Siobhán darted forward painfully aware that she was running out of time, energy and space. Ahead through the forest of trees she glimpsed a clearing, rock face and what looked like mist or fog. With each step the rumbling ahead of her coalesced in definition as a water fall – maybe fifty yards ahead. This chase will end soon enough she thought, one way or another the end is ahead.
Ben was gaining on her. He was so close now that if she stopped suddenly she feared he might plough right into her not having enough time to react. She could hear his footfalls behind her, his angry frustrated screams and with every second the emerging clarity of his heavy breathing as he pushed his body. He had lots left she realized, he would be on top of her within seconds.
Oddly enough she realized that she was also truly feeling his presence. At first she had considered it a nuance of the chase, the anxiety of being pursued that she attributed to Ben. The feelings would burst through the pain of her throbbing quads and restricted airways in her chest when she’d least expect it. Right at those instances where her mind could block all the trauma her body was experiencing, incredibly brief snap shots like the frame on a movie reel, she would feel like she was inside Ben Wilson’s mind…seeing and feeling what he was experiencing in real time.
Somehow she was linked to him.
Of this she was certain, but still did not understand how or why, or for what purpose. The harder she tried to force the connection to him the more it became evasive. Only when she let her mind flow in other directions; managing the pain; pacing her breathing; or avoiding an obstacle did the Ben Wilson film reel advance.
Siobhán also found that if she let it happen freely time took on a difference dimension…it would slow. She could have a complete thought processes inside those brief moments…she could make decisions that guided the pursuit. She took greater notice of the terrain and clearly understood that she was being pushed toward the waterfall. Ben’s strategy had been to funnel her retreat to this final vantage point, and that the waterfall would be where it would end.
She also felt like a higher power was guiding her toward that end intentionally, and while not preordained, it seemed to be revealing a purpose and outcome that was peaceful and essential. She realized that with each step she was becoming calmer with the anxiety and fear of this chase slipping away.
Perhaps she thought this is what dying feels like…coming to peace with the terms of your exit – acquiescing to your fate. Still, it seemed much more than that, but she could not grab hold of the evasive presence that seemed everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She was not alone; of this much she was certain.
Reality quickly shattered this dream state.
“Oh my god!” she screamed bursting through the forest.
Siobhán collapsed her body sliding feet first toward the ravine ledge. Instantly she turned her body onto her stomach and clawed at the gravel desperately trying to slow her slide. She pushed back with her feet too and then felt her feet touching nothing. The rocky edge tracked up her body and she could feel herself pouring over the canyon rim.
Desperately she grabbed at the dirt and debris but nothing seemed tangible and solid. For a split second she thought she may have grabbed something that had stopped her slide, but she quickly realized that she had only stopped moving horizontally for a brief split second as her body transitioned into the vertical fall. There was nothing, the edge seemed to push farther away from her and then she was falling fast.
Still she grappled at the air, trying to turn her body in some desperate attempt to see what was coming so she could will its avoidance. Everything blurred and whirled around her and her sense of orientation disappeared. Momentarily she panicked and her senses exploded and then just as quickly stopped registering. Something touched her soul and she began to calm.
The whole descent seemed to slow and all its elements began to fall away. Siobhán vision tunnelled right before her eyes until there was darkness. The sound of her falling was thunderous initially but quickly faded…and then there was silence. Her heavy breathing also softened and she could feel the rhythm of her heart beat. In that instance she stopped fighting her descent fully and leaned into it. Finally she felt the peculiar sensation of being wrapped in a blanket of water, her heart stopped beating and Siobhan’s embraced her death with quiet resolution.
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Lawrence Lewis
About Lawrence Lewis
I do a number of things professionally...but most of all and the true purpose of what I do through "my work" is to provide for my family, be a good husband and great father, and try to make a difference as a world citizen...I guess it's not much more complicated than that 🙂