Denis POV

..Continuation of chapter 23...

I stop and stare at Ethan for a moment. We need to hide. Now. Before the seeker can get any closer.

Ethan seems to be thinking the same thing as we start scurrying through the forest, walking quickly though trying not to make much noise.

Then, the noise happens again. Only this time, it sounds a lot closer than before. Ethan and I pick up the pace, worriedly running through the forest.

I glance into every nook and cranny of trees and bushes, considering each one as adrenaline rushes through me from fear.

All of a sudden, I ram into someone. Or something. It practically took the breath from me. I had no way of knowing who or what it was though, since my flashlight had been knocked out of my hands.

I need to do something. Who knows what I just ran into? However, when I try to get up, I can't move. I simply can't. I'm frozen in fear. I don't know what to do. I look around for Ethan, but my eyes can't find him. Where did he go?

My heart is beating about a million miles a minute. If I just stay here, who knows what will happen? I finally summon enough strength to get up and grab my flashlight. I shine it onto the thing I ran into.

It's Corl. He stares up at me and lets out a sigh of relief. So do I. Though my heart is still beating at an alarming rate, I offer a hand to Corl. He takes it and I help him up.

Though I'm happy he isn't some sort of petrifying creature, I know the real monster is still out there somewhere.

"We still need to hide. H-Have you seen Ethan?" I ask, panting.

"N-No. Was he with you?" He responds, panting as well.

"Yeah. He's been right next to me the entire time. When I ran into you, he somehow disappeared," I clarify.

"Oh.. strange..," Corl says.

I pause for a moment, considering where he may have gone or what may have happened to him.

"We're not hiding until we find him. We have to make sure he's ok," I conclude, now walking off in search of Ethan.

"Denis, this is a bad idea. Don't you know we're putting ourselves at risk by doing this too?" Corl questions.

I stop walking and consider my decision for a moment. We are putting ourselves at risk.. but I'm not going to be responsible for Ethan's pain and misery. We have to find him.

"I know. But he's one of our best friends. We can't leave him behind," I say without hesitation.

I begin walking off again as I leave Corl behind. He stands there and watches me walk off.

"Wait up," he calls from behind.

I stop walking and turn around to look at him.

"I'm coming too," he says.