Alone in the Woods, part 10

I was surrounded by tall clothing racks full of solid color jumpsuits in red and yellow. These were what everybody had been wearing outside. They all looked the same. Although another rack had pants and shirts. Okay so there was a little bit of variation.

"Welcome to your one stop uniform shop!" I jumped at the perky voice next to me. I looked over to see a young woman with short dark hair wearing a yellow suit. "What is that crazy getup?" She stared at my clothes.

"It's a costume," I lied.

"You better not let any Blues see you in that."

"I already have and I explained the situation to him. I'm filming a movie with some friends. They have permits."

"Oh, yeah? Which web is it on? Will I get to see it this week?"

"Web?"

"You know, dark web, mainstream web, military web, whatever."

Before I gave myself away I blurted out, "It's for the dark web. It's a horror movie!"

"Nice! You gotta punch in your yerly for me."

"Yerly?"

"Your U-R-L."

"Oh, right." I didn't have a clue what she was talking about.

She touched a spot on her wrist and it glowed! Words appeared on a tiny screen. It was like something out of James Bond...or Secret Squirrel. I could feel my breath coming in quick pants. In a few more minutes I was bound to pass out. But I had to know what the hell had happened to me and where I was.

"I actually don't know the URL, but I can get it to you later. I'm sorry, but I'm feeling a little dizzy, like I might have blacked out and lost time." I had heard about that in a science fiction movie once. "Can you tell me what day it is? Do you have a calendar?"

"Sure I do. Don't you? Where's your display?" She grabbed my hand and I pulled it back quickly.

"It's malfunctioning. Can I see your calendar?"

She swiped her wrist again and a mini calendar appeared. June 2036.

I grabbed hold of the clothing rack and nearly fell over. It was still June, but I had somehow jumped ahead sixty years!

"Hey, you a'right? You don't look well."

"I need some air," I whispered before stumbling out the door.

Alone in the Woods, part 9

I whirled back to face a man dressed in a blue uniform and my heart nearly stopped. I swallowed hard and put on a fake smile.
"Hi!" I put out my hand, but he just glanced at it briefly before staring into my wide eyes. "I'm from the local talent agency. I was told to come here for an advertising campaign. I'm just waiting for the crew. Hopefully this is the right walkway. Is there another walkway that's more central? Have you seen a camera crew? Have you seen others dressed like me? We were told what to wear. I know my clothes are totally trippy, but that's all it is. A costume." I took a deep breath and the blue stared at me like I was crazy. I was getting used to it.

"A commercial, huh? That's pretty retro. Nobody does that anymore, well not since the twenties."

"The twenties?" The twenties?!?

"I know it's hard to believe it's been ten years already since the end of network television." He looked at my outfit for a few moments and nodded. "You do look vintage. Is it for that Remembrance store?"

"Yes, I think it is! The agency didn't tell me that much. It think it's a secret campaign."

"Okay, I won't tell a soul."

"Hey, thanks! If you see the crew would you let me know? I'll just wait here so I don't accidentally walk off and miss them."

"Sure. And if I run into them I will bring them over."

"Wonderful! I really appreciate it!" My fake smile was still frozen in place as he walked away. What the hell had he been saying? The end of network television? The twenties? He couldn't have been referring to the 1920s. There was no TV then. I had to take a chance and find out more. Apparently my story was believable enough in case anybody looked at me weird or asked questions. I ducked into the first open door I came to.

Alone in the Woods, part 8

The shopping center was massive. When I stepped through the walkway I could see another row of shops on the other side of a parking lot. The cars looked like a rainbow sea, with designated areas for each color. I hung back in the shadows observing the people who seemed to be dressed as colorfully as their vehicles. Bright red, yellow and pink (for the children) matching outfits passed by each other without acknowledgement of any kind. There were a few people dressed in blue positioned every few feet.

These must be what that strange family had warned me about. They looked like military of some kind.

My head was spinning. This had to be a dream. A very vivid dream. I could smell food cooking and could feel the heat of the sun. I was too scared to walk among them. I would stick out like a sore thumb in my orange pants and lime green gingham shirt.

I was about to slip away quietly, when a voice behind me asked, "Who are you? How did you get here?"

Alone in the Woods, part 7

I ran along the newly paved path, clutching my fancy bottle of water, and didn't stop until I had to catch my breath. I listened for a minute, but heard nothing but the whisper of trees. I hadn't noticed before, but I didn't hear any birds or planes. We lived in a flight path and usually there were planes overhead at least every few hours or so.

Finally I made it to the main highway, but what I saw made my blood run cold.

There were buildings everywhere!

When I had arrived yesterday this was nothing but a lonely road full of farms. Strange cars passed by in bright colors, but they hardly made any sound at all. People across the road were milling about among what I determined to be stores. It was a shopping center. A really big shopping center. How could this have appeared overnight?

I had to investigate.

Alone in the Woods, part 6

"What is it?" I asked.

"You're weird," the little boy replied.

I swallowed. "Thank you for the compliment," I said with a smile. "I pride myself on being different." I looked up at the couple. "Thank you for the water."

"You're welcome," the dad said warily. "What are you doing out here in the woods all alone, if you don't mind my asking."

"My friends ditched me. My friends who are no longer my friends, that is."

"They ditched you?" The mom asked. "You mean they just drove away and left you all alone? Are they insane? You could've been killed out here. You should never be alone. Ever."

I was getting a little spooked. These were the strangest people I had ever met. They were all dressed in matching red outfits, like they were going to pose for a family portrait or something. Their little car looked like a spaceship and had these official little stickers on it giving it access to some special lane. Even their tent was strange. It was round! I had never seen such a thing. Obviously they weren't from around here. Maybe they were from Canada?

"Well, I'll be going now." I backed away slowly, each of us staring at the other. I broke into a run.

"Stay on the road! Don't talk to the blues!" The dad shouted behind me. What the hell? What was a blue? Hopefully I wouldn't find out.

Alone in the Woods, part 5

I curled in trying to keep warm. The cold wind I had felt when I first walked in kept blowing intermittently throughout the night. Then I thought I heard voices. I would wake up and could've sworn I heard my friends calling to me. At one point I even called back. That was silly. They had left me here.

Finally the sun came up. the warmth piercing through the coldness of the cave. I sat up and stretched. Ow. I felt more tired than I did when I went to sleep. My whole body ached. How was I going to hike anywhere, let alone miles back to town? I had to try. I pulled myself up and walked slowly into the morning light. At least it was warmer. I unzipped my windbreaker and tied it around my waist.

Thankfully there was a clear road leading the way out. I stared at the ground. How odd. I could've sworn it was just a dirt road when we arrived, but it was paved smooth, like a city street. Well, at least it was cleaner. I sure didn't want to walk through the dirt getting my keds all grody.

As I walked down the road I listened carefully to the sounds of the forest. I heard children laughing. People! I was so thirsty; hopefully they would share their supplied with me. I rounded a curve and saw a family. The parents were putting up a tent, while their kids played tag. After a few seconds the kids seemed to get bored and sat down at the picnic table. They each pulled a flat little box out of their pockets and proceeded to stare at them, completely ignoring each other. What could be so fascinating that they would give up a fun game of tag? I loved tag and I wasn't even a kid!

"Hello!" I called out, waving my hand.

The kids looked up in fear and ran behind their parents. Gee, I didn't think I looked that intimidating.

The dad held out his hands as if trying to placate me. "We ddidn't bring any money with us. Please, just leave us in peace."

"Sorry?" I was getting a little freaked out by these people. "I was just going to ask for a cup of water."

They looked relieved. The mom said, "Oh, water! Sure! We have some water." She ran to a fancy cooler and took out a clear bottle. It was so beautiful, almost like glass art. She handed it to me. "Here ya go."

"You're giving that to me? It looks so expensive."

They all laughed at me. "It's just bottled water! Haven't you ever seen a bottle of water before?" The little boy asked.

I shook my head as I tried to open the top. The little girl took it from my hands. "Like this." She pulled the small cap upward and it produced a drinking hole. She turned it upside down and squeezed, making the water squirt out in a stream.

"Where did you get this? It's incredible!" I took the bottle back and squirted a stream into my mouth and then laughed.

They all stood there staring at me like I was a lunatic.

Alone in the Woods, part 4

A cold wind blew through me as I approached the mouth of the cave. It was almost as if the darkness was calling me. I held my breath, but went inside anyway. Immediately I felt warmer. Yes, this would definitely be better than trying to sleep out among the trees, where anything could fall on my head. Leaves. Bugs. Bird poop. No thanks.

Afraid I might get lost again, I decided against walking in any farther. Besides, if Yogi or Boo Boo was lurking inside I would easily be able to run out and climb a tree. 

Wait. Couldn't bears climb trees, too? Dangit!

I found a smooth piece of ground and curled up. A good night's sleep was all I needed. Then I would be able to hike back down the road to town and find a pay phone. Boy, were my friends gonna get it!

Alone in the Woods, part 3

I sat down on a tree stump and waited.

And waited.

I recited the alphabet, counted up to a hundred and tried spelling my name backwards a few times. My friends hadn't come back for me. The sun was getting closer to the horizon line and I did not want to be out here alone in the dark.

I had two choices. I could go back to the cave and sleep there until morning or I could try to walk back to town.

Both held little appeal. Janice was the girl scout, not me. I didn't even want to go on this stupid camping trip. I hated the outdoors! I longed for my clean bedroom, with my pink canopy bed and princess telephone. I wanted to paint my toenails, while watching The Tonight Show. Slumber parties beat camping trips any day of the week.

Deciding there was no way I'd make it back to town before nightfall I headed back to the cave.

Alone in the Woods, part 2

How could my friends just up and leave me like that? I walked down the hill back to our campsite. When I reached the clearing it was empty. It was as if we had never been there at all. Even my own belongings were gone!

"Not funny, gang!" I yelled. If those jerk-offs thought I would be going camping with them ever again they had another thought coming.

I checked my watch again. The time read 1:15 pm, the same as when I had checked several minutes ago. I lifted my wrist to my ear. Silence. "Dangit!" I thought I had wound it before we left! I turned the fob until it wouldn't go any further. The second hand started running again, but I had no inkling what time it really was. By the position of the sun in the sky, I would guess it had to be close to dinnertime.

And I had no food or water. Or shelter.

My friends were going to be back any second. I was sure of it. Then we would all have a laugh.

Ha ha, very funny.

Alone in the Woods, part 1

I stumbled outside and pain shot through my head, bringing me to my knees. I had to shut my eyes against the brightness of the sun's rays. How long had it been since I had seen daylight? It seemed like I had been wandering around in that cave for days. I squinted and checked my watch. Two hours? That couldn't be right!

I glanced around. Where were my friends? "Hello!" I called out, getting no reply but an echo of my own voice. I was alone.

-

This story started out as merely a description of my headache. Interesting how one thing leads to another.