Fredrick Thompson's last night in the woods. Who: George Lass and Others. Where: The wooded outskirts of Eureka Springs When: August 29, late Why: Fred's time is up. Status Closed, Incomplete.
George woke with a start.
No alarm had gone off, and it was obviously dark out, considering she'd forgotten to pull the drapes closed after laying down in the middle of the afternoon. That lovely place between sleep and alertness hung on like a bad cold, leaving her mind to reel about what time it was.. what day it was. Waking up in the middle of the night always did that to her.
Then she remembered..
Her breath caught in her throat with a panicked flail for the digital clock on the bed stand-- 9:54pm. Whew... Still had an hour.
Wait... how far away was this place?
Cue more panic: the freckled blond tore out of bed, tangling herself in the sheets in the process. A yelp of shock and surprise ended with a comical thud as she landed, sprawled on the floor. Frustrated and frantic, the sheets were kicked away (they tended to cling to jeans and the heavy hiking boots she seemed to have worn in her nap), George shot to her feet, grabbing purse, keys, and ponytail holder all in one swipe in her b-line for the door.
Unfortunately the corner of the entertainment center caught the side of her toe on the way. Gritted teeth and a hiss of breath followed a one-footed hop out into the hallway: the door slammed behind her.
She stopped dead in her tracks: the image of the electronic key card in her minds eye: still sitting on the dresser. "FUCK!"