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It occurs to me that life is pretty good right now. I’ve pulled myself out of a lot over the past months. Moved, made new friends, found new hobbies. Not long ago, I was hiding inside, barely leaving the house to get necessities, tied to the mundanity of watching TV and scrolling social media. Before that, it was nonstop shitty jobs to try to keep a roof over my head. If you’d told me then I’d be hiking through the forest, infatuated with akind, gorgeous man, and looking forward to a road trip to see some of my favorite bands, I never would’ve believed it.
My plan was to take the trail to the bridge, cross the creek then cut back through the orchard to the cliff, but a sudden flash of color between the trees brings me to a halt.
Was that a deer? Keeping still, I watch the area. Was it only my imagination? One of thosecorner of your eyehallucinations? It’s not unlikely, especially considering the edible is still influencing my thoughts. Straining my ears, I don’t hear anything unusual. There aren’t any wild animals to concern myself with here. Nothing big at least. There’s more worry over stepping on a venomous snake than seeing a rare black bear or mountain lion that may wander in from western Tennessee.
I’ve decided to keep going when he steps out from between the trees, the worst animal you can find yourself alone with in the woods. Fear races down my spine, freezing me in place. A dark balaclava obscures his face, but he’s looking right at me. A hundred scenarios try to reassure me. Maybe he’s a hunter who got lost, a visitor that Arlow didn’t tell me about, a random teenager out here trespassing, but none of it lowers the hair on the back of my neck or the goosebumps lining my skin.
Not only because of the mask, but his reaction. He doesn’t run, not toward me or away. He doesn’t wave or call out an explanation. Instead, he stands stock still, staring at me. I’m too far away to make out what he’s wearing, other than a large jacket that ignites the panic smoldering inside me.
No. It’s not him. There’s no way it could be him. Lots of people wear denim jackets.
Suspended in time, we stand there regarding each other until he takes a step in my direction. My instincts kick in, and I turn on my heel, sliding on the wet leaves underfoot. For one blindingly terrifying second, I’m sure I’m going to fall, but I catch my balance and run. A glance back shows him a little closerto me, but not much. Is he running? I’m not looking back long enough to judge.
I fumble to pull my phone out of my pocket and want to cry at the absence of bars showing no signal. It’s always spotty out here. Racing back down the path, my fear builds to pure panic while I wait for a hand to clamp onto my shoulder or arms to grab me from behind. I can’t take the awful dread of it. I’m not fast and staying on the trail is probably stupid. Instead, I veer off the path and tear through the woods.
The underbrush may be dying but it’s thick and clogged with leaves. It’s difficult to run through, as if the ground is on his side, grabbing at my feet so he can catch up with me. My breath bursts in and out of my lungs while branches and twigs reach out to scrape at my skin. I’m not sure how far I’ve gone when I realize I don’t know where I am. Am I even heading in the right direction?
A frantic look around reveals nothing but the overcast forest. I’m lost. My awful sense of direction is going to get me killed.
North. The word filters through my panic. The cabin, Arlow’s place, the graveyard, the road, all are north of the forest. No matter where I come out, that’s the right direction to go. Thank goodness I have the compass on my phone. It doesn’t require service like the GPS.
I’m terrified to stop but I duck behind a tree to quickly pull it up on my screen. Right now, I’m headed east which would only run me into the fence dividing this property from the next. Keeping the compass open on the screen, I take off, running north. The bars on my phone show a signal again, and I tap Arlow’s contact without slowing down.
Please let him be home.
CHAPTER 15
ARLOW
My sleep wasrestless and I’m on my second cup of coffee when Lee texts me.
Lee
Wake up. I need a ride from Silver’s place.
Lee doesn’t date or do relationships but unlike me, he isn’t a stranger to random one night stands. Lacey must’ve dropped them both off at Silver’s. I’m not surprised, but I’m not going to miss the opportunity to fuck with him.
Me
Wrong number.
Lee
Arlow I swear to fuck.
Me
How bad were you if she won’t give you a ride home?
Lee
Her car is at Calli’s. Someone picked her up for work. Just get your ass over here.
Me
On my way.
It’s quiet over at Calli’s cabin when I leave. She’s likely still asleep. I’ll catch up with her later to apologize for last night and say goodbye before she leaves for the next few days.
