AISLINN

Tears sting in the icy breeze, racing in a frenzy through the forest. My heart pounds as if it might explode. A sharp, stabbing sensation jabs at my lungs with each inhale. It's impossible to breathe. The lack of oxygen turns everything hazy. But I keep running through the blurry greys and blacks. Faster and faster. My legs burn. How much longer can I carry on like this?

Everything changed the moment I saw the video. Festering still, the hurt and anger dares to consume me. Their deception shattering my heart into a thousand tiny shards.

Until then, the night had been going well. Hanging out with Ellie, we talked for ages. She's not at all like I thought she was. Much funnier, she cracked jokes while I ate it up, laughing raucously. And she seems to know everyone.

Sitting by the bonfire, some other people approached. They looked about our age. Ellie introduced me as they fell into a circle. Ben finally joined us after his shift. The group split into smaller conversations as people shuffled around.

Ben stopped to chat with some guys, crouching for a few minutes as they talked. I tried to focus on my conversation with Ellie and another girl, but every time Ben laughed, I couldn't stop myself from staring.

"Do you have a thing for my brother?" Ellie says, curiously. She tips her head to the side, taking me in.

"What?" I blurt, feeling the heat rush to my face.

"You do," Ellie exclaims, then lets out a laugh. "You like, Ben."

"Huh?" I say, confused. "Ben? Brother?" This information is news to me.

"Duh," she says, mocking me. "We're always together. What'd you think we were dating or something?"

I feel my eyes widen with realisation. "Ben's your brother?"

"Twin, actually," she says, shaking her head at me. Ellie sits upright, looking between Ben and I. "You two would be so cute together, do you think?" she asks the girl with us.

I want to curl up in a corner and die from embarrassment right now. If it wasn't obvious enough, I'm almost certain Ben's heard us talking about him since he's walking over right now. He keeps his focus on me as he approaches.

"Have you had dessert?" he asks.

With one hand, I brush the hair from my eyes and look up at him, hoping he doesn't see me blushing. "Just some roasted marshmallows," I reply.

"Feel like some ice-cream?" he asks, gesturing towards a vendors' chalkboard.

"Always!"

He reaches down to me, and I grab his hand, pulling me to stand. The closeness is electric, his warm hand still holding mine. He tugs me away, never letting go.

Ben pauses on our way to get dessert, stopping to sit on a grassy area. Tugging my hand, he pulls me down beside him. His intention is obvious, and there's no denying his interest in me is more than platonic. I'm keener than ever to see where this goes. Ben stretches out, positioning himself on his side. He leans on his bent elbow, his head resting in his hand, and looks up at me with a smile.

We stay like that for a while, eating our ice cream, and chatting about the weekend's events. But before long, the group notices our prolonged absence.

"Hey, you two. Quit your canoodling and get over here," Ellie calls out as she waves an arm directing us back to the group.

Ben's brows furrow together, looking up at me. "They'll just keep pestering us if we don't head back."

Not wanting to cause a scene, I agree.

"It's OK," I say, trying to hide the disappointment.

Moments later, Ellie comes over as we mingle with the group. Moving closer, she whispers, "What have you two been up to?" She playfully waggles her eyebrows and smirks.

I hold my ice cream up as evidence of my innocence. "Just satisfying a craving."

"Oh, I don't doubt that," she teases.

Once more, we join in the festivities near the bonfire. We start with a ghost story, then move on to bonfire karaoke, which is just us bashing out our favourite songs, and finally we play a game of passing whispers. It's all fun, maybe more fun than the party I'm missing back home. We pause for restroom breaks, while others grab refills of their drinks. With only three of us at the bonfire, I check my phone while they talk.

That's when things took a turn for the worse!

I check my phone messages to see one from Maddie.

It's a selfie of her dressed up in a low-cut black top, and a full face of makeup. Her straightened hair caresses her shoulders, and her eyelashes are long and thick. A deep red shade feathers her lips. It reads, "Heading to the party. Miss you, love you. Hope you're having fun too." My heart wretches with jealousy, and I close the message and open my Insta. I can't decide if I should forget about the party or be nosy and find out what's going on.

As I stare at Maddie's selfie, a knot forms in the pit of my stomach. A pang of jealousy nips at my heart as my pulse quickens. The image of her dolled up for the party only amplifies my own insecurities, comparing myself to her flawless appearance.

With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly close the message, pushing away my envy. Seeking a distraction, I open Instagram. my curiosity piqued. My thumb hovers over the screen, ready to scroll, curiosity piquing. I'm torn between ignoring it all and seeing where this night—with Ben—might go and wanting to know what's going on back home. But if I look, what will I find? More jealousy? Probably. But then a voice inside my head says I need to know.

Photos illuminate my screen, one after the other. Just as I thought, everyone from school is there, even Lochie. It's filled with selfies, group photos, and crazy candid pics. I roll my eyes. How will they explain their dumb antics to their parents if they saw the posts? If they're going to do it, at least be discreet about it. I keep scrolling until I see a video.

Maddie and Lochie appear on the screen, side by side. At first, it appears innocent, just two friends hanging out. I relax remembering Maddie's text and realise I'm overthinking. So, I press play, eager to see their antics.

But as the video rolls, the image that appears makes my stomach sink. An invisible knife stabs at my heart, and I don't even realise I'm holding my breath until I finally let out a gut-wrenching sigh. The pain turns to a numbing sensation. I just sit there, shocked at what I've just witnessed. I can't even fathom the energy to even consider hiding my watery eyes before a single tear falls. Anger, sadness, desperation, and betrayal whirl within me as I remain there, oblivious to the world around me. A touch on my shoulder startles me.

"Aislinn, are you ok? You look a little queasy." Ellie asks.

Her kindness means nothing to me now. Devastated, I shrug away from her. She has a puzzled expression as she tries to understand my reaction. If I was in her shoes, I'd leave without thinking twice. I know I'm being rude, but I don't care right now. She kneels before me, picking up my phone.

"Did this video upset you?" she asks empathetically. I can only manage a nod.

"That's Maddie," I say. Admitting what my best friend has been a part of—how she has hurt me—is all it takes for the floodgates to open, and I hang my head in my hands.

"Oh," Ellie whispers, piecing it all together. "And that's the boy you like?"

I nod. "Lochie." The sobs grow louder, heaving from the hurt. A stream of snot drips from my nose, and I wipe the back of my hand across it without thinking. The final image is still paused on the screen, sitting on the grass in front of me. Maddie and Lochie, making out.

"What's going on?" Ben asks as he approaches.

Embarrassment wraps itself around me, suffocating as it tightens its grip with every passing moment. I look like a complete wreck right now, with tears and snot erupting from me like a volcano. And on top of that, I'm a bloody hypocrite for being upset with Lochie, even though I was with Ben for most of the night.

This is too much to handle.

I need to escape. Fast.

Without another thought, I jump to my feet and begin walking away, the cool wind brushing against my face as I stride briskly. As the footsteps echo behind me, I quicken my pace.

"Wait, Ais. Come back," someone says, but I'm too far away to decipher who it is. Besides, I don't want to talk to anyone right now.

It's followed by someone else, saying, "Give her a few minutes, she'll come back."

Their voices grow fainter by the second, as I keep going without looking back. My steps hasten again, as I move deeper into the forest. I struggle to breathe. In the peaceful forest, I slow my pace, retracing my thoughts.

What was Maddie thinking? How could she betray me like this? And Lochie, why did he have to kiss her? It all just too much. My chest tightens with each reminder.

Stopping for a moment to work out which way I'd come from, the dense blocking out both the remnants of moonlight and the task at hand. A branch breaks beneath my feet as something moves silently amongst the bushes, hiding in the shadows. Adrenaline courses through my veins, urging me to flee. But the tingling in my spine has me paralysed with terror. Someone or something is watching me from the shadows. I'm certain of it.

Unable to take a single step, the eeriness plays havoc with my mind. The harrowing stories from Dr Smith of terrible beasts with claws and teeth that can tear you apart, and ghoulish creatures that roam these woods. The darkness envelops me, and an unsettling sensation lingers, as if one of those creatures is preying in wait to consume me.

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, trying to calm my nerves. If I wanna make it out of here, I can't let fear stop me. But which way do I go? Everywhere I look, there's dense forest and impenetrable foliage. Everywhere I look, it's all the same.

My desperate spinning leaves me even more disoriented. I notice something from the corner of my eye.

I hesitate, wondering whether my mind is playing tricks on me, but then I see it. A narrow path, winding through the forest. Lacking another option, I follow it, remaining wary of my stalker, just out of sight. I hope this path leads me to safety.

I find it difficult to keep going on the nearly invisible trail. Everything is unfamiliar and I fear that I've failed.

I feel like I'm being followed again as I walk down the narrow path. An icy breeze makes the hairs on my arms stand up. The sound of a wolf's cry unsettles me. I move faster, a cold sweat forming on my forehead. It's getting closer and closer.

How much time has passed? I don't know. Thinking of mum, has she noticed my absence yet? Is she worried about me? But of course, she'll worry, that's pretty much all she does anymore.

I chastise myself. She's only doing what mothers do; guarding her child's safety and well-being. Guilt gnaws at me. I've been so selfish and self-absorbed lately, shutting her out and dismissing her concerns. The 'I-told-you-so's' will be waiting for me once I find a way out. Urgency builds, and my steps quicken.

A sharp sound pierces through the silence. Footsteps crunch behind me. I spin around as a figure fades into the darkness. dread lumps in my throat as the unknown predator follows in my wake.

Is this real or a something my fear has conjured up?

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as the footsteps get closer. Panic sets in and adrenaline rampant. I speed up, desperate to escape pursuit. The quicker I move, the closer the presence seems to get. It's unyielding, like moving through quicksand.

Who or what is hunting me like an animal?

I push through the dense thicket, branches scratching against my skin in the relentless pursuit. I sprint as fast as my body will go until I stumble upon a clearing. Gasping for breath, I take a moment to let the cool breeze dance against my sweaty skin.

My falls upon a structure, oddly situated in the middle of the woods.

"No way," I whisper in disbelief.

The abundance of windows showcases the grandeur of the building at the front. Despite its age and dilapidated state, its elegance remains intact, concealed deep within the forest. A magnetic force pulls me towards it as I climb the old rickety stairs.

Unseen eyes continue boring into me as the wind gusts about. Its eerie howl, a warning, urging me to leave. But I tighten my jacket against the swirling wind and proceed.

I fix my gaze on the door, mustering the courage to step closer. I feel terror as an invisible, icy force touches me. A blood-curdling scream rips from my throat; primal fear and desperation, shattering the silence.

My instincts kick in, and I dart forward, fuelled by adrenaline. Is this the famous "fight or flight" response I learned in biology class? Whatever it is, it's pulling me - urging me - to escape. overwhelming my thoughts as I search for sanctuary. Will I find it hidden behind the grand façade of the house? That's anyone's guess, but for now, it's my only escape from the impending unknown. I sprint with a reckless disregard for everything else. The musty embrace of the house engulfs me as I stumble into the abode. Slamming the door behind me, I Press my back against the door and let out a shaky breath.

Am I safe now? I have no idea.

My eyes fill with tears, and I my mum was here. She'd keep me safe.