Chapter 6
Angelo spent a long time gazing at the majestic waterfall.
The sound of the rushing water seemed to wash away the noise of South River, leaving behind a silence that felt almost sacred. For the first time since arriving in the town, his mind was clear.
He thought about everything that had happened over the past few weeks.
This time, however, the memories didn't come with the usual anger.
His thoughts drifted back to Phoenix.
It had all started with a loud bang on his hotel room door early one morning. The sound had nearly shattered his already terrible hangover.
He had stumbled toward the door, ready to bite the head off whoever was bold enough to wake him.
His mother stood on the other side, arms folded and nose raised in disapproval.
"This place is a mess," she had said.
Angelo had looked around his hotel room.
"It's a hotel, Mom. There are people here who are paid to clean."
His mother hadn't even acknowledged the sarcasm.
"What brings you here this early?"
"I received your results today."
Angelo had frowned.
"What? How would you get my results before me?"
He already knew the answer.
His mother had her hands in everything he did. His studies. His finances. His love life. Even his friendships.
"The last time I checked," she had said, "it was my money you were wasting here while pretending to study."
"I'm still in school."
"Not anymore."
Angelo had stared at her.
She had told him that he had failed his second year again and that she was no longer willing to finance his irresponsible lifestyle.
"Mom, what am I supposed to do? Wash dishes and clean hotel rooms?"
"Oh, I have just the right kind of job for you, sonny."
There had been something almost frightening about the smile on her face.
Angelo had known then that whatever she had planned, he wasn't going to like it.
Several days later, he was flying aboard his mother's private jet toward Bermuda.
From Bermuda, he transferred to a smaller aircraft that carried him to Madelaine Airport.
Then came the three-hour drive in a battered taxi.
At the end of it was South River.
The beginning of his troubles.
Angelo smiled bitterly at the memory.
He had hated the town the moment he arrived.
Now, sitting beside this waterfall, he wasn't so sure anymore.
A sudden scream shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
Angelo jumped to his feet.
"What the hell?"
The scream came again.
It sounded as though someone was being murdered.
He turned and instinctively started moving away from the sound. In his panic, he failed to notice a branch in his path and struck his head against it.
He stumbled backward and landed hard on the ground.
For several moments, he simply sat there, trying to understand what had happened.
He rubbed his head and looked toward the pond.
Only then did he notice the abundance of wildlife around him.
Hundreds of birds moved through the trees. Small animals darted between the bushes. Rabbits hopped through the grass while rats and other creatures scurried around the edges of the clearing.
The scream had come from one of the smaller animals.
It had simply become another creature's lunch.
Angelo sighed with relief.
"So much for being murdered."
He slowly began circling the pond, careful not to disturb the wildlife.
Then he stopped.
A woman was sitting on a rock near the waterfall.
She had headphones over her ears and appeared completely absorbed in the view.
Angelo immediately recognized her.
Maya.
He didn't want to disturb her, so he decided to quietly retrace his steps.
Unfortunately, he was paying more attention to avoiding Maya than watching where he was going.
His foot suddenly slipped.
Angelo grabbed at the nearest branch.
It caught him.
For a moment, he thought he was safe.
Then he realized he was hanging upside down over the edge of the slope.
"Help!"
Maya heard him.
She removed her headphones and looked around.
The scream came again.
She cautiously made her way down the slope.
When she finally saw Angelo hanging upside down from the branch, she stopped.
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Angelo finally broke the silence.
"Are you going to help me up?"
Maya tried to suppress a laugh.
"Sorry."
She reached down.
"Take my hand."
Angelo grabbed her hand and, after some effort, managed to pull himself back onto solid ground.
He dusted himself off.
"How did you get here?" Maya asked.
"I walked."
She stared at him.
"I mean, how did you get all the way out here?"
"I walked."
Maya shook her head.
"You're something else."
Angelo smiled.
"And what are you doing out here?"
"I come here when I need to get away."
"From what?"
"Everything."
She turned toward the waterfall.
"Sometimes life down there becomes too much."
Angelo understood exactly what she meant.
He looked at her for a moment.
"We keep meeting like this."
Maya smiled.
"Do we?"
"Yes. Everywhere I go, somehow I end up bumping into you."
"That's called coincidence."
"I don't believe in coincidence."
"What do you believe in?"
"Fate."
Maya laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous. We've only met a couple of times."
"Can you explain what's happening?"
"There's nothing to explain. We live in the same town."
Angelo shook his head.
"Suit yourself. But I think there's something here."
Maya looked at him for a moment but said nothing.
Eventually, Angelo pointed toward the path.
"We should probably start heading back before it gets dark."
Maya nodded.
"I know a proper path."
She led the way through the trees.
Angelo followed quietly behind her.
For most of the journey, neither of them spoke.
But Angelo couldn't shake the feeling that their repeated encounters meant something.
Maya, meanwhile, seemed determined not to give the idea any room in her mind.
As South River slowly came into view below them, she began walking faster.
Angelo tried to keep up.
He couldn't.
Eventually, he stopped and called after her.
"Hey! Do you have somewhere you need to be in a hurry?"
Maya stopped.
She turned around.
"I think it's best if we return home separately."
"Why?"
"You don't want people jumping to conclusions about us, do you?"
Before Angelo could answer, she turned and continued toward town.
He watched her disappear into the distance.
For some reason, he smiled.
Then he started walking home.
He had no idea that their innocent walk back from the waterfall would be the last peaceful moment before the mystery surrounding South River began to close in around him.