I wipe my eyes, slowly adjusting to the light of the morning sun streaming through the bedroom window and drag my body into a sitting position.

Looking down, I sigh, sometime during the night, I must have shed my clothes and am now only in my underwear. Thoughts cloudy, I try to focus, turning my head to the left side of the bed. I notice the empty sheets.

Empty?

EMPTY!!!

Jumping out of bed, I land on the wooden floorboards with a thud, the hardwood causing my joints to groan as I gain my balance. Looking around the room, I manage to pick up my discarded clothing, folded neatly on the rocking chair, and begin shoving them on. My eyes, the entire time, searched the room for my absent stranger.

Bathroom? I think, hoping that he's just using the toilet.

Heading in the direction of the barn door, trying and failing not to stumble while pulling my pants on, I pull it aside and peer inside.

Nothing, Shit, Shit, Shitty McShit! Tugging on my crinkled blouse and pulling it over my bra, I rush to the top of the landing, looking down, still nothing.

Bounding down the stairs, taking them two at a time, I open the front door, and still, no sign of my stranger.

Searching everywhere I can think of, even going so far as the laundry room, when I can't find him, I grab my bag and see that my items are still inside.

Phone, wallet, keys – located.

Nothing missing, cash, and all cards accounted for. It's like it never happened. How many drinks did I have?

Moving outside and tugging on boots, I head to my car to survey the damage, looking for something to justify that last night DID happen.

Reaching the front panel, I bend down and check, locating a small dent and traces of what looks like dark rust.

"Fuck, shit, shit, double shit, where the fuck did you go?"

It happened, it really happened!

I hit someone with my car, brought them home, put them in my bed then. I thought last night was bizarre, but having this vanishing act certainly takes the cake.

Turning around and returning to the porch, I notice something furry and red lying to the side of the welcome mat.

I must have missed it when I came outside.

Moving closer, I gag as the furry object changes into a torso of what once was a rabbit, its neck sitting at a wrong angle, red liquid matted in its fur. Oh, God! Blood.

My stomach roils, and I vomit off the side of the rail. With my head spinning, I take several deep breaths to collect myself.

I'm missing a naked man; I have a headless rabbit to deal with, WTF! Where is my God damned tranquillity!

Calming, I steel myself, walk inside the kitchen, locate a pair of tongs and a garbage bag and return outside to quickly dispose of the poor bunny, tossing its carcass and the utensil into the trash.

I return to the cabin. My stomach and head are a mess. I wash my hands in the bathroom basin, making sure to thoroughly scrub off any potential animal residue, and look at my reflection in the mirror.

My hair is matted. Curls are no longer smooth. My brown eyes, red around the edges, and my skin pale.

Washing last night off my face, I move back into the bedroom, close the curtains, remove my clothes, and dive straight into bed. Burying myself under the covers, I notice the slight smell of pine and spice filling my nostrils, the scent surprisingly soothing as I close my eyes.

....................................................................................

It's mid-afternoon when I re-emerge to the world of the living, feeling a little achy, possibly the result of oversleeping.

Dragging myself out of the overly comfortable bed, I take myself to the bathroom and shower, brushing my teeth and letting the hot water soothe my lower back.

Cracking my neck, I notice that the lower muscles in my back are swollen, tender, similar to PMT. I had my period last week, so it must be the stress.

Exiting the water and wrapping my body in an oversized fluffy brown towel, I finger comb my hair, tie it into a messy bun, and dab some light moisturizer to my face and neck before leaving.

Locating a comfortable pair of yoga pants and a baggy sweater, I tug them on over my fresh underwear and slip my feet into soft grey woolen uggs, a gift from Erin on her trip to Australia last spring.

Making my way down to the living area, I open a bottle of wine and relight the fire, grabbing a few additional logs from the porch.

Turning on the TV, I position myself on the end of the leather modular, stretching out and covering my legs with a soft grey blanket.

"Bodies found in the Hemlock ravine north of Black Mountain are believed to be those of the missing men. It's still too early to determine the cause of the accident, but authorities are confident that they will have more information in the coming days." A blond woman in a thick brown winter coat reports from outside Brady's Pub.

The scene shifts to a newsroom, a man with salt and pepper hair looks directly at the camera. "Thanks, Jillian, now over to Bruce, who has the latest in the upcoming college draft."

I turn down the sound and grab my computer, powering it on.

Typing: 'current news stories on Black Mountain' into the search engine and looking to see anything about my visitor from last night.

Stories of missing locals Jase Donahue and Evan McCarthy appear. Clicking on one of the articles, I find a photo of the two men in their late twenties, neither of them my visitor. Still, both are strong/fit-looking, smiling at the camera, the one to the left sporting a bright red jacket while the one on the right was only wearing a white t-shirt.

The caption below reads: 'Image taken 14.10.19'.

Two weeks ago.

Continuing to search other articles, I manage to find multiple stories of animal killings, community markets, and the upcoming Halloween festival this weekend, but nothing on my stranger.

Continuing to search but not finding anything relating to my mystery guest, I decided to close my PC and grab my phone. Three missed texts from Erin.

Bitch, how was your first night on the prowl – how was mountain man?... E 10:26 am

With your lack of response, I assume you're still in bed with said man. I WANT DETAILS!... E 11:45 am

BAH, what type of friend are you to leave a girl hanging???? AVA???... E 1:36pm

Not knowing how to explain last night, I keep my response brief.

That's a negatory with Mountain man 1. Mountain man 2 seems ok. Meeting him tomorrow night for dinner, no details as yet, will text more tomorrow. A 5:45 pm

Plugging my phone into the charger, I make my way into the kitchen to figure out dinner.

..............................................................................................

My stomach, satisfied after a meal of cottage pie and an empty bottle of wine later; I drag myself to the magnificent tub. Reaching over, I turn on the brass taps and run the water, adding a few bath salts, the scent of vanilla and lavender, hoping that they will help with my lower back.

Removing my clothes, I move to the vanity and apply a clay mask.

Using my fingers to extend the mixture to my neck, I wince as I touch a tender spot at the junction between neck and shoulder.

Turning my body in the mirror to investigate the source of the pain, I cringe when I notice slight red swelling where my scars are. Moving closer and peering towards the back of my neck, I can see that the markings are almost like a bite.

Oh God, there better not be spiders under my pillow!

Moving to the bed, I cautiously wrap my hand around the end of the quilt and breathe deeply. Once secured in my grip, I quickly pull it aside, stepping back to avoid any hidden dangers lurking below.

Empty, nothing but rumpled bed sheets and a slight red stain between both pillows.

I'll have to wash them tomorrow. Thank God for the washer and dryer in the little outhouse at the back of the cabin.

Returning to the bathroom, I move to the tub, which is 3/4 full, and step in. The temperature is perfect, my muscles relaxing at the heat, pulling a low moan from my throat. Leaning back, so the water rests just above my chest, I turn to the window, still open from the day before, and take in the night.

I marvel at the beauty beyond and take in the clear sky, displaying a canvas of stars, with the moon its centerpiece shining brightly above.

Closing my eyes, I take in the sounds of nature, a symphony to my ears.

Smiling to myself, I take it all in. This feeling of serenity isn't something you can experience in the city. Moving my legs in the water, I allow the outside music to flow through me, the gentle noises causing my eyes to droop, my mind becoming one with the creatures outside.

Everything is heightened, the crickets chirping, their sound coming like a symphony of mating calls. The owls are hooting, declaring their claim to a particular territory, and the wolves are howling. What the F-.

Sitting up in the tub, I grab the nearest cloth and wash off my mask.

Wolves, how the hell do I know the sounds are from wolves?

Heart beating, stepping out of the bath, I securely tied on a robe hanging on a hook next to the barn door and headed downstairs, locking the front door.

I may love the sounds of nature, but being as isolated as I am, the thought of the wilderness being that close is not something that necessarily makes me feel confident.

Feeling a little more secure, I grab my phone off the charger, noticing several more texts and images from Erin, and return upstairs, climbing under the covers, the pine smell still there, and start replying.