#Chapter 38: A Long Hike

Ava Chris pulled the car into a small parking area on the side of the road and put it in park. He turned to me, pulling the keys out of the ignition at the same time. “We’re here,” he said. I looked out through the car windows at the sprawling pine forest towering over us and saw no trailhead. “Where is ‘here’?” I asked with a slight chuckle. “I’ve never hiked here before.” Chris smirked and unbuckled his seatbelt. “You’ll see. It’s a bit off the beaten path.” As we climbed out of the car, the scent of pine and sap filled my nostrils—a soothing, natural scent that had always been one of my favorites. But as we made our way to the treeline, I still saw no trail. I paused, placing my hands on my hips. “There’s no trail, is there?” I asked. “You know, it’s dangerous to hike without a trail. We could get lost.” “Oh, damn. You and me, lost in the woods with no one around for days?” Chris teased. “Having to use each other for warmth? How awful.” A derisive snort escap