2:17am

Trigger warning: attempted murder

Why did The Hunger Games almost give me a panic attack 🤪

Au
—

"And make sure to stay away from the edge!" The tour guide called to the group of adults and children who were sitting down to eat their midday snacks. They were all atop of a mountain, just across from them a steep drop into the unknown - the unknown being a dense forest that isn't really explored due to how easy it is to become lost. Many people have never come out when entering.

Roman had decided to take a seat on a comfortable enough rock, taking his bag off his shoulders and resting it between his legs, fishing around inside until he picked out his lunch box. He had decided to sign up for the tour for a few reasons, one; it wasn't too far away from where he lived and two; he had nothing else to do. With his friends off doing their own thing and him being on a break from theatre he didn't really have much to occupy his time with.

He had been meaning to go on this exact tour with his boyfriend but that failed when they inevitably broke up. Inevitably for Roman because no one he has ever been with has stuck around for long. He's either too eccentric, arrogant or insecure - and those are from the people who were confident enough to give truthful answers.

Sighing he tried to push those thoughts to the side, he was here to have a good time and not wallow in self pity which seemed like a common occurrence for him.

A little ways away from him leaning on a tree Virgil was plucking fruit from his plastic container, throwing them into his mouth while his eyes watched the sky over the side of the cliff he was currently the nearest too. He was honestly wondering why he was here, he hated leaving the house and nature never agreed with him - however when his friend finally encouraged him to do something other than sitting around all day he assumed this would be the best bet.

He wouldn't know anyone meaning less likely interaction and he'd be spending the day outside which would settle down his friend for another good few months.

Still he was now regretting it, it wasn't the nicest of days (meaning not chilly enough) and the tour guide was just too preppy, Virgil seriously considered bailing but he knew he'd become lost in five seconds flat and most certainly didn't want to bump into any wild animal that might look to him as food for them and their potential family.

The lunch break didn't last long enough in Virgil's opinion and soon enough everyone was up and walking again. Virgil had got into the habit of staying right at the back, trailing behind the adults who would often bring out a pair of binoculars and gaze up at the trees which made them even slower - Virgil would go ahead but that meant being closer to the more excitable adults who might talk to him. He shuddered at the mere thought of it.

So he bared through it, earbuds hidden in his ears due to the fact they weren't exactly allowed. He didn't want to listen to the tour guide, sue him! He just didn't really care about nature enough to learn facts about every single living creature that wasn't a human.

Seriously, he's learnt more today than his years in school. And just like school he wasn't paying attention.

Due to this he didn't realise how far the group had gone ahead until he lifted his head and noticed, in sudden alarm he picked up into a jog, relaxing when he neared them but they weren't exactly going fast, he swore a dead snail overtook them a few yards back.

The pathway split off into two routes, one safer, the other nearing the edge of the cliff. Obviously wanting the safer route he went for it but either side held thick shrubbery and of course standing right in his way was a man peering into the hedges at a caterpillar that didn't look exciting at all. He wanted to ask him to move but his social anxiety prevented him from doing so so with an inward groan he backtracked and took the pathway to the right, accidentally bumping into someone in the process.

"Shit, sorry" he murmured, glancing up at the man who smiled, waving his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it" he then gestured for Virgil to go first which he did with an awkward nod. The man was quite the opposite to Virgil in his dress sense, wearing brighter, flashier clothes, something he'd never be caught dead in. But he was attractive, Virgil's gay ass would give him that.

While walking closer to the edge he slowed down when he realised just how close it was and regretted it quite quickly but if he went back now he was sure he might lose the tour guide so he kept going, relaxed a little with the fact he could still hear that tour guides voice. He was loud, too loud to be socially acceptable but whatever.

One moment, Virgil was watching the ground as he walked, the next his life was flashing through his eyes as someone pushed him from behind harshly, making him stumble and fling his arms around wildly to stay up but his feet caught and he was falling forward, the top half of his body going too far over the edge for him to balance out.

A scream ripped through his throat and echoed across the land as he tumbled off the cliff and plummeted through the air, rolling around and around without being able to stop, tears flooding out his eyes as panic, terror and horror stormed it's way through his entire being.

The more he fell the faster he went, the wind whipping against him, doing nothing to save him as he suddenly crashed through the thick leaves of the trees, snapping branches as he went, hissing and crying out when it would cut his skin, ripping his clothes enough to make it seem like he was in a fight with a bear.

And suddenly, everything went black.

—

"Hey...hey! Can you hear me? Are you okay?"

Virgil groaned, grasping at his head that throbbed with pain, hissing with every move he made. "Oh thank Disney" the voice murmured, helping Virgil sit up from the ground. He finally managed to open his eyes, blinking rapidly as he took in his surroundings. First he looked at the ground below him which he sunk into when he fell into it, and it was...moss? Deep by the looks of it and very soft.

"What the..?" Virgil whispered, looking towards the person, vision still hazy. "Am I dead?" He asked to which the voice chuckled.

"I hope not, because I would be too"

And finally he could see properly, realising this was the same man he bumped into at the top of the cliff. The brightly dressed (his clothes now ruined like Virgil's) attractive one.

Then Virgil drew back, "how did-what happened?" He asked to which the man shrugged, slowly rising to his feet. "We fell" he explained, tilting his head back to look at the gaps they both had made at the top of the trees that once covered the space completely.

Virgil's memory quickly came back to him, remembering feeling someone push him from behind...

He looked up at the man again to see him peering at his clothes with a forlorn expression. "Did you push me?" Virgil asked to which he received a ludicrous look, "excuse me?" The man replied in offence, "push you?! I fell too if you haven't noticed!"

Virgil pushed himself to his feet, "you were the only person behind me! I don't know, you might've fallen too!"

The man blinked in utter shock at Virgil who glared, "someone pushed me" he spoke in a deadly serious tone, "and I fell into you, I'm sorry but look" he gestured between himself and Virgil, "we're alive and that's all that matters"

And Virgil pulled back his anger for a moment, now realising accusing this man of something he might've done or might've not done was foolish - he'd deny it either way and if Virgil angered him who's to say what he might do?

"I'm Roman" he continued, pressing a hand to his chest. "You are?"

Virgil hesitated, should he give his name out to this random stranger? From what just occurred he wasn't exactly relaxed, his anxiety was in full motion along with his adrenaline and shock. All he wanted to do was get home and right now? He didn't want to be alone so becoming friends with Roman was his best bet.

"Virgil" he finally responded and Roman smiled.

"Nice to meet you" he turned to face the area around them, looking at the darkish land that sunlight could barely stream into due to the thick foliage. "If we're going to survive" Roman pulled out his phone from his bag, "we'll need to phone my friend. He's a nerd and will know what to do" he explained, searching through his contacts before finding who he needed.

Before he could Virgil stepped up, "sorry for uh-accusing you" he murmured, ringing his hands together. "It's just-my anxiety, I guess, I wasn't thinking straight" and Roman smiled a warm smile, "don't worry about it, emo nightmare" he winked playfully and Virgil relaxed, content with the fact Roman was cool with him.

"He's currently in Britain so is most likely asleep" Roman explained, the two sitting down on a log as Roman rung his friend, putting it onto speaker.

This repeated a few times until Logan finally answered.

"May I remind you, Roman, that I know exactly what to do with a dead body" his voice cracked through the speakers and Virgil snorted in amusement, especially at the offence that spread through Roman's face.

"Whatever, nerd" Roman responded with, "I need your help"

They both heard some shuffling and a light groan, "who is it, sweetie?" Virgil noticed Roman's face lit up when he heard a separate, more distant voice from the other end.

"That's Deceit" Roman then explained to Virgil, "Logan's boyfriend~" he sung into the phone which made Logan curse him out, Virgil holding his sleeve over his mouth to hide his chortle.

"What do you want, Roman?" Logan asked, sounding exasperated.

Roman grinned, "for once, my favourite nerd, I need you to teach us a lesson in the art of surviving in the wilderness!" Roman exclaimed more dramatically than he needed to.

There was a silence from the other end.

"...come again?"

Roman huffed, "we're-well, me and Virgil - say hi Virgil" and he was taken back at the sudden command but did so anyway, awkwardly mustering a 'hello'.

"We...fell off this cliff and-"

"You what?" Logan cut him off, words very emphasised with sudden shock.

"Let me finish, Logan! We fell off this cliff and survived, well we were pushed but more on that later-"

"Roman fell off a cliff and survived? What a scam" Deceit drawled in the background and Roman huffed, throwing one arm up into the air. "Shut up Deceit! I'm talking to your boyfriend"

"Are you serious?" Logan wanted to confirm and once Roman did he let out a long sigh, "are you okay? Newton, Roman, I leave the country for a week and you fall off a fucking cliff!"

Virgil snorted, finding their back and forth to be quite entertaining in the current bad situation they found themselves in. "Yes, we're fine, my wrist feels a little funny but nothing that can't be dealt with now! So now we're in the middle of a very thick - with two c's - forest and we need your guidance" Roman explained, Logan letting out another sigh.

"Remember The Hunger Games? Use knowledge from that in your current scenario. Water is your main priority, as soon as you find it follow it down stream and don't stray from it. It will most certainly take you out of the forest and hopefully to some civilisation. But also be ready to build a shelter, my suggestion is to find anything that can help you along the way, don't wait until sundown. Make sure you have something on the ground too, houses have insulation and so will your shelter - warm air will escape wherever it can so having some sort of blockage between you and the direct ground is a good idea. And please, for the love of science do not create a fire in an area where a tree will catch. A thick forest like that will go up in flames which will not improve your situation"

Virgil was surprised at how much Logan rambled but he did remember Roman calling him his 'favourite nerd' so he assumed he was a smart guy.

"Thank you, Logan, I knew I could count on you"

He hummed from the other end, unimpressed. "Have you called emergency services?"

"We were with a group, if they didn't hear our screams they'll notice our absence"

"Okay, good. Now don't waste time and call me if you need anything. Please do not eat any berries unless I approve" he also added which made Roman chuckle lightly.

"Anything you say!"

"Sweetie, let them die, I'm cold" Deceit complained and Roman just knew Logan was smiling.

"Will you be okay?"

Roman glanced at Virgil who didn't look confident at all, "we'll be fine! Don't have too much fun you two~" he called playfully, hanging up just as Logan was about to respond.

"He seems...cool" Virgil drifted and Roman chuckled, "he-yeah" he smiled with a fondness of reminiscence, "he's definitely cool" he agreed, quickly standing up and holding out a hand to Virgil, rising him to his feet.

"I think we should get going" and Virgil agreed.

—
3:21am