To the woods for a mystery video

You step out of the shower, throw on the yoga pants, and lastly the t-shirt. Then you tie your hair back in a ponytail and grab the phone. It's time to call Kuhn. He answers on the first ring, sounding a bit better.

"Hello?"

"Hey, boss. I guess I'll do the film assuming you can get a good price for it. All my normal contract terms apply?"

He yawns, "Yep. Your standard contract is all that's on record. They may try and bargain 'extras' from you but you're in the catbird seat for that."

"When do I have to be up there?"

"The first of their crew arrive at around 3 pm, the rest will straggle in before 7. Lon Agra is the director, so he's the boss. Until you talk to him, don't let the others sucker you into anything. You can keep me on speed dial if you have questions."

"How much do you think they'll pay?"

"The original contract was $1k for the overnight filming. If I can't at least double it, get a new agent."

"How booked do you think I'll be over the next couple of months?"

"If you ask, I can beat a few bushes and keep you working five days a week and you'll be traveling the other two. Of course, I flat out reject some of the stuff that comes at you so there'd be some flaky or low-paying work in there. Of course during your 'time' things would slow a bit. . ."

You interrupt him with a sour look on your face. Of course, since the video is off, he can't see that part but you know he wouldn't like it.

"Nope. I don't care what weird people want to see, I'm going into hiding those days. That's just some skeezy stuff right there."

"You asked, I was spelling it all out. You want to work, I'll find some."

"Point taken. Go ahead and arrange it. I have the HR meeting at noon and then I'll motor up there. CCSP is only about 30ish miles."

"OK. I'll call back when I have this nailed down."

"I'll wait to hear from you before I pack my overnight. I have no idea what to wear or bring."

"Got it. Kuhn out."

You hang the phone up and get on your laptop. You hop on the university web site and fill out your withdrawal paperwork. It makes sense to put school aside for now. Guys are weird creatures. In a few years when you're older, you figure you can go back to school since men's interest in women seems tied to age. Well and if they put out relatively easily, anyway. If this is going to be a short term career, best to milk it while you can. You dash off a quick email to your professor explaining that something came up this semester and you are out of class. You wonder who he'll fixate on now?

Decard is going to be pissed. It'll take about two weeks but the school will inform them you are no longer a student and that'll be when you start house hunting. The 30% student discount is the only thing that makes the place worth it. Without that, you can do better elsewhere. Poor Jim is going to have to find a new girl to moon over. That breaks your heart. . . not!

Next, you call up the sports bar you work at and quit. They aren't happy to hear it but what can they do? You sure aren't accepting the small raise they put on the table to stay. Then you text Kat and wish her luck, transferring $200 to her account as an apology for skipping out tonight. Why burn bridges you figure? Between dealing pot and selling tricks, you suspect she'll get along just fine. You might have given in and joined her if this job hadn't come along at the right time. Kat is the original goth bad girl and those types always come out on top.

You nuke a breakfast bowl and plop down on the couch to watch some reno shows until your phone rings at 9.

"Hello?"

"Walker here, I have it nailed down. It's kinda a weird contract but just reporting to the director is $1k and $1.5k when shooting is done. There will be 'escalators' if you agree to do certain things, though they didn't share specifics. They anticipate the actual shoot will be 2-3 hours but have never worked with you before so that could change a bit. If this works out, your inbox will be full of video work. These folks like to talk among themselves."

"So I just drive to the park sometime between 3 and 7?"

"I'll email you a park map but you'll need to be let in the main gate anyway since the park is closed. I'll provide a contact number in the email so you can call to be let in."

"I assume I'm the only woman on site?"

"Nope, you're the only model though. Not counting you there will be fifteen folks involved and three are women. They're all on crew though. I asked because I figured you'd be more comfortable this way."

"Anything else I need to know?"

"Well I asked about the script but they're rewriting it now. The anal thing was to central to the original idea, it was some sort of biker thing I think? All I know is there are six actors on set and four cameramen. So it could be anything from a romantic getaway with your husband to a ten-man gang-bang. I could go back and pester them threatening to pull out without more detail but I don't think they could answer the question at this point."

"What should I bring? What should I wear?"

"They don't care. Wardrobe will provide whatever they want you to wear during the shoot. They have a cabin if you decide to crash overnight but you can always leave as soon as it's over."

"Am I going to regret this?"

He laughs, "I hope not. Remember, nothing stops you from walking out and driving home. They are also giving you that $1,000 just for showing up so I expect they'll work with you if you make a stink. Worse comes to worst, I'm on speed dial. I think you'll be fine, Simone."

"Cool. We'll see what happens I guess."

"Indeed. Talk to you later, Simone. Walker out."

You finally go back to your laptop and check the HR message. It's just a link to a recorded presentation and then another to the payroll portal. You guess that wasn't a live meeting after all? An hour later your paperwork is all filled out and finally have a decent medical plan for a change. Then you pop out to the rental place's website and order up a small two-door car to be delivered at 1 pm.

Packing is easy. You just throw an extra pair of sweats in a gym bag along with your black work case. Then you change into jeans and a t-shirt, grabbing a coat from the closet and dropping it on your bag. Le Grande is going to drop to the mid-30's tonight so out in the woods, it'll be colder.

You check email on your phone and see Decard has the inspection message waiting. You consider trying to push it off since you'll likely be moving soon but that'll give you a heads up on anything that needs fixing before you leave, so it'll be a plus you guess. You pop a quick reply agreeing to Wednesday at 6 pm, hit send and answer your ringing phone.

After a quick chat, you head downstairs and take possession of your white, two-door Chevrolet Sonic. It isn't flashy but it's cheap and will get you where you need to go. You head back upstairs and watch TV until 2:30. Then you hop in the car and head out. On the way, you stop and pick up a burger. You get to the front gate at about 3:15, park next to it, and eat. At about 3:30 you call the number Walker gave you and a man answers.

"George speaking."

You try to put on your friendliest voice.

"Hey! My name is Simone and I'm waiting at the gate."

"Oh, you're the diva model! I'll be up in a second."

He hangs up before you can ask what the heck that means but make a note to mention it. Ten minutes later a blue four-door arrives, a white guy hops out and walks up to the gate. He's wearing jeans and a thick flannel shirt by the looks of it with a blue baseball hat covering his long, brown hair. He's a tad over six foot tall and is probably in his later 20s you guess. He opens the gate and waves you through.

You stop about ten feet inside as he closes and locks it up. Then he walks over. You roll the window down and he leans in.

"Hi! If you follow me, I can take you to the cabin. Counting you, only three of us are here now. Folks will filter in soon I expect!"

"Right behind you, George."

He hops in his car and leads you down the winding two-lane road. It takes about five minutes to get to a small wood cabin. It looks like it may be three or possibly four rooms max from the outside. It's on a patch of grass on the right side of the road surrounded by trees on three sides. There are maybe fifteen feet on each side before the woods start. Across the street, there's a cleared area with a few picnic tables and a set of public restrooms. You can see several hiking paths leading into the woods on both sides.

You both park in front of the cabin, there is one other black, two-door car already parked there.

You step out of the car and George walks up to you.

"Welcome to Catherine Creek State Park cabin #5. Need help carrying anything?"

"Thanks! I just have my one bag. I can get it."

"Suit yourself. I'm going in, door's unlocked," he says as he walks in the door.

You grab your stuff and hurry to the cabin. It's maybe in the mid-40s right now and after Texas, that feels frigid. You rush up to the door and slip inside, wondering how the night is going to go.