We tried to form a line to go into the woods, but Mariah immediately walked into a tree. By the time we picked her up and dusted her off it was getting really dark. The camera had 40% battery left but I'm well aware that using the light eats it quick. I decided as director to take charge.

"Mariah, you and Lana go left, Ashley and Ellington go right. I'll take the middle path section because that way you can all find your way back to my light. If you need anything illuminated more than your phone can do, yell and I'll head your way."

Ashley squeezed my hand and put her arm around me and said "You're going to be alone?  What if it's a wild animal?  What if it's a killer?  Your like the bravest person I know!"

I squeezed her hand back feeling pretty good. I was brave. For a second I worried, what if it was an animal or a crazed killer?  But then reality sunk in. My life was snoozeville. Just today I was assaulted by a golfbag. Talk about lame. I needed to take control. All this hallucinating trees and freaking over golf bags would not get me anywhere.

The girls shrieked off arm in arm. I stayed mid-center and kept the light pointed just above the path. I could smell the musky damp pine and my feet, still bare, felt the damp coolness of the path. I was still close enough to the entrance to feel exposed so I walked deeper in, enveloped by a feeling of being wrapped up. The cast of dim light  from the streetlights didn't come through the tree line and even though it was evening, the trees blocked out all trace of the setting sun.

I turned on the camera light and passed it first up the path, then slowly side to side. If Jackie was injured in here she could see it end should be yelling for help. (My guess was she was at home having a latte). She may have been annoyed at being the nerd girl, but she should have said something. Casting is tough. But I know she's got acting potential, I saw her fake terror face, and let's face it, actors are dramatic.

I stood in one spot hearing girls far to my left and right yell for Jackie. As I swung my light slowly to the around I saw him, my tree man!  I felt bolder knowing I wasn't alone. My awesome imagination gave me a partner. I headed further off the path. Toward his shadowy figure. As I started heading his way he cocked his head to the side and blurred deeper into the woods. Maybe I have a sixth sense like a psychic and he was leading me towards Jackie!  My own spirit guide!  Now that is a story for the Lifetime network!  I sped up trying to find him again.

My feet ached off the path, sticks and stones dug int my soles and I worried about getting typhoid fever or rabies. I slowed down and shined my light towards the ground. The story would be better if I got injured while rescuing, or got a disease, but feet were important, it's not like I can order another pair! 

I see him again, peering from behind a tree just in front of me. Arms (or branches) lifted as if wanting to embrace me in a hug that could smother me with love. I tried zeroing in on his face, but with the darkness and him being so far away, was still a blur. His head seemed slightly brighter than the rest of him, but somehow I couldn't quite make out features. I was drawn to get closer to try and see.

Forgetting my feet and their importance I walked quickly towards him. He came out from behind the tree, full in the open as if wanting me to come closer.  I kept moving, wondering if I was like that crazy girl Kiani on "Naked and Afraid".  I mean, I wasn't dehydrated and saggy, but she chased an invisible fox for a whole episode until they ended up carting her off for medical attention. I guess the woods can do weird things to your brain.  I stopped to decide if I wanted to follow my crazy vision, or keep being crazy looking for a girl in the woods who was probably laughing herself silly at home in front of the tube. Either way, I was deep in crazy town tonight. Chalk it up to a new experience, I'm going for the vision!

His arms had a rhythmic motion, like flags waving in the breeze. Each one calling to me, pulling me towards an embrace. I put down the camera and walked towards him, finally ready to confront my hallucination.  I smiled, knowing I was maybe too eager to jump into insanity but being in the woods at night alone warranted some craziness didn't it? 

As I got closer his arms, those magnificent long waving beacons stretched out towards me. Each one lengthening and reaching for me like I was his lost love. I felt the first tickle of fingertips upon the sides of my arms and leaned forward to make my steps larger to speed up getting to my spirit guide.

Suddenly a stabbing pain ran through me. "Son of a bitch!"  I screamed (much louder than I planned), I crouched quickly down to rescue my right foot which was sending a stabbing pain through my body. Above me I felt a swoosh of air as the arms reaching for me tried to make a grab just as I ducked for my foot.

I started cursing and rubbing my foot. My fingers came away feeling wet. Knowing I was bleeding in the woods, possibly dying of bacteria which I'm sure is slowly creeping into my foot wound pissed me off.  I stood up and hopped on one leg back towards the camera to use the light to find out the damage. At this point I was determined to let Jackie stay where she was.  A twinge of guilt was quickly smothered, I may have a special spirit guide to help me out, but if he let me stab my foot with a piece of glass he obviously wasn't great at his job!

"Thanks spirit guide, but I'm out. This sucks. I'm not made for tromping through woods and quests of lost friends. I'm more of a wine and dine and get to the top of stardom through my beauty. But thanks anyway." 

I saw a blur to my right and picked up the camera. A few yards away I could see Ashley's back just within sight, my tree man heading her way.  Ugh, just what I needed. My best friend getting my spirit guide and me dying in the woods at night of Ebola. This night was getting worse.

"Don't you do it!!!  I mean it tree man, if you go with Ashley you can forget ever seeing me again!  You will be dead to me, you hear me!!" 

I knew I was ranting to a spirit, but Ashley getting all the credit from finding Jackie would be too much!  I was fuming. I used the light to check out my sore foot. A small piece of glass was embedded in the soft mid bottom.

I thought about calling for help but realized them finding me and helping to get me out would just make my part in a potential rescue story even lamer. I'd have the Daphne roll, and I knew that Scooby Doo didn't need Daphne to solve anything. Velma may have been uglier, but she was always the key to saving the group. My role is a pretty Velma. I will not be a Daphne, always in distress and just there for looks.

I picked up the camera whose light was now dim and fading. With one good foot and balancing on the heel of the other I looked for the path. How far had I walked towards my vision?  I spun a small circle, unsure which way I had headed and looked for a break in the trees.

I headed left, just to keep moving and heard branches break just behind me. I was about to turn around swinging the camera (in case it was an animal) when somewhere deeper in front of me a bloodcurdling scream pierced through the silence. I forgot about my foot and my potential typhoid ebola contamination and began running forward towards blackness.

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Thanks for reading

Lemon almost got a romantic hug in the woods!  A good lesson not to be barefoot, it could ruin your love life!!!

A bloodcurdling scream in the woods at night? How cliche is that? 

Sounds like Lemon is a bit territorial, maybe it's Slendy who better watch out!! Lol
Dedicated to Sweet_Tooth121 Thanks for your love of Slendy, may he realize your president of his fan club and pay you a visit. Lol