The Long Trip Home

“Hey, back on the trail to you!” Jack smiled as he sent the text message out to Kimberley.

“Hydrate!” Kimberley texted back excited.

“I will, love you baby.” Jack replied. “Talk to you later.”

It would be a five day hike home. A normal trip and an easy one. He had all the supplies needed. The family was happy to leave. Finally, be able to get back to his wife. The trails where small a length of thirty-eight hours total.

“Hey, how are you?” Jack smiled waving at a stranger on the trail.

“We remember.” The dark man smiled. “We waited.”

Jack felt paranoid at first. He continued on staring at him, looking behind him. The man vanished with distance. A spook Jack thought to himself. It didn’t matter. Jack started thinking of breakfast and what to eat? The day was going smoothly in his mind. He had found a café by the trail. He went in to the convenient store beside it. It did not take him long to feel the eerie feeling of the morning.

"Hey, good morning." He said entering the store.

"Hi, anything I could help you with." The store keeper said.

The day was blurring in his mind as he found the way through. He had picked up a sandwich and made it through the day. He paid and left the store. While he walked out. His head was still spinning around him. Why would they play a certain way? He thought in his mind.

"Always to terrorize?" he laughed to himself.

"What?" A lady in pink had asked.

"Nothing, something from earlier in another town." Jack continued to laugh.

"Who are you laughing at?" she said flustered.

"A group of guys earlier as I left Ashtabula County." He coughed nervous.

"Ashtabula?" she looked confused.

"It's a bridge county." Jack smiled.

"You got to take me." she smiled.

"Oh yeah?" Jack smiled.

" Oh yeah?" She looked mean.

"I'm headed to another state." he looked back "I wouldn't be able to."

"And I'm on the run." she smiled.

The day was running hot. He couldn't help, but wonder why she left. What had happened to her? Kylie was filled with mystery in her mind. Through out the day she could smile it all away, but he felt she needed more. She was way to guarded now.

"Why are you on the run?" Jack said.

"The town had started to grow mad in itself." she had smiled as she moved along the way." It had grown to dangerous people had started to make things up unbelievable things."

"Really?" He replied. "It had grown out of control?"

"To the point of madness, I had to flee for my life." She answered.

"That scary feeling of surviving through another day." Jack smiled.

"Yeah glad it is over for now!" She said relaxed.

They had started to make camp in the dawn of the day. The way they had looked after all of it was a sad and rough sight. They had lived normal lives, but after that chance meeting there was no telling what next. The day was over they needed to find the pathway to get them to safety. The trail ahead they knew is going to be rough to beat. Jack started on his phone, again.

"Kimberley?" he texted. "Are you there?"

Nothing had happened on the other end.

"I'm missing you bad text when you can, okay?" he sent.

Still no answer from her. He had started to worry about her. He had no clue what could be holding her. He didn't wanna bother her further or worry her mind. He would try again tomorrow.