Chapter 11

After my conversation with mom, I go back to my room and let my eyes scan myself up and down in the mirror. I think back to what Nick had said.

‘You’re not nearly pretty enough to have such a bad attitude.’ I look at my nose, that I had always considered to be too wide, my brows, too thick, my eyes, too wide-set. And I just hated how small they were when I smiled.

I sigh and look away. As I look at my clothes, I realize I don’t know how I’m supposed to be dressing. I try to think back to what Simon had said to me. Instead of remembering the words he had spoken, I can’t help but picture him in my head: the way his eyes had lit up when they had first met mine, how he hadn’t taken them off of me until he had to leave. The tug in my stomach made itself heard again.

I shake my head to get rid of the images and settle for jeans and a tank top under a clean hoodie, that I lay flat on my bed for when I have to get ready. ‘Why do I even care?’ I ask myself. ‘I shouldn’t. I don’t.’ I look at the time and groan: it’s still hours before I have to be ready to leave.

I look through the window and to the forest. There had to have at least a couple of trails in the woods I could walk on before 6pm. I grab a backpack from my suitcase and throw in a water bottle and my pair of rock climbing shoes, just in case. They were originally meant for the days Nick and Alice would be too hung-over to do anything in Virginia, but the shoes might still be of use if I found a good climbing place here.

I lock the room behind me and walk straight into the forest. I figure if I get lost, I can always look on my phone GPS or call help. I walk for about an hour before I find a very small escarpment. As I’m putting on my rock climbing shoes, I hear a noise behind me. I turn to find a girl staring at me with curious eyes. She has light blond hair that falls in wave around her child-like face complete with striking turquoise eyes.

“Can I help you?’’ I ask after multiple seconds of silence.

She continues staring at me while I grow increasingly uncomfortable. She blinks and shakes her head, as if waking up from a trance.

“You’re not from around here.’’ She states and I am unsure if she wants me to respond.

“Why do people keep asking me that?’’ I half-whisper. “Does it show that much?

She giggles and it sounds a little like small bells ringing. She has that eerie beauty to her that contrasts the child-like innocence that emits from her.

“It does, there aren’t many visitors in the area’’ she laughs as she walks towards me. “I’m Dela, I was wondering what you were doing in the woods.’’

Her voice was light and melodic, almost as if she was singing. I couldn’t put an age on her face: she could tell me she was 12 or that she was 25 and I wouldn’t doubt her.

“I’m actually looking for a climbing spot,’’ I admit pointing at my shoes.

“Oh, well, I know a spot. Do you want to follow me there?’’

A little surprised, I get up and nod. As she leads me to wherever it is she is going, I notice something is off with her. I try to pin point exactly what is giving me this feeling, but it feels just out of reach. I don’t know how much time has pass, but we arrive at the base of a much larger escarpment than before.

“I can’t climb that!’’ I laugh as I look for holds in the rock. “I don’t think anyone should without a rope and-’’

“I always wanted to climb here,’’ Dela interrupts me and I find myself agreeing with her. “I’ve always loved a good challenge.’’

“I mean, I could try,’’ I say without thinking.

I sit down and slip on my shoes, tying my walking pair to my backpack. I look up to what is basically a cliff and feel my breath stop. This feels insane, yet I still burn to try. As I’m about to start climbing, I turn to Dela.

“Are you climbing with me?’’

“Of course,’’ she answers, but she looks confused or maybe surprised I asked. “I’ll be right behind you.’’

I grip the first hold I can see and, already, I understand how impossible this is: there’s barely any room for three fingers on it. I’m about to let go and go back to the hotel when I hear Dela’s bell-like voice behind me.

“Come on, Sophie, don’t you want to know if you can do this?’’

Something feels off again, but I pull myself up and grab on to the next hold I can find. Hold after hold, I climb without looking down. I feel like I’ve been climbing for way too long, so I look up and am relieve to notice I can see the top.  I slide my foot into a crack in the rock in a heel hook, finally able to take a break of my arms. My right side to the wall, I shake them to try and lessen the burning sensation in my forearms.

For the first time, I look to the ground and feel my head start to turn. The thought that I don’t have a rope pops up in my head: I’ve never free climbed before and I’m definitely about to die.

“It’s a long way down.’’ I hear Dela muse behind me. “I sometimes feel the urge to jump off, don’t you?’’

“Are you crazy? Don’t jump, you’ll die!’’

I find a hold so I can turn to her. Once again, I get this eerie feeling at the sight of her barely sitting in an alcove in the rock. She looks at me with curious eyes.

“I call it the call of the void. Don’t you ever want to jump?’’ she asks again.

She looks down and I feel my heart pounding. If she jumps off, I wouldn’t be able to catch her without falling myself. I feel an increasing pressure in my skull, trying to find a way to save the crazy girl who convinced me this was a good idea.

“We’re almost on top, climb with me please.’’ I say, reaching for another hold.

One sideway glance informs me that she’s following me. The pressure in my skull stops and I let out a relieved sigh. Reaching to the top of the escarpment, I pull myself up and crawl away from the drop. I finally notice how every muscle in my body aches and the burning in my fingers.

Dela walks up to me and gives me a hand to get up. With a cryptic look in her eyes, she smiles sweetly.

“You did real good, Sophie.’’

My heart skips a beat and I rack my brain replaying our conversation in my head.

“When did I tell you my name?’’ I ask, taking a step back as her smile freezes.

“You’re silly! You told me when I told you mine.’’

“I definitely don’t remember that part.’’

I try to look around. I don’t know the area very well, but there had to be a way to get down from the cliff without climbing down.

“Are you okay?’’ She asks with real concern in her voice. “It was a very big effort in a short amount of time... Are you tired? Maybe dehydrated?’’

I take a moment to question my sanity. Maybe I did tell her my name, why wouldn’t I have? Maybe she even saw it on something I own and doesn’t remember I didn’t specifically tell her.

“Maybe,’’ I admit cautiously. “I really do need to head back to town though.’’

“Alright! It was good meeting you, Sophie.’’

She turns and leaves without another word, leaving me stranded in the middle of the woods. I grab my phone from my bag and gawk at the screen: I only have two hours to find my way back to the hotel and get ready.

“I’m so screwed,’’ I whisper to myself.