Chapter II

"Valid proof, you say? She's dead, Jackson ! This is all your fault !" I yelled.

"Look... I'm sorry. Maybe it's not too late," He ran over to the corpse of my best friend.

I followed him, stupid tears stinging my eyes, warning me they would fall out very soon. I quickly wiped them away. As I watched Jackson desperately trying to find a sign that her heart was still beating, I heard a crack deeper in the cave. I frowned. Whatever, it must be a pebble that fell off the cave wall or something...

"Lauren..." He whispered.

"What?" I said.

"Lauren, I..."

"Spit it out, child."

"I'd spit it out if you didn't cut me off !" He angrily said.

"Okay... okay, I'm sorry but—"

     Another crack in the cave. This time, it was louder, and Jackson had noticed it too. He looked in the direction of the sound, then back at me. I knew what he wanted to say, even if he hadn't opened his mouth to speak. Jackson heaved Ashley onto his shoulders and began sprinting away. I followed him closely, this time.

"Jackson... What do you think it was ?" I asked, actually terrified.

"Who knows ?"

     We ran deeper in the dead forest. Now, I was hearing cracks everywhere and I felt dizzy. I forgot to eat my snack... Oops. My stare drifted off to Ashley's pale face. What had happened to her? Her dirty-blond hair that was actually dirty was tied up in a poorly-made ponytail.

I don't know what were the sounds we heard in the cave, but it was surely pursuing us. I, a coward, wouldn't dare to look back. What if it was a bear we disturbed in its sleep and all it wanted to do was tear our flesh apart and eat it ? We were in February, it'd be normal for it to be hungry...

I glance towards Jackson. I can tell he's trying to run as fast as he can while carrying my friend's body. I don't even know why he ran away with me, at first. If Daman knows he was somewhat enrolled in this runaway, Jackson'll get the same punishment as me.

Jackson suddenly staggers to a halt and I do the same. I look reluctantly back to make sure we were safe. I notice there are no more cracking sounds around us, so I assume we were okay. I see Jackson putting down Ashley's body on the damp ground. I can tell that he has trouble breathing so I ask him if he's okay.

"Do you honestly think I am?" He managed to say.

"Uh... I don't know... Do you want for me to look for a river so you can get a drink ?"

"The water's gone bad here. Very nasty. I wouldn't want to drink that shit."

"Well, I'm only trying to help. What can I do ?" I ask.

"Wake up Ashley, that's all you got to do," He smirks.

"And how do you think I can do that ?! She's been unconscious for what, an hour ?" I say, my voice starting to show a little panic.

"Aren't you her best friend ? Don't you know something that could trigger her senses to make her wake up ?"

The idea of making Ashley smell a croissant crossed my mind but I immediately refused. That would be nonsense. Ashley would have to wake up on her own. I'd just have to trust her on this...

Unless she's already dead.

Lauren, stop, you're becoming a little delirious since you haven't eaten.

I take a quick glance towards Jackson who's trying to steady his breathing. Slowly, he lifts his head and stares straight into my eyes. He blinks once, then utters words that are nearly incomprehensible.

"I wanted to tell you something when we were in the cave."

"What was it ?" I stutter, my voice quivering.

"I wanted to ask you if you really thought your friend is dead."

The words hit like a rock. I couldn't even imagine living without her, and knowing that there are very high chances that she'd never wake up made me shiver.

"I... I truly hope she's alive, but since she isn't breathing... I-I think that..."

"Lauren, let's find shelter for the night. I can see the sky becoming darker," Jackson said.

I nod. He heaves Ashley's corpse on his back and starts wandering about. I catch up to him and notice he's limping.

"You're hurt. What happened ?" I ask.

"Nothing."

"Do you want me to carry Ashley ?"

He looks at me from the corner of his eye and snorts.

"I don't think you'd be able to carry your heavy friend. If you do, you'd most probably trip over a rock or something and then you'll be the one who's limping."

I narrow my eyes. I honestly didn't like his remark, but I had nothing to say to defend myself. Besides, if insulting me would make him forget about his pain, then I wouldn't mind as much.

Jackson suddenly stops and gestures to a small hollow. The dry grass was soft and partially covered by some bushes' foliage. It was small, but enough for three people to sleep in. Taller trees towered over it and blocked the moon's view. It felt peaceful for a place in the First World.

We scrambled under the bushes to get to the hollow. Jackson rolled Ashley's body on the ground and then said he'd gather some sticks and stones to make a fire. He also told me to stay put and to not move. I said I wanted to help him but he shook his head and told me there are wild animals out in the forest and it'd be best not to leave Ashley's body without surveillance. I roll my eyes and let him go.

Slowly, while waiting in the same spot, I start getting drowsy and my eyes close. I hug my best friend's body to keep warmth and fall into a deep sleep.

The sunlight that pierced through the thick leaves that hovered over us woke me up. I yawn and stretch. I look around me to inspect my surroundings. At night, it looked so peaceful, but in the day, it looks like the same dead forest. I then notice Jackson sharpening a piece of wood with a stone.

"What are you doing?" I question him.

"Making a weapon just in case we run into danger while finding your friend's body."

I stare in awe at him. My friend's body ? I quickly glance at where I left Ashley yesterday night but all I saw was emptiness.

"FUCK !" I yell.

Jackson looks at me but doesn't say a word.

"Where is she ?!" I scream.

"I don't know. We'll find out. I already searched for footsteps that the person might've forgotten to erase, but all the dead leaves that cover up the ground won't help me find a trace." He says, frowning.

"Then let's get going ! We have to find her. Who the fuck would want to take my friend's body ?!" I say, starting to panic.

I get up but Jackson holds me down. He stares into my eyes and whispers:

"You'll need some kind of weapon. Stay calm, there's no need to panic. Everything will be alright, we'll find her."

He then shoves his sharpened stick in my hand and leans back. He leaves the hollow in a quick step. I follow him, afraid of getting lost or even getting captured like Ashley did. I'm on my guards and catch up to Jackson quite rapidly.

We've been walking for over fifteen minutes to the west. The wind picked up and made the leaves rustles noisely. Jackson steps to a halt and I nearly bump into him. He raises his hand in a way to tell me that he's trying to listen to something.

That's when it hit me: we were hearing the same crunching noises we heard when we left the cave.

I see Jackson narrowing his eyes as I stare at him bluntly.

"I think we should find out what's making that noise." He whispers.

Shocked, I jump back. Follow noises that have been following us from the beginning we entered the forest ? Wouldn't that be a little dangerous ? What if it's Daman's troops that have decided to follow us secretly and us thinking they were a bunch of cowards to step foot in the forest ? Would they have been brave enough to have followed us ? Would we just put ourselves into more danger ?

"Lauren ?" Jackson snapped me out of my overwhelming thoughts.

"Wh-what ? Oh, right... Follow the noises you say ?" I murmured in an unconvinced voice.

I don't want Jackson to think I'm scared. If he thinks that, he'll never let me do things, let alone trust me at all. I don't want him to think I'm a useless piece of shit. Who would want to be known as that ? Well, I know Daman already is...

"Jackson." I say.

"What now ?" He answers in an annoyed voice.

"I want to do it. I want to follow the sounds and see what or who is making them."

I look up and see him smiling. I can already feel him trusting me a bit more. That could be called a good start, right ?

We hear louder rustling coming from above our heads. I stare at the big drab branches towering over us. Would the sound come from there ? Could it be a hungry squirrel, a vicious raccoon like the one that attacked me in the past ?

Then came a roar. Jackson and I spin towards where the sound came from, but nothing seemed to be there. I start trembling. Come out you shitty creature. Let me strangle you and make you die in a very painful way. You shouldn't make me stress like this.

Jackson seemed calm, but I somehow know he was panicking in the inside. I understood him very well. If the thing or person can make that a loud noise, it mustn't be as small as a raccoon or a squirrel. Much, much bigger...

We continue creeping about, whipping towards any sound we hear to maybe catch a glimpse of the thing. We could get attacked any second now. I held my weapon tight in my hand, ready to use it if needed. All the panic I felt before had transformed into courage. I felt like I could do anything. Even if Daman would appear, I would know what to do. Kick him in the balls, of course.

I slightly smile. I haven't felt this bravery in a while. Even if my friend's body went missing and I'm alone in a dead forest with a complete stranger as my "friend" and I'm being targetted by this thing I don't even know what it wants to do with two frail young adults, I felt a bit happy. I've managed to escape Daman's cruel society. This was an accomplishment I would never want to lose. It's an opportunity I'd never want to be taken from.

Right then, something came charging at us. While it screeched, I was propelled by Jackson to the ground. I tried to get up, but his weight on my body enabled me to move.

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1915 words im sorry eli this is about it. im leaving soon and i have to take this shitty picture claudia and anneso want ;;

UGH.

but dw this is just ONE of the many cliffhangers ...

(i didnt revise this at all, just saying)