Samantha (Corrections Officer)

We joked about having the entire wilderness to do what we wanted, but deep down, I noticed how quiet everything felt. No traffic sounds, no voices, just the crunch of the tires on gravel and the heavy stillness of backcountry roads. We drove for what felt like hours, only passing the occasional turnoff that led deeper into dense brush.

We joked about having the entire wilderness to do what we wanted, but deep down, I noticed how quiet everything felt. No traffic sounds, no voices, just the crunch of the tires on gravel and the heavy stillness of backcountry roads. We drove for what felt like hours, only passing the occasional turnoff that led deeper into dense brush.

We kept losing phone reception, and each time we checked, we saw the same mocking no signal on the screen. I tried to laugh it off, telling myself it was the perfect digital detox. But something about those winding roads was unsettling. Even the crows perched on dead branches off in the distance made the place feel unwelcoming. Eventually, the dirt path narrowed.

We kept losing phone reception, and each time we checked, we saw the same mocking no signal on the screen. I tried to laugh it off, telling myself it was the perfect digital detox. But something about those winding roads was unsettling. Even the crows perched on dead branches off in the distance made the place feel unwelcoming. Eventually, the dirt path narrowed.

Huge ruts scarred the road, and on one side there was a pretty steep drop. Made me wonder how any logging trucks maneuvered here without sliding right over the edge. My friend said we should pick up the pace, but between the shaky ground and the bumpy potholes, I kept my foot on the brake.

Huge ruts scarred the road, and on one side there was a pretty steep drop. Made me wonder how any logging trucks maneuvered here without sliding right over the edge. My friend said we should pick up the pace, but between the shaky ground and the bumpy potholes, I kept my foot on the brake.

Every time I glanced over the edge, my stomach did a nervous flip, like all it would take was one wrong turn to tumble straight down. As we climbed a small ridge, something caught my eye. An old pickup, its headlights barely visible through the haze of dust. I eased over, letting my truck hug the tree line so they could pass. Except they didn't.

Every time I glanced over the edge, my stomach did a nervous flip, like all it would take was one wrong turn to tumble straight down. As we climbed a small ridge, something caught my eye. An old pickup, its headlights barely visible through the haze of dust. I eased over, letting my truck hug the tree line so they could pass. Except they didn't.

They rolled right up, nose to nose with my front bumper, until I was certain we were only inches apart. Two guys sat inside, rifles propped casually across their laps. The back of their truck overflowed with fresh-cut lumber. I couldn't see much detail through their dirty windshield, but I caught enough of their expressions to sense they weren't in a chatty mood.

They rolled right up, nose to nose with my front bumper, until I was certain we were only inches apart. Two guys sat inside, rifles propped casually across their laps. The back of their truck overflowed with fresh-cut lumber. I couldn't see much detail through their dirty windshield, but I caught enough of their expressions to sense they weren't in a chatty mood.

I raised a hand in greeting, no reaction. Tried a quick, hey y'all headed out? Still nothing. They just stared. My friend turned slightly in his seat, probably ready to reach for his sidearm. The air felt suffocating, like something was about to go very wrong. I couldn't reverse easily, and pushing forward wasn't an option, unless these guys moved.

I raised a hand in greeting, no reaction. Tried a quick, hey y'all headed out? Still nothing. They just stared. My friend turned slightly in his seat, probably ready to reach for his sidearm. The air felt suffocating, like something was about to go very wrong. I couldn't reverse easily, and pushing forward wasn't an option, unless these guys moved.

We were stuck, basically alone, far from anyone who could help if things went south.

We were stuck, basically alone, far from anyone who could help if things went south.

i braced both hands on the steering wheel trying to decide how to handle this there was an urge to honk or yell but something told me that any sudden move might trigger a reaction i didn't want to see these strangers definitely weren't here for a friendly morning drive the question was what were they going to do next and how were we going to get out of it

i braced both hands on the steering wheel trying to decide how to handle this there was an urge to honk or yell but something told me that any sudden move might trigger a reaction i didn't want to see these strangers definitely weren't here for a friendly morning drive the question was what were they going to do next and how were we going to get out of it

i sat there with my hands clamped around the steering wheel my buddy next to me both of us completely unsure if we should speak first or even move the two guys in the pickup stayed glued to their seats rifles across their laps lumber spilling out the back The silence felt suffocating, like the air itself was pressing down on us.

i sat there with my hands clamped around the steering wheel my buddy next to me both of us completely unsure if we should speak first or even move the two guys in the pickup stayed glued to their seats rifles across their laps lumber spilling out the back The silence felt suffocating, like the air itself was pressing down on us.

Just when I thought we might be stuck in this weird stalemate forever, another set of headlights appeared behind their truck, then another, and another, until it was this whole parade of ramshackle cars and trucks creeping over the ridge one by one. Each was just as loaded down with stolen logs as the first, like a convoy in broad daylight that couldn't care less who saw them.

Just when I thought we might be stuck in this weird stalemate forever, another set of headlights appeared behind their truck, then another, and another, until it was this whole parade of ramshackle cars and trucks creeping over the ridge one by one. Each was just as loaded down with stolen logs as the first, like a convoy in broad daylight that couldn't care less who saw them.