Until Alex - J. Nathan Page 0,30

grabbed my keys from the table beside the door, slipped on my flip flops, and snuck out of the apartment.

I crept to the stairwell, waiting until the first floor door slammed shut below. When it did, I hurried down the steps and peered out the exit, spotting Hayden sliding into his truck. I eyeballed the dark grounds, wondering if he’d see me if I made a mad dash for my car.

His headlights flicked on, casting two bright strobes across the lawn. I crouched to the ground, my heartbeat echoing in my ears. If he’d seen me, it didn’t stop him from pulling out of the lot.

I jumped to my feet and ran to my car. Once inside, I gripped the steering wheel and hesitated. What was I doing? Why did I care where he was going? Had his erratic behavior just pushed me over the edge?

Despite my questions, and reluctance to actually follow someone, I started my engine and pulled out onto the road. I glimpsed my dashboard clock. Half past twelve. No wonder why the roads were deserted.

Hayden’s lights glowed a good distance ahead of me. But, in an effort to remain undetected, I kept plenty of space between us. Him finding me trailing him was all I needed.

Up ahead, Hayden didn’t signal. He just took a sharp right. Once I reached the road, I turned onto it.

His distant headlights illuminated the winding stretch of road. I glanced in my rearview mirror, but no one drove behind me. Not really shocking. I’d yet to see a single house as we travelled deeper into the woods.

Up ahead, Hayden turned right again without signaling. I slowed, so not to miss the turn. But when I came upon it, panic set in. He hadn’t turned onto a road. He’d turned into a parking lot. A church parking lot. And except for his headlights, it was pitch black and empty.

Having limited options, I crouched in my seat and continued on the deserted road.

What was he up to? Was he meeting someone? A priest? A girl? A drug dealer? Or, had he taken a wrong turn and picked that spot to turn around?

Houses sprung up set back from the road, but I couldn’t find any businesses where I could park or turn around. Making a split decision, I pulled a U-turn in the middle of the road.

I needed to see this through.

I spotted a dirt area to the right where a homeowner cleared out brush for guest parking. I pulled into the spot, tucking my car in as far as possible without being too badly scratched by the natural landscape. Satisfied I’d concealed it, I took a deep breath, locked up, and set off on foot.

My trek through the shadowy woods definitely wasn’t well planned. I’d never been one for hiking, so the uneven terrain in my flip flops proved a challenge. Especially in the dark. The crescent moon provided some light. But the towering trees blocked it from cascading down. They also added eerie sound effects to the already unnerving night.

Fantastic.

I knew I could’ve used my phone for light, but then why not just announce my arrival with a bullhorn? I could only imagine what Hayden would think if he spotted me. After all, we weren’t even friends.

But he’d left me no choice. His strange behavior. His wishy-washy attitude toward me. His intrusion into my life. They were enough to make anyone crazy. And sneaking through the woods alone at night was definitely crazy.

As the denseness of the woods tapered, a small white church appeared. In the light of day it would’ve been quaint. But late at night, set back from the road with a massive steeple ill-fitting of the diminutive structure, it looked like something out of a horror movie. It was just a matter of time before the zombies encased by thick fog crept out from behind it.

Luckily, the trees surrounding the parking lot kept me veiled, making it easier to remain hidden as I traipsed closer to the church.

Hayden’s empty truck sat at the foot of the church’s cement steps. From the edge of the woods, I scanned the area, wondering where he could’ve gone. The church would’ve been locked, so aside from breaking in, he couldn’t have entered it. And since there were no other cars in the lot, he didn’t appear to be meeting anyone.

A small light shining at the rear of the church caught my eye. I inched closer, staying to the outskirts of the woods. When