Unknown Narrator

i caught fleeting silhouettes of towering cliffs on either side of the road barely outlined by starshine mike kept tapping the steering wheel seemingly at ease but i caught him squinting at the unlit trailhead as we pulled over watching him reach for a flashlight gave me a small surge of reassurance even if i wasn't sure that little beam could do much out here

i caught fleeting silhouettes of towering cliffs on either side of the road barely outlined by starshine mike kept tapping the steering wheel seemingly at ease but i caught him squinting at the unlit trailhead as we pulled over watching him reach for a flashlight gave me a small surge of reassurance even if i wasn't sure that little beam could do much out here

Once we stepped out, the cold air wrapped around me. I tugged my jacket tighter, silently second-guessing my decision. Mike took the lead on a narrow path that cut between shadowy rock faces. At first, the atmosphere felt almost romantic. The crunch of gravel under our feet. The faint rustle of leaves overhead. It felt like we had this entire slice of nature to ourselves.

Once we stepped out, the cold air wrapped around me. I tugged my jacket tighter, silently second-guessing my decision. Mike took the lead on a narrow path that cut between shadowy rock faces. At first, the atmosphere felt almost romantic. The crunch of gravel under our feet. The faint rustle of leaves overhead. It felt like we had this entire slice of nature to ourselves.

But with each step, my awareness of how isolated we were grew. My breath started coming quicker, and I found myself checking the trail behind us now and then, half expecting something to emerge from the darkness. Mike still hadn't admitted he was nervous, but I noticed how he kept scanning the path ahead.

But with each step, my awareness of how isolated we were grew. My breath started coming quicker, and I found myself checking the trail behind us now and then, half expecting something to emerge from the darkness. Mike still hadn't admitted he was nervous, but I noticed how he kept scanning the path ahead.

He'd mentioned he was familiar with the area, yet his pace slowed every few strides, like he was trying to decide if we should go on or turn back. I kept telling myself that nothing was actually wrong, that it was just nerves playing tricks on me. Still, I couldn't deny the strangeness in the air, the way every sound, from our footsteps to the slightest breeze, felt amplified.

He'd mentioned he was familiar with the area, yet his pace slowed every few strides, like he was trying to decide if we should go on or turn back. I kept telling myself that nothing was actually wrong, that it was just nerves playing tricks on me. Still, I couldn't deny the strangeness in the air, the way every sound, from our footsteps to the slightest breeze, felt amplified.

Eventually we reached a stretch where overhanging branches blocked what little starlight we had. Mike flicked on the flashlight, and the beam wavered, casting frantic shapes across the ground. The path seemed narrower than ever, and I noticed that he gripped the light so tightly his knuckles turned white. We pressed on with careful steps.

Eventually we reached a stretch where overhanging branches blocked what little starlight we had. Mike flicked on the flashlight, and the beam wavered, casting frantic shapes across the ground. The path seemed narrower than ever, and I noticed that he gripped the light so tightly his knuckles turned white. We pressed on with careful steps.

I thought about suggesting we turn around, but I didn't want him to think I was a coward. Maybe he felt the same, because neither of us spoke. that's when mike halted i almost bumped into him he didn't move for a few seconds and a sliver of panic surged through me the flashlight beam grazed the dirt illuminating a lump in our path something that didn't fit the usual rocks and branches

I thought about suggesting we turn around, but I didn't want him to think I was a coward. Maybe he felt the same, because neither of us spoke. that's when mike halted i almost bumped into him he didn't move for a few seconds and a sliver of panic surged through me the flashlight beam grazed the dirt illuminating a lump in our path something that didn't fit the usual rocks and branches

my pulse throbbed mike shifted back not daring to nudge it again he raised the flashlight a little and the beam flickered over rough ground but i still couldn't make out what was lying there the quiet pressed in we locked eyes and i knew instantly that we both wanted to run neither of us asked questions we pivoted and retraced our steps with hurried intensity every bump of my shoe against the gravel felt thunderous

my pulse throbbed mike shifted back not daring to nudge it again he raised the flashlight a little and the beam flickered over rough ground but i still couldn't make out what was lying there the quiet pressed in we locked eyes and i knew instantly that we both wanted to run neither of us asked questions we pivoted and retraced our steps with hurried intensity every bump of my shoe against the gravel felt thunderous

The flashlight swung back and forth, revealing just enough to guide us out, but I kept imagining silhouettes lurking beyond its edge. I didn't breathe easy until we reached the car. Even then, my hands shook so hard I had trouble fastening my seatbelt. We drove away in a tense silence, each too unsettled to speak.

The flashlight swung back and forth, revealing just enough to guide us out, but I kept imagining silhouettes lurking beyond its edge. I didn't breathe easy until we reached the car. Even then, my hands shook so hard I had trouble fastening my seatbelt. We drove away in a tense silence, each too unsettled to speak.

The farther we got from the trailhead, the more my chest loosened, but a queasy sense of unfinished business clung to me. I tried to make a joke about how we'd picked a ridiculous way to spend a first date, but the words died on my lips. Mike forced a half smile, though his eyes stayed glued to the empty highway. In that moment, I told myself it was just a late night scare, some weird fluke.

The farther we got from the trailhead, the more my chest loosened, but a queasy sense of unfinished business clung to me. I tried to make a joke about how we'd picked a ridiculous way to spend a first date, but the words died on my lips. Mike forced a half smile, though his eyes stayed glued to the empty highway. In that moment, I told myself it was just a late night scare, some weird fluke.

We were both alive, unhurt. So what was there to worry about? But part of me couldn't ignore the electric sense that we'd dodged something dreadful, a brush with a threat that had no name yet. We never spoke about that shapeless lump on the trail, and deep down, I think we both knew we'd never forget it. For a while, we pretended nothing had happened on that trail.

We were both alive, unhurt. So what was there to worry about? But part of me couldn't ignore the electric sense that we'd dodged something dreadful, a brush with a threat that had no name yet. We never spoke about that shapeless lump on the trail, and deep down, I think we both knew we'd never forget it. For a while, we pretended nothing had happened on that trail.