Out of The Woods by Patricia Bowmer

– moving straight towards his boat.
She acted immediately. She ploughed her paddle deep into the water, pulled left-right-left-right with all the strength in her torso, and gained the lead. On seeing the turbulent wake made by her kayak, the shark veered towards her. She would never outrun it. But she had saved Fernando. That was all that mattered.
A moment later, the shark reared up towards her, its white teeth promising death. She swung her paddle hard, smashing the shark full-on across the nose. Not a killing blow, but enough to disorient it. It dove suddenly, and a few moments later, she saw it hundreds of meters away, headed out to sea. They both dug their paddles in, and made fast for the far shore.
Halley had never forgotten the wonder in Fernando’s voice when they were finally safe. “My God, Halley!” he’d said. “I can’t believe it – you saved me! That shark…I didn’t even see the fin!”
He’d stopped and stared at her as if she were someone he didn’t know. “Who would’ve believed a little Sparrow like you could save me!” Halley could see that in Fernando’s eyes, she was admirable, and this meant the world to her.
    Trance’s voice slammed her from her reverie. “Had you not chosen the shortcut across the water, Fernando’s life would not have been at risk. Your heroism!” he scoffed. “It was nothing. It was a desperate act brought about by your own foolish choice of route.”
    Halley felt his words as a blow. That moment, that moment had been hers! How dare he try to rewrite her history! She felt the bile rise in her throat, felt fury at his misinterpretation. She had been there! She knew she had saved Fernando’s life.
    She opened her mouth to speak but a terrifying realization silenced her absolutely. How did he know I was thinking about that day when I didn’t say a word? How did he know about that day at all?
    He continued the conversation as if she had replied. “Ah, but I can see the truth in your eyes – in the way you shrink back from me. You see I am right. You know you made a foolish choice that almost killed Fernando. He knew it too.”
    The words were a hot knife cutting through Halley’s mid-section. She recalled again being safely ashore with Fernando, his words, his strange, double-sided compliment: “Who would’ve believed a little Sparrow like you could save me! ” At the time, his admiration had made her feel elated. Now, the words took on a different meaning entirely. Fernando had been saying he was surprised she could save him, not that he admired her. He’d not believed in her, not at all. She dropped her eyes.
    Trance was quiet – he was leaving her to brood.

The bow of the boat cut a deep channel through the strangely still waters. Halley watched the steep granite walls for an opening, for anywhere she could escape. The terror was deep in her now, flooding her body, fed by the realization that this man knew all about her. He even knew her thoughts.
    Trance watched her calmly. Then his eyes narrowed. He’d thought of something new.
    “Most women I know wear their hair differently to you,” he began. His thick lips curled. “They tie it back tightly. They are neatly groomed. You would do well to follow suit.”
    She reached up to touch her hair but quickly lowered her hand. The nights in the woods had left her wildish. Her hair was tangled. Parts had weaved together into links like strong hemp rope. Leaves were stuck in these links, dried mud, bits of twig.
    “I’ve known women who brush their hair a hundred times a night, garnish it with oils to keep it lovely.” His words hit her like stones. “Women who care for their skin, keeping out of the sun.” He smiled, as if reflecting on their beauty. “They are youthful, attractive.”
    Halley stared back at him from her sun-darkened face. The skin around her eyes radiated soft lines, caused by squinting at the bright light of the sun. Her arms and legs bore scratches and bruises. The “women he