A Romantic Getaway

As Charlie and Tyler drive around the bend of the dusty gravel driveway, the log cabin finally appears nestled in between pine trees and the bluest lake they have ever seen. 

Spotting a pickup in the driveway, Charlie nervously stabs at her phone, looking for the Airbnb app. “I thought we were going to be alone this weekend?” 

“Me too,” Tyler grunts as he slams the palm of his hand onto the steering wheel. His mood sours even more. 

She finds the message from the host, JoAnne. 

"Welcome to Owl Cabin on Lake Artemis! Please make yourself at home!

The code to the door is 4792 and the wifi password is DelosIsland.

Please rack the canoes each night and clean up after yourself. 

Do not hesitate to reach out if you need anything at all!"

“JoAnne wouldn’t give us a door code if we weren’t going to be alone” Charlie sighs. Their relationship can’t handle yet another fight. 

They park beside the white truck and spot a tall man wearing a cowboy hat and a red flannel coat sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch. He rises as they step out of their blue Honda Civic. “Howdy folks, I’m Clive.” 

Charlie steps forward, “Hello Clive, I’m Charlie, this is my boyfriend, Tyler. Who are you exactly?”

“I’m JoAnne’s husband and caretaker of this property. I don’t mean to intrude on your weekend so I’ll keep this quick. To the east of here is a military training base. They run live ammo drills during the week but we got word today’s is going to go a little long. Don’t be alarmed if you hear gunfire and please don’t wander off the property, especially tonight.” 

“Thank you Clive, we won’t leave.”

Tyler continues to glare, not saying a word. His anger is becoming palpable. Amused, Clive chuckles. “I’ll let you folks get settled in then, goodnight.”

He climbs into his truck, glancing at Charlie. “My number is on the fridge, call if you need anything at all, ok?”

She nods. 

He backs down the driveway as Charlie turns to Tyler. “You don’t always have to be rude, Ty. He was just being polite.” 

Tyler rolls his eyes and starts grabbing the bags and groceries from the trunk. “Not a great start Cha, not a great start.”

Another blast of artillery fire reverberates through the trees.

“So much for romance,” Tyler mutters, stabbing his steak with a fork. He chugs the rest of his glass of wine. The red stains his lips. 

“Come on! Clive said it was only going to be tonight. It has to be over soon, right?”

“Well why don’t you call and ask him then?” Tyler sneers. 

“You don’t have to be like this Tyler, not every man is trying to steal me away from you…” 

“He can have you then.” Tyler grabs his dinner plate and storms out the front door. 

Charlie places her head in hands, fighting back tears. It’s over. She knows it’s over. This weekend was a mistake. 

She tries to pull herself together as she cleans the kitchen. They should leave tonight. 

Another boom. Jesus, this has to be over soon, it’s 9 o’clock. 

Tyler still hasn’t come back in. Charlie steps out on the porch and spies his dinner plate, the remains attracting flies. His cell phone lights up on the rocking chair. 

“Ty?... Where are you?... Tyler?” 

The shed door knocking in the wind grabs her attention. 

She picks her way down the path and notices a canoe is missing. Surely he wouldn’t go out on the lake, it’s after midnight. But at least the gun shots have stopped. 

A flashlight beam is moving on the other side of the lake to the east. That must be him. Idiot would get himself lost. She should just leave him to fend for himself. 

Sighing, she walks back to the shed and unshelves the second canoe. A rescue mission for a soon-to-be-ex. Of course. 

It’s oddly peaceful as she glides across the lake. She’ll move in with her sister until she can find her own place. Her friends will be happy this is finally over. The flashlight beam disappears. Fuck.

She’s close to the beach at least. Someone is there.

The dark figure waves her in. “GODDAMNIT TYLER, WHY THE FUCK DID YOU…” Her voice trails off. It’s not him. It’s… Clive?

“Keep it down, will you?” He pulls her canoe in. “Quiet.”

“What is going on? Where’s Tyler?” She’s getting frantic. 

Clive puts his hand over her mouth. “Stop! I don’t know where he is but I told you not to come this way tonight.” She relents and he lets her go.

“I have to find him, Clive. We’re leaving. Tonight.” She stands in the boat and hops over the side.

“Don’t Charlie. He’s dead. You damn kids don’t listen, do you? Get back into the canoe and go home.”

“What the fuck? Why? WHAT HAPPENED?”

“If I tell you, will you fucking leave?”

She nods, shakily climbing back in the canoe. 

“Fine. This isn’t a military training camp. It’s a hunting ground for the affluent. They pay millions to be able to kill whatever they want here, no questions asked. A certain customer refused to come back in tonight. He was hunting Tyler. Now go home. If he finds you, he will kill you Charlie.” 

In shock, she snatches her oar from Clive. 

As she dips the paddle into the water, a gunshot pierces through the air.