Jess Keegan
It had been a cool, refreshing day, with fall weather just starting to set in and bring relief from the summer heat. Not that Jess really got to enjoy it stuffed in a high school building for most of the day. There was not even anything particularly interesting going on, nor would there be until the end of the month. There was supposed to be some sort of Halloween dance, but Jess was not entirely sure if she would go. Finally, Jess's last class ended and she could go home.
Still, home was not much of a relief either. Almost as soon as she walked in the door, her mother started inquiring after Jess's homework, telling her things she wanted done that night, and reminding her to be ready for supper on time. Jess, tired of being constantly scolded by her mother, simply rolled her eyes with a hasty, "Got it, Mom." She half ran up the stairs before her mother could say anything more. It was usually like that, with her mother harping on her until her father got home. With her dad around, Jess's mother could calm down a bit and they could act more like a normal family.
Tossing her backpack to the floor by her desk, Jess plopped down into the chair and looked out the window. She could see the houses across the street, almost identical to her own except they were painted in different, appropriately neutral colors. Beyond them was the woods that stretched for miles. She looked at the forest longingly, leaning forward to open the window and letting in a small breeze. With a sigh, she reached down to open her backpack and took out a book, dropping it carelessly on the desk before opening it. She stared blankly at the page for a moment, trying to make herself interested in the molecular composition of matter before leaning back in her chair with a groan. She eyed the forest that was so tantalizingly close, and glanced back down at her textbook.
Finally, she made her decision and stood up, pushing her desk chair back with her legs. She rummaged through her backpack until she found her phone and turned it on before stuffing it into her pocket. She walked down the stairs to the door, thankful that her mom was in the kitchen. That would make leaving easier. After opening the door, she shouted, "Mom, going on a short hike. Got my phone if you need something." She slammed the door closed before her mother could respond and made her way to the head of the closest trail. She didn't plan on being out long, but wanted to have some time to enjoy the evening.
As she walked, she immensely enjoyed hearing the quiet that was interrupted only by the chirping birds and her own footsteps. It had rained a few days ago, so the woods smelled fresh and everything was a vivid green. The dirt path under her shoes was still muddy where it was overshadowed by trees. She had made it about a mile up the trail and was almost to a small clearing, when she suddenly felt like there was something wrong. She thought about it a moment before suddenly stopping as she realized what it was. The birds had stopped chirping. She wondered what was going on and whether she should head home.
She thought she heard something behind her and had begun to turn, but she felt an odd pressure on her neck. Her vision immediately faded to black, and she fell unconscious, her limp body carried off to who knows where.