You run along the park’s trail on your jog and pass by the heritage cabin off to the side. A few minutes later, you expect to meet up with roads, shops, and traffic, but only discover the same path and cabin off to the side. Confused, you stop and look back to see more trees behind you. You turn again to see more tress ahead of you.

When you open your phone to text a friend, the last conversation you had with them is replaying. You don’t touch the keypad, but your phone sends the same responses you sent them earlier that day. Then the text bubbles disappear and the conversation restarts. You quickly put it away; it was an argument you two had and you’re still pissed about it.

Whether you try running back, try a side path, or keep moving forward, you eventually run back into that spot with the cabin. By now, it’s night time. You’re hungry, dehydrated, and exhausted. Just then, the light in the cabin flickers on and the front door creeeeeaks open. Now you can smell a hearty stew and fresh bread beckoning you. Maybe you even heard some light chatter before your growling stomach took your attention. Seeing no other choice, you walk into the cabin's alluring glow.

Sitting at the table are various other people in different clothing. When they seeing you come in, several greet you and one gets a stool for you. Before you sit, you recognize one of the other people as another jogger who went missing earlier that year. Upon asking her what happened, she says that she got stuck in the park’s strange time loop and it was either she keep running or she make her new home in the cabin. She mentioned that other people tried to leave but they were never seen again.

You listened to her story as you ate and drank. One by one, everyone else finished and left. The other jogger waited for you and invited you up the stairs to grab a bed. She disappeared up the stairs and you were about to follow her until the front door suddenly creeeeaked open. You stopped and gazed out at the calm night just two steps away. The path was well lit with modern pole lights and you can even make out the lights from your city beyond. Then your phone started to vibrate. When you checked it, it was the same text conversation with your friend replaying, but every time they sent a reply now, your phone vibrated in response. The other jogger called you from up the stairs.

Sleepy from the large meal and run, you decide to shut the door and walk up the stairs. As you get ready for bed, your phone is silent. You check it a few times but the argument with your friend has finally stopped replaying. When you’re ready for bed, you turn off the lamp, put your phone on the nightstand, and snuggle in between the covers. Just as your were about to close your eyes, your phone vibrates. You turn to pick it up and check it.

The text name says ‘The Cabin’ and the message reads “You made your choice and I got you now :D”

Udern Stroud

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