Cheryl was two hours into her hike and feeling good about herself. The trail was a ten mile loop, and she had already put four behind her. A month ago Cheryl had resolved to get off her ass and exercise more. Twenty five years old and 5' 4", she was already thin at 120lbs, but she wanted to be healthier, to be able to run several miles without stopping, but she knew she had a long way to go.
A short time later she came across another hiker sitting near the path, apparently enjoying his lunch and the sounds of nature. The hiking trail wasn't commonly used, and this was the first person she had run into so far. Cheryl and the man made brief eye contact but exchanged no words. When his eyes met hers she felt a chill down her back and quickened her pace. She could feel his eyes slowing following her as she continued forward, trying her best to ignore it. He calmly continued eating his lunch, his gaze never leaving Cheryl until she disappeared down the trail.
An hour later and Cheryl had to stop to catch her breath. She had been walking faster ever since the encounter, but was feeling better now, having put some distance between them. It had been a tough uphill climb and Cheryl was definitely tired, but felt confident she could complete the remaining miles. She sat down on a stump overlooking the valley below, taking in the beautiful sight. Looking out over the landscape, she realized she could see the trail that she had just hiked. She traced her route back down the incline of the valley, twisting and turning through rocks and trees. As she followed it her eyes suddenly stopped. Below, about a mile back, was the man from the earlier. He was just standing there, still as a statue. Cheryl squinted and realized he was staring back at her. She felt the same chill from earlier down her spine. She immediately had an intense gut feeling that this man meant her harm.
Cheryl started to get up when the man suddenly took off, running down the path she had just taken. Cheryl froze, her pulse spiking. Unsure of what to do and not wanting to wait around, her flight or fight response kicked in. She grabbed her bag and started sprinting down the trail away from the man as fast as she could. She reached into her pocket to grab her phone, but being this far out in the woods meant no signal. "Fuck!" she screamed out into the trees.
After less than a minute of running Cheryl felt her lungs and legs burning, forcing her to slow down. She thought about the trail. She had a mile lead, but she was no athlete. Considering how fast the man was going, she figured she had perhaps twenty minutes before he caught up, maybe slightly more if she could keep moving. But she knew running was hopeless; even with her head start she'd never manage to stay ahead over another five miles.
Cheryl pressed on with every ounce of her strength, her panicked mind wracking itself for any other idea, until a stitch in her side forced her to slow down to a crawl. Terror began to set it. She knew she had no hope of reaching the end before the man, and he was likely only a few minutes away at this point, maybe less. She looked around and, seeing no other choice, headed off the trail and into the wilderness.
Cheryl wandered through the trees, desperately trying to find a place to hide, but quickly became disoriented and lost. She slowly made her way through the forest, unsure if she was going towards or away from her pursuer. Suddenly, she heard the sound of something nearby, and quickly hid behind some rocks, doing her best to stay hidden while shaking uncontrollably. She heard someone running through the forest, then come to a stop nearby. Cheryl knew it was the man. She held her breath, covering her mouth and nose with her hands, doing her best to suppress her trembling. She heard him walk close, then stop moving, presumably looking around for her. After a few moments, she heard him turn and slowly walk away. Overcome with relief and unable to contain the burning in her lungs any longer, she let a breath escape her lips.
Suddenly, she was harshly pulled up to her feet by her hair, then dragged out from her hiding spot and pushed up against a tree. She was caught. She let out a wail and screamed "please," but the man acted like he didn't even hear her. Cheryl thought about fighting, but knew it would be pointless. He weighed twice as much as her and she was unarmed and already exhausted from running. Letting her arms hang limp, she allowed him to bring her hands behind the tree and bind them together with a pair of solid metal handcuffs. Next, he placed a blindfold over her eyes, casting her into darkness. She sobbed into the blindfold as she slunk down to the ground, knowing she was defeated, completely at his mercy.
The man sat down nearby, his back resting against a tree. He was clearly in no rush, taking his time to slowly catch his breath after the pursuit. Cheryl spent the time recovering as well, trying to prepare her body and mind for what was about to happen. She tested her restraints but was unsurprised to find them strong and secure. She only had a few inches of give in any direction; enough to be comfortable, but not enough to meaningfully move. She had never felt so hopeless and dejected in her life, sitting here, silently waiting to be taken. It was an odd moment, two strangers sitting together in the woods, each catching their breath, oddly calm. Had Cheryl not been restrained and blindfolded an onlooker might have thought they were friends taking a break after a hike.
After the man had recovered, he made his way over to her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her up, effortlessly lifting her back to her feet. She stood there, arms bound behind her, head down, waiting for what would come next. He placed a finger under her chin and lifted it up, staring at her eyes through the blindfold. Cheryl could feel his gaze burning through the thick cloth. He pulled out a knife, pressing the cold steel against the warm skin of her cheek. Cheryl reflexively tried to back up before being immediately halted by the tree, tears starting to stream down her face. She turned her head back and away from him, but he kept the blade pressed against her until she reached the limit of her movement. He slid the blade down her face, visibly pushing into her skin but holding back just enough not to cut her. When he reached the top of her shirt he began to cut through the thin cloth. The sharp blade easily sliced through the cotton of her top as if it weren't even there. In mere moments her shirt fell apart, leaving nothing more than tatters on the ground. A similar treatment to her bra left Cheryl naked from the waist up. If Cheryl had any doubts before they were gone now; she had no question about his intentions.
She felt him slide a finger under each side of her shorts' waistband, dragging them down. Cheryl felt her mind and body becoming completely submissive, rationalizing that she should do whatever the man wanted in hopes that he might spare her life. She knew that he was in full control, and any resistance could be met with extreme punishment. While she considered herself a strong woman in her day to day life, Cheryl didn't have an ounce of pride or defiance left in her now. She lifted her feet to aid in the removal of her clothes, hating herself for helping this stranger to rape her. Her panties quickly followed, leaving Cheryl totally naked.