Beyond The Veil - Volume 1

Caught Red Handed

KITARA’S POV

“How did I know I might find you out here??”

I tried to peel my eyes open, but I was having trouble. I tried again but the sun was shining directly on my face and blinded me for a second. I rubbed my eyes again and finally was able to open them, only to see my mom standing over me with her arms crossed but she didn’t look mad this time, she looked amused.

“I came out to make some coffee. You stayed up late, didn’t you?” She asked with a smirk, pointing at the obvious culprit sitting on my lap: my book splayed over me open as if holding a sign screaming YES!

I immediately grabbed it and closed it but didn’t look her in the eye yet. Why was I so tired? I only stayed up for another 30 minutes… and what answer do I give to her question??

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I spoke. I know I probably look like a tired pale zombie but the moment I finally was able to look at her we started laughing.

“Yeah, yeah” She stated and then turned around and says, “I am making coffee and then I will make some breakfast. Want some?”

“Yes please!” I said as I grabbed my book and blanket and headed to my tent to freshen up and change because after breakfast, I knew we were most likely going on our hike. The last few times we have come here we always go on a hike the second morning, and it is one of the most beautiful trails I have ever seen. The scenery makes you feel like you’re on another planet compared to the city.

I was getting more excited thinking about the flower types and any possible animals we could see on the way. I made sure to pack my favorite shorts and sports bra pairing my mom and I found at a Ross one weekend. We always get our clothes from there and last time we were there I found this all-black set that is the comfiest I have ever worn. I paired them with my green and white sneakers and a black shirt that has a white rose on it. I learned that it is called an Iceberg rose and they are my favorite flower of all time, lilies would be my second.

I quickly pull my hair into a ponytail, call it good and come out to see my father and brother both trying to tie their fish poles together and I see they have all their tackle boxes out and I know they will be doing that for a while. Whenever we hike down to the lake, they try to catch fish for dinner and last year they were able to get enough for us all to have our own and more.

They make it look so easy, I on the other hand do not but hopefully I will get the hang of it. My mom looks like she is almost done with breakfast, and I see she made potato hash with eggs and bacon, and the smell was heavenly. I help get some cups, juice, set our picnic table and when we are ready my mom calls my dad and brother over and we start eating. I finished eating in record time because I wanted to get going as soon as possible.

“Okay so here’s the plan,” my dad said, “Let’s get ready and make sure we bring waters or whatever else you want to bring, and we will go on our hike. It’ll take us awhile to get down there and back up, but we should still make it in decent time”.

“Alright let’s clean up and get going! It’ll be so much fun!” My mom said. She is always happy and excited about everything all the time and she has this way of making things fun. We started playing music while cleaning up and getting ready and the song Part of me by Katy Perry came on, and I couldn’t help but start singing along.

“I just want to throw my phone away”

“Find out who is really there for me”

“You ripped me off, your love was cheap”

“Was always tearing at the seams”

“I fell deep, you let me drown”

“But that was then and this is now”

“Now look at me”

“This is the part of me”

“That your never gonna ever take away from me, no”

“This is the part of me”

“That your never gonna ever take away from me, no”

“Throw your sticks and your stones”

“Throw your bombs and your blows”

“But your not gonna break my soul”

“This is th-”

“I love it when you sing for us, its rare to have such a beautiful voice." My mom said.

"Are you ready to go?” I was so caught up in the music I didn’t realize she was behind me or that I had already finished everything I needed to. I make sure to double-check I have my camera and my book just in case and put on my backpack that I’ve had since before I moved in with the Lash’s. It’s pink, has animals on it and it’s a little torn but nothing good sewing wouldn’t fix. Maybe when we get back, I can ask Trisha to fix it for me or show me how to do it so I can in the future. They insisted on buying me a new one once but I said I didn't need one.

“Yes ma’am, ready as ever.” I spoke. We gathered our other bags and some chairs and the boys held all our fishing poles and soon we were off. You start on the road people drive down on, so you have to be careful and always on the lookout. We see a lot of cool rocks on the way, some that shine and some that don’t, they are always different shapes and colors and are never the same. Nature is so interesting to me, like I have always felt connected to it.

After walking for about 25-30 minutes down the road, we reach the forest and start weaving through the trees. The birds were awake singing their songs and you could see them flying around every few minutes. Everything was so green and beautiful. The trees were so tall they seemed like they could reach the sky, the trunks looked healthy and rich and there were small green bushes throughout that if you looked closer you could see little water droplets from all the rain in the past few days.

Flowers bloomed in many different colors like yellow, pink, white and orange. My brother Kyle and I stopped when we saw Monarch and Eastern Tiger butterflies fly near us and we saw some tiny caterpillars that looked like they had just started eating. We share an appreciation for unique creatures, and I told him to make sure he gets pictures too. I loved this walk the most and I tried to maneuver around as quietly as I could without spooking them.

As we get closer to the bottom where the lake is there is a walkway that changes to a view is the prettiest I have ever seen. Like something out of a movie, the morning sun was peeking through occasional clouds and it made it look like the lake was made of glitter. The shine, the beauty and the peace it brings us every time we come here was indescribable.

Little squirrels were climbing the trees; we even saw a glimpse of what I swear was a fox or something but no one else saw because when I turned back it had run away… but I know I saw it.

“Come on guys, I am not lying, it was there!” I said incredulously as they looked at me with those expressions that make it seem like they were teasing me, or they didn’t believe me.

“Yeah sis, suuuuure.” Kyle said drawn out before he laughed, I narrowed my eyes at him and stuck my tongue out as if it would wound him.

“It was! It looked as majestic as the photos I have seen of them online. They are a rare sighting, and I didn’t get one picture!” I said as I fake cried and put my hand on my forehead and leaned back. For dramatic effect of course.

“Oh sweetie, you know we believe you, our poor baby.” She said as she and my dad started giggling at me.

“Oh funny, just you wait! I will get a glimpse of it again and go for it!” Determination settling into my bones as I vowed, we wouldn’t leave this forest until I got a picture of whatever animal it was, but I swear it was a fox or something… but oh well on that for now, I guess.

“But I suppose for now this’ll do…” I said while pouting, only a little bit…

“Alright, lets catch some fish!” My dad said filled with excitement.

Here goes nothing.