A loud roar penetrated the silence in the vast mountains. Miles stopped and looked around. Was that a bear? No one had said anything about bears when they recommended this track. The scenery was beautiful, but the eerily sound of a giant beast worried him. He listened for more sounds but didn’t hear any more roars. Could it have been something other animal that made such a sound?
Miles just shook his head and kept moving. There was no point in dallying. He wanted to reach the cabin he’d rented before darkness fell. He only had two more hours of daylight. After that, it would be pitch black and difficult to find anything.
Half an hour later, Miles spotted the small cabin along the mountain ridge. The wind had picked up, and he was shivering. He hoped the cabin was warmer than it appeared and had plenty of firewood. He needed to get to work before his hands were too cold to do anything.
Miles sat on his knees in front of the wood burner a few hours later, adding two more logs to the fire. The wood burner had proved effective, and the cabin felt warm and cosy. Suddenly, another roar pierced the night. Miles jumped up and headed for the window. The door was locked, but he didn’t want to face a bear. Not when he was the only human up here. Miles looked into the darkness and tried to search for the bear. Still nothing. It had been closer this time. Maybe the bear made regular routes and wanted to scare off everybody else. Miles shivered despite the warm cabin. He was safe inside the cabin but would have to be on the lookout when he went outside in the morning.
Miles listened for the bear but didn’t hear any more roars. Eventually, Miles calmed down and went to bed. He tucked the sleeping bag around his frame, watching the flames engulf another small log. Miles finally fell into a light sleep, hoping his sleeping bag would keep him warm when the wood was burned to ashes.
Hours later, someone abruptly pulled the sleeping bag away from Miles.
“What the hell?” Miles growled in anger. Then he stiffened as he caught a glimpse of a large and naked man looming over him.
Miles gawked at him. The faint light from the daylight entered through the thin curtains. The man was huge, and Miles knew he wouldn’t have a chance in hell to beat this man in a fight. That left fleeing. Miles rolled to the side to get away, but the man grabbed hold of him, pushing him onto his back while the man started pulling at Miles’s clothes.
“Mine,” the man roared as he ripped away Miles’s pyjama pants and t-shirt. Miles fought hard, pushing and kicking against the stranger while he yelled angrily.