and out into the woods. The rushing stream was a welcoming sound, and its subtlety was hypnotic. He closed the truck door and circled to the back.
The concept for this outing was minimalism - who could do the most with the least. Frank never really liked the themes that the group came up with but he played along, anything for that thrill of the kill.
Taking a quick visual inventory of his daypack, he synched it back up, slung it on and buckled the waist strap all in one smooth motion.
This wasn't his first rodeo.
The others had spent the entire two weeks planning which gizmo to bring - Frank took only 5 items:
A lighter
his truck keys (with bottle opener keychain)
a knife his father used for hunting
a six-pack of beer
and a flanel jacket
Now the six pack was technically 6 things but that still left him well under the 15 item minimum.
The others ware all new to the hunting scene and did it as some sort of hobby for the weekend - cheapening the experience with their commando - wanna be attitudes.
Survival is not a game, but if it were Frank would be on the all star team.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Page 10 - Tripping Point
The key card opened the door just like she had said.
All entrances to the building are tracked in real time by the security software so he had to move fast.
The nervous lump returned to his throat. Hands began to moisten. Ears keen for the sound of other inhabitants in the hallways of the all too familiar office.
During the day the office was exactly like most others, filled with the hustle and buzz of modern corporate life, but after nightfall was a different story. The absence of people made made his mind play tricks on him, the corner of his eye catching people ducking into cubicles.
Illusions from a mind that now wanted desperately to escape this empty shell of a workplace.
Move fast.
Quickly rounding the last corner to the office that had been home for three and a half years, he suddenly realized that he had never worked late a day in his life.
Filling the backpack with all of his personal effects, he lifted the printed page from the back folder of the bottom drawer that would explain all of this to his superiors. The single page had been locked in the drawer since the first wage review over 2 years ago.
The text of the brief note etched into his mind - some days he would do nothing but read those 10 words over and over again dreaming of this day.
Dear Idiots,
You have burned the wrong guy.
Never Again!
Placing the note and taking one final look around, he let out a sigh and started his life.
All entrances to the building are tracked in real time by the security software so he had to move fast.
The nervous lump returned to his throat. Hands began to moisten. Ears keen for the sound of other inhabitants in the hallways of the all too familiar office.
During the day the office was exactly like most others, filled with the hustle and buzz of modern corporate life, but after nightfall was a different story. The absence of people made made his mind play tricks on him, the corner of his eye catching people ducking into cubicles.
Illusions from a mind that now wanted desperately to escape this empty shell of a workplace.
Move fast.
Quickly rounding the last corner to the office that had been home for three and a half years, he suddenly realized that he had never worked late a day in his life.
Filling the backpack with all of his personal effects, he lifted the printed page from the back folder of the bottom drawer that would explain all of this to his superiors. The single page had been locked in the drawer since the first wage review over 2 years ago.
The text of the brief note etched into his mind - some days he would do nothing but read those 10 words over and over again dreaming of this day.
Dear Idiots,
You have burned the wrong guy.
Never Again!
Placing the note and taking one final look around, he let out a sigh and started his life.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Page 9 - The 24th floor
The rain sloshed across the windshield of his rusted old hatchback as he rounded the corner. Slosh, Slosh, the unrelenting deluge attacked the car with such vigor - the glass in the window were rendered 80% useless.
Squinting and rubbing his breath off of the inside of the vehicle he saw a rain soaked blob in the shape of the parking structure entrance to his office. Hidden from the downpour he rolled down the window to slide his key card in the automated security gate and the arm lifted.
His mind was now already racing, he had received the text 45 minutes ago and his mind was reeling with the implications.
The seven most ominous words he had ever received on his phone "The situation has changed. Attendance not optional."
He had run the simulations personally and analyzed the results - had he forgotten something?
Exiting his car he realized time was now of the essence. This situation had only been described in general, vague terms during the final week of his "orientation".
They had called it orientation but it really was indoctrination. He had even moved into the city to be closer in case...
...in case tonight is really happening.
Squinting and rubbing his breath off of the inside of the vehicle he saw a rain soaked blob in the shape of the parking structure entrance to his office. Hidden from the downpour he rolled down the window to slide his key card in the automated security gate and the arm lifted.
His mind was now already racing, he had received the text 45 minutes ago and his mind was reeling with the implications.
The seven most ominous words he had ever received on his phone "The situation has changed. Attendance not optional."
He had run the simulations personally and analyzed the results - had he forgotten something?
Exiting his car he realized time was now of the essence. This situation had only been described in general, vague terms during the final week of his "orientation".
They had called it orientation but it really was indoctrination. He had even moved into the city to be closer in case...
...in case tonight is really happening.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)