“Did I say you could speak, asshole?”, she spat at him. “Get the fuck up!”

He smirked. Hardly the reaction she’d hoped for.

“Oh, now I know you,” he said. “You followed the lake shore, right? To this broken down old shed? Mmmm… yes, I see. You had to get away.”.

The girl’s constant anger gave way to a moment’s shock. “Huh? What the hell are you talking about?” She tried to spit in his face, but sprayed his faded old cap instead. “Jeezus. Fucking piss-heads!”

The old man sat up, taking a long look at her, and smiled more warmly than ever. “Yes, I know you. What drew you out to this lake, what made you run from it… what begged you to hide here instead…” His words trailed off as his eyes found hers. He held her gaze, and slowly stood.

She looked up at him now. Clearly, he was not the man she had first seen. Suddenly she was acutely aware of the the gun hanging limply by her side.