Samantha (Corrections Officer)

Should we invite this stranger to ride with us? The desert at night can be overwhelming for anyone going solo. Besides, there's a sort of code among off-roaders. Help each other out when needed. So I waved him over. You're good if you want to join, I hollered. He gave that same silent nod. No name, no backstory. Still, I shrugged it off. Might have been nerves. Might have been pure exhaustion.

Should we invite this stranger to ride with us? The desert at night can be overwhelming for anyone going solo. Besides, there's a sort of code among off-roaders. Help each other out when needed. So I waved him over. You're good if you want to join, I hollered. He gave that same silent nod. No name, no backstory. Still, I shrugged it off. Might have been nerves. Might have been pure exhaustion.

Who was I to judge? Engines roared as we headed off in a single-file line. We fanned out a bit, so no one got blasted by another's dust. The moon didn't provide much light, and our ATV headlights wove a jittery dance across the sand. It was exhilarating, speeding through shadows, shifting weight on the bike as we climbed ridges, and feeling that crunch under our tires.

Who was I to judge? Engines roared as we headed off in a single-file line. We fanned out a bit, so no one got blasted by another's dust. The moon didn't provide much light, and our ATV headlights wove a jittery dance across the sand. It was exhilarating, speeding through shadows, shifting weight on the bike as we climbed ridges, and feeling that crunch under our tires.

I intentionally kept myself second to last, leaving the newcomer in the rear so I could keep an eye on him. Every few minutes, I'd do a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't lagging too far behind or struggling. At first, he held his own. His headlights stayed close enough for me to see, bouncing along in time with our group. But something about him felt off.

I intentionally kept myself second to last, leaving the newcomer in the rear so I could keep an eye on him. Every few minutes, I'd do a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure he wasn't lagging too far behind or struggling. At first, he held his own. His headlights stayed close enough for me to see, bouncing along in time with our group. But something about him felt off.

He never pulled up alongside me or tried to talk, though that was hardly a crime. Still, my nerves started simmering when I noticed how he'd occasionally accelerate, like he was about to catch up, then drop back just as fast. We pressed on through winding trails and patches of rocky ground where the dust seemed to hang in the air like a fog.

He never pulled up alongside me or tried to talk, though that was hardly a crime. Still, my nerves started simmering when I noticed how he'd occasionally accelerate, like he was about to catch up, then drop back just as fast. We pressed on through winding trails and patches of rocky ground where the dust seemed to hang in the air like a fog.

My buddies looked comfortable, probably laughing into their helmets about some inside joke, but my mind kept drifting to the quiet rider behind me. Something tugged at my thoughts, urging me to stay alert. He hadn't done anything threatening, yet I found myself checking my mirror more than usual.

My buddies looked comfortable, probably laughing into their helmets about some inside joke, but my mind kept drifting to the quiet rider behind me. Something tugged at my thoughts, urging me to stay alert. He hadn't done anything threatening, yet I found myself checking my mirror more than usual.

After a solid hour of weaving through washes and shallow ravines, we decided to head to our favorite overlook. It's a high ridge with a panoramic view of the surrounding desert, a spot where we typically kill the engines and soak in the scenery. When we finally reached it, we parked our bikes in a rough semi-circle.

After a solid hour of weaving through washes and shallow ravines, we decided to head to our favorite overlook. It's a high ridge with a panoramic view of the surrounding desert, a spot where we typically kill the engines and soak in the scenery. When we finally reached it, we parked our bikes in a rough semi-circle.

The night sky opened above us, a million stars shining, the gentle glow of the city far off in the distance. It was the kind of place that could remind you just how small you are. I twisted around on my seat, fully expecting to see the newcomer pulling up in that last position. But the space behind our group was empty. Only my own tire tracks trailed back down the slope.

The night sky opened above us, a million stars shining, the gentle glow of the city far off in the distance. It was the kind of place that could remind you just how small you are. I twisted around on my seat, fully expecting to see the newcomer pulling up in that last position. But the space behind our group was empty. Only my own tire tracks trailed back down the slope.

A cold ripple of alarm worked through my gut. He'd been on my tail the entire time, right? Why wasn't he cresting the hill now? My friends noticed the vacant spot too. A few shrugged, assuming he'd slowed or taken a wrong turn. That's when we flipped on our flashlights and started calling out, waiting for a sign, any sign, of him coming over that ridge. Nothing.

A cold ripple of alarm worked through my gut. He'd been on my tail the entire time, right? Why wasn't he cresting the hill now? My friends noticed the vacant spot too. A few shrugged, assuming he'd slowed or taken a wrong turn. That's when we flipped on our flashlights and started calling out, waiting for a sign, any sign, of him coming over that ridge. Nothing.

one of my buddies volunteered to ride back a short way maybe the stranger's bike stalled out or he caught a flat we hoped that was all time dragged on and the unsettling possibility that he'd vanished sunk in the desert can play tricks under moonlight distorting shapes and distances but how far could he have gone without one of us noticing

one of my buddies volunteered to ride back a short way maybe the stranger's bike stalled out or he caught a flat we hoped that was all time dragged on and the unsettling possibility that he'd vanished sunk in the desert can play tricks under moonlight distorting shapes and distances but how far could he have gone without one of us noticing

I stared down the slope, straining for the glow of his headlight in the darkness. Only a vast expanse of sand and rocks stared back. We regrouped quickly. My mouth felt dry, and it wasn't from thirst. A wave of anxiety crawled under my skin as I fired up my ATV again, ready to retrace our route.

I stared down the slope, straining for the glow of his headlight in the darkness. Only a vast expanse of sand and rocks stared back. We regrouped quickly. My mouth felt dry, and it wasn't from thirst. A wave of anxiety crawled under my skin as I fired up my ATV again, ready to retrace our route.