Chapter 3: Luisa

Ever since the beast incident, there's been dark shadows under Tom's eyes. Aden and I noticed that he's been very protective around Ana. I don't think she noticed yet since she always has a cheerful attitude, unlike Tom. It's been weeks since the beast incident and Ana fully recovered without a scar. We've been collecting fruit tree seedlings to plant around camp. We have apples, oranges, pears (they don't taste good but we still have to eat), and some berries we haven't tried yet.

We tried to get into the cabin again, but every time we try to get in, something burns our skin. I have two burns that haven't gone away yet. Most of it is gone, but there's still a faint outline of it. Tom has the most burns since he went first. He got hit protecting me when I tried to get in. I think I might like him, although, I don't know if Ana likes him. She never shows it, I think she's keeping something from us, she always looks so cheerful, but her eyes are always filled with sadness. Ana and I became close friends and Tom started to talk to us again. As for tents, at first, it was Ana and Tom in one tent and me and Aden in the other. Now it's me and Ana in one tent, and Tom and Aden in the other. Tom didn't seem too thrilled about the switch, but he'll get used to it.

"Hey Luisa, are you going to help out with the food or the wood?" Tom had a smirk on his face as he picked the fruit from the trees.

"I'll help with the food, the apples seem ripe now, what do you think Tom?" I replied in a calm voice.

"Yeah, they should be ready to eat now." Tom says as he picked up a lighter for the fire. "Hope this still works, it kinda froze over the winter." He gives me a goofy smile as he tries to get it to work.

"Aden! Put your shirt back on!" Ana yells. We look over to see Aden taking off his shirt after cutting open some wood.

"Ok fine!" Aden said as he slid his shirt back on.

"Oh brother." I say in complete embarrassment.

"Well, me and Aden are gonna get some more wood for the fire. We don't want to freeze since the days are getting colder" Tom said as he got up to pick an axe.

"I'll help!" I say as I jolt up. I wanted to spend more time with him alone. "Aden can stay with Ana and help with the fire."

"Oh um… are you ok with that Ana?" Tom aked. His smile faded as he looked over to Ana. I could tell she wasn't as happy anymore, but I gave her a hopeful smile.

"Ok, you guys hurry up though, we don't have much time 'till the sun sets." she replied pointing to the distant sky before winking at me.

I smirked and said, "We'll be back soon, don't worry your little nose about it! Bye you guys!"

"My nose isn't that small..." I heard Ana murmur as we walked off.

I hadn't noticed until recently that Tom was really cute. He had sweat dripping off him that made him even more handsome, and he was mine for a while. I remembered the look on Ana's face as we walked in silence.

'I wasn't selfish', I thought. 'If you want something, you have to get it yourself!' I held his hand, waiting for him to say something romantic.

Instead he says," What are you doing, is it cold? Here." He hands me his jacket and let's go of my hand. I looked around, realizing I haven't seen this part of the woods before.

"Uhh Tom, w-we're a bit far, don't you think?"

He didn't look at me, in fact, he looked a bit, transparent? I tried to touch him but my hand went right through.

'Where did he go? Who was I talking to this whole time? Am I imagining all this? Is this a dream?' A million thoughts raced through my mind as I looked around. Completely alone, to move, let alone speak. I froze in fear as I heard noises coming from behind me. I turn around and-

"HELP!"