Episode 09

Natasha's POV:

If I'm not mistaken, Cathy and I have been wandering around the forest for more than an hour searching for Bernie and Trish and the most scary part of it is that its getting dark and we haven't found them. I checked my wristwatch and it was almost 6pm. My panicked self got more severe. 'What could have happened to them? Who took them? Are they still alive?'...

"I'm so tired Nat. Its just as if we're running in circles here. This forest is so thick and wide, I don't think we'll succeed in finding those two. This is so devastating. What do we tell their parents if we possibly get out of here alive?" Cathy questioned interrupting my so-filled thoughts.

"We can't get out of here without them. We have to...."

"But how do we find them Nat? How?" Cathy cut me mid-sentence looking frustrated.

"Perseverance. I'm positive they're still alive. Please let's search....."I trailed off when I heard a sound. Not just any sound, but a screech I'll say. I stood still and stared at Cathy. "Did you hear that?" I asked.

"Yes. That's just an screeching owl" she replied without looking scared and started walking.

I muster up courage and followed her behind but I made sure I glanced at my surrounding before catching up with her.

"Where are we going now?" I asked.

"In search of our friends of course" she replied and adjusted the two bags she was carrying, hers and that of Bernie.

"Okay. Let's...." I trailed off again when I heard another screech. "Cath,did. you. hear that .again?" I stuttered and freeze at my spot gulping my saliva.

"Y.e.s..it sounded like a human cry" she uttered freezing at her spot as well and turned to face me.

"Do you think that could be them?" I asked quietly.

"I don't...."she trailed off and gape at me with wide eyes.

"What is it Cathy?" I asked staring at her confusedly on why she trailed off.

She used her palm to cover her mouth and let out a squeal with her eyes wide open like it'll pop out soon, she dropped the bags slowly on the floor while her camera was hung on her neck. I furrowed at that. "Cathy, what's going on?" I asked stepping closer to her.

The only response I could get out of her was her right finger pointing towards my direction. I got confused and couldn't place what she's pointing out. "Me?" I asked with a raised brow and she shook her head in response. "Then what are you.......",my loud and pissed of voice trailed off when I heard a growl behind me.

'A growl? That's an animal growling',I thought to myself shivering. I couldn't place out what kind of animal that would be but I know its an animal growling. Slowly I turned and look behind me, and behold a wolf was standing if i should count my steps right now, I'll say ten steps away from me..us. It was like I was being asked to come out and stand under a snowy weather when I saw it staring at me like it'll devour me in a few. I felt chills took over me.

Now I understood what got Cathy squealing and freezing. I think I'm freezing more than her right now.

"N.a.t?,she stuttered.

I swallowed the lumps of saliva on my throat harder. "Hmm?",I managed to choke out.

"Run!" she exclaimed.

Before I could protest on her idea she has drag me with her and we found ourselves running as our legs could carry us. Although running is not a sport I practiced but today, right now, I think a 400 or 800meters racer wouldn't cross the finish line without me being the first.

We kept running and the last time I looked back that creature was still following us. We ran into different directions into the forest and we kept jumping some trees that was cut down and laid on the floor trying to avoid anything that will make us trip and fall. I was right behind Cathy when she tripped on a grass that tangled her foots and fell face flat. I looked back and saw the wolf still pursuing us,and I glance back at cathy.

"Girlfriend, please. do .me a favor and give me your hand",I said between my fast breathing.

"I can't, I think I'm hurt",she cried out.

"Babe you can't be hurt. We need to make our way out of this forest alive. Give me your hand!",I yelled and immediately she gave me her hand and I helped her up and we continued our race despite the fact she was limping.

Fortunately for us we saw a little hide out that looks like a cave and ran inside it. We squat there and waited for the wolf to pass.

"Ahhh.its...."

"Shhh. Quiet!",I shush Cathy placing my palm on her mouth.

We waited patiently as we heard the wolf growling outside the cave we're hiding. One minute,two minute,three minutes and then ten minutes later we heard no growling anymore. We both sighed in relief that our chaser has gone away.

"I think I have a cut on my lap",Cathy said and immediately I dig out my phone from my small bag and put on the touchlight since this cave was really dark in here.

"Let me see",I requested and then she pulled her skinny jeans down and her laps were revealing. " thank God. Its not that serious",I said after seeing the cut. "It can be fixed up",I added.

I opened my schoolbag and brought cotton wool and cleanser.

"Looks like you were prepared for this",Cathy said.

I snorted. "Not really. Actually, I thought since it's a forest we are coming to we might get bruised or something that's why I carried this with me in case of situations like this",I replied and gestured to her injured lap.

She chuckled. "So brilliant of you",she commended as I kept cleansing the spot where she had a cut.

"Thanks",I mumbled with a smile and we became silent thereafter until I finished dressing her wound.

"Nat?",she called.

"Hmm?",I answered raising my head up.

"Are you scared?",she asked.

I gave a big sigh and said. "You can say so. But I'm more confused and worried right now. If only we can see Bernie and Trish,I'll be less worried. I don't know if they're safe or...."

"Shhh. Say no more. They're fine. We'll see them soon. Okay?",she encouraged me and pulled me to a hug.

We were still in an embrace when we heard a clattering noise that startled us apart.

"What was that noise?" I asked staring at Cathy.

"I don't know" she replied with a whisper.

"That noise came right from this cave. Could it be there's someone in here?" I asked quietly staring blankly at her.

"There's only one way to find out. Let's look around maybe there's someone that could help us out of here" she replied back in an low tone.

"Are you sure about this? Or maybe we should just run out of this cave, that wolf might have gone by now",I suggested.

"Its getting really dark out there and its risky as well to be out there. Maybe someone might be living here that could help us. Let's just look around and if we find nothing then we can get out of here", she persuaded.

"Uhmm. Okay." I said and then dig out a small touch-light from my bag and handed it to her.

We left our bags where we were sitting and started walking inside the cave. The deeper we got inside the cave the more dust and cobwebs we came across.

"Hello!" Cathy yelled and waited for a response but none came. "Hello! Anyone here but still no response.

We kept walking forward and made a curve. We got to a room and my touchlight flashed around the room and then landed on something. A full human skeleton stood there with its face covered with a mask.

I controlled myself and didn't scream and my friend didn't scream as well. But deep inside I felt like fainting.

"There's no one here. I guess we should le....." I trailed off when I saw the finger of the same skeleton moved. I shook my head in denial. 'It can't be, maybe I'm just feeling dizzy' I told myself. I turned to Cathy and said, "Let's leave here since we couldn't....",

Cathy squealed making me startled. I look back immediately and saw the skeleton moved his head and then hands. I was stunned. I took a step back while my gaze remained on it. Then his legs moved. I felt weak instantly. It took me few seconds before I heard myself said "run!".

We ran and came out of the curve we had entered and kept running inside the cave. It was getting longer to get to where we were sitting earlier, and we could hear footsteps chasing behind us and it was getting closer.

'I think this is the end road for us' I cried inwardly but kept running regardless.

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