It was so innocent starting. That's how it always is, isn't it? Every little decision no matter how small takes you to where you are right now. As I'm writing this note I'm standing in the middle of a patch of woods in the Appalachian wilderness. The night is going to fall, and by morning I will either meet her again, or I will no longer stand.
My name is Colt Whitman, I was a geologist studying at Duke University, and for my final project, I decided to go to the Appalachian mountains to do a study on the rock formations and geography there. Me and a small group of ten students, led by a faculty member, went hiking into the woods almost ten years ago. This is the story of how N'yala changed me, stripped me of my humanity. Nature can be scary.
It was a sunny fall day, I finished packing my backpack and started to head out to the charter bus. My phone rang. The caller ID was my dad.
"Hey, Dad, what's up?"
"Just checking on you," his warm voice came through the speaker. "About to go on that trip?"
"Yea, I'm packing now."
"Have everything? Extra water, tent, thermal blanket."
"Yea, I do, it's only two nights, I'll be okay."
"I just worry. How's Heather?"
"Doing good, she's going down to her parents for the weekend." Heather was my long-time girlfriend, we've been together since high school.
"That's good, tell her I said hey."
"I will, I gotta go dad. Love you."
"Love you too son, be safe out there."
"I will. Bye."
I hung up and finished packing my huge backpack. It's one of those nice camping ones, my dad got it for me for my birthday.
Mom died a couple of years ago, ever since then, it's been just me and dad. He did his best to make sure I went to college and supported me as much as he could. He was an amazing father.
I smiled, remembering just what's ahead of me. It was gonna be a fun break from school.
I threw the pack over my shoulder and lugged it out of my dorm room.
It was a cool fall day outside, all the trees were beginning to transition into beautiful oranges and reds, the air was crisp and cool.
I began walking towards the meeting place for my class to get on the charter bus. It was about a five-minute walk, but I gave myself more than enough time. I passed by the girl's dorm on my way. I shrugged and walked up to the door and knocked.
A young girl, about two years younger than me opened the door. She was a brunette with easy eyes and a cute face. She was smiling, wearing an old hoodie of mine.
"Hey, stranger," she said, wrapping her arms around me. "Saw you walking by, knew you'd stop."
"Hey, Heather, just about to leave." I reciprocated the hug. "Figured I'd let you know."
"Okidoki. Be safe okay? Call me when you get there."
"Okay, okay. It's only two days, I'll be okay."
"Well, I worry you know?"
"I know. I'll be fine, I promise. Love you, I gotta get going."
"Okay, love you too." She leaned back and kissed me, she tasted like mint.
I broke from the hug and went back to walking towards the science building. She closed the door behind her.
I had one last stop to make before I headed to the bus. I had to pick up my friend Eric. He's taking the same classes as me, we both wanted to become geologists ever since we were kids. We used to go out in the woods around our houses and come back with bags of rocks we thought were cool. Our parents used to get so mad.
Well, that passion never really ran dry for either of us, we studied as hard as we could to get here. Having a friend to compete with makes you want to get better.
He lived in a frat house. I walked up and knocked on the door. It wasn't a party house, they were just a group of guys who all went in together.
To my surprise, Eric opened the door. He was dressed similarly to me, hoodie, backpack, and the works. He was a year younger than me but wore himself older. He had a neatly shaven beard and a head of coiffed blonde hair. He put his gloved hand out.
I took it and he pulled me into a hug.
"What's up, man," I said as he released me.
"Not too much. Ready for the trip?"
"Yea figured we could walk to the stop together."
"Cool, let's get going."
He closed the door and locked it.
"How's heather?" He asked as we began walking.
"She's good, she snuck into my dorm room last night, still wearing my hoodie."
"Oh? Can I get some kiss and tell?"
I pushed his shoulder. "Nah, use your imagination."
"Just tell me if you got some."
"I'm not telling you shit." I joked.
"Oh you definitely did, your face is super red." He snickered. I could feel the heat behind my cheeks.
I rolled my eyes. "You're just jealous I can get some."
"Shut up,"
"You've been a virgin since high school dude."
"It's cause I'm saving myself for marriage."
"Sure, or you're too scared to talk to women."
He laughed. "Yea, yea, so excited for the trip?"
"Fuck yes, been wanting to go camping for a hot minute."
"Same, and we don't have to pay shit."
"Yea, that's the best part."
We kept shooting the shit to the science building. Our small classroom was all standing around, waiting on the bus.
We approached the group. It was mostly girls, believe it or not. Eric, me, and another guy named Joshua were the only guys.
Our teacher, Miss Jesse Jamieson. Or, "Jamie" as she makes us call her, stood there too.