Hunger Awaits
Chapter 4

Kendra's POV

The cool breeze from the winter morning came across my face, as I stood looking down the slope in front of me. I had done this thousands of times before with my family, but for some reason, my heart was racing a thousand miles a minute right now. "What's wrong Kendra? You act as if you have never done this before." Bree's voice was next to me and her arm wrapped around my shoulders. It was amazing how different we were for sisters. Bree had taken after our father more. She was about five foot, ten, with ice blue eyes and a killer body. I on the other hand really didn’t look like either of my parents. The only thing that I had that was similar to anyone was my hair. Before I dyed it I had chocolate brown hair like Bree and my mother. I had a very small physique, with intense grayish eyes and to top it off I was only about five foot, two.

I looked over and smiled at Bree. "Nothing little sis. Just the adrenaline, it has been a few years since I went skiing." She laughed.

"Well, that's not my fault. Bet I can still beat you to the bottom." She said as she took off ahead of me down the slope. I shook my head and started off after her. The wind whisked through my hair as I picked up speed closing in on Bree. I laughed to myself as I remembered doing this every year with her when we were kids. She always beat me then, but not this time. I quickly caught up to her and passed her just before we reached the bottom of the slope. Once we hit the bottom I came to a stop and waited for her to do the same.

"Beat you this time." I laughed, as she had a sour look on her face

"You suck. I always win. When did you get so good?" I smiled.

"I didn't, you just got slower." She tried to throw some snow at me but wound up on her ass instead. We both started laughing hysterically and I helped her up.

Paxton and Audrey soon joined us at the bottom of the slope. It was our last day at the beautiful resort and I was already dreading going back home. I hadn't said anything to anyone yet, but the day we left I got a phone call from the police saying that Ryker had escaped. I guess there was a crash when they were transferring him to the state prison and he got away. One guard was killed and another was seriously injured. I hadn't wanted to ruin the trip so I kept it to myself, but I knew I was going to have to tell them soon. "Kendra let's get some food, then we can get a few more trips down the hill before the sun goes down," Paxton said to me, as he came up next to me.

"Sounds good to me. I am starving anyway." We all headed back to the resort laughing and enjoying our last day here.

Once we had all sat down and ordered our food I decided to tell them all about the phone call from the police. "Ok guys, I have something I need to tell you all." They all looked at me with curiosity in their eyes. I took a deep breath and started. "So the day we left I got a phone call from the police. Apparently, Ryker escaped and there is a manhunt going on for him right now." Audrey shook her head and Bree and Paxton both looked shocked.

"Oh, Kendra honey, why didn't you say anything? We could have waited to go on this trip." Audrey said as she placed her hand on mine. I shook my head at her.

"That was why I didn't say anything. I didn't want to ruin the trip, and besides, it is probably a good thing that I am far away from there right now. If Ryker is looking for me he will replace me, which is why I thought I should say something now. I don't want to put any of you in danger." Paxton sorta laughed under his breath.

"Please Kendra, I am with you guys now. I would never let him anywhere near you again." I smiled at Paxton he was an amazing friend.

"I know you won't, but I would feel so bad if something happened to any of you. Ryker is a dangerous man and even I don't know what he will do if he replaces me." Bree chimed in.

"Kendra no one here is scared of him. Besides, the cops are searching for him, and when we get back I am sure they will have someone watching the house." I knew she was right. I really loved all of them so much right now. They made me feel safe and secure, which is all I wanted. I nodded and then Audrey changed the subject. We all sat talking and enjoyed our lunch then headed back out to the hill.

We did a few more runs down the slope and hadn't realized how dark the sky was getting. We had just reached the top of the hill for our last run when one of the employees stopped us. "Sorry, guys you are going to have to take the lift back down. There is a storm coming in and we are closing down for the night." It was no big deal to me, but Bree, on the other hand, wanted to go down one last time. My sister was very persuasive when she wants something. She walked up to the man and put on her charm.

"Oh can't you please just let us go. I promise we will head straight down and then go inside. Maybe you can meet me for some drinks later if you let us go." She batted her eyelashes and smiled at him and he instantly caved.

"Well ok, but don't tell anyone. So when can I meet up with you?" He said to her. He was kinda cute, but I don't think he was Bree's type. However, she is true to her word.

"How about seven? I will meet you in the resort bar." He nodded at her then she smiled and took off down the mountain. I shook my head and smiled as everyone else went ahead of me, leaving me alone.

I finally just smiled at the employee and mouthed thank you then started down the slope. The trees were flying past me as I started to gain speed. I couldn't see anyone else ahead of me, and the sky was almost completely dark. The temperature had dropped drastically in just a few minutes and now the wind had picked up. I kept my eyes on the path ahead of me until something caught my eye. I turned my head for just a second and thought I saw something running in the trees beside me. I shook my head and turned back to the path in front of me. I had made it about halfway down when a big, black wolf sat in my path just fifty feet in front of me. I panicked and quickly swerved off the path into the woods. I had been going so fast that I couldn't control myself once I turned. I was completely at the mercy of the trees and rocks as I plowed through them. The tree branches were starting to slow me, but then a giant rock hit my left ski tossing me in the air. I tumbled down a small hill hitting many branches on the way. I felt the snap of something in my leg, as I hit one last rock before I came to a stop. Then I felt the coldness of the night air and coming storm fall over me just before I fell into the darkness.

Matto's POV

The storm was coming in fast and I could hear the radio chatter from the other employees, as I was putting my equipment away. "All clear on the top. I did send one last group of four down five minutes ago." One of the employees said.

"Are you crazy you idiot? This storm is moving fast and if they don't make it down then you will never hear the end of it." Another employee said making me chuckle. There was silence for a few minutes so I went back to putting things away.

"Matto are you there? We have a problem on the hill." I grabbed the radio sitting beside me.

"This is Matto. Go ahead." There was a slight pause. Then the crackle of the radio again as the employee started to talk.

"We have a missing skier. She was one of the last ones coming down the mountain, her friends made it but she never did. You better hurry man, the snow is starting to fall. She won't last overnight." I knew he was right so I quickly started putting my equipment back in the truck.

"I'm on my way." I grabbed the second radio that the ski rescue used to communicate. We did this so no families or friends could hear us. "Koda, Jace, I need you on the hill. Missing skier. We have to move quickly." I heard the crackle of the radio then Jace's voice.

"Already on our way, we overheard the call. Meet you there." I hopped in the truck and headed to the hill.

The snow was coming down heavily and the wind was blowing hard. It was already turning into a blizzard quickly so I knew that we would have to work fast. I reminded myself, as I pulled up to the bottom of the hill, to give that employee a piece of my mind for letting these people go down. Now I have to go out and replace this poor girl, who could possibly be hurt or freeze to death. No, I won't let that happen, if we had to shift we would. I walked up to the small crowd of people standing there with Jace and Koda. My heart started to sink as I realized who the group was. The blonde woman ran up to me. "I'm so glad it's you. I know you will replace her." I looked down at her.

"Who is it that is missing?" I hadn't had a chance to look for her yet, but somehow I already knew the blonde's answer.

"It's Kendra. She was right behind us I thought, but when we got down she never made it. Please, you have to replace her."

The adrenaline started to run through my veins as I instantly flew into motion. "I will replace her miss. Koda get the gear, let's move fast." The blonde seemed a little more relaxed as she watched me.

"Audrey, my name is Audrey. Please hurry. I don't want to lose my friend." I stopped and looked at her. The worry in her eyes was genuine and I knew she cared deeply for Kendra. I took her hand as a way to reassure her. I let my eyes meet hers so she knew that I meant what I was going to say.

"I promise you, I will not come back without her. Now, why don't you all go back to the resort and get out of the storm? This gentleman over here will take you." I pointed at the male employee waiting close by with his head hung low. I imagined he was the one that allowed this to happen, but right now I didn't have time to yell at him. At first, Audrey looked like she was going to protest, but then she just nodded and walked over to the waiting truck with her other friends. Once they were gone I walked over to Jace and Koda who was waiting by the trees with the equipment. "Leave the gear we are shifting to replace this one." They both looked at me confused.

"Why we never shift to replace people it's too risky," Jace said to me. I looked up at him with anger in my eyes.

"Did I stutter? We don't have time to argue. This storm is moving fast and she will freeze to death if we don't replace her. Now let's go and don't ever question me again." Jace quickly lowered his head and walked into the woods. Koda walked up to me, as we entered the trees.

"It's her isn't it?" Was all he said and my eyes gave him his answer. He shifted immediately as soon as we were out of sight and I quickly followed.

"Jace you head to the left, Koda you take the right. I'm going to go straight. If you replace her let us all know and head to the closest shelter you can replace." They both agreed and headed off. I started moving forward. Don't worry Kendra I'm coming.