A group of people is coming her way

Chapter originally written by Phantom Pen on writing . com

As Mackenzie leaned up against the tree, catching her breath, her attention was drawn to a distant noise that was slowly getting louder. As she listened, Mackenzie realized with growing fear that the noise was conversation! Mackenzie could make out at least three voices, but there could easily have been more than three people, and they were heading her way! If Mackenzie didn't do something quickly, there was no question that she'd be seen.

As her heart began to race once more, fear rising to the front of her emotions, Mackenzie frantically looked around for a place to hide. This was the reason Mackenzie had elected to take the park route, after all, and she quickly identified a few potential hiding spots.

Her first option was the very tree she was leaning against. It wouldn't be too difficult to climb up the tree and try to hide in the branches. Of course, if Mackenzie wasn't hidden well enough and somebody decided to look up, then she'd be spotted with little problem. Even worse, if the group heading her way decided to stop here, well, she'd be stuck in that tree until they moved on again. The idea of being huddled up in a tree for an unknown length of time wasn't exactly appealing...

The next option wouldn't exactly hide Mackenzie, but it would at least hide the fact that she was completely naked. A few meters away from her current spot was a stream that flowed through the park. The water wasn't exactly crystal clear, and would obscure her body from view. Of course, there was the fact that taking a dip in the cold, somewhat dirty stream wasn't exactly the most pleasant idea in the world. Also something to consider was the fact that Mackenzie wasn't the strongest swimmer in the world, and if the steam's current was too strong it could end up carrying her far off course.

Her third and final option was a particularly large bush, only a few feet away from her. Its leaves looked relatively soft, so Mackenzie likely wouldn't have wound up in a thorny or prickly predicament. However, that was far from saying shoving her bare body into a bush would be pleasant. It would likely still feel quite scratchy and uncomfortable for the nude redhead, but it would likely to a reasonably good job obscuring her from whoever was coming.

Mackenzie had to decide, and quickly if the volume of the voices was any indication. Her modesty depended on it!