Page 33 of The Darkest Parts of Me

Asher glances to the other guides for their reactions. “Renn, can you give us a moment?”

“Of course.” I step a few feet away as they talk.

I search through the group until I find Maven and Tasha looking on from afar, both of them wearing worried expressions. For a moment, Maven’s eyes meet mine, and maybe I imagine it, but the worry in her eyes seems to deepen before she quickly looks away, saying something to Tasha. Tash shrugs in response. Soon, the guide group breaks from each other and Asher steps forward.

“Talla is comfortable with it, so we all agreed it would be okay for you to go.” He leans in closer so only I can hear him as he says, “Of course, I know you’re more than capable with your experience.”

I nod. “I understand.”

Asher slaps me lightly on the back before instructing the other guides to prepare for next steps. Maven and Tasha keep watching me intently, and I make my way toward them to give them the news. Tasha parts her lips to speak as I approach but is interrupted.

“Is everything okay?” Maven quickly asks.

“She needs to be carried down to where a medical team can meet up to take her the rest of the way.” They seem to already know what I’m going to say next. “I’m going with another guide to take her, and we will hike back as quickly as we can to get to camp before sundown.”

Maven doesn’t say anything at first, staring at her boots.

“Do you need us to carry anything for you? A lighter load may help the journey back,” Tasha says.

“That would actually be great if you don’t mind.”

“Of course we don’t,” she replies. I rummage through my pack and give them my tent and sleeping bag, both bulky items, but not too heavy.

“You sure you don’t mind?” I ask, zipping my pack back up.

“Not at all,” Tasha says. I turn to Maven, but she’s looking away, adjusting the straps of her pack with the added items.

“I’ll be seeing you two at camp before nightfall. Hopefully,” I say, winking just as Maven’s eyes meet mine again.

“See you later,” Tasha says.

I turn, taking a few steps, but before I’m too far, Maven calls out to me, “Be careful, Renn.” Her voice is smooth, but it carries concern. I turn around to meet a gaze of azure.

“I will,” I say with a smirk.

Maven fully smiles back this time, and it gives me a boost of confidence I didn’t know I needed. I don’t look back to see if she watches as me and another guide, Trey, situate Talla, placing her arms around our necks while we support her legs and lift her between us. We say our farewells and start the trip back down while the rest of the group continues up the winding path through the forest. I don’t get a chance to find Maven again in the crowd, but I can feel her eyes watching me until we’re too far away to be seen, vanishing from view.

Sure enough, the medical crew met us about a mile out from the trailhead. Trey and I said little to each other as we carried Talla down the trail, mostly just to conserve our strength, but I encouraged her to talk to us, if only to distract her from the pain, and it seemed to help. She was extremely grateful for the help, and I was happy to offer it, because by the time she was strapped into the stretcher, her ankle had almost doubled in size. I feel a little bit guilty, because I did bring the tin of healing ointment, and I was tempted to use it, but I couldn’t risk it. At least not yet. The only reason I would ever consider using it would be in a life or death situation, or on myself if no one could witness the medical miracle. It had been an adjustment, having been used to my planet’s more advanced medicine for so long. But there were no body scanners or instant healing remedies here. As soon as the medical team gets her settled, Trey and I make the trek once again up the mountain. We move at a decent pace, both of us experienced and in shape enough to take on the challenge.

“Have you worked in the medical field?” Trey asks when we stop for a quick water break.

“I know some of the basics, but that’s all.”

He takes another swig of water. “So you served in the military, right?”

I know he’s just trying to make small talk, and similar questions about my background have often been brought up before. Truthfully, a military career might be the closest thing to what my line of work used to entail. I always answer that inquiry with the same response.

“My previous profession was very similar to military work, but I left some time ago due to personal reasons.”

That phrase usually makes people stop asking questions, or they will change the subject, just as Trey does now as he straps his water canteen back onto his pack and says, “Nice.”

We don’t speak the rest of the way, focused on our steps, moving quickly. The sun’s rays cast long shadows through the trees. The air nips with a chill, but the cold is welcome as it cools our overexerted limbs. We’re hot and sweaty from the intense speed, but I can tell he likes the challenge as much as I do.

The forest was already quiet, but as the night creeps in, the stillness becomes more menacing. Pitch blackness is familiar to me. I witnessed a very different kind of darkness in space—the abyss and void that never ended. Those images remain with me and always will. There’s nothing like it.

I’m about to pull out a flashlight to help guide us in the failing light, but spot the warm glow of a campfire, and soon we come upon camp, the light from the small city of tents helping to guide us the rest of the way. Someone must have spotted us, because I hear a whistle, and the hikers still lingering by the fire jump up and start clapping.

Asher is the first to get to us, shaking our hands in gratitude. “Well, you waited till the last minute, but you made it just like you said you would. Thank you both.” I nod, and Trey starts to give Asher the details of the journey and the update on Talla. I scan the camp, many people chatting happily, and then I see her. Maven sees me too and speed walks over to me.

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