Chapter 2: Into the Wild
The sun dipped lower in the sky as Alina's body tumbled down the rugged slope. Sharp rocks scraped her arms, branches whipped her face, and her head struck a protruding boulder with a sickening thud. Then—stillness.
The wind whispered through the trees as if the forest itself had witnessed what had happened and gone quiet in mourning.
Birds chirped in the distance, unaware of the young woman lying unconscious in the underbrush.
Hours passed.
**
Miles away, on the edge of a quiet mountain town called Millers Creek, Jace Carter loaded a crate of firewood into the back of his rusty pickup. He wiped sweat from his brow and adjusted the strap of his flannel shirt. He lived simply—chopping wood, fixing fences, helping neighbors when he could. He had grown up here, and though life hadn't offered him much, he found purpose in the land, in the work, and in caring for his ailing grandmother.
That day, a chill in the wind made him pause.
"Storm's coming early," he muttered.
His dog, a golden retriever named Cooper, barked from the porch.
"Alright, alright. We'll head back before dark."
He grabbed his gear, whistled for Cooper, and made his way into the forest to collect herbs and mushrooms his grandmother needed.
As he walked, he noticed something odd—a trail of snapped branches and disturbed earth along a rarely used hiking path. He followed it with cautious steps, pushing aside a thick layer of ferns.
Then he saw her.
A young woman, barely conscious, blood trickling from her forehead. Her coat was torn, her hands scraped. She looked like she didn't belong here—not in her designer hiking boots and pearl stud earrings.
"Hey!" Jace dropped to his knees beside her. "Can you hear me?"
She stirred faintly, eyes fluttering open, unfocused.
"What… where…"
"You fell," he said gently, checking her pulse. "Don't try to move. I've got you."
She flinched as he tried to support her head.
"I'm not gonna hurt you," he added. "My name's Jace. You're safe now."
Her eyes fluttered closed again.
**
Back at Jace's modest cabin, the fire crackled warmly. He laid her gently on the couch, wrapped her in a blanket, and cleaned her wounds. She didn't wake that night. He sat nearby, watching her, wondering who she was and where she came from.
The next morning, she opened her eyes.
She blinked at the ceiling, then at the man across from her.
"Who… who are you?"
"I'm Jace," he said calmly. "You had an accident. I found you in the woods."
She sat up slowly, hand on her forehead. "I don't remember… anything. Not even my name."
Silence stretched between them.
Jace's expression softened. "That's okay. You're safe here. We'll figure this out—together."
Outside, the first snowflakes of winter began to fall.