Page 3 of The Catcher
She squinted. “What am I looking for?”
“A camouflaged container.”
“Nope.”
“Look again.”
She tried but couldn’t spot it. Geocaches were hidden in all manner of places. Some were under rocks, in trees, or on posts. The number of ways people came up with disguising them was crazy.
Sam’s trained eye honed in on it immediately.
“Here!” he exclaimed as he pointed to a tree knot. “Go on, pull it out,” he said.
Isabella pulled at the knot with both hands, finding herself holding a large container. Inside, something caught her eye — a small, elegant ring box nestled among the items. She glanced up at Sam, curiosity mingling with surprise.
“What is it?” she asked.
Sam screwed up his face. “Um.” He couldn’t remember placing some of those items inside. He ignored them, just glad the ring box was still there and figuring someone hadleft them behind — a common action by those geocaching. “Open it,” Sam said.
Isabella’s heart fluttered as she popped the top open, revealing a sparkling ring. Sam breathed a sigh of relief. Isabella’s breath caught in her throat as she looked back at Sam, now down on one knee.
But before Sam could utter a word, a foul odor wafted through the air, assaulting their senses and interrupting the moment.
Isabella wrinkled her nose, her joy evaporating as the stench grew stronger. “What’s that smell?” she asked.
Sam’s brow furrowed as he glanced around. “I’m not sure,” he replied, trying to mask his concern with a casual tone. “Probably just something in the woods.”
He tried to focus, but as he reached for Isabella’s hand, preparing to propose, the odor intensified, filling the clearing with its putrid stench.
Isabella’s stomach churned with unease as she backed away, her eyes darting nervously around the forest. “No, Sam, something’s not right,” she said, her voice trembling with apprehension. “That stinks.”
Sam’s heart sank as he realized the odor had overshadowed the special moment.
As they turned their attention to the surrounding woods, the foul smell intensified, causing them to recoil in disgust. Isabella wrinkled her nose, her hand flying to cover her mouth as she walked around, searching for the source.
“Shit. What is that smell?” Isabella asked again.
Sam shrugged, his eyes narrowing as he peered intothe dense undergrowth. “Probably just a dead animal or something,” he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. But as he rounded a tree, his eyes widened in horror as they stumbled upon a gruesome sight over the edge of a cliff.
Down below, a human body was motionless in the ravine, hands tied to a tree branch. The teen boy’s pale skin was mottled with bruises. Blood stained the ground nearby.
Isabella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. “Shit,” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
Sam’s heart hammered as he took in the gruesome scene. He reached for her hand, his fingers trembling as he pulled her close. “We need to call the cops. Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice hoarse with fear as he glassed their surroundings.
1
He was late.
The High School buzzed with the energy of another bustling morning. Mia Sutherland sat across from Mr. Joshua Anderson, the school’s guidance counselor. The hands of a clock on the wall crept towards 8:30.
It was a meeting that had been scheduled a month ago — a meeting she’d told her father about multiple times to ensure that he would be there. He couldn’t possibly be late since he wasn’t working.
Mia fidgeted in her chair, swallowing hard and occasionally making eye contact with the teacher. Each time she smiled, she inwardly prayed the floor would open up and swallow her.
Mr. Anderson’s office was cozy yet functional, with a large window allowing natural light to spill into the room. Mia’s gaze drifted around the space, her discomfort evident in how she shifted in her seat.
Framed diplomas and certificates adorned the beige walls, testaments to Mr. Anderson’s qualifications and dedication to his role. A bulletin board near the door displayed informational flyers about college applications, career workshops, and mental health resources for students.
