y

, I've been spending all the daylight hours out looking for it under the guise of hunting or fishing. I take the key to th

ys of searching turned up nothing. She was in pretty bad shape when I found her, but I have no idea how mobile and healthy she

services required to establish an internet connection at the cabin seemed like too much work. During my time in Afghanistan, we didn't usually have internet access. It didn't seem necessar

e I'm probably much the same way. Probably to a greater extreme. She seems just as determined to keep her existence a secret as I am. I've been taking every chance I can to avoid being around her. I'm bothered on a subconscious level any time she's looking at me. I know she can't see the scars I'm hiding, but anyone looking at me is still uncomfortably disconc

eauty is entirely different. Saph was all things light and airy. She was tall, blonde, blue-eyed, and willowy but with curves. She acted as though life were a joke and the world existed to please her. Ana is much darker, from her olive-toned skin to her

h when she wasn't looking her best. Ana's beauty is understated but natural. I've also

all clearing. I stare at the scene ahead of me in disbelief. I think part of me was still convince

ared off when they struck the ground, which indicates that the engine may have still been powering the blades upon impact. Perhaps the pilots did still have some control of the vehicle just before the crash.

by the jacket on his body. All are dead. The pilots are both in the front seats with gunshot wounds to the head. The marshal seems to have been shot several times in the chest a

rogram. She's a witness. Someone really is a

onto the snow beneath. The helicopter must have been shot out of the sky. After the somewhat rough landing, Ana and the marshal left the vehicle and fled into the woods. He tried to give her cover, but was killed. I walk toward the for

. I run a hand over my face. The man she was asking about that first time we spoke was th

ll this time was a good idea. The people who did this are ruthless. They haven't found her yet, so they must know she's still out here somewhere. It's been two weeks, but I'd bet they are st

sight of the cabin any time soon. There's no way I'm going to kick her out of my

er standing in the kitchen, I

or now . She

y, did you?" she asks, clearl

After seeing what happened at the crash site, I don't think it's a g

e any cookbooks lying around, so I just sort of made so

s at me. I feel my

like my coo

ot that I'm not grateful, but it rea

fee table. Ever since the day she made pancakes and kept her promise to leave me alone while the mask was off, we've

u like a

r onto my plate and looks u

delivered. I was planning to get yo

g my clothes

k. Make a list of everything you want a

all

ea

s... thank

enjoys the sweet smile the young woman with expressive eyes is giving me. Part of me loathes being

~

hear her throat clearing and look up to see her standing

u're planning to conti

ng to let me

out telling her about the graphic scene I found in the woods. "Make sure to

tests. "An entire wardrobe? Do you k

ncern. Write down

've seen people's eyes light up when they realize my family is loaded and they

hing?" Her tone is skeptical

ometh

frown and she looks both d

me books too, whatever else y

oo

spreading across her face and she hurries o

s up. "How do you

get whateve

d. This is new. No one has ever be

s fi

turning to her list. I find my own mouth twi

her how to use it and maybe she'll feel safer. I'm going to have some other things

oday, I'm glad she can smile and