A Trucker

The night was pitch black, the kind of darkness that swallowed everything whole. Jake's truck had sputtered to a halt miles from the nearest town, leaving him stranded in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. The wind howled through the trees, a chilling reminder of the isolation that surrounded him. He tried the radio again, but all he got was static. With a sigh, he grabbed his flashlight and stepped out into the freezing night.

The cold hit him like a wall, seeping through his layers and biting at his skin. He shivered and pulled his jacket tighter, scanning the area for any sign of life. That's when he heard it—a low, menacing growl. His heart skipped a beat as he swung the flashlight around, its beam cutting through the darkness to reveal a pair of glowing eyes. Then another. And another. Wolves.

Jake's mind raced. He knew he couldn't stay out here. He spotted an old, abandoned cabin a few yards away and made a dash for it, the wolves' growls growing louder behind him. He slammed the door shut just in time, the sound of claws scratching at the wood sending shivers down his spine. He was safe, for now.

Inside, the cabin was cold and dark, the only light coming from his flashlight. He found some old blankets and a few pieces of firewood, managing to start a small fire in the fireplace. The flames cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the room feel even more haunted. Outside, the wolves howled, their cries echoing through the forest and adding to the sense of dread.

Jake knew he couldn't stay here forever. He found an old map in a dusty drawer, showing a ranger station a few miles away. It was his only hope. He bundled up, grabbed the rifle he found in the corner, and steeled himself for the journey. The first light of dawn was just breaking as he opened the door, the wolves nowhere in sight but their tracks crisscrossing the snow like a chaotic dance.

Every step was a struggle, the cold biting at his face and hands. The forest was eerily silent, the only sound the crunch of snow under his boots. Hours passed, each one feeling like an eternity, but finally, he saw it—the ranger station. He stumbled to the door and pounded on it, his strength nearly gone. A ranger opened the door, eyes wide with shock at the sight of him.

Jake collapsed inside, the warmth of the station enveloping him like a comforting embrace. He was safe. The ordeal was over, but the memory of that harrowing night would stay with him forever, a reminder of the wild, untamed forces of nature he had narrowly escaped.