"Won't you stay at my place tonight? Please," Lindy pleaded as they stood in the restaurant's parking lot.

"I will be all right," promised Jewel, leaning against her car.

"We should call the police."

"For what? Because someone left your card on our table?"

"What if the person who broke into your apartment is following you around?" Lindy's eyes widened.

"You're overreacting," said Jewel, shaking her head. "I don't know who I heard in the hallway, but I am sure my neighbor slipped the card under my door."

"And the card I gave you? How did it get here?"

"Someone I know is here." Jewel looked around for one of her neighbors. Swallowing, she continued, "Maybe, they didn't make themselves known out of embarrassment."

"Why would they be embarrassed?"

"What if they took the card out of curiosity and did not feel comfortable explaining, especially in front of a stranger?"

"Your neighbors know me." Lindy's lips thinned. She refused to create another painful scene like the one they'd had in the restaurant; she did not want to hurt her friend's feelings again.

"You left the card in the slot. It may have fallen out of my mailbox, and someone picked it up." The explanations fell off her lips without any effort.

"Why wouldn't they speak to you?" Lindy asked, glancing sideways with a frown.

"People do weird things when they are embarrassed." Jewel took a deep breath and blew her cheeks out, releasing the air slowly.

I don't know how it got on our table! I saw it when you did.

"I think whoever returned the card should be concerned with scaring you."

"Not everyone is as considerate as you."

"I'll stop stressing you But, if anything unusual happens tonight, will you call me?" Lindy beseeched, rubbing the nape of her neck.

"I'll call the police first, and then I will call you," Jewel vowed.

"You better call. If anything else happens, you are staying with me. You can stay until the police catch the nutcase," Lindy said, giving her friend a tight hug.

"Nothing else is going to happen." Jewel tapped her foot.

"Call me as soon as you get home?"

"Yes, mom. I will," Jewel teased. With a tight hug, they departed.

On autopilot, Jewel made her way through traffic. She couldn't stop thinking about the invitation. The idea of spending two weeks in a cabin away from everyone in the city thrilled her; she loved spending time in the woods. Jewel enjoyed being surrounded by the beauty of nature. She found it relaxing. The last time she had been camping, she was a Bunny Hopper.

"Here at Bunny Hoppers, we prepare the girls to empower themselves. We equip them with the knowledge to promote compassion, courage, confidence, character, leadership, and entrepreneurship. We promote active citizenship through activities involving camping, community service, learning first aid, and earning badges by acquiring practical skills." Jewel replayed the speech her Bunny Hopper adviser delivered each year.

Traffic slowed. Jewel came to a standstill beside the state park exit sign. She sighed, continuing to reminisce about her time as a scout. Along with her fellow Bunny Hoppers, she learned to build a teepee campfire. Jewel ran around with two of her companions, collecting handfuls of tinder: small dried twigs, dry leaves, and wood shavings to form the teepee. Thicker pieces of dry wood, the fuel, were set outside the teepee to keep the fire going. The girls placed large stones in a ring around the fire to help contain it from spreading.

"Watch where you are going," Jewel yelled at the driver. He tried to force his way into her lane and came close to sideswiping her car.

Why aren't we moving? What's the holdup?

Staring ahead at the break lights lining her path reminded her of learning to cook outside. Jewel loved the smoked taste of food cooked over an open fire.

As a group, the Bunny Hoppers spent their time in nature, marking trails, playing hide and go seek in between the tree trunks, and racing to put up their tents. A few times, during their nature outings, they stayed in cabins. Jewel and a couple of her companions got up early to watch the sun come up occasionally; they sat around the fire telling stories and seeing the sunset through the trees. Jewel enjoyed the whole experience and missed the innocence of being in Bunny Hoppers and camping.

Slowly, the cars started advancing—her tense and overworked body longed for traffic to move faster.

I would love to escape the constant flow of city life and all the stress that comes with it. The invitation to Lake Ashford would provide the opportunity I have been looking for; I'd return to work feeling refreshed.

Pulling into the parking lot of her apartment building, Jewel sat in her car, observing her surroundings. It was quiet, which was out of the ordinary. She usually heard children screaming while playing, neighbors sitting outside conversing, and birds singing to their mates. Looking around, she wondered where everyone was hiding.

Her car was the only car in the parking lot, and the solitude made her uncomfortable.

I was hoping to talk to my neighbors about Lake Ashford. I wanted to see if anyone else received an invitation. I guess I will have to ask them later.

Biting the inside of her cheek, Jewel climbed out of her car, gathered her belongings, and headed across the street toward her apartment building.

She hated the apartment's parking lot being on the other side of the street. The architect designed the grounds surrounding the building to give the tenants a place to have fun. They were able to grill, let their children run, and sit with loved ones in the gazebo. He would be disappointed because most of the tenants were single or without children.

Jewel heard the stomp of heavy footsteps behind her. A man dressed in dark clothes, with his hat pulled down over his eyes, walked briskly behind her. Not recognizing him, she quickened her pace. The man increased his pace. Squeezing the straps of her bag, Jewel ran. Without glancing behind her, she took her key out and hurried inside the building.

Pull yourself together. You are allowing fear to reign over you.

Her body shaking, she rested against the door and attempted to catch her breath. Metal ground against metal, and she shifted away from the door.

He has a key?

"I am sorry if I scared you," the dark-clothed man said as he entered through the door.

"Who are you?" Jewel did not hesitate to ask.

"I moved into the building earlier today," he answered patiently.

He's a new tenant! Well, that explains why I didn't recognize him. He must think I am a nincompoop.

"I didn't know someone moved out," she responded, taken aback by his answer.

"It was impulsive. I applied at the right time. With her sudden departure, I was permitted to move in right away," he said, laughing as he pushed the elevator button.

Wiping her sweaty palms against her leg, Jewel laughed. She glanced sideways at him. The new tenant reminded her of the man who bumped into her at the restaurant. The two men had the same shape and posture. A shiver ran down her spine.

"I think we've met before - briefly, " she suggested.

"I don't think so," he said.

"Have you ever been to 'Best Eats'?" She asked.

"No. I'm new to the area," he assured her as the elevator doors opened.

Lindy has made me uneasy. Relax. You cannot give in to fear, or you will be running from everyone, even your own shadow.

"How long have you lived here?" The stranger asked.

"Eight years. Well, almost, next month will mark the eighth year."

"By the way, my name is Mark." He extended his hand as they entered the elevator together.

"I'm Jewel," she said, shaking his hand.

"You certainly look like a jewel," he said, locking eyes with her.

Jewel stiffened. It was the same remark the restaurant stranger made after bumping into her. Jewel shuddered. She was alone in the elevator with a strange man, who claimed to be a new tenant, and her heart beat faster, not out of interest but from fear. She looked away and pushed the button for the third floor, praying it would be a speedy, uneventful ride.