Canyonlands

The trip of a lifetime! Tom and Catherine had saved and were here, at last, touring National Parks in the U.S. of A.! First stop? Canyonlands.

"Why is this unpopular?" Catherine said in wonder as Tom drove their hire car into the valley. A patch of green denoted a ranch spread out under the towering red mesas.

"This is proper Western country," Tom commented and Catherine nodded, captivated at the scene.

The roads were empty. Even the visitor centre was an outpost. Catherine felt like she was entering forbidden territory and enjoyed the excitement it gave her.

Watered up, they pulled in at a canyon trail. The sun assaulted them as they exited their vehicle and Catherine could feel sweat forming under her hat.

In the pull-in was a white truck, door open, country music playing. No other vehicles were around. Catherine caught a glimpse of the driver's hand, out of the door, a ringed hand tapping something like a pen on his knee. Tattoos too? Too far away to see distinctly.

"Ready?" Tom said and Catherine smiled, her gaze leaving the truck driver and focusing on the trail.

As they walked, they heard a blast of loud music. Death metal, Catherine thought. It echoed off the rocks and despite the sun, Catherine couldn't help but feel chilled.

*

"Tom! TOM!" Catherine was trying to get Tom to move but the redness of him was mixing with the redness of rock.

Despairing and panicked, she sobbed. She couldn't leave him here!

Another gun shot and dust burst from a rock opposite her. Whispering "sorry" over and over again, she pulled the keys from Tom's pocket and ran.

Crying, the sun punishing her, she fled blindly, instinct taking over.

Sweat dripped, stinging her eyes but she clambered, desperately. Another shot! She screamed. If she could just get to the car...

She could see the pull-in. The car was still there. She pushed herself towards it. Something was different. It was lower and the tyres were spread, no longer round.

She then realised what she had seen in the driver's hand. It was a knife.

She heard a "Whoop!" behind her and realised that she was never leaving Canyonlands.

***

366 words

This is based on my recent trip to Utah and a part of Canyonlands where the Needles are, which is less visited. I don't know why as I thought it was as magnificent as others in Utah, but there's no accounting for people's expectations and the hype. It was quiet; there was a truck in the pull-in for a canyon trail; he did start playing death metal as we started on the trail. Unsettled? Maybe just a little? I did feel on this walk that it was me and my family in the wilderness and as I was walking round, my mind drifted into story mode and I formed the idea for this as I panted and sweated in the desert heat.

This will not be the only story inspired by my trip.

If you would like to read about my adventures, you can:

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