Moon Adrift

July 1st, 2024

11:53 AM

North Bend is a very small town to the far east of Seattle. A popular stopping point for hikers and the like. The driver is nice enough to drop me off at a small café near the middle of town. I’ve got my map, my compass, and a bit of money to get a coffee and plan out a route to Lake Hancock. The last time I saw a big lake was with my friend and his uncle back when we were only 9 years old, so I’m really looking forward to it.

After getting myself a sweet cappuccino, I set my things on a table at the far end of the café and start looking at trails and roads on my map. It’s clear as day I’m a noob when it comes to hiking, but everyone starts somewhere, and people tend to learn the most when they have to do things on their own.

It’s kind of perfect now that I think about it. I had just enough to get started out here. The hard part is yet to rear its head, however. Once I make for the woods, it’ll be a few days walk through the forest and hills until I reach the lake unless I can find an easier way. I haven’t even put the tent together in practice yet, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be an easy process.

There seems to be a slight commotion at the front counter where there’s a few people watching the news and I catch sight of a really tall person with a bright red jacket. They seem to be going back and forth about something… I try to listen in from where I’m sitting but only catch certain words like ‘Pigs,’ and ‘Useless’.

Looking up at the news I notice there’s a reporter trying to talk to a man in uniform who looks like a policeman, and I put two and two together.

Yeah, everyone knows how lazy the cops in Seattle are. We have syringes on the road popping tires from how many junkies roam the streets. Homelessness is at an all-time high, and if anything, the city is exploiting them by asking for funding while keeping the problem going.

Can you imagine this shit? What kind of clown world are we living in that the fucking mayor and the entire police department are profiting from letting people ruin their lives? Welcome to the united fucking states, where the only thing truly united is the mother fuckers in office creating problems and then selling the ‘solution’ with a tax on top.

If it wasn’t clear enough, there’s a reason I’m going camping instead of becoming a bum. I may be depressed and considering ending it all, but there’s no reason to shoot up my arm with shit. I’ve never had any interest in that.

The tall figure notices me sneering at the screen and tilts their head my way before I can refocus my attention on the map. As they walk away from the counter I finally take in their appearance, and I feel a slight sense of worry seeing her come my way.

She’s a blonde with green eyes and an inquisitive expression. My eyes start darting around for a way to get away, but of course I can’t. I practically cornered myself by picking the place I’m currently sitting on. The idea was that I’d feel safer in a spot where I could watch everyone else and what they were doing, but that’s about to backfire on me. She doesn’t even bother asking if she can sit before the seat opposite mine is claimed by her rear.

“Hello, little man! Are you lost? Where are your parents?”

Is she fucking serious? She thinks I’m a child? I want to pinch the bridge of my nose, but I already had an exciting morning back at campus…

“I’m 20 years old, lady. And if you couldn’t tell I’m a little busy over here.” I reply in a flat tone. I get it, I’m a borderline midget who didn’t grow much past puberty, but the last time anyone mistook me for a kid was back before college. I wish I could grow a beard or something…

“Oh, sorry. My name’s Penelope. Penelope Ashwood.” she introduces herself as she reaches out a hand for me to shake. Kind of old fashioned, but why would I shake her hand? Seeing as I’m not about to return the gesture, she retracts her arm and gives me a little frown. “… I’ll stop wasting your time. Why are you here?”

Now she’s being pushy? First of all, what business is that of hers?

“I’m visiting family. They live nearby and we’re going camping.” I blatantly lie with a smile. By now I’ve picked up the reason people don’t fuck off and leave me be. They think I’m going to get into trouble all by myself. I need to give them an excuse to walk off and let me continue on my way.

“Really? What’s their name? I know everyone around here.” she tells me, and I can see she’s serious about sleuthing her way past my lies. Bothersome, to say the least.

“I don’t see why you need to know that. I’m not looking to socialise right now, so I would appreciate the peace and quiet. Now, if you don’t mind…” I say, suggestively motioning for her to leave.

Instead, she leans back and gives my supplies a gander. A look of concern crosses her face before she tells me, “Have you been watching the news? Lots of folk have gone missing ‘round these parts. They found the dead body of a man who had been reported missing about a month ago.”

The news aren’t interesting to me because I only think one of two things when watching them: Psyop or Bullshit. Journalism is a fucking joke.

Shaking my head, she continues, “I can tell you don’t want me botherin’ you, but if you’re thinking about going anywhere out there, don’t. It’s dangerous and you wouldn’t be the first, or even the tenth to go missing in the span of just six months.”

“I see. Thank you.” I tell her, nodding in gratitude for her advice.

She doesn’t get up. Instead, she gives me another look and shakes her head in disappointment. Seeing as this is going nowhere, I put my stuff away and make to leave, but she grabs my arm as I walk past her seat. I want to pull away, but she’s still got one more thing to try with me, it looks like.

“If you’re still intent on going I’ll have to call the cops, you know...”

I smirk at her. “Oh, that’s a shame. I’m sure they’ll stop eating their donuts to come chase me through some bushes.”

Oddly enough, she smirks back. She probably expected me to balk at her threat, but after realizing I’m not as green as she thought, she lets go of my arm. Cappuccino in hand, I leave the café and decide to just start now. People have gone missing? Really? Get the fuck outta here. Trying to scare me out of going on my own, and for what?

Nah, nothing is going to deter me now. I can’t trust anything anyone says. They’re all just out for themselves, and whatever that woman wanted to sell me, I ain’t buyin’. The walk north of town isn’t long. A dozen minutes and I’m already at the edge. There are a few trails for cars and stuff that lead to a few barns or properties, but I can already tell the slopes of land that go up and down in uneven intervals are going to get pretty rough. That’s just the type of terrain we have here in Washington State.

Fortunately, when I was busy looking at the map back at the café, I did find a particular way to reach my destination without much confusion. There’s a paved road that leads straight to the lake I’m staying at. Unfortunately, the road isn’t a straight line. It weaves and turns in several sections, but it’s a surefire way I won’t get lost. It’ll just take me a few days on foot to reach it, so not as rough as trudging through the woods. I guess it could be worse, though.

Stepping with one foot in front of the other, I start to count my steps from the dirty unpaved road to the neat one, and I find myself feeling kind of like I used to back when I was a kid. This is like an adventure. The biggest reason why I’m so intent on it is because I feel like I’ve lost something fundamental. Kind of melodramatic, but that’s as accurate as I can describe it. Not to mention I feel like I can finally breathe for the first time in years.

There’s just something about the air out here that’s different from the inner city and the pollution that surrounds it, and I don’t just mean smog from cars. I mean the general feeling of being surrounded by people who feel robbed of a purpose or goal in life. I would know all about that even at my relatively young age.

Once I arrive at the smooth paved road I look at my cellphone and realize I’ll lose reception once I get far enough along. I decide to, for whatever reason, take a picture of myself. I hadn’t noticed before, but I guess I do kind of have a perpetual frown going on. I look kind of miserable, but that’s to be expected…

Anyway, here goes. It’s gonna be a while until I get to Lake Hancock on foot.

***

July 1st, 2024

7:57 PM

Several hours of walking later, I look down at my cellphone’s reception and see I’ve still got a single blinking bar to work with. There’s nothing I want to say to my folks and I’ve long since turned notifications off. There’s nobody I think needs to hear from me. If this is the last chance I get to contact anyone, I don’t feel particularly inclined to make use of it.

Nobody is around to see my face twist with sorrow, and I’m glad. I thought I was fine with being alone, but I guess sometimes it does catch up to me. Nothing doing, just hafta keep on walking. I’m on the far-right side of the road so as to avoid any accidents from happening, but I hear a car coming in from behind me. Turning back to see, it’s a heavy-duty truck with a nice dark-red paint job.

I almost whistle, but then I notice who's on the wheel.

… Really? You again?

The tall woman from the café slowly gets out to lean on the side of her truck. She looks like she’s about to speak when I beat her to it. “Parking in the middle of the road is illegal, you know.”

She pauses before smirking at me. “Oh? Don’t go telling the pigs about it. I’ll get in trouble!”

I would have chuckled if I wasn’t weary of why she’s here. What’s her angle? Then I kind of feel a bit of fear creeping up behind me. What if she was telling the truth? What if there’s a kidnapping ring or something and she’s part of it? The impulse to run off dawns on me, and her presence doesn’t feel entirely harmless. Although, the paranoid idea feels kind of silly after a moment…

“Listen, I can tell you’re serious about this, so I’ve got an offer for you.” she starts, using an amicable voice now. “I’ve been planning on going up these parts for some time now, and I could use some help. Would you be willing to work with me?”

Hell. No. “I think I’ll pass. Good luck with whatever it is you’re doing, though.”

As I make to continue on my way she jogs up to me and I groan before turning around. “Look, lady. I’m sick and tired of people trying to string me along to do whatever the hell they want. I just want to get away from it all. Is that so much to ask? Leave me alone…”

She stops, her mouth halfway open as she mulls that over. “… I see. Sorry to bother you. I wasn’t lying back at the café, however. People have gone missing from doing exactly what we are right now. That was no shit. They found Montey Webber’s corpse not too far from where we’re standing.”

I stop and turn to look at her. My furrowed brows are enough indication for her to continue. “When his family finally found him along a creek, his entire body was covered in wounds nobody can explain. There were puncture marks along his torso, bite marks along his arms and legs, and a few through his skull. All of that from some animal. He was nearly unrecognizable. He’s one of the dozen people who have reportedly gone missing in the past six months. The only one found so far.”

I shift a bit before asking, “What are you trying to tell me?”

“I’m saying we both need someone to watch our backs out here.”

A shiver runs down my spine, but checking the news for myself is out of the question as I’ve lost all reception. I look back up at her, and she’s crossed her arms in front of her modest chest.

I don’t like this. What if she’s lying to me? What if she’s just trying to catch me by surprise and sell my organs or some shit? I don’t like this at all.

“… That’s okay. I’ll take my chances.” I say and begin walking away one last time.

I can hear her huffing before she yells out to me, “You’re making a mistake! At least turn back and find another forest to get lost in!”

Scowling, I start ignoring her. In a few moments her truck drives past me and I notice her looking back through the rear-view mirror with a look of annoyance. Whatever. I’m not letting anyone get the better of me, especially now when I’ve come so far.

Observing the tall trees all around, it finally dawns on me the sun is a good way into leaving the horizon. Night will soon be descending upon me.

Great…