll make sure he doesn’t find you.”

The world stands still and my heart goes silent in my chest.

Did he just say my name?

Oh, I fucked up.

The second her name slipped out of my mouth, I knew she was on high alert. I’m already a ball of confusion when it comes to what I’m feeling, but now the guilt of already knowing so many things about her makes it all that much worse.

“How do you know my name?” Macy questions, putting the small cup of tea down as she stands up and crosses her arms over her chest.

“I’ve seen you before.” I answer, doing my best to keep any details out. Of course, she’s not going to leave it at that.

“What the hell do you mean, you’ve seen me before? I don’t remember you.”

So much for keeping things calm, not that I care. If she decides to run away I’ll just follow her again.

“I watch you at night, sometimes. There’s not much to do out here in the sticks so I go down to the town and watch people. I’ve seen the way Clyde beats you. I’ve seen the way you make believe you’re happy. I also know your neighbor likes to dress up in his wife’s clothes.”

Her lips quirk up at the last statement before she shakes that away and stares at me. “What do you do when you look at me? Why haven’t you ever said anything? Why did you let him beat me if you could stop it?” Her voice wavers but she doesn’t cry.

“I’m not part of your life Macy. I didn’t know if you wanted me to step in or what I’d do if given the opportunity.”

Her arms drop to her side and she moves a little closer to me, “You never answered the first part of the question. What do you do when you look at me?”

I keep her gaze, I’m not ashamed even though I have a feeling she thinks I should be, “I pretend that it’s me you’re talking to. I watch you get undressed and go in the shower. I jerk off to the sight of your body. I lust after you.”

Her cheeks go bright red, and she’s the first one to break eye contact.

"I... I don't know what to say," she stammers, her voice barely above a whisper. "Should I be afraid of you?"

I lean back, giving her some space. "No. I won't hurt you. I've never hurt anyone."

"But you've invaded my privacy. That's... that's not okay."

"I know," I admit. "But I couldn't stay away. There's something about you, Macy. Something that draws me in."

She shakes her head, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and confusion. "This is insane. I need to leave."

As she moves towards the door, I stand up, blocking her path. "You can't go out there. It's not safe."

"And it's safe in here? With you?" she challenges, her voice stronger now.

I take a deep breath. "I understand your fear. But I promise you, I mean you no harm. In fact, I want to help you."

"Help me?" she scoffs. "How?"

"I can protect you from Clyde. I know these woods better than anyone. He'll never find you here."

Macy hesitates, conflict clear on her face. She's weighing her options - the devil she knows versus the one she doesn't.

"Why would you help me?" she asks finally.

I step closer, my voice low and intense. "Because I've watched you suffer for too long. Because you deserve better. And because I’ve never had someone I like in my life. You make me feel things, Macy. It’s confusing, but I like you, I think. I don’t know if I can make you happy but I won’t strike you, ever." I feel like a budding teenager instead of the grown twenty something year old man that I am.

“What’s your name?” Macy asks tilting her head to the side, taking me in like someone would a painting they are trying to understand.

I have to think back to my childhood. It’s hard for me to even remember my name. No one has used it for so long and I’ve not had to speak it out loud.

“Nick. My name is Nick.” I say finally remembering what I was called before I became a man of the trees.

“Okay Nick.” She whispers, “I’ll stay. For now.”