Page 129 of Once Upon a Fable

Steal the backpack.

Say goodbye if you must.

Triple, triple check your knots are undoable for at least a day.

And then...leave.

Eventually, he would use a rock or something sharp to saw at the rope or break the branch he was tied to. He was strong and seemed to know how to harness nature to benefit him.

Unlike when I’d hit him with the shovel, he’d be fine. He’d just rage, have a nap, get angry again, realize I was too far gone to bother following, and return to his valley.

Alone.

And this messy piece of my life will be forgotten.

I nodded, warming to my crusade.

He would never know where I’d gone, and I would never tell anyone where he lived. I would honor his secrets. We would forget this past week ever happened.

Up ahead, he slowed.

His bare footsteps became lighter as if he’d learned to sneak up on the mansion instead of announce his arrival. The foliage looked familiar as we approached the drop-off where I’d stopped for a drink and lost my water bottle over the edge.

Aha!

My backpack with all my gear, other food, recording equipment, and first-aid kit rested where I’d left it by a tree. How convenient that I’d left it up here instead of taking it down into the valley with me.

Okay, new plan.

He can keep the backpack with the chocolate and water—just in case it takes him longer than a day to get free. I’ll take my usual rucksack full of everything I need.

I’d make sure to fill up my spare water bottle from some puddles along the way and use one of my purifying tablets to ensure it was drinkable.

Courage made me step forward with purpose.

This will work.

He didn’t know it yet, but this was goodbye.

Drawing to a stop, he shook his head as if a concussion still plagued him. Glancing at my abandoned backpack by the tree marking the first rung of the natural ladder we’d have to climb down, he worked out the kinks in his neck and went to turn around.

To look at me.

I couldn’t let him.

I honestly didn’t know if I’d have the courage to go through with this if those unfathomable eyes of his captured mine.

Do it!

Do it now!

Dashing forward, I erased the small distance between us and collided with his back before he could fully twist to see me.

Adrenaline whipped down my limbs, turning me shaky as I snatched his left wrist and shoved it into my rope lasso.

His other one!

Get his other one!