Chapter 25

Lina stopped after hours of walking, "Did I take a wrong turn, I seem lost" She looked but failed to see any familiar street. Deciding to go back Lina retraced her steps.

It was getting dark and cold, her steps paced increased trying to find her way back before it was dark. Being scared of the dark was one thing but she was terrified of forests, especially at the night, it brought back a horrifying memory.

She had left her phone at home when she tried to escape from her brothers, now she was stuck in a place she hated and no one would come to find her.

Finally giving up Lina dropped on the side of the road and folded into a ball, as tears formed in her eyes.

"I hate this" she cried. Weird night creatures started screeching deep in the forest startling her even more. Her tears fell, "It's all his fault for changing abruptly"

....

Avril could feel the chilly air hit his face as he raced through the large forest, it was getting darker and more dangerous with each passing moment. He wasn't worried about himself but Lina. It was his mistake for bringing her, he breathed. No, he was foolish for leaving her behind in an unfamiliar place.

He was almost to the spot they had left her, but he frowned when he saw no one.

But then he felt his a faint scream, it was far but he could reach it in seconds if he wanted to. He concentrated on listening and this time he recognized the voice. It was her.

"Lina" he breathed and vanished.

...

She had decided to walk again but after a few steps Lina felt something follow her, she had thought it was someone walking but then realized after hours of moving she had not seen any. Her body filled with goosebumps Lina increased her pace but the steps behind moved even closer, it was already dark and without a flashlight she knew it wasn't going to be easier to know who it was.

Slowly she stopped turning around but the moment she saw who it was to follow her, Lina dropped to the ground in fright. It was a full-grown bear with large dark eyes and sharp scary fangs.

She screamed moving back, "Why the hell is a bear doing here" she shouted., thinking quickly when it tried to lurch at her Lina got up and started to run, "am sorry I just remember this is a forest" she cried.

Huge loud steps followed her as she ran and when it growled her heart almost stopped, rushing Lina missed a step and rolled off the road down into the valley of the forest. Broken dry branches gashed deep into her body leaving razor-like cuts. She cried in pain while getting up but her pursuer wasn't giving up.

It was beside her in seconds, getting on its two feet Lina could see how tall it was, exposing its white pointed fangs, rising its arms up Lina moved back to avoid its claws as it tried to attack her.

Falling back again she cried. Sweat mixed with blood from her cuts flowed down her body, Lina crawled behind a tree trunk catching her breath. She wanted to run but fear had paralyzed her legs.

Huffing in dread Lina cried silently but her hiding place was discovered and before she knew it, claws dug into her shoulder jerking her away to another tree. Hitting her back Lina scowled in pain, blurry now, her tears and the pain made her eyes lose focus.

She wanted to get up but something flashed before her eyes, Lina flinched closing her now half-blind eyes. Dark cold and lonely were what she felt, it played like a movie in her head. She could hear a cry and two bodies next to her.

She blinked trying to make sure she wasn't seeing things but then the bloody faces stared at her.

Lina froze recognizing who they were, "Mom, Dad..." she gasped covering her mouth to stop her cry Lina looked away right into the dark vicious eyes of the bear.

Growling it raised its claws again ready to strike before it could Something pushed it away, and Lina fell back, she didn't dare open her eyes, as she used her ears to find out what was happening. She could hear the bear groan in fear, what it was that saved her must be stronger than it, she thought.

Silence soon followed but then she heard steps heading her way.

"Lina" someone called.

Her eyes opened to see Avril, he was stained in blood.

"Presi... boss... Avril" she finally managed to say. He dropped next to holding her trembling hands.

"Are you okay.... am sorry it took long to find you" Lina gazed at him noticing the fear in his eyes and worry in his voice.

Avril hugged her, she felt his warm body and the iron stench of the blood on him. Pulling back Lina checked his body, "Are you hurt... Di...did it hurt you too" She found herself crying.

"No am not hurt, Lina but you are" he held her face. Finally relaxing Lina felt her body ache and all the pain flow back.

She burst into tears shivering, "It... It wanted to.... have me for dinner...." she cried..." but am not that tasty"

Avril chuckled pulling her back in his arms, "It's okay, am here now".

Lina nodded holding him tighter, "I was so....scared. I thought I was going to die" her tears poured out.

"Am sorry it's fault for leaving you behind" he said.

Hitting his back she cried, "Yes it is, how could you leave me behind".

Avril kept apologizing until Lina calmed down.