Dark Intentions

Chapter 5

Twelve-year-old Britany Archer pedaled her bicycle down Mill Street as fast as she could. She was more than 15 minutes late and annoyed. Her mother knew she was supposed to meet her friend Molly in the park at 11:30. She’d waited until Britany was about to leave the house to tell her she needed to help with some chores before she could go.

Arriving at Coleman Park, she was out of breath when she saw her friend sitting on a picnic table waiting with her phone in her hand.

“Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for ever,” Molly said in an irritated tone.

“My mother needed me to help her move some furniture. Someone’s coming today to clean the carpets. I don’t know why she waited until I was headed out the door to ask.”

“Whatever. Let’s get going before it gets any hotter.”

Britany rolled her bike to the rack, placed it next to her friend’s and locked it up, using a chain with a combination lock.

Heading back to the table, she saw Molly stretching her legs and joined in. After a minute, the girls exchanged glances, nodded, and started running along the path.

The girls were part of a running team in their middle school and trained together several times each week.

As they ran, they scanned the ground, always on the lookout for a snake that might be sunning itself on the path.

After about a half mile, Molly spotted one on the edge of the trail. “Snake,” she said calmly as she pointed.

Both girls recognized it as a harmless kingsnake but still veered off the path to avoid getting too close.

They continued further and were approaching some decorative bushes on the side of the trail when a man stepped out, blocking their path. He wore a ball cap and was pointing a gun at them.

The girls came to an abrupt stop.

Britany, who had done some target shooting with her uncle, noticed that the gun looked strange and had an abnormally long barrel, making her wonder if it was a real gun or a toy.

The guy holding it didn’t speak. He stood as still as the girls, staring at them with a look of surprise. After a few seconds, the gun in his hand started shaking uncontrollably.

As one, the girls started to back away.

The gun was still pointed in their direction when the man collapsed to his knees and started crying.

Without speaking, the girls turned and ran, as fast as they could, back the way they’d come.

After looking back several times, Britany relaxed a little when she was sure the man wasn’t chasing them.