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  “Yes my love.” as he said kissed her

  The next day, Natalie stood by the beginner’s area at ten minutes to eleven. She had on the black and red ski suit that Marcus bought her. She took off her glove picking up the snow. She was amazed that it covered this whole mountain. She looked at the mountain above them that was covered in white snow. She was staring at it when that voice rocked her body.

  “Are you feeling better?”

  Natalie shook and turned, “Yes I am.” she said slowly then cleared her throat, “I am ready to catch up with my fiancée.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes really.” she said a little irritated, “Let’s go.”

  Leon looked at her and bowed his head. He began to explain the basics to her. She tried to keep up but his voice kept rocking her insides.

  “Natalie, did you understand?”

  “Yes. Let’s go”

  Leon helped her to balance on the skis. Natalie looked at him sideways. Her skin was burning through her suit. He taught her how to walk with skis. He began to show her how to fall without getting hurt. She put all her energy into learning the basics. She scolded herself every time his voice rocked her. She was able to start and stop on the skis. She had to admit Leon was a good teacher. Leon gave her the signal for the class is over. She walked back to the area and took off the skis.

  “You did well for a beginner. Tomorrow classes will be canceled due to the weather.”

  “Thank you.” said Natalie smiling at him, “I am probably not as good as Marcus.”

  “Why did you say that?” asked Leon leaning slightly on his skis

  “He said you told him he had surpassed your expectation and that you moved him to a new instructor.”

  Leon looked at her in confusion, “I forgot. I need to go and see what my lady is doing. If you excuse me.” he said as he walked away

  Natalie was happy that she passed her class. She gave back the skis and went back to the cabin. She took a shower. She sat by the window looking at the snow. Marcus came back with a three boxes. He sat back as she began to opening them. There was a red one column floor length chiffon dress over satin. The right side was stripes that showed off her shape. Natalie jumped up and down when she saw it. She opened the other box. It had shoes that matched. The last box was a long mink coat. She kissed Marcus and ran to the bedroom to start getting ready. Marcus stood in the door way.

  “Wake me up an hour before seven.” as he walked to the sofa and lay down

  Natalie started on her hair after her shower. It took her a while to get it just right. The up do with curls were harder to do. She did not have all her equipment; she had to do with what she had. Ever since Marcus suggested that she grow out her hair it has been unbearable. She looked at the clock and noticed she spent two and a half hours on her head. She went to the living room and shook Marcus.

  Marcus watched Candy dance for him. She was grinding on him. He moaned something but Natalie only heard ‘Candy’. She shook him again.

  “Marcus, get up.”

  Marcus opened his eyes and looked around. He had a confused look on his face then he recognized where he was.

  “Are you all right?” asked Natalie

  “Yes just a bad dream. You look gorgeous.” he said looking at her as he played with her curls

  “I am not done yet. You need to get yourself ready.” she said curious of what he truly dreamed

  Marcus got up and went to take a shower. He came out the bathroom with a robe on. He took his clothes out of the closet and changed in the bathroom. Natalie watched him as he walked into the bathroom. She wondered why he was doing that. She felt something was wrong. Marcus came out with his pants and shirt on; she turned from the mirror and looked at him.

  “Marcus, what is wrong with you?” she asked a little irritated

  “What are talking about?” he asked putting on his socks

  “Why did you get dressed in the bathroom?”

  “I had to do other things in the bathroom. I did not want to waste time going back and forth.” he said looking at her, “What did you think I was doing?”

  Natalie went back to applying her makeup. Her mind was screaming that something was wrong and it was not the first time either. She had finished with the makeup. She put on her dress and shoes. She put on a tear drop diamond necklace that her parents gave her for her graduation. She looked at her reflection. She looked sexy but she did not feel it. She walked into the living room as Marcus was getting the coats out of the closet. He saw her and his mouth fell open.

  “You are extremely gorgeous. I do not know if I want to share you with other people at the party.”

  “Thank you.” she said smiling but her heart felt like it was breaking

  He put her coat on her kissing her cheek. They walked out the cabin. They walked up to the main hall. The hotel staff placed heated tents along the sidewalk to shield the guest from the extreme cold. They walked in and gave their coats to the attendant. Marcus took her hand as he walked in with her. Natalie held her head high. She could see a lot of men and women looking at her. Marcus took her to the table and sat her down. He offered to get drinks. She smiled at him.

  “What would you like?”

  “Apple Martini” she said smiling

  He raised his eyebrow, “Are you sure?”

  She smiled, “Yes”

  He left her at the table with her thoughts. Natalie wanted to cry but she will not let him get to her like this. She looked at her hand as she twisted the ring. She did not know what to do. Marcus came back with her drink. She took the glass and drunk the drink in one swallow. Marcus looked at her in surprised.

  She smiled at him, “I was thirsty.”

  “Do you want me to get you another one?” he asked

  “I can get it.” she said smiling as she got up

  She walked in haste to the bar. She ordered a double this time. She drank it. She stood straight with her head held high, feeling alone. She turned around and saw Leon and his fiancée standing behind her. She looked at him and felt like he saw her pain. Natalie bowed her head slightly and walked back to her table. She listened to the talk around the table.

  “Natalie, do you want to dance?” asked Marcus holding out his hand

  She hesitated for a second before she took his hand. They went on the dance floor. He held her close as she swayed back and forth. Then the music turned into the waltz. Marcus surprised her with his moves. They danced like pros. Natalie smiled when she was prompt to by Marcus but she did not want to be here. They finished dancing. They started walking back to the table when Leon stopped them.

  “Sorry to interrupt but can I have a dance with your fiancée?” he asked looking at Marcus

  Marcus kissed her cheek, “I do not mind. Natalie?”

  Natalie smiled at Marcus and nodded.

  “Why not dance with a handsome man while your heart is breaking?” she thought as they went to the dance floor

  The music was slow and sexy. Leon pulled her close to him and demanded her attention. He guided her along the floor. Natalie closed her eyes as they dance. Her body listened to his and what it was saying was not helping her at all. His hands were firm but soft. She could feel his heartbeat as they danced close. His breathing was making her feel warm and safe.

  Leon looked at her. She was beautiful but in pain. He knew that pain well. Her body was making his mind think of ways he could have her.

  The music stopped. Natalie opened her eyes as a tear fell. She back away from him and left him on the dance floor. She went to the restroom and hid in a stall as she began to cry. Natalie came out of the stall and washed her face. She reapplied her makeup and went back to Marcus. She was glad that the atmosphere was dark that way he did not see her red eyes. She looked at her plate while listening to Marcus talk about his adventures with the other couples at the table. Natalie looked up as a pair of eyes stared at her. Leon watched her. She tried to look away but she could not. She began to feel uncomfortable.
Natalie leaned into Marcus

  “I am not feeling good. I think I drunk those two drinks too fast.” she said

  “I would like to stay a little bit longer.” he said

  Natalie looked at him in shock. He just brushed her off with no concern. She walked out of the dinning area. She grabbed her coat and went to her cabin. She discarded the dress and took a shower. She put on her pajamas then she lay in her bed. She cried herself to sleep.

  Natalie got dressed before Marcus woke up. She walked down to the ski shop. She asked the salesperson for a hiking kit for the nature walk. The salesman gave her a kit with a portable shovel, rope, flashlight, band-aids, matches, snacks and two bottle waters. He attached a transmittal to her knapsack and turned it onto receive.

  “I know it is a lot to carry around but up here you never know.” he smiled looking at her

  Natalie wondered if this was a mistake.

  “If you go up the trail about two and a half miles, you will come across a cabin that is your turn around point. Just turn around and come the same way you came. There are no storms today, you will be fine. The wildlife is awesome.” he said with a smile

  “How will I know the path?”

  “It is marked by a bright yellow sign that says this way to trail.”

  “Thank you.” she smiled as she headed out to get her thoughts together

  She began her walk on the trail. She walked through the trail and got half way when she felt she was being followed. She stopped and turned around. She stared into the eyes of Leon. She rolled her eyes and continued on walking. She stopped to look at a bunny or a deer. She did not say anything and neither did he. They got to the cabin. Natalie took a breath and started back when Leon took her by her arm pulling her into the cabin. He closed the door and stood in front of the door.

  “Would you like to talk?” he said calmly

  Natalie tried to control her body; his voice sends shivers through her. She began to feel like a caged animal.

  “I do not need to talk. Now if you please let me out, I need to get back to Marcus.” she said sternly

  “Your eyes say differently.”

  She looked away from him as she started pacing the floor. She needed to get out of here. She could not take it anymore. She walked up to him looking up at him.

  “Let me out of this damn cabin.” she said angrily

  “You and my fiancée are the same. You both try to hide the real you.”

  “How dare you compare me with that spoil high class bitch?” said Natalie still pacing

  “And that makes you?”

  Natalie slapped him, “You bastard! Let me out!”

  Leon’s eyes turned hard as he grabbed her looking into her eyes, “That is the last time you will hit me.” he said sternly then he sighed, “I wanted to help you because I know what you are going through. Right now you need a friend.” as his eyes turned softly as he let her go

  Natalie saw he was looking into her soul and saw her hurting. Tears began to fall from her eyes. He held her in his arms as she cried. She could not talk it hurt too much. He caressed her back. She was stirring him up and it felt so right to him. She calmed down as she backed away from him.

  “I think we should go before it gets late.” she said as she wiped her face

  “Are you sure?” he said as he moved closer to her

  Natalie moved back away from him, “Yes” she said looking into his eyes, “I should have been back.”

  Leon moved out of the way as she opened the door. She began to walk down the hill. She looked back at Leon feeling his arms still around her. She tripped over a log that was hidden by snow. She fell twisting her ankle. She screamed in pain. The earth seemed to shake as her screamed in pain. Leon looked back. He saw the snow coming for them. He ran to her picking her up and carried her to the cabin. He closed the door then he stood behind the door as the snow came down. The snow came down the mountain like a raging river. It took boulders, rocks, trees and anything else that got in its path. The noise stopped. Leon looked out and notice it did not cover the door completely it was about 14 inches of space before it cover the door way. He could not try anything now he had to check on Natalie. She lay against the wall holding her leg. She looked at the snow that seemed so calm and beautiful as it locked them in this cabin. Leon took off her boot and checked her ankle. She took her hat off putting it in her mouth. She did not want more snow to bury them. She screamed into it as Leon bandage it up.

  2

  Marcus woke up and found Natalie gone. He put on his clothes and walked out to see if he can find her. He walked through the path to the main office. He looked in the shops along the way. He enters the office walking through to the cafeteria. He did not see her. He walked by the front desk and asked the desk clerk about today’s activity.

  “Sorry sir but all activities have been canceled due to the storm that is coming.” smiled the young man

  “Okay, I will find something to do.” said Marcus as he turned to walk out the door

  Marcus thought of the singles bar and the women he haven’t met. An alarm began to ring throughout the resort, sending an alert to the staff. The staff ran into position and gathered the guest. They were able to get the guest huddle in the cafeteria. Marcus did not see Natalie. He walked to the manager.

  “My fiancée is not in here. What is happening?” asked Marcus concerned

  The manager became alarmed at what Marcus said. He whispered something to a staff member. They were gone in a flash. Marcus was about to punch the man, if he continued to ignore him. The manager turned to Marcus.

  “My name is Tim Roth, I am the manager here. There is an avalanche warning out due to the change in temperature with a new storm approaching. We have to keep everyone here until it has passed. What is her name and when did you last see her?”

  Marcus felt the breath leave his body. He looked at the man wide eyed and weak.

  “Natalie Atkins. I saw her when I went to bed last night. When I woke up this morning she was gone.”

  “We are checking with all the staff to see if they saw her. Just wait right here.” said Tim as a loud sound of gushing river engulf the resort

  The lights flickered as the snow came down the mountain. The women and men screamed as they saw the snow rain down on them. The manager and staff tried to keep the people calm and inside the room.

  Marcus looked at the snow, “Natalie!” he screamed

  The snow stopped its devastation and became calm again. The staff checked on everyone and reported any injuries. The staff checked off each guest on their list and gave it to the manager with the highlighted names of the missing. A woman walked up to the manager

  “Julian is out there!” she screamed at the manager

  Tim did not want to scare the rest of the guests; he took Marcus and the woman to his office. He sat them down. He told his staff to bring something hot to drink. He sat behind his desk and looked at the two people.

  “Mr. Phillips and Ms. Thompson, I need you both to be calm and give me all the information you can.”

  “Please call me Marcus.”

  “Call me Mercedes please.” she said trying to stay calm, “Julian left the cabin this morning to look at his schedule for today at the ski shop.”

  “Do you mean Leon?” he asked looking at her nodding, “He helps out there.” he said as he grabbed his radio

  “Come in Jeff.” asked Tim on the radio

  The radio cracked to life, “Jeff here.”

  “Did Leon come there before the snow fell?”

  “Yeah, he was in the back of the storeroom then he left following a woman up the trail.”

  “Did they come back?”

  The radio went silent for a moment and the cracked, “Negative”

  Marcus and Mercedes looked at the radio as to ask it to stop lying.

  “Jeff, did they have the packs?”

  “Tim, you know Leon will not go anywhere without it.” said Jeff

  “How about the wom
an?” asked Tim as he continued to write this information down

  The radio went silent again and then Jeff came on, “Todd said he rented her one and he put a transmitter on her as well. If she did not come back we can find her, maybe Leon found her first.”

  “Let’s pray that he did. Thanks Jeff can you get the team together in ten.” said Tim

  “Roger Tim” said Jeff as the radio went dead

  A woman walked through the door with hot cocoa and sat it on the desk for them. The manager handed her a paper as she left in haste. Tim looked at the two stunned people in front of him. They both looked like their world had ended. He sighed as he thought of what to say.

  “Marcus and Mercedes please do not think the worst. If they took the trail it ends up at a cabin that is kept as an end mark of the trail. There are some provisions in the cabin for a day or two but not much. Leon is a survivalist. If he followed her, she will be in good hands.” he said trying to seem hopeful, “We will send out a search party for them. What I need for you to do is just stay here and pray.” he said as he grabbed his radio and left his office

  Marcus looked at the floor and felt hopeless. Mercedes began to cry. The snow started to fall outside of the window, given no relief of letting up.

  Natalie lay against the wall with her leg prop up on the knapsack. She looked out at the snow filled window and felt scared. Leon moved along the small room with purpose. He took off his knapsack and opened the wood burning stove in the middle of the room and made sure the chute was clear of debris. There was a bundle of wood in the cabin. He checked the cabinets for supplies to help with the fire. He found what he was looking for in the bottom cabinet under the sink, newspaper and matches. He started a fire. He took off his jacket and laid it on his knapsack. He checked the faucet for water and there were none. He opened his sack and pulled out a small pot and bottle water. He put it on the stove and turned to face Natalie. Natalie was amazed that he was calm during the whole thing. He did not show any signs of being scared. He looked at her.

  “We will be fine for now. They will have a search party out looking for us that if it does not start to snow then it will be a while.” he said kneeling, “Do you want some hot chocolate?”