Sarah Pentergass sat inside a tent. Camping was never Sarah’s idea of fun, but she begrudgingly agreed to attend her family’s once annual camping trip to LaPine State Park. She missed spending new years with her family, so she felt she owed it to them. Having been recently laid off from her public relations job in Chicowa city, a distraction also sounded rather nice. Unfortunately, Sarah’s brother Robert had to cancel at the last minute due to illness leaving Sarah alone with her parents.


    The surroundings were the usual, a large glade surrounded by forest. Large pine trees encompassed the campsite on all sides, and a river roared in the distance. The campsite consisted of two large tents and a small, well used portable grill.


    Many people liked to camp at the park, but Sarah’s dad always chose a secluded spot. The nearest people were probably miles away. Sarah quickly checked her phone battery, 98%, before shuffling it back into her pocket. She knew electronics were a rare commodity out in the wilderness, especially under her father’s watchful eye. He originally insisted on no electronics, but gradually relented on phones as his children aged. It was enough to convince them just to go camping until he eventually couldn’t even do that anymore.


    “Come out Sarah, and enjoy your surroundings. You’re one with nature here,” Bob, Sarah’s father called out.


    “Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. Might as well try to enjoy this,” Sarah thought to herself as she stepped out of her tent. “Coming! What’s for lunch today?” Sarah asked enthusiastically despite knowing that lunch would be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a day one camping trip tradition.


    “Silly goose, you know we’re having PB and J sandwiches,” Bob replied good naturedly.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    “Just humor your father dear, we’re only here for a few days,” Robin, Sarah’s mom added seemingly seeing through Sarah’s happy go lucky facade.


    The following few days passed more quickly and importantly, more enjoyably than Sarah anticipated. In fact, at the end, she was even mildly disappointed to have to go. Of course, her looming job search didn’t encourage her to want to return to everyday life. Soon, Sarah and her parents said their heartfelt goodbyes and prepared to part ways. Her parents would return to their home in Luth while Sarah would eventually have to fly across the country back to Chicowa.


    After returning to their cars parked on a nearby dirt road, Sarah watched her parent’s vehicle disappear into the distance. After hesitating for a moment, Sarah turned on the engine and prepared to depart as well. However, right at that moment, a shimmering light coalesced out of nowhere right in front of her car! Sarah shielded her eyes. She felt as if she was staring straight into the sun. Soon, the light dimmed before disappearing altogether as if it had never been there in the first place. All that remained was a young man in a lavish violet robe standing there before her.


    “Strangely enough, I’m not scared. Let’s think through this rationally. There was a blinding, majestic bright light, and then a man appeared. I must be hallucinating. Did I eat something weird? Did my parents eat something weird? Are they going to be alright? I need to call them,” Sarah’s inner monologue ran through her head. Quickly, she grabbed for her phone, flicked it on, and looked down.


    No service. Two little words caused Sarah to panic. She remained calm in the face of an impossible bright light and an impossible man, but the thought of her parents being in trouble caused Sarah immense alarm. She might not be the most filial daughter, but she deeply loved her parents.


    The man''s gaze slowly turned toward Sarah at the same moment that Sarah looked up from her phone, and they established eye contact for the first time. Finally, a switch went off in Sarah’s brain and she realized that everything that happened was real. She just felt too lucid for this to be a hallucination. Furthermore, she had never once hallucinated in her life. At that moment a voice sounded out from the man.