Page 126 of Unspoken Truths

She doesn’t freak out about whatever word is written across my forehead, which makes me incredibly grateful she can’t see it in the darkness. The sun has completely gone down by now, the woods looming even larger above us now.

It feels as if it’s attempting to suck up all the oxygen around us, creeping even closer to make us disappear. My thoughts are finding a way to fuck with me, and I can’t wait to get out of here. Even if it simply means stepping out to walk along the path, because then I won’t be under the cover of the trees and cloying darkness.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to get back,” I whisper as I work. It feels like the damn trees are listening to me, and my throat really hurts.

“No, we aren’t doing that when thependejoschased you. I heard what they said to you,” she practically seethes. “God, it’s freezing and you’re naked and soaking wet, Rachelle. I don’t want to hear another word of apology. I’m fine. Pissed off, but at them, not you. Now, what happened?”

Blowing out a breath, I explain what happened, my voice hoarse from screaming and sucking down creek water. I have no idea what’s in it, I’ll probably die from some kind of infection because I could barely see underneath the water.

“Once I got out, I started walking to find you,” I finish telling her as she cuts the rope from my arms, massaging the circulation back into them.

Needless to say, the pins and needles hurt as I hold back a whimper. We’re both miserable right now, there’s no reason to garner sympathy. Lili next pulls off her jacket for me to put on.

“Wear this,” she says. “I’ll be fine, but your teeth are chattering and you’re shaking, Rachelle. Here’s a bottle of water, and I have sandwiches in the backpack. We’re going to move slowly but steadily as we eat. I want to get the fuck out of here. I’m sorry to have ever thought the guys would be decent for one godforsaken day.”

“It felt as if they were very determined to ruin it today,” I murmur, taking a sip of water after putting on the jacket.

Walking down the mountain takes longer than it took to walk up it, as we’re both dehydrated and weak. I’m freezing, and can’t stop shivering, despite the jacket.

“I’m going to fucking kill them,” Lili says, watching as I eat the sandwich she pushed into my hand ten minutes earlier.

I’m taking very small bites, hoping to keep it down, my steps that of a very drunk person. Memories of how the guys planned to drink beer and shoot the shit fill my mind, begging to fuel me with anger.

“Lili, I want to start running with you,” I say suddenly. “I almost drowned because I was so exhausted. I also… can’t really swim.”

The last words are said so softly, I’m unsure if she can hear me, until she starts to cry. Lili has been so strong, not even crying when I cut her loose.

“Rachelle, you could have died,” she sobs, shaking her head. Lili looks like she’s afraid to touch me, and I don’t blame her. I’m barely staying on my feet right now, my steps unsteady.

If I fall, there’s no way she’ll be able to get me out of here. It all feels so difficult.

“I swallowed a lot of water,” I admit. “I can cross off knowing what a Portland creek tastes like. It’s awful going down and coming back up.”

“Mr. Emil and my dad are going to lose their minds. Did they take your bracelet?” she asks.

It feels like an odd question after everything, but I run my finger over where it still lies against my skin.

“No,” I say. “It’s the one thing I still have.”

“You have me,” she says fiercely. “That’ll never change, you hear me?”

Tears threaten, spilling down my face as I nod, and I can taste salt along with my ham and cheese sandwich. I can only finish half before I put the rest in the sandwich bag, and Lili puts it away, her hand firmly in mine for the connection.

The parking lot is completely empty once we finally arrive, and I begin to worry that we won’t be able to get out the gate.

“Thank God the gate up there is motion censored,” she sighs, answering the question in my head.

Getting into the car, my head drops back onto the headrest, the overhead light on as Lili drops down beside me. The hiss between her lips and curses are the only sign that she is seeing the words written on my skin.

“I don’t even know what it says,” I say numbly, my eyes closed to keep myself from looking.

As her car door closes and she turns on the car, the overhead light shuts off to bathe us in the cool darkness.

“I’m going to have to take acetone to it,” she mutters, putting the car into reverse and gunning the engine as she pulls her seatbelt on. “Fuck, it’s everywhere too.”

“I don’t care if my skin is redder than a tomato by the end, I just need it off of me,” I rasp. My eyes feel swollen, the tears continuing to flow even though I’m barely aware of it.

I think I’m allowed some tears today. Glancing at the time, I see that it’s almost nine at night. The hours just slid along, making this day feel interminable. I should warn my stepfather about what happened.

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