a

n the coffee table in front of me. Ryan is nowhere to be seen

fis

after

nant left. Either way, I have the cabin to myself for the rest of the day. I look around for a clock and find a small one hanging on the wall oppos

into my mind. Bad things happen when I'm left alone and unprotected. I stand warily and step sl

person doesn't lock the door when they leave? It's like askin

But his reaction took me by surprise. He seemed deeply offended. I didn't care much at the time because I was rather offended myself. What the hell is wrong with him?

e Internet. I start scanning the titles on the bookshelf, but the desk in the corner catches my eye. I walk over to it and study it. It has three drawers down one side. The one at the bottom is the largest and the top two are the sam

ng it. A satellite phone, maybe? I put it back in the drawer and close it, checking the next one. There's a laptop at the bottom of this one. I pull it out of the drawer and open it, but I don't try to turn it on. It looks brand new, like no one has ever really

owls and pans and utensils while making breakfast this morning, I discovered that Ryan doesn't have a very organized kitchen. In fact, I don't know how he finds anyth

if maybe he'd be upset by it. But by then, it was too late. After a few hours, the kitc

rnalia, but no guns. Not that I was going to do anything with one anyway. I'd just feel safer if I knew I had

ptop was unused. In fact, the only device in here capable of contacting the outsi

indows to make sure Ryan's not coming back before I turn it on. It functions pretty similarly to

to one number, which looks to have a California area code. The most recent was made about a month ago. I suppose that's

one also has a California area code. The time readout shows a few minutes on the first call to this number, but the second two have a duration

as a classic piece of American literature, but I've never read it myself. His copy looks distinctly different from the

uch, open the book

~

rknob rattles. I stare at the door in terror. A loud knock

o the door. "Wh

says, sounding annoyed.

gun?" I ask by way of response, eyein

his head.

to enter. He's carrying a fishing rod in

N

ce. The jolt of terror at the realization that there was s

me around here. That's

nk this cabin is too far from w

more of an idea of what he's getting himself into by allowi

People are going to come looking for you - police

ouldn't prote

eyebrow lowers i

" I climb back on the couch and bury my nose in Catcher in

rc

As he is about to walk out the door, I ask if he'll let me borr

er shot a ri

of his face obscured, I can tell he's skeptical. "As long as I look like I know

rod down and crosses h

s to get in?" I ask,

ody language is confirmed

by you pointing a gun at its head. It doesn't know what a gun is. Third, never defend yourself with a weapon you aren't prepared t

k at him. "And what if I am prepare

't familiar with. If you're panicking and try to shoot a loaded weapon, y

back down. He drops his ar

ife. Try not to stab

coffee table. "I'll be

lock it. I return to the couch and pick up Catcher in the Rye, which has turned out to be much mor

t the sky is clear and sunny. I know it's cold outside - I saw how many layers of clothes Ryan was wearing

one could know I'm here. Practically no one knows Ryan is even here. I'm safe, I t

h planks sits to my right and stairs to the ground are at my left. I am a little disturbed to realize that I have

ur cover story was that he's my father's older brother, my favorite uncle. I found this cover comforting, in a sad but sweet way. J

in on the trees. A flash of recognition and a deep-seated feeling of terror strike me at once and I remember that dream of running, only this time I rem

door behind me and locking it quickly. I s

g foot outside of