Free Out of Place by Shane Scollins Page B

were out in the middle of nowhere, not expecting to see anyone else except perhaps another hiking team. The last thing they expected was some psycho with an assault rifle. Then again , that’s probably the last thing anyone, anywhere, expects to see.
    Zack headed up a small hill, waiting for a moment to listen. His own heavy breath made the only sound. He looked up to the sun and knew which way he had to go to get to Eagle Point. There was an active ranger station up there and he could get some help.
    He got to a vantage point where he could partially see the camp through the trees. Going down there would be risky. Even though he didn’t see the killer, he was there. If Zack could get to his pack, he’d be able to get his solar charger. His phone was not getting a signal here, but it might at higher ground. Problem was his battery was only at about fifty percent. Usually he hooked the phone to his charger while he was hiking, and in a couple hours it would be fully charged.
    To save the battery he turned the phone off and stuffed it into his jeans pocket. He moved around to another position and eyed the camp. The gunman was there, going through their backpacks. Zack watched him take his pack apart. He was tossing the contents into the fire, which had reignited from other things he’d already tossed in. The man took the solar charger and stuffed it into the tan tactical vest he wore.
    Zack felt dismay as he watched his belongings burn. The man then started to drag the bodies one-by-one to the stone platform near the lake and tossed them into the water below. Watching this transpire was one of the most helpless feelings he’d ever had in his life. For some reason he couldn’t run, transfixed by the dreamlike quality of this spectacle.
    The rock s on the steep hill under Zack’s feet gave way, he nearly fell, but more seriously, he sent a large grouping of rocks clacking down the hill, giving away his position. The gunman focused his attention to where he was. Zack slowly backed up the hill, trying not to make any sudden movements, but the man opened fire anyway.
    Bullets screamed into the woods , sending chunks of bark into the air. A couple shots thumped into the soil just a few feet to his left. He scrambled around and clawed up the hill, trying to get away.
    He got to the crest of the hill. Not stopping this time, he just put his head down and ran as fast as he could until he came to a trail after a few hundred feet. Huffing hard, he turned up the trail to the East, heading towards Eagle Point. It was too far to run the whole way, but he ran for as long and hard as he could.
    After a few miles, Zack had to take a break. Satisfaction that he’d put enough distance on the gunman allowed him to take this breather. The guy didn’t look to be in great shape, so Zack knew he could outrun him. Coming upon a rock wall next to the trail, he took a seat on the ledge. A few deep steady breaths caught his wind and got his pulse back to normal. He took out his phone to check for a signal, but there was nothing. Holding down the power button, he turned it right back off. He had to hope that battery lasted.
    He didn’t want to rest too long , but he had to stay sharp, and if he wore himself out physically, he’d wear himself out mentally, and that would be a bad combination. With one final breath, he got back to his feet. Before he took a step, he heard someone coming down the trail in a full run. It seemed impossible to believe that guy could’ve covered that ground.
    He was cornered now. The trail was wide open here. He’d never get up the trail in time to put distance on this guy. Instead of running, he picked up a couple large rocks and got behind a large boulder.
    The person came around the corner and Zack brought the rock up. He was going to hammer this prick in the face with this softball-sized boulder and hope for the best. But when the person came into view he lowered the rock and jumped down into the path. The girl