Short Stories

Five

I heard steps moving my way.
An occasional crunch of leaves and a snap of dehydrated twigs. My vision lifted quickly as a voice called out,"Hello? Anyone there?"

I took my feet underneath my thighs and watched, as below my feet, a guy about 19 walked.

"You're on private property!" He cupped his mouth and shouted into the empty forest.

He rubbed his neck and muttered under his breath.
He seemed harmless, I guess. I hopped down from my post on the tree and landed in an ungraceful lump on the ground, groaning and cursing, squeezing my eyes shut.

I felt a warm hand on my cheek and arm, and opened my eyes, still wheezing from the winding pain.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, kinda. But I'll be getting off of your property. Sorry!" I yelled over my shoulder as I ran.

I was naturally afraid of anybody new that I haven't met in school. Preferably, I would've liked to meet this guy in the halls, not out at night, close to midnight, in the woods on private property.

I scrambled to grab my lanyard which my keys were attached to, in my butt pocket. I felt for the familiar bump of the key's teeth, but I couldn't find it.

I left them in the forest. Crap.

Rubbing the skin on my knuckles, I walk forward slowly towards the sanctuary of the trees. I wander to the edge of the woods as mist pours from its deepest depths and spilled over my ankles.

Perfect. I think, this is just what I need, horror movies I couldn't stand, how would I be able to walk into the sketchy woods? Why did I come out here at night?

"Weren't you just leaving?" Asks a deep voice behind me. Startled out of my thoughts, I turn around to meet this strangers' facial features.

I stuttered," uh... Yes. I just left my keys in the forest when I fell out of that tree like an ungraceful elephant. I was just standing here thinking how I would get killed in the sketchy woods with fog boiling over the grass and everything. You know, think ahead, I guess..." I trailed off, seeing this guys smiling eyes and mouth.

"You ramble a lot don't you?"

I swallowed hard," actually, I like to explain what I do so people don't assume random stuff, but then again, assuming makes and ass out of you and me..." I trailed off once again after catching myself so I wouldn't say more.

He frowned with his smile still plastered on his face like a permanent mark.

"I'll go grab your keys for you then?" He asked, wandering toward the woods and myself.

"Yes please." I said, a bit too enthusiastically.
About five minutes later he came back with my dangling keys in his hand.

"Thank you," I said with brimming happiness, as he stared at me. My keys still twinkling with moonlight.
I held my hand out, expecting him to drop them in my hand.
My eyes widened as my smile faded.

__..__..__

A liquid vapour formed infront of my eyesight. Night is cold, too cold for my taste. I've never gone camping or had to ever learn survival skills, so naturally, I cry.