Risking Peace

Chapter 2: Water's Edge

Adara

I woke to the bright sun streaming through the window, forcing my eyes open. Without looking at the time, I deemed it too early to be awake. Days of traveling had caught up with me, and one night of sleep wasn’t enough. I laid still for a moment listening for Dad and any sign of life, but didn’t hear anything. There was no way he was still in bed, that was wishful thinking on my end. Meaning, I had a "To-Do" list waiting for me downstairs - I groaned internally. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and rolled over, reaching for my phone: 7:24 AM. I was right, too early.

I dragged myself out of bed and began to get ready for the day. I threw my long, dark brown hair into a loose ponytail and put on my finest attire: a pair of old paint-splattered jeans and one of Dad's worn-in t-shirts that read 'Fat Nancy's Tackle and Bait'. After brushing my teeth and stubbing my toe on a broken door sweep, I made my way down the hall. I entered the kitchen and saw a scrap piece of paper tossed on the counter - the dreaded "To-Do" list.

Had to go into town to meet a friend

Didn't want to wake you

We'll grab lunch when I get back

- Dad

Hmm, not what I expected. I very quickly decided to make the most of my chore-free morning. With a mix of curiosity and desire for adventure, I threw my shoes on and headed out the front door to explore the property a bit more. As I stepped outside, I immediately felt the same beckoning call of the forest that I felt last night. Was it a smart idea to forge into unknown woods? Probably not. Have I ever erred on the side of caution before? Definitely not.

I followed the closest thing I could find to a path that led me deeper into the trees. Lush greenery surrounded me as the birds sang and crickets chirped. The cool morning air seemed to rejuvenate my senses, with the peaceful melody of nature surrounding me. I could definitely get used to this. As I waded deeper into the forest, the trees began to thin out, revealing glimpses of shimmer through the gaps. Soon, the sound of gentle waves reached my ears and I found myself standing in front of a small, pristine lake. The first secret of this enchanting forest had unveiled itself.

I approached the shore of stones and pebbles, captivated by the tranquility; I had always felt at ease being in nature, even more so around water. The picture before me was serene, the rolling blue protected by big rocky ledges and hidden within the tall rows of trees. I knelt down and ran my fingers through the crystal-clear lake, as a gentle breeze caressed my cheek. My eyes fell shut as the breeze transformed into a soothing embrace, enveloping my mind and body. An otherworldly calmness had bound me in a peaceful paralysis.

The warm reflection of the Sun from the water's surface coated my skin. I could feel a subtle tingling sensation flowing through me, as if the essence of the water was seeping into every part of my soul. My eyes fluttered open as I felt the water begin to respond to my touch, a shimmering stream following the slow rise of my hand.

Then, as quickly as the calmness appeared, it disappeared. The water seemed to retreat, leaving me on the rocky shores of reality. I stood up quickly, in an attempt to collect myself. Immediately, I felt the air grow heavy; a sense of unease filled the atmosphere around me. All of my senses were on high alert, and I didn't want to stick around to find out why. Instinctively, I turned on my heels and ran home. As the house came back into view, I slowed my pace and got low. Turns out I wasn't running from danger, but directly towards it.

I approached the side of the property, keeping my distance and my presence hidden, when two large, imposing figures came into view. One of the men was peering through the front window, while the other was standing at the front door. This is what Dad always prepared me for, his past had finally caught up with us. His words ran on repeat in my head - get to safety. But I found myself rooted in place and unable to run. Something was urging me to stay, and I couldn't make sense of it. Stay and fight or run? While quickly reviewing my immediate options, I watched as both men entered our home. I was running out of time. Well, what's the point of training your whole life if you never get to put it into practice?

I crept towards the house, and analyzed their positioning: one was now standing just inside the doorway, while the other was snooping around through the living room. Who were these guys, Turner and Hooch? Dad already unpacked his weapons, meaning they were in the house. I wouldn't be able to get to them without going through whoever these meatheads were; my lack of weapons would be a problem. My mind was racing to find a solution. While I clearly lacked the physical ability to overpower these mountainous human beings, I knew the power of wit and resourcefulness. I pulled out the one knife I always carried with me and surveyed the outside of the house for anything else I could use. My eyes fell upon a rake and a small axe; this could work.

With my make-shift arsenal, I slowly approached the ajar door and got one last look at the two men in my house. Choosing to stick with the nicknames, I clocked Turner still hovering in the hallway and decided to make my move. I came through the front door in a silent sprint, dropping to my knees and sliding past Turner, while I swung for his legs with the rake pole. He barked out in shock while toppling over. Having just enough time to recover, I quickly turned and threw the axe towards Hooch, before he could react to his partner's call for help. The axe flew by his shoulder and into the wall behind him. Hooch turned to attack but never got the chance, as I launched myself toward him, knocking us both to the ground. We struggled, each trying to get an advantage on the ground before I bounced up defensively and pulled my knife - my last chance. As Hooch attempted to recover, he reached for the axe and jumped to his feet. In that moment, our eyes met for the first time and, only for a second, I was completely at his mercy.

"Hands up! Don't move!" I yelled, quickly recovering from my emotional stumble.

"Drop your weapon! Drop it!" Hooch commanded at the same time.

"Woah, woah!" Turner was back on his feet and walking slowly toward our standoff, his hands half raised in an effort to calm the situation, I assumed.

"Drop your weapon, I will not say it again!"

"I'm not putting my knife down," I smugly replied.

"Well, I'm not putting the axe down," he replied in a mocking tone. I could just feel the immaturity oozing from this man-child.

The other guy continued in his efforts to ease the two of us. "How about you both slowly put your weapons down," he calmly said.

"Like on the count of three? Ya, okay," I scoffed. Like I'd trust that offer.

Hooch stared at me, with a mix of fiery emotions in his beautiful green eyes. "Do the math here, you don't stand a chance," he taunted.

"I wouldn't be so sure," I retorted with a small smirk on my face. He glared back at me, giving away all of his emotions on that perfectly sculpted face. He was going to make this too easy.

"Don't make me call your bluff," he challenged.

"Let's roll the dice," I quipped back, earning a deep growl in return.

"OK, everybody calm down!" Turner yelled in desperation, as the tension in the room reached its peak.

A loud bang had us all jump in surprise. The three of us snapped our heads towards the front door, frozen in place. There stood another massive man, older in age but probably just as physically capable as these wads; what was with the giant men in this town?! Dad, who had just slammed the door in an attempt to gain control of the craziness, stood just behind this man, shaking his head.

"Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, eh Jay," quipped the burly man to my Dad, who just smiled wryly in response.

Breathing heavily from the scuffle and palpable tension, I looked back to the tall man in front of me. He was already looking at me intently, weapon lowered and a small amount of composure regained, from what I could tell. I couldn't help but get drawn into his heated gaze again, and in that moment, the world around us seemed to fade away.