M.A. Kleen

Twenty-five years ago, I self-published The River of Rain, a philosophical exploration of freedom, human nature, and the modern world. To mark its anniversary, I’m releasing a fully revised edition, one chapter every Wednesday. This is the novel as it was meant to be. Continued from Chapter 16.

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“What are you doing here?” was the first thing Ariana could think to ask as the two of them stood alone in the freezing wilderness.

“I was looking for you,” Jenny replied.

The bewildered look on Ariana’s face answered the next question before she could even ask it.

“I took the car last night and drove up here. The road’s almost cleared now. Everyone thought you were dead, Ana. They even held a memorial service.” Jenny’s voice trembled with emotion. “But I had to know for sure. I just had to.”

“Did anyone else survive the accident?” Ariana asked quietly.

“Everyone except you,” Jenny answered, her expression darkening. “And now you’re alive too, so we can finally go home. We can sit by a fire and drink hot chocolate and…” She stopped suddenly, glancing around at the endless snow-covered forest. “What have you even been doing out here?”

The bluntness of the question caught Ariana off guard. “Well…” she said slowly, “help me carry some of this wood and I’ll show you.”

As they gathered armfuls of dead branches and started back toward the hidden cave, Ariana found herself wondering just how much time had passed.

“Where are we going?” Jenny asked nervously as Ariana helped pull her onto the rocky ledge.

“You’ll see,” Ariana replied with a faint smile.

The journey through the narrow cave no longer frightened Ariana, but Jenny clung tightly to her furs the deeper they went. Her wide eyes darted everywhere, taking in the strange stone passageways while she whispered nervous questions that echoed off the walls. Ahead, a warm orange glow flickered faintly in the darkness.

Ariana raised a finger for silence.

Jenny stared around in amazement, like a child wandering through a museum after hours. The two of them crept quietly into the chamber. Then both froze in place.

Victor was awake. He sat leaning against the limestone wall with a knife gripped tightly in one hand. His face was pale and hollow, but his eyes were sharp and alert. He did not look happy to see them.

“Who’s that?” he asked grimly.

Ariana stepped forward cautiously. “That’s my friend Jenny,” she said, forcing brightness into her voice. “She came looking for me.” She smiled nervously at him. “I’m glad you’re finally awake, though. Do you feel any better?”

Victor ignored the question. Only he noticed Jenny stumbling backward with terror spreading across her face. He immediately kept his distance from her.

“Who… who are you?” Jenny stammered.

Ariana spun around in confusion.

“Did you kidnap her?” Jenny blurted out.

“What?” Ariana exclaimed.

Victor interrupted her sharply. “Get out of here!” he shouted. Despite the force in his voice, there was something desperate underneath it. “You’re going to ruin everything!”

“What is everyone talking about?” Ariana cried. The accusations flying back and forth made her head spin. She looked frantically between the two of them, unable to make sense of any of it.

Victor was trembling with rage. His knuckles turned white around the knife handle.

“What did you do?” Jenny shouted at him.

“What did I do?” Victor roared back. He repeated the words again and again, his voice growing louder each time until it boomed through the cave chamber.

Ariana threw herself toward him and clung desperately to his shoulders. “Please, both of you, stop it!” she sobbed hysterically.

With one powerful motion, Victor tore her away from him. He turned sharply so his bare back faced the two girls and stood there breathing hard and unevenly.

No one moved.

The silence stretched on for what felt like forever. Then Victor began to sway. The knife slipped from his fingers and clattered against the stone floor as he collapsed heavily to the ground.

“Victor!” Ariana gasped, dropping beside him.

Jenny stepped closer, though cautiously. Victor was still breathing.

“He was badly injured defending me from a bear,” Ariana explained, glaring at her friend’s cold expression.

“Will he be alright?” Jenny asked. There was no warmth in the question, only curiosity.

Ariana nodded and carefully rolled Victor onto his back. The two girls stood silently over him for several long seconds, studying his worn, hardened face.

The silence broke when Jenny peeled off her coat. Beneath it she wore an expensive knitted sweater completely out of place. “So are you coming back with me now?” she asked impatiently.

“In a few days,” Ariana replied. “When he’s fully recovered.”

Jenny stared at her in disbelief. “We need to turn him over to the police,” she declared stiffly. Then her eyes drifted toward the half-butchered bear carcass nearby. “Ugh… what even is that thing?”

“We’re not turning him in,” Ariana said flatly. “He saved my life.” She hesitated briefly. “Don’t take this personally. He’s only protecting our…” She stopped herself. “His way of life.”

“You’ve changed,” Jenny spat. She turned toward the cave entrance. “I’m not staying here another second. If you want to come, then come.”

Ariana bent down, picked up Victor’s knife, and pointed it directly at her. “No one’s going anywhere,” she said calmly. “We’re waiting.” The seriousness in her face left no room for argument.

Jenny slowly turned back around. After a moment, she found a smooth patch of stone and sat down stiffly on the ground.

“You might as well make yourself comfortable,” Ariana said, trying to sound friendly again.

Jenny looked at her with open disgust.

Continued in Chapter 18…