Catherine

I was standing barefoot 300 yards from the ridge in the middle of the open desert, arms at my sides, back perfectly straight, staring directly at the horizon. My lips were dry, my tongue swollen, my eyes burned like they hadn't blinked all night. I heard a voice behind me. Jesus, Eric. Clint. He jogged up out of breath, grabbing my shoulder hard like he wasn't sure I was real. Are you hurt?

I was standing barefoot 300 yards from the ridge in the middle of the open desert, arms at my sides, back perfectly straight, staring directly at the horizon. My lips were dry, my tongue swollen, my eyes burned like they hadn't blinked all night. I heard a voice behind me. Jesus, Eric. Clint. He jogged up out of breath, grabbing my shoulder hard like he wasn't sure I was real. Are you hurt?

What the hell happened? I couldn't answer. I didn't even know where to begin. He brought me back to the outpost. I walked, but I don't remember moving. My feet were shredded from the rocks, blood smeared across my heels and calves.

What the hell happened? I couldn't answer. I didn't even know where to begin. He brought me back to the outpost. I walked, but I don't remember moving. My feet were shredded from the rocks, blood smeared across my heels and calves.

when we reached the station clint got even more tense two perfect holes in the front door hunting rifle rounds fired from inside did you shoot at someone he asked i shook my head slowly or maybe i nodded i don't know i was barely hanging on inside the place was in chaos

when we reached the station clint got even more tense two perfect holes in the front door hunting rifle rounds fired from inside did you shoot at someone he asked i shook my head slowly or maybe i nodded i don't know i was barely hanging on inside the place was in chaos

the attic panel was nailed shut from the inside the furniture had been pushed against the walls the flare gun was on the floor by the window unused and the shortwave still on still humming later at the station in kanab the sheriff asked me questions I told them someone came to the door, that I let him in, that he left, that I felt threatened, that I fired two shots through the door.

the attic panel was nailed shut from the inside the furniture had been pushed against the walls the flare gun was on the floor by the window unused and the shortwave still on still humming later at the station in kanab the sheriff asked me questions I told them someone came to the door, that I let him in, that he left, that I felt threatened, that I fired two shots through the door.

It wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the truth either. They found no sign of another person, no tire tracks. No boot prints. No second mug. No name in the logbook. Nothing. Just me. They kept me for two nights in the clinic. Gave me fluids. Told me I'd had a stress-induced dissociative event. That being alone out there for too long sometimes does that to people.

It wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the truth either. They found no sign of another person, no tire tracks. No boot prints. No second mug. No name in the logbook. Nothing. Just me. They kept me for two nights in the clinic. Gave me fluids. Told me I'd had a stress-induced dissociative event. That being alone out there for too long sometimes does that to people.

When I finally spoke to Clint, I asked him one thing. You ever see anything up there? He looked at me for a long time before answering. There's a reason we stopped using that post, he said. It wasn't the lightning strike. That's all he gave me. A month later I left Utah, moved north, changed my number, no contact with the agency, no more solo gigs. I tried to forget.

When I finally spoke to Clint, I asked him one thing. You ever see anything up there? He looked at me for a long time before answering. There's a reason we stopped using that post, he said. It wasn't the lightning strike. That's all he gave me. A month later I left Utah, moved north, changed my number, no contact with the agency, no more solo gigs. I tried to forget.

But sometimes, when I'm driving through empty country and the light hits just right, I'll look out toward the horizon, and I'll see someone standing out there, back turned, head tilted slightly, waiting. And in those moments, the desert smell hits me again. That strange mix of dust, copper, and something older. Something that doesn't belong in this world.

But sometimes, when I'm driving through empty country and the light hits just right, I'll look out toward the horizon, and I'll see someone standing out there, back turned, head tilted slightly, waiting. And in those moments, the desert smell hits me again. That strange mix of dust, copper, and something older. Something that doesn't belong in this world.

I don't know what I saw up on Horsehead Ridge. I don't know if it was ever human. But I know this much. Whatever it was, it walked too far, and it brought something back with it. The camping trip was Mikey's idea. We deserved a little vacation, he had said. An opportunity to escape our cramped, cluttered college house and commune with the great outdoors.

I don't know what I saw up on Horsehead Ridge. I don't know if it was ever human. But I know this much. Whatever it was, it walked too far, and it brought something back with it. The camping trip was Mikey's idea. We deserved a little vacation, he had said. An opportunity to escape our cramped, cluttered college house and commune with the great outdoors.

He had leaned into the center of our clump one night, the same devious glint in his eyes that he always got whenever he was about to drag us into trouble and said, How about a trip up the mountain? I don't know, Cynthia had replied, a bottle of grenadine in one hand and a bottle of Tito's in the other. I'm not very outdoorsy. None of us are. My boyfriend, Josh, agreed.

He had leaned into the center of our clump one night, the same devious glint in his eyes that he always got whenever he was about to drag us into trouble and said, How about a trip up the mountain? I don't know, Cynthia had replied, a bottle of grenadine in one hand and a bottle of Tito's in the other. I'm not very outdoorsy. None of us are. My boyfriend, Josh, agreed.

Oh, come on, Mikey urged, slinging an arm around my shoulder. Catherine thinks it's a great idea, right, Kath? I looked around the room at my friends, at our messy, half-hearted attempt at a pregame. Autumn cuddled up against her girlfriend, Sylvia, Josh, and Mikey, bookending me on the lumpy couch.

Oh, come on, Mikey urged, slinging an arm around my shoulder. Catherine thinks it's a great idea, right, Kath? I looked around the room at my friends, at our messy, half-hearted attempt at a pregame. Autumn cuddled up against her girlfriend, Sylvia, Josh, and Mikey, bookending me on the lumpy couch.