Aaron Miller

No heat, as if I hadn't built a fire at all. Yet I clearly remembered the flames, the flickering warmth that had briefly calmed my nerves. Pulling my GPS from its holder, I stared at the screen. Still unchanged. Still mocking me with impossible numbers. I rebooted it again, desperate now. When it returned, the coordinates were exactly the same as before, unchanged since yesterday morning.

No heat, as if I hadn't built a fire at all. Yet I clearly remembered the flames, the flickering warmth that had briefly calmed my nerves. Pulling my GPS from its holder, I stared at the screen. Still unchanged. Still mocking me with impossible numbers. I rebooted it again, desperate now. When it returned, the coordinates were exactly the same as before, unchanged since yesterday morning.

A rush of anger surged through me. I tightened my grip until my knuckles whitened, resisting the urge to smash it against the nearest rock. I'll figure this out, I whispered to myself, barely audible. Methodically, I packed camp, placing trail cameras around the area as markers. Each camera faced outward, programmed to record any movement.

A rush of anger surged through me. I tightened my grip until my knuckles whitened, resisting the urge to smash it against the nearest rock. I'll figure this out, I whispered to myself, barely audible. Methodically, I packed camp, placing trail cameras around the area as markers. Each camera faced outward, programmed to record any movement.

If something strange was happening here, I'd at least capture evidence of it. Then, with forced confidence, I set off again.

If something strange was happening here, I'd at least capture evidence of it. Then, with forced confidence, I set off again.

i moved uphill cautiously careful to observe every feature every twisted tree limb every angular stone to mark my path i tied strips of bright orange flagging tape around branches every fifty yards or so counting each step deliberately one hundred yards two hundred five hundred Yet the elevation felt stagnant. I could swear I was climbing. My legs ached with the effort.

i moved uphill cautiously careful to observe every feature every twisted tree limb every angular stone to mark my path i tied strips of bright orange flagging tape around branches every fifty yards or so counting each step deliberately one hundred yards two hundred five hundred Yet the elevation felt stagnant. I could swear I was climbing. My legs ached with the effort.

But the view behind me didn't match that effort. When I glanced backward, the trail markers glowed neon bright against the shadowed forest. Ahead, the landscape never shifted significantly. My breathing quickened, anxiety tightening my chest. After almost two hours, dread settled over me like a heavy cloak.

But the view behind me didn't match that effort. When I glanced backward, the trail markers glowed neon bright against the shadowed forest. Ahead, the landscape never shifted significantly. My breathing quickened, anxiety tightening my chest. After almost two hours, dread settled over me like a heavy cloak.

Ahead, an orange flagging tape dangled limply from a branch, fluttering faintly as if mocking my efforts. It was my own tape, I recognized the sloppy knot I'd hastily tied earlier. Somehow, despite careful navigation and ascending steadily, I'd circled back to the exact same place. I sat down hard on a fallen log, pulse hammering in my ears. How was this even possible?

Ahead, an orange flagging tape dangled limply from a branch, fluttering faintly as if mocking my efforts. It was my own tape, I recognized the sloppy knot I'd hastily tied earlier. Somehow, despite careful navigation and ascending steadily, I'd circled back to the exact same place. I sat down hard on a fallen log, pulse hammering in my ears. How was this even possible?

No mapped trail here formed such a perfect invisible loop. I pulled out the map and unfolded it frantically, my fingers trembling. The path was straightforward, ascending clearly to a defined ridge. No loops, no intersections, nothing that explained this impossible circuit. I'm stuck, I said aloud, my voice sounding thin and distant in the unnatural silence.

No mapped trail here formed such a perfect invisible loop. I pulled out the map and unfolded it frantically, my fingers trembling. The path was straightforward, ascending clearly to a defined ridge. No loops, no intersections, nothing that explained this impossible circuit. I'm stuck, I said aloud, my voice sounding thin and distant in the unnatural silence.

Panic edged closer, like a predator pacing in the darkness. I stood abruptly, determined to break the cycle. Picking a new direction, I marched straight uphill, ignoring the trail altogether, pushing through thick underbrush and fallen logs. Branches clawed at my clothing, scraped my face, but I pressed on. After another half hour, relief swelled briefly in my chest.

Panic edged closer, like a predator pacing in the darkness. I stood abruptly, determined to break the cycle. Picking a new direction, I marched straight uphill, ignoring the trail altogether, pushing through thick underbrush and fallen logs. Branches clawed at my clothing, scraped my face, but I pressed on. After another half hour, relief swelled briefly in my chest.

I seemed to be making real progress, finally breaking free. But that relief was short-lived. Ahead, the trees thinned slightly. I stumbled into a small clearing. My stomach lurched as I recognized the angled boulder and the faint circle of ashes from my morning fire.

I seemed to be making real progress, finally breaking free. But that relief was short-lived. Ahead, the trees thinned slightly. I stumbled into a small clearing. My stomach lurched as I recognized the angled boulder and the faint circle of ashes from my morning fire.

my campsite exactly as i'd left it hours earlier greeted me silently mocking my efforts a crushing despair settled in this wasn't possible it couldn't be the fading daylight cast strange elongated shadows across the campsite I sank down by the fire pit, hands shaking uncontrollably. Then, somewhere behind me, a faint movement caught my eye. My heart seized in my chest.

my campsite exactly as i'd left it hours earlier greeted me silently mocking my efforts a crushing despair settled in this wasn't possible it couldn't be the fading daylight cast strange elongated shadows across the campsite I sank down by the fire pit, hands shaking uncontrollably. Then, somewhere behind me, a faint movement caught my eye. My heart seized in my chest.