“So, that’s her huh?” Isaiah asks. The woman creeps him out. Although he and Jeremy have sought cover behind some trees, he’s not entirely sure she can’t actually see them. He can’t believe Jeremy actually agreed to this.

“Yeah.” Jeremy exhales. He rubs his hands along his pants. “That’s her.”

Jeremy’s obvious nerves don’t make Isaiah feel better. “Man,” Isaiah scans his surroundings. “Why the hell did we have to come out here to the middle of the woods to do this? We’re just begging to get murdered!”

“These were her terms.” Jeremy doesn’t so much as glance at Isaiah. He can’t take his eyes off the woman. “Just stay here. She never even has to see you.” He steps out from behind the tree and makes his way towards the woman.

Isaiah almost calls out to try and stop him but his voice catches in his throat. He watches helplessly as his friend marches across the forest. The woman’s head tilts to the side as Jeremy approaches her. The movement sends a chill crawling down Isaiah’s spine. Jeremy stops a few feet from the woman.

She doesn’t acknowledge Jeremy’s presence. The two just stand there for a while. Isaiah can’t hear anything the two are saying. He thinks about moving closer.

The woman raises the satchel and holds it out to Jeremy. The bag sways in the air, almost like it’s too heavy for the woman. But her arm is steady. It doesn’t look like she is struggling with the weight.

Is something in the bag moving?

Isaiah leans forward to get a better look. The bark digs into his palms.

Jeremy glances towards Isaiah for a brief moment, then his gaze darts back to the woman. There was fear in his eyes. Jeremy takes a step back. Isaiah wonders if he’s he’s having second thoughts.

“C’mon Jer. Just walk away.”

The woman extends the bag closer to Jeremy, it lurches. He stumbles backwards and ends up on the forest floor. Isaiah jumps back from his position in the tree-line. Jeremy scrambles to his feet, never once taking his eyes off the woman.

The bag swings in the air between the two of them. The woman’s outstretched arm remains perfectly still. The wind whistles through the forest’s trees. Leaves tumble across the floor as a chill spreads through the air.

Jeremy slowly reaches out a hand and takes the bag from the woman. His arm drops to his side from the weight.

Just who the hell is this woman? What the hell is she?

Jeremy struggles to hold the bag in front of him with both hands. The woman’s head snaps towards Isaiah. He gasps and throws himself behind the tree. His breaths are heavy and quick. His heartbeat thrums in his ears. He squeezes his eyes shut.

He forces himself to breathe slower. Though he can still feel his heart beating in his chest, he forces his eyes open and peers around the tree. The woman is gone.

Isaiah pushes himself off the tree and scans the forest. There is absolutely no sign of the woman anywhere. Jeremy stands alone in the middle of the woods, holding the mysterious bag the woman gave him at arms length.

Isaiah makes his way over to Jeremy. He scans the forest as he does, trying to see of she ducked behind a tree or something. As far as he can tell, she is just gone. “What happened?”

Jeremy looks around, dazed. “I don’t know.”

“Well where did she go?”

“I don’t know.” Jeremy’s voice is shaky. His looks at the bag still in his hand and drops it on the forrest floor. There is a heavy thud as it hits the ground. The bag rocks side to side. Whatever is in it grumbles and growls. It calms down once the bag goes still.

Isaiah and Jeremy look down at the bag and then up at each other. Jeremy steps towards the bag. He gently pokes it with his toes. Whatever is in the bag growls. It jostles the bag back and forth. Isaiah and Jeremy both stumble backwards.

They look at each other. The thing in the bag gives one last huff. The bag goes still again. Jeremy glances up at Isaiah. He looks curious, if a little hesitant. He crouches down towards the bag.

“Woah!” Isaiah cries. Jeremy looks up at him. “Woah, what the hell are you doing?”

“I was gonna take a peek inside.”

“Are you crazy?” Isaiah hisses at him. His nerves begin to twist themselves into a knot in his stomach.

“It’s what we came here for isn’t it!”

Was it? Had life really gotten so complicated?

Jeremy reaches out toward the bag. He unclasps the latch keeping it closed. Sweat gathers on Isaiah’s palms. His eyes flick to Jeremy. Jeremy looks up at him. Isaiah’s mouth goes dry. He doesn’t trust his voice to work so shakes his head.

Jeremy looks back to the bag on the floor in front of them. He reaches out for it and carefully pushes the sides apart. Isaiah can’t help his curiosity. He leans forward to take a peak inside.

“What the hell?”