Abandoned Road

Chapter 1: Traffic Jam

Earlier today, someone left a box of cheap fortune cookies in the office break room.

I opened one without thinking. The message inside said:

“Do not leave your path.”

I laughed and threw it into the recycling bin. I have never believed in fate, signs, or strange predictions. Before returning to work, I took another cookie and placed it in my pocket.

I completely forgot about it.

That evening, I left the office after a long and stressful shift. The weather was terrible, and thick fog covered the road. My car insurance app had already sent a warning about poor driving conditions, so I tried to be careful.

Then traffic stopped.

A major accident had blocked the highway. My GPS navigation system suggested another route that would save nearly 40 minutes.

I was exhausted and wanted to get home, so I followed it.

At first, the alternate road looked normal. After a few minutes, the asphalt disappeared. The road became a narrow, muddy logging trail.