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Carter’s eyes shot open, adjusting to the light as he yawned and stretched his arms. He sat up, letting his faded blanket fall off his shoulders as he located the source of what had woken him up. The morning sunlight was streaming through the half-closed curtains of his trailer windows, but Carter knew he slept like a rock- the sun wouldn’t have been what woke him up, it never had. Yawning again, he turned to start making coffee, rummaging through the small cabinets above the stove for the machine. An uneasy feeling settled over the back of his neck, his hairs standing on edge. He glanced over his shoulder out of the window behind him, seeing nothing but the grassy campsite he had parked at the night before.
He chuckled to himself as he hadn’t felt this spooked since he started camping almost two years ago. After he graduated high school, Carter had disliked the idea of going to college and instead worked to save up for an old trailer off of Facebook marketplace and worked on it until he was happy with how it looked. Never having been one to sit down and read a book, Carter was always active, always outside, always doing something or other. He had a plan to hike through all fifty states, and if he stuck to his schedule he could likely finish his goal before the next year. He chalked the moment up to building nerves for getting closer to his achievement, and put the unease at the back of his mind.
Sipping from his mug, he opened the door to the trailer and drank in the last of the morning sun before it turned to a sweltering heat. He sighed, tilting his head back in content as he closed his eyes and let the rays of sunlight warm his face. It was never easy to take time to “stop and smell the roses” as many teachers and guidance counselors had told him growing up, but now he found himself smelling full bouquets as much as he could. The air was filled with birds chirping and flying around, and the bright green of the early summer grass was dazzling.
Deciding it was time to pack up and leave, Carter turned around to get back in his trailer. Going through his usual routine, he washed his coffee mug, wiping it dry before putting it in the cupboard. He put his coffee machine back in its spot- one of the first lessons he had learned on the road was staying tidy makes a world of difference. It took him a couple weeks for him to figure out the best way to pack to achieve the most amount of space in the trailer possible. He changed his clothes, deciding on a pair of shorts and a simple sweat wicking shirt.
Carter made sure that his trailer was ready to go, everything secured on the counter or in the cupboards, his stairs were inside, and the door was locked and wouldn’t swing open while he was driving. Once he double, triple checked everything he could think of, he walked around and got in his truck. Pulling out his map, he made sure he knew where to go next, and cranked up his music. He started moving along, enjoying the scenery around him as the trees and bushes sped by.
One of Carter’s favorite things about traveling the country in search of the best hiking trails had to be seeing the calm beauty of every state he’d never been to before- and he’d put money on it. He loved doing what he did, and nothing was able to convince him not to go. Not his parents, his siblings, or his friends could tell him to “Come back home, Carter!”. He was living well off of his savings and the odd job he had picked up along the way, helping people out wherever he went. That was what he liked doing, not staying at home and commuting to work or school or both.
The trees raced by the window, becoming more and more dense as he towed his trailer to their next destination. Around noon, Carter stopped for gas, waiting by the side of his truck for the tank to fill up. As he looked out into the forest around him, the uneasy feeling began creeping its way into the front of his mind. He shook his head to clear it, there was nothing there. Just in case, his eyes darted around his surroundings, scanning the area. Tall trees, small bushes, and the bright blue sky looked back at him. Shaking his head once again, Carter moved the gas pump back to its place and ducked inside for a snack. Most of his food was stored in the trailer, and it wasn’t worth opening everything up just to get a sweet treat.
After paying for a small donut and a Nature Valley bar, he walked back out to his truck. Climbing into his truck his heart rate accelerated and he whipped his head around- he could have sworn he saw a figure in the forest, peeking around from behind a tree. When he looked again there was nothing there. He shook his head once more and stared at the spot for a couple minutes. Eventually he turned his head back to the truck and continued clambering in. He decided to leave as soon as possible, and started moving the trailer out from the gas station parking lot, not looking back until the gas station was far behind him.
It wasn’t long before the feeling backed away again, but this time Carter didn’t let it slip his mind. He knew he could protect himself if anything happened on the trails he hiked, as his parents had gifted him multiple forms of self defence before he left. They didn’t approve of his choices, but they had wanted him to be safe anyway. Carter had never needed to use them, but he kept them in the glovebox compartment within reach just in case. He eyed the glovebox as the memory passed by the front of his mind, his eyebrows furrowed at the thought of having to use them on someone else.
Carter’s mind was preoccupied with memories and thoughts of what could happen that he missed seeing a fork in the road. Driving on autopilot, it took him a moment to realize his mistake. “The only time I wish I used digital maps instead of paper.” He thought to himself, grumbling as he pulled over to calculate the next place he could turn around in. Spotting a small town not too far away, he set on his way. The trees became even more dense, blocking out most of the cheery midsummer sun he had been enjoying.
With his Nature Valley bar and donut eaten long ago, Carter felt himself growing a little hungrier as the time went by, his stomach rumbling louder than his music. He told himself to make it to the town and then he’d stop. The forest blurred together, dashed lines in the road passing by in what looked like one solid line. Once again, his mind strayed to his parents, when had he spoken with them last? Too long, maybe. He knew they loved hearing from him- it was nice to know that they were excited for him as well as being nervous.
Pulling into the small town he had found on the map had taken about 30 minutes out of his time, annoying but nothing to get too mad about. Carter wasn’t doing it for any kind of record, as he knew of people that had done it in 18 months or less- but that was too stressful, he much preferred his relaxed schedule.
The town around him was small, but he could see cars down the road and people walking down the street in front of the stores and diners. He allowed himself to be distracted by the shop names, most of which he had never heard of before. Getting closer to the main part of town, he noticed more than the usual amount of posters plastered all over every sign, pole and window that was available. Carter didn’t pay too much mind to some random posters, and kept driving. He stopped for a fifteen minute break at a fast food restaurant to fill his stomach again and use an actual restroom before heading out again. Inside the restaurant he saw more posters. “MISSING:” over and over again- all different people. He figured all sorts of things could happen out in these small towns, but he didn’t let his mind dwell on the negative.
Exiting the fast food restaurant, Carter once again started up his truck to continue going. A pretty girl waiting at the corner to cross caught his eye as he drove by down the road. Surprise, surprise, not many girls had shown much interest in him after they learned he lived in a trailer full time. He cleared his head of any thoughts on that matter and continued driving away.
Just about ten minutes after he passed through the town, he heard a loud grinding sound coming from his truck, accompanying the smell of burnt rubber. Carter’s eyes widened as he tried to slow down and pull over, only to find that his gear shift was not moving as smoothly as it had been that morning. Once he cleared the road and was safe and secure in the dirt shoulder of the road, he popped the hood of his truck to inspect what issue was happening now. He tried his best to take care of his truck and his trailer, but sometimes things were too far out of his hands to do anything himself.
As he looked into the engine of the truck, he deduced that this was indeed not something he would be able to fix himself. It was bad enough that Carter knew he’d need to dip into his savings to afford a repair, which was upsetting- but nowhere near as upsetting as losing his truck and way of transporting his trailer at the same time. He groaned out loud before the familiar feel of dread creeped into his neck and shoulders, settling deep within his skin. Carter pulled out his phone and called the mechanic he had seen in the little town just fifteen minutes before. Thanking whatever was above, the day was slow and the mechanic offered to tow his truck and trailer separately, saving Carter from at least spending the night out on the highway.
“Looks like your transmission slipped, boy,” The mechanic told him after checking it out at the shop. Carter had been waiting a while- maybe twenty minutes before the man had come out to tell him. “And unfortunately for you, we get a lot of people in the summer passing through and breaking down in some way or another. You’ll have to wait until at least tomorrow to come pick up the truck. She’s looking great everywhere else though!”. Carter thought the man was way too positive to be doing what he was doing. He went through the transaction with the man, grumbling his way through the easy conversation the mechanic had been spouting constantly. Rubbing a hand down his face, he wondered where he could stay. The sun was starting to dip beneath the tree line and all Carter wanted to do was take his stress out on a nice long hike.
“Are there any recommended campsites nearby?” He asked, finding his voice. The mechanic looked up with a quirked eyebrow.
“Not to stay in,” he clarified, gesturing to the back of the shop where his truck sat, “Just looking for a good trail to hike.” At this, the man’s expression grew from somewhat confused to very concerned.
“No, no, no. Hiking isn’t safe here anymore. You’d do better in a hotel for the night. Relax a bit! There’s a great pizza place down the road- best pies in an hour’s drive!” He said, face paling and rushing his words out as fast as possible. Carter could see a bead of sweat forming on the mechanic’s face in real time.
“Oh.” Carter paused. “Alright, then.” The conversation pittered out, both men feeling awkward as the mechanic confirmed Carter’s information. As he walked out of the mechanic, something caught his eye that made the looming sense of dread hang over him heavier than before. The missing posters were covering the whole window, all different people, all different days.
“That’s why it isn’t safe to go hiking when the sun goes down.” The mechanic seemed to have seen Carter pause to take in the vast amount of papers all over his walls. “Take this tip from a local, please.” Carter turned to look back at the mechanic, who was already looking at him with eyes that held an unreadable expression. Concern? Pity? Both? The two men looked at each other for a couple seconds longer before the mechanic turned on his heel and walked back to the small car on the hydraulic lift he had been working on before Carter's desperate call.
Outside the mechanic shop, the sky had turned from a bright, vibrant blue into a hazy and dusky cornflower blue, a dusting of stars sprinkled across the heavens. He double checked that his trailer was safe behind the shop before heading out into the rest of the town. The orange tones street lamps were buzzing with electricity, only adding to the unease Carter had been feeling all day. He kept glancing over his shoulder and scanning his immediate surroundings. He stumbled upon a motel that wasn’t too expensive and paid for a room for the night.
Carter lasted about an hour and a half of mindless pacing, flipping through the limited TV channels and scrolling through his phone before the restlessness became too much to bear. Pulling on a hoodie from a bag he had packed before the mechanic picked him up, he pulled up a trail that wasn’t too far away on foot. The chilly night air was refreshing after his long day, and he felt better the longer he walked out in the open air. He knew he’d feel better as soon as he got onto a trail, feeling the dirt and sticks and leaves beneath his feet.
On the trail, he was preoccupied with his thoughts once more. Tomorrow he would call his parents, maybe his siblings if he remembered. He passed a creek, pausing there to take a sip from his water bottle, but it was empty- he had lost track of time as he walked the trail. Figuring he should head back to get some sleep, he turned around and headed back from where he came. It was a great way to end a not so great day, and he was enjoying his peaceful walk when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up full force.
Whipping his head around, he saw a face appear from out behind a tree. Another hiker, a woman dressed in leggings and a matching sporty zip-up. He laughed at himself before waving a hand out to her.
“You had me scared there!” He said as casual as possible while regaining his composure.
“I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about hiking here, but I found it quite nice. Mind if I join?” She replied, her dark hair swinging behind her shoulders as she walked.
“No, not at all! Yeah, these locals have been starting to rattle me, I’ve been feeling off all day.” Carter said back, allowing her to take the lead on the trail.
The two of them walked in a comfortable silence, swapping stories of their travels as they made their way back to the town. Her name was Amaya, she lived in the state but not local, and she loved the forest. Carter hadn’t been paying attention to where he was walking before he had met her, and the forest was dark so he stuck close. When he turned his head to look at his surroundings, she stopped, almost falling off balance when Carter ran into her. He gave her a questioning look, wondering what had happened. Her face was panicked, and she was clutching one of her ears.
“I lost one of my earrings!” She half wailed, pulling her hand away from her face. She was missing one of her earrings, long and sparkly- not too suitable for hiking a forest trail. Carter fumbled for words for a moment as she swept her flashlight around the area.
“Should be fairly easy to find if it just fell out?” Carter asked, hope tinting his voice. Amaya nodded, a miserable look on her face. He nodded back before turning around and beginning to search the dirt for something shiny. He didn’t make it too far into his search before he heard footsteps behind him. He continued looking, if Amaya had found it he was sure she’d call out to him.
The footsteps grew louder and heavier, and as soon as he started to turn his head a pair of hands grabbed at his face and held something up to it. His eyes widened in terror as he took a breath and smelled a faint, sweet smell. He tried fighting against whoever was behind him, needing to get away to at least warn Amaya, if he couldn’t fight the attacker surely she couldn’t. He screamed, muffled as he felt an indescribable pain in his back, followed by a flood of warmth. His legs collapsed underneath him and he fell hard. Eyes darting around, he caught one last glimpse of the fate the mechanic had warned him about.
Amaya was standing over him, a wicked grin on her face. Carter’s eyelids drooped closed, an image of his parents flashing behind them as darkness faded in.