DEADLY NIGHT CHASE

Arthur and Leon rushed towards me, their footsteps resounding through the crisp night air. My mind raced in sync with their frantic pace.

I wasn't sure if I was ready to confront the truth.

The truth- a concept that we all crave, yet fear. This truth was about David's car and, ultimately, about David himself.

Was he a hero or a villain? A saviour or destroyer? His car held these answers, or so we believed.

As I opened the car door, the memories flooded back.

David's presence still lingered in every corner, making me uneasy and uncomfortable. We scoured the car for any hints or clues that could lead us to the truth.

When suddenly, Leon yelled, "Hold up!" his eyes fixated on a small nook beneath the driver's seat. "Guys, there's something underneath here!"

Our attention was immediately diverted to the spot he was pointing at.

He pulled out a letter-

A letter that had been innocuously tucked away out of plain sight.

I gingerly took the letter from Leon's outstretched hand, examining it closely.

Leon scoffed in disbelief at the sight of the letter, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Man! Who even writes letters nowadays?" he muttered.

Deep down, I had a feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Arthur leaned over to get a closer look at the paper, his eyes scanning with a focused intensity. "What it says?"

Trembling with anticipation, I carefully unfolded the paper. The paper was thin and crinkled as if folded and unfolded a thousand times.

The letter was handwritten in beautiful cursive. What I read shook me to my core.

I couldn't believe it.

I couldn't believe what I was reading.

The letter unleashed a storm of emotions within me as if the very ground beneath my feet had turned to quicksand, threatening to drag me into a never-ending abyss of uncertainty.

  It reminded me of the words grandfather once told me, ''The more we learn, the more we realize how little we know.'' These words echoed inside me, resonating with a profound message that shook my core.

And now, as I held this letter in my hand, I realized that his words were startlingly accurate.

How could we be so sure of anything when we knew so little?

Why did I come here?

What was the point? I, who sought answers, am now more lost than ever before. I, who hoped to find solace, am now more confused than ever before.

The sky is dark and cloudy, with a piercing cold wind that chills me to the bone. The trees' branches sway violently.

The letter stated, "Tonight when the moon doth loom high in the sky, at the emerald forest's edge where shadows deceive, precisely at eight o'clock, our quarry shall meet his fate.

"I fear you need to beware. For I have schemed and I have dared...

"I've tampered with his trusty car, And he'll be left stranded, near and far.

"You need only follow his path. He shall drive like a man full of wrath, a fate that will seal all his fates. So come prepared for what's to come.

"This letter I have left for you...

"Beware the man with the darkened heart, For he'll soon realize who played their part...

"For victory will be yours, and his undone..."

The contents within leave me breathless - my heart races and my palms grow damp.

'I've tampered with his trusty car.'

The words sent shockwaves through my core. My mind reels at the thought.

Who could have written such a thing?

Who could have sabotaged my car? What evil intention is hidden behind these mysterious words?

Is this reality, or am I living in a nightmare? Everything seems so wrong.

All I want is to wake up and see everything as it used to be.

"Someone must be working with David," Arthur stated matter-of-factly.

The reality is a bitter pill to swallow, and this is my reality now - a mind filled with despair and a heart aching for answers.

David, my elder brother who used to care for me, whom I cherished so much in my childhood, the one who always looked out for me, what has happened to him now?

Why isn't he the same anymore?

Did he always hate me all this time?

Still, I want David to come back to me- to hug me tight and make me forget all the pain.

But alas, life isn't that simple. Perhaps the brutal reality of growing up is that the people we love the most can hurt us the most.

I can feel the world around me growing darker, colder and infinitely more dangerous.

Time became an abstract concept, lost in the chaos of my racing thoughts.

The rustling leaves and the distant sounds of nature became mere echoes, drowned out by the loud and conflicting emotions raging within me.

I am both shattered and whole.

Pieces of me are broken and scattered.

Confused.

I am confused. I don't know – how can one piece of paper hold so much mystery and intrigue?

It mentioned the exact location and time I had gone astray in the jungle.

How could this be possible?

When I had no intention of coming here. I had come here to trick David, but now everything seems premeditated.

It felt almost supernatural as if fate had led me to this exact place.

"Charlie!'' Leon shouted as he nudged me, snapping me out of my thoughts. ''Can't you see?" I blinked a few times, trying to focus.

I leaned forward, peering through the dusty windshield to see what was happening. To my alarm, I saw men.

Lots of them— Coming from all directions toward us. The voices grew louder as the men approached, and I could feel my palms beginning to sweat.

Fear and panic set in, causing my heart to pound in my chest as I felt frozen in my place.

This was not a situation that we were prepared for.

The sound of my heart thrumming in my chest drowned out all the other noise. I felt the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

We need to leave this place quickly.

"Hurry, get out of the car," Arthur commanded. We quickly ran out of the back gate and quietly hid behind the bushes so no one could see us.

  The strangers moved around the car silently, like ghosts in the dark. It was unclear what they were planning to do.

  With bated breath, we watched as they circled, eyeing the car from front to back, inspecting every nook and cranny.

I kept my mouth shut, anxiously waiting for them to leave.

"What's going on between David and that masked man?" I muttered to myself, trying to make sense of the strange connection between the two.

They're always up to something, and now they're both after me. What the hell could they want?

Why were they after me? What could I possibly have that they want?

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion that shook the ground beneath us.

The sound of the fire crackling filled my ears. I turned to look back when I realized they poured fuel and set the car on fire after searching it.

As the smoke billowed into the sky, I was half-paralyzed with fear as flames engulfed the vehicle.

Abruptly, the air was filled with an ear-splitting scream that made my blood run cold.

"No," the voice cried desperately, "Don't do it—DON'T BURN THE CAR!"

I turned my head immediately, my eyes scanning the area for the source of the commotion. It didn't take long for me to spot Leon writhing on his knees in agony, sweat pouring down his face in rivulets.

"Leon!'' I reached out to help him up. He was gasping for breath.

"Leon, what the hell is going on?" I asked, my voice tinged with annoyance at his bizarre behaviour. "Have you lost your mind or something?"

But Leon didn't seem to hear me. He remained frozen on the ground, his eyes wide and unseeing, his body wracked with tremors.

I tried to shake him, but he was like a statue, immovable and unresponsive.

  The look in his eyes stopped me cold. It was as if he was fighting something within himself.

"Who's there?" The men spread everywhere, determined and relentless, like a pack of wolves on the hunt, going from one place to another, searching and seeking and looking to see where this voice was coming from.

And yet Leon wasn't moving; his face twisted with pain.

"We need to get out of here...now!" I shouted and tried to pull Leon to his feet, but he didn't budge. "Leon, snap out of it!" I was starting to get really freaked out.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Sweat started to bead on my forehead as I watched the men get closer and closer.

My heart felt like it would burst right out of my chest.

''Bloody Hell! Hurry up, we can't let them catch us!" He looked up at me, his eyes filled with fear.

I hissed at Leon, fear choking my words.

Just then, Arthur take charge and approach Leon as he got down on his knees. I couldn't help but feel curious about his behaviour.

How could he remain so collected and calm in the danger?

"Leon, are you okay?" Arthur asked, his voice soft and gentle. He placed a comforting hand on Leon's shoulder.

I could see the panic in Leon's eyes.

He was clearly struggling to keep it together. But Arthur seemed to know exactly how to calm him down.

"What's happening to you?'' Arthur asked again, his eyes searching Leon's face for answers.

Arthur continued to speak, ''You know, you can tell me," his voice filled with understanding.

What is wrong with him?

How the hell is he so calm in a situation like this?

Is he for real?

Leon looked at Arthur, his eyes wide and his expression pained. "Ar– Arthur...I– can't breathe—'' he croaked.

''You guys– just go," Leon's breathing was labored, and I could feel his heartbeat racing.

Arthur whispered to him, trying to calm him down. "It's okay, Leon. I'm right here. Take your time." Leon gave Arthur a look and nodded weakly.

  Arthur knew we couldn't delay any longer. We have to get him out of there. I felt a surge of fear run through me.

Someone knew we were after the car, and they were trying to destroy it.

How did they know our every move?

And I don't even know why David left his vehicle in the jungle.

We could hear the sound of approaching footsteps growing louder and louder.

Shit!

"Let's grab Leon and get out of here!"

'Let's grab Leon and get out of here!' were the panicked words that echoed in my head as we dragged Leon deep into the dense forest, the ground trembling beneath our feet.

I could hear the clinking of weapons and the rustle of leaves behind us.

We were being chased.

They were getting closer, and we couldn't outrun them forever.

I struggled to keep Leon with us - his body felt like dead weight - but there was no way we were leaving him behind.

"We have to keep moving," I whispered, the fear catching in my throat.

Something snapped- a figure loomed out of the shadows, blocking our path.

We froze, staring at the silhouette as it stepped closer.

"Who are you?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. "What do you want from us?"

The man lips twisted into a cruel grin, "You should know better than to cross us," he spat.

That's it.

This is our end.

We are trapped, with no way out.