Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

A Stranger in the Woods

As I turn the steering wheel of my jeep onto the gravel parking lot I hear the familiar sound of my tires crushing the gravel into the dry ground. Before I head to the trail, I apply sunscreen and put on my baseball hat in an attempt to protect myself from anymore sun damage that I’ve acquired over my 36 years.

As I walk along the trail, I can smell the fresh scent of pine needles in the air. Off in the distance, I notice a man sitting on a rock. As I approach him, it appears as if he’s taking a water break. I too, decide this would be a good time to re-hydrate. We begin to exchange pleasantries and then I notice a change in his behavior. He gets off the rock and begins to walk towards me.

He asks, “Are you hiking alone?”

I step back and respond with a shaky voice, “No, I’m just waiting for my boyfriend to catch up.”

He steps closer, “Why, would he let a pretty girl like you hike alone?”

Not knowing how to respond, I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat and I look around for an escape route.

The next thing I know he lunges towards me and drags me into the woods as I yell, “Help!”

I kick and scream and struggle as he tries to gain control of me. As he attempts to sit on top of me I shove my knee into his groin. He rolls over in pain and I scramble to my feet. I run away from him but I hear him catching up.

Off in the distance, I see a park ranger who is looking in my direction. I run towards the ranger hoping I reach him in time.


WC: 298
Prompt: Use the words rock, wheel and hat