She had no choice than to stop and rest. She looked around, panting, and did not see any sign of him. She then realized that she had no idea where she was now. "Great!" She whispered as softly as she could. "Just great!" Darn it!! He's definitely going to catch me now! She thought bitterly.     Jade leaned forward and rested against a tree. She held her right side and panted, trying to catch her breath. She shut her eyes and moaned. A slight noise alerted her, and she froze.     She opened her eyes and looked up. She let out her breath that she did not realize she had been holding in. She saw him with her peripheral vision. He was approaching just a few feet away. It was like he dissolved out of nowhere!     He paused but a few feet from her. She had no idea why he just stood there instead of taking advantage of her surprise. Jade looked straight at him. She was terrified, but she wanted to know what he looked like. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked up at the tall, dark man.     She was able to see faint facial features under the shadow of the hood. She estimated that he was about six feet tall making Jade feel exceptionally short with her petite height. He looked to Jade like a huge shadow. He looked down at her with hurt and a little concern in his pale gray eyes. She especially stared into his eyes. They had the same effect as a black hole, trying to pull her in. She could not help but think that he had beautiful eyes. She also could see the deep desire for her to recognize him in those eyes.     She had no idea who he was; however, she did feel a little less afraid of him now. She wanted to see his whole face. Maybe she really would recognize him. She took a step towards him, but a thought burst free in her mind, What am I doing?!?!     She gasped and ran away from him without thinking. She failed to notice a huge tree root sticking out of the ground and tripped over it. She instinctively held her hands out to soften the blow, but it did not work. Her hands slipped on the pine straw, and her head hit the ground hard. A cloud of excruciating pain nearly made her lose consciousness. But, unfortunately, she was still aware of what was going on.     Jade tried to get up but to no avail. She felt something trickle down her cheek. It felt warm and wet. She immediately knew that it was blood. She then realized that her fall must have made a cut in her forehead. She was too weak to fight to get up again. Please, God! Help me! She prayed as blackness began to engulf her. She fought the darkness off the best that she could.     Pale hands reached out and grabbed her gently. They felt cold on her skin and sent a chill up her spine. He lifted her into his arms. That was the last sensation that she felt. The blackness she had been fighting finally won.     Jade slowly gained consciousness what seemed to be hours later but was only minutes. She realized that she was being carried. She tried to hide that she was awake, but he must have sensed her stir because he spoke.     "Do not be afraid, " he said softly.     She could barely hear him. Her head was throbbing, and her ears were ringing. She could hardly hear herself think, Yeah, right!! Easy for you to say! She was able to pull up enough strength to look around with dazed eyes. She was being taken to another part of the park. She could slightly recognize it. They were in a part of the forest on the opposite side of the park!     Jade felt panic rise up in her. She had to do something to make him drop her! She looked up and saw a lock of blond hair hanging out of his hood. She stared at the beautiful lock for a second. Then, with a burst of energy, she grabbed it and yanked as hard as she possibly could manage with the little energy she had. She ended up having more energy than she thought because she pulled it out. Yet, he still did not let go of her! He stopped and laid her gently on a pile of brush. Jade's head throbbed even more. A silly thought crossed her mind. She realized that she must have looked like a mess! Her clothes had mud caked all over them. They were damp from her fall into the pool of water at the river. She had blood dried on her forehead and in her hair. She probably had bruises and scrapes all over her arms. She did not want to look and see for her self.     He turned around so that his back was turned to her. He slowly pulled the hood off of his head. Jade sat up and watched as his shoulder length, curly, blond hair spilled over his broad shoulders. "You better rest," he said thoughtfully.     Jade thought that she had heard that voice before. She could not place it. If he turned around to face her, maybe she could place his identity.     A wave of pain suddenly flooded Jade's head. She moaned, shut her eyes, and waited for the pain to subside.