Finding it strange, I opened my eyes and looked up, almost falling off the log I was sitting on. Mitch was now hovering around me, almost expectantly. It startled me, and I made no secret of expressing my discontent with his closeness.
“Is there something wrong?” I demanded, pulling myself up from the ground and heading back over to my tent.
“No…I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he retorted, almost as though he was insulted.
“I’m fine, Mitch. I already told you I was fine,” I hissed, going back to putting up my tent.
“So, you don’t talk much,” he offered in a manner that led me to question whether he expected me to answer.
Despite my exhaustion, I returned to pitching my tent, trying to give him the hint that I wanted him to leave me the hell alone.
However, he simply stood there, staring at me. I could feel his eyes piercing my back and the thought of having an altercation with him only made me feel more tired,
So, eventually, I turned around and gave him a grin, “No. I don’t. I’ve always been more of the silent observer.”
“Oh? Yeah, I get that,” he answered as he swayed back and forth, fists punched uncomfortably in his pockets as his lanky structure coiled up into an elongated ‘S’ shape.
“So, you go to school, right? College?”
“Yeah, I do,” I answered, “I’m studying to become a paralegal.”
“Cool,” he replied, though he seemed distracted by his own thoughts.
“So, do you have a boyfriend?”
The last question caused my stomach to drop uncomfortably.
“Um…Yeah,” I answered, deciding that less information I gave about the fictional boyfriend would be more convincing.
“Oh?” Mitch answered, stepping toward me in a manner that made me feel even more uncomfortable. “Why didn’t he come with
you on this trip? Are you guys on the outs or something?”
“No,” I replied, trying to sound convincing, “he…he just doesn’t like the mountains…Or hiking. He thinks its…boring.”
I knew that my voice was cracking as I stepped away from him, hoping that he eventually would change his mind about what he was obviously hinting around, before it was too late.
Although, each of my movements seemed increasingly sluggish and with the thinner air, it was becoming increasingly arduous to breath.
“So, what he doesn’t know, won’t hurt him, right? Don’t you want to do it on a mountain?” Mitch insisted, now becoming seriously direct.
“No,” I insisted, trying not to let my fear translate through my voice, “I’m sorry but I would rather keep our relationship professional.”
By now, I could feel my heart pounding as my whole body shook with terror. I wondered how long it would take me to make it back to civilization but was certain this was the longest portion of the trek with no towns for miles.
I swallowed hard as my eyes searched for something I could use as a weapon.
Yet, my sluggish brain seemed utterly useless, unable to focus on anything, other than my fear.
“Why?” Mitch demanded, now raising his voice significantly as his expression became alight with ire. “What? Am I not good enough for you?”
“Mitch, I said no! I hired you to guide me up the mountain. That’s it!” I exclaimed, trying to turn around and run but getting caught up in the tent.
“Why don’t you just give it a try?” He insisted, stepping closer to me with a hastiness that even my slowed disposition was able to notice.
“No!” I screamed, fighting my way through the tent, trying to get away from him.
However, when I tried to go around the side, Mitch quickened his pace and grabbed me. Although I tried to dodge his grasp, I felt his fingers clasp around my wrist as he yanked me close to him.