Familiar bracelet

Elizabeth walked deeper into the dark forest, flashing her flashlight in every direction and every object she encountered. 

This aimless search continued for hours before Elizabeth spotted a figure, one similar to the one she saw earlier.

But the figure was far away from her reach, she flashed her flashlight on it and the silhouette disappeared like it had never been there to begin with. Elizabeth's heart raced, her mind was in chaos.

She slowly flashed her flashlight elsewhere, while keeping her eyes on the silhouette's former position and immediately it appeared again, like it was only visible in the shadows.

Now Elizabeth was torn between going back to where she came from or moving towards the figure.

The figure that refused to move from its spot stared straight at her, causing goosebumps to fill her skin from the cold and fear. Her body trembled but she held on, Police officers should not feel few after all.

She took a deep breath and walked towards the dark figure, she dialled Layla's number, while still keeping her eyes on the figure.

"Dammit, no signal." Elizabeth took a quick glance at her phone before slipping it into her pocket again.

She slid out a handgun from the holster and cautiously moved towards the figure.

Elizabeth was now close to the figure, she slowly turned the flashlight to its direction and just when the flashlight was completely pointed at it, a loud ring from her pocket made her jolt back in fear and shock. 

Elizabeth stumbled backwards and hurriedly flashed her flashlight at the figure but it was gone, her already racing heart raced even faster.

Elizabeth slowly crouched down and picked up her phone without glancing at it.

She placed the phone on her ear, while her eyes frantically looked around, "Hello."

"Hello?" 

The person at the other end of the phone call was quiet but Elizabeth refrained from looking at the screen of her phone, glancing at the screen would mean looking away from the enemy, and looking away from the enemy meant death.

Elizabeth slipped the phone back into her pocket without bothering to disconnect the call.

She walked to where the figure once was and looked at the surroundings, even up at the trees. 

Elizabeth's eyes caught sight of a foreign item, something different from the dry leaves she had been seeing since she came here.

Elizabeth walked cautiously towards it, she crouched down and picked up the item. It was a bracelet, one made from double black thread and white beads that had letters on them.

The bracelet was so small, it could only fit a baby. She flashed her flashlight on the letters and it turned out to be 'CASPER'.

Elizabeth's breath hitched, her dilated pupils reflected flames.

"C-casper."

The bracelet now looked familiar. Elizabeth struggled to breath, she slowly fell into a state of trance and hyper-ventilated. The large forest now seems cramped, the trees were closing up against her in her mind and Elizabeth could not fight against it.

Elizabeth knelt on the dry leaves, completely forgetting about the silhouette she has been chasing after. She tug on her brown hair with one hand, while holding the braver with another.

Elizabeth clenched the bracelet in her hand like it would disappear if she took her eyes away from it for even a second.

"Ack!" Elizabeth jerked when a cold hand fell on her shoulder.

"Are you okay, Elizabeth? You suddenly ran off and I couldn't find you. Why are you here… like this?" Layla's light voice held worry in them, her eyes trembled as there beheld her friend. She crouched down and helped Elizabeth up.

Elizabeth, who had calmed down after seeing Layla, slowly fell back into a state of trance again.

"The child was burnt to a crisp."

"Only two adult bodies were found, though burnt beyond recognition, it is clear that they are the bodies of Mr and Mrs Brian."

Those words echoed in her ears over and over again like a broken record, a depressing music that had no end.

"Casper."

"Huh? Elizabeth, what are you saying?" Layla was shocked at the state her friend was in, she supported and helped her regain her footing and then supported her till they got out of the woods. The moon was already up in the sky, the blue moon that always appeared full and round from this part of the world, served as the only source of light for the two young officers.

Layla opened the car back door and let Elizabeth in. Layla then went through the other side and got in the driver's seat.

She drove all the way back to Elizabeth's house and helped her into her apartment before leaving for her own home.

Layla was worried, she wanted to stay with her friend but she had something to do, something very important.

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Elizabeth's note of encouragement: Y'all are special, it's not something anyone can change. Your difference makes you special.

Layla's note of encouragement: Your past does not define you. Your present does.

Strange man's note: Read 'REBORN IN AN ERA OF CATACLYSM'

Written and brought to you by moon_fire