It’s Just Dust (One Page)

In a fit of panic and regret, she let out a scream and pressed her foot down on the gas. She raced up the empty highway until she disappeared into the poorly lit forest. West Ridge Mountain was known for many things. Summer camps, outdoor parties, the annual Ridgeview Fair and hiking. But the forest was massive and most of it was empty forest and wildlife. To maintain that good reputation and minimize the number of encounters with predators, forest rangers advised visitors to stay away from the eastern side of the park or proceed with caution if they ventured beyond the posted signage. However, in a fit of reckless anger, Katie drove right past the caution signs and deeper into the mountainside.

She parked her car in a visitors parking lot covered in dirt and graveled. Behind the trees and bushes where only someone on a hike would find it. She got out of her car and began walking east away from the main road with complete disregard for the signage up ahead.

*Proceed with Caution, be wary of Predators*

As if she was sending a giant "Fuck you" to the universe. She often wrote in her journal "If you think I fucked up there, just wait until you hear what I did afterward."

Katie began to walk along a trail that led her to a flat grassy area on West Ridge mountain. In the same area, they spread her grandfather's ashes. Despite all the signage and warnings, every time she came to this spot with her grandfather they never encountered any animals. She thought to herself, maybe the signs are just a lie to keep people from damaging the entire reservation. She walked out to the center of the field and looked outward. As she looked out across the forest she glanced off into the distance and stood still as the light from the sunset peered over the treetops she felt calm for the first time in a long time.

For once, there was no noise, no people, no alcohol or drugs. Just her and her thoughts. For a brief moment, she had peace, until her mind began to wander through all of the possibilities. What if her brother's injury is worse than it looked? What if nobody forgives her? What if her friends leave and Tyler never takes her back?

Her thoughts began racing and she began to panic. For once, there was nothing she could use to distract herself. For the first time in a while, she was alone with her own thoughts . At that moment, her heart began to race and her breath began to quicken and become shallow. She could feel herself having a panic attack. She laid flat in the grass with her hand across her chest trying desperately to calm herself down. And before she knew it everything went black.

She fainted.

She awoke in a cold sweat covered in grass. Only now, the once grassy field lit by the sunset was completely dark.

"This is bad! I can't see a thing." She said.

" I need to try and find a way out of here. Let me use the flashlight on my phone."

Before she could reach into her pocket, something let out a low growl from directly behind her.

Katie froze in place. Shaken by the sound. She covered her mouth desperately holding back a scream.

The growl began to move as whatever lurked behind her began to travel slowly to the right side of her body. She could feel the vibration from its growl in her chest. Although it seemed to be right next to her she couldn't make out what it was or where it was completely.

The creature circled Katie slowly. And then just like that, the growls stopped.

Katie exhaled, "The coast is clear. I hope."

She stood up slowly with her back in the direction of where she last heard the growl and before she could take off running a sharp pain combined with intense pressure shot through her forearm and dragged her to the ground.