Chapter 3

With the pepper spray in my backpack, I slung it over my shoulders and headed out the door. I tossed the bag into the trunk of my car before getting into the driver’s seat.

Turning the key, the car rumbled to life. The vibrations ran through my spine and connected with my fingers as I rested my hands on the steering wheel. Turning on the music, I ignored the rattling of the muffler as I backed out of my driveway and headed toward Amethyst State Park. Luckily, it was a short, fifteen-minute drive.

I took the back roads, enjoying the view of the blooming trees along the side. They swayed with the gentle breeze. Occasionally, the petals would dance across my windshield, like little fairies trying to cross the road.

The sun was just arriving at its zenith by the time I got to the park. I turned into the lot by the trailhead. To my surprise, it wasn’t as busy as I expected it to be. Usually, this place was swamped on the weekend. Maybe people were getting spooked by the news…

I shook my head. No. All those missing cases were nothing more than a coincidence. There wasn’t some serial kidnapper in the woods. If there was, the police would have surely found him by now. I tried to comfort myself with this thought, but I couldn’t help but think of Abby’s warning. For a split second, I thought about heading back home, but I was already here, it would be a waste if I did.

So, I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder as I set on the trail. As my footsteps crunched against twigs, I found myself coming to a natural rhythm. The sound of the birds calling to one another, mixed with the bubbling waterfalls in the distance, instantly calmed my nerves.

Nothing was going to happen to me.

As I continued walking the trail, I encountered a couple of hikers. They had binoculars hanging around their necks. Bird-watchers, most likely.

“Hello!” I called out to them, waving in their direction.

They smiled and waved back.

“If you guys are looking for birds, there’s a really active barn owl up ahead. Her tree is marked with an orange flag by the park rangers. If you’re lucky, you might see some of her hatchlings. It’s just about that time of year.” I informed them with a smile.

“Is that right?” The woman asked, excitement coloring her cheeks in a light shade of pink. “Do you think you could show us the way? We’ve already gotten lost a few times. I don’t know how anyone can follow the path.”

“Oh, is this your first time here?”

“Yes. My husband and I are on our honeymoon. We decided to take a road trip and do some hiking.”

“Ah. That’s sweet. Congrats.” I smiled at them. The husband seemed quiet since he hadn’t spoken a word this entire time. But, it was easy to see that he really loved his wife by the way he helped her along the trail, always making sure she was okay before he continued.

Respecting his silence, I just admired my surroundings as I led them to the owl habitat. We deviated from the path a bit, but eventually, we arrived at a small clearing. “Look,” I whispered, pointing to a large nest. It was perched precariously on a thicker tree branch. Twigs, leaves, and even a few bits of ribbon were all interwoven to make the nest.

The couple just stared at it in awe before the husband fumbled for his binoculars, taking a closer look. The woman was just about to do the same when the barn owl swooped from the treetops and landed on the branch. Instantly, her young started to chirp and move around in the nest, looking for food.

“I didn’t think owls were active during the day.”

“Most aren’t. This owl is sort of an Amethyst legend. She’s been named Luna by the park rangers, but it’s ironic because she doesn’t follow the typical nocturnal patterns of other owls.”

“That’s fascinating…” The husband said, his mouth agape.

I chuckled. “Well, I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your hike.”

“Thanks for showing us the way…” The woman trailed off once the owl started to feed her young. I smiled before hiking my way back to the trail.

Now alone, my footsteps echoed against the tree trunks, getting lost in the wood. I was still in the beginning of the trail so the trees were sparse, allowing me to see in the distance.

A jackrabbit hopped out of its burrow, peeking around before it heard the loud squawk of a crow and quickly hid back inside. A squirrel scurried up a tree trunk, its mouth full of acorns. Two birds fought in midair and swooped right in front of me, forcing me to duck. They continued their fight behind me.

Soon enough, I reached a signpost that warned about the trail’s increased difficulty from that point forward. I glanced ahead, seeing how the trail narrowed, squished in by the heavily wooded area. Still, I had done this hike start to finish before, it was no big deal. Just a few extra roots underfoot to worry about. Nothing I couldn’t handle.

I walked forward, leaving the sign in my wake. I tightened the straps on my backpack so it wouldn’t bounce against my body.

Keeping my eyes low, I watched my footing very carefully. If I tripped and fell this far out, I would be in trouble. The cell reception out here was pretty much non-existent and the lack of activity meant that it was unlikely that anyone would find me for days. If at all…

So, I made sure to calculate my every step, keeping my eyes peeled for any dangers that might be lurking nearby.

Gradually, I got deeper and deeper into the woods.