Into The Woods

Billie's heart pounded in her chest as she rode her bike toward the outskirts of town. Just as she reached her school, she abruptly stopped near the forest line, a rush of memories flooding her mind. The police had shown a clip of her and her friends walking towards the woods, and now paranoia set in.

She scanned her surroundings, looking for any surveillance cameras but found none, except for the non-functional light pole. It intrigued her, and she couldn't help but wonder why they were there in the first place. Now that she think about it, they were all around the place. Billie's curiosity was piqued, and she fixated on the pole for a moment, realizing its ubiquity and non-functionality.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the school guard caught sight of her.

"HEY! YOU! ARE YOU SKIPPING SCHOOL?!", he yelled after her.

Ignoring his shouts, Billie pedaled faster, aware of the routes within the town but never having ventured outside of it. She marveled at how the government agents managed to keep the town isolated from the outside world.

As Billie rode past the police station, memories of her captivity flooded her mind. Suddenly, the blaring siren pierced the air, making her heart race with fear. She knew that the police were coming for her.

However, she also noticed that they weren't the only ones. Several individuals on electric bikes with sleek black leather gear and masks were also chasing her.

'Shit, That wench was right!', Billie thought to herself at the reminder of Selena's.

Making a split-second decision, she swerved away from the road and plunged into the depths of the forest, desperately seeking refuge.

As she pedaled furiously, she had no idea where she was headed, but she knew that putting distance between herself and the enforcers was her best bet for survival.

With no clear destination in mind, Billie rode deeper into the woods, putting a considerable distance between herself and her pursuers. Uncertainty gnawed at her, but she knew she had to keep moving.

As Billie ventured deeper into the woods, a sense of foreboding overwhelmed her senses. The distant sound of approaching bikers reverberated through the trees, triggering her survival instincts.

With a swift motion, she leaped off her bike, expertly folding it and hoisting it over her shoulder. Grateful for the skills she had acquired from the scout camps, she began scaling a nearby pine tree, her agile movements aided by years of practice.

With each step upward, Billie blended into her surroundings, seamlessly merging with the shades of brown and green that enveloped the forest. She sought refuge in the natural camouflage, becoming one with the trees.

Hidden from view, she observed as the bikers arrived at the exact spot where she had been moments ago. Oblivious to her elevated position, their search yielded no results, and they continued their pursuit in a direction away from her perch. A surge of relief washed over her, accompanied by a glimmer of hope that they would be led astray.

Though holding onto the tree for an extended period proved challenging, Billie's survival instinct propelled her forward. She clung to the topmost branches, her grip tenacious as the afternoon sun bore down upon her, casting a golden glow over the surrounding forest. The blinding rays, coupled with her physical exhaustion, intensified her need for respite.

An hour passed, marked by the unrelenting brightness of the sun in her eyes. Fatigue seeped into Billie's muscles, weighing her down. She clung to the pinnacle of the pine, her body yearning for rest. The branches, once firm beneath her fingertips, now seemed to sway in the gentle breeze, testing her endurance.

Her mind wrestled with the possibilities that lay ahead. Would her friends be safe? What awaited her beyond the confines of the woods?

The resilience that had carried her this far refused to waver. She drew strength from her unwavering commitment to finding her companions, regardless of the perils that awaited her.

As the sun continued its descent, casting long shadows over the forest floor, the need to move resurfaced. Billie recognized the urgency of reaching the outskirts before darkness consumed the landscape.

As Billie descended from her lofty perch, her movements slowed and deliberate. Each step down the tree trunk was a careful negotiation with gravity, and despite her caution, a misstep sent her tumbling to the forest floor.

Her landing was softened by a thin layer of snow, which clung to the ground in patches, leaving the surrounding terrain exposed. She lay flat on the cold earth, her breath escaping in rapid puffs, forming wisps of vapor in the crisp air.

In that vulnerable moment, she closed her eyes, seeking solace in the darkness behind her eyelids. The weight of loneliness settled upon her, overshadowing her thoughts, as she contemplated the distance that now separated her from her friends. The echoes of her vow to find them, even at the cost of her own life, reverberated in her mind like a distant whisper. The magnitude of her mission had never been clearer, fueling her determination to overcome any obstacle that lay ahead.

Opening her eyes, she surveyed the woods around her, finding a peculiar solace in their untamed beauty. The towering trees reached skyward, their branches intermingling like outstretched hands offering both shelter and anonymity.

The forest, though filled with its own mysteries, seemed less sinister compared to the enforcers who pursued her relentlessly. The thought of falling into their clutches sent shivers down her spine, as she imagined the unknown fate that awaited her in their custody.

Feeling the gnaw of hunger, Billie unzipped her backpack, its contents a lifeline in her uncertain journey. Retrieving a sandwich she had hastily prepared earlier, she indulged in ravenous bites, barely taking the time to chew before swallowing them. She needed sustenance to fuel her body, to fortify herself for the relentless pursuit that lay ahead.

With her hunger momentarily sated, Billie took her phone to look at Selena's message again.

//No one can turn a blind eye to their dark, May the good lord save you 1000 times//

it read.

'What is she on about? Is this a joke?', she wondered as she put her phone back.

The urgency to reach the outskirts before darkness fell pushed her forward, an unyielding determination propelling her steps. Though mentally prepared for a potential sleepover in the wilderness, clinging to a tree like a koala, it was still early.

The enforcers, she knew, were hot on her trail, scouring the town with meticulous precision. She could only hope that fortune would favor her, guiding her safely to the outskirts beyond their reach.

Billie set forth on foot, her instincts guiding her along the uncertain path. Hours passed, and the wilderness revealed itself in unexpected encounters. A pair of bobcats crossed her path, their eyes gleaming with feral curiosity. Yet, she refused to show weakness, mustering a facade of power as she took deliberate, stomping steps, causing the majestic felines to retreat into the depths of the forest.

Eventually, she reached the roadside, a dirt path barely discernible beneath the scarce blanket of snow. The desolation of the land unfolded before her, a barren expanse stretching to the horizon.

Billie's heart skipped a beat as she wondered where she had arrived. She scanned her surroundings with cautious eyes, her gaze sweeping across the landscape. Uncertainty gripped her as she unfolded her bike, mounting it with a mix of trepidation and determination.

As she pedaled along the desolate road, her eyes beheld a chilling sight. The remnants of civilization lay scattered around her—rubbish heaps, abandoned vehicles, and dilapidated houses packed closely together like gravestones in a forgotten graveyard.

The road abruptly terminated at the edge of the forest, leaving Billie with a sense of foreboding. The setting sun cast long shadows, stretching like skeletal fingers across the landscape, amplifying her unease.

Fear prickled at her skin as the evening sun sank lower, painting the world in hues of crimson and gold. A sense of urgency propelled her to turn back, riding among the detritus in search of refuge from the encroaching night. Her eyes darted from one discarded shelter to another, hoping to find solace amidst the remnants of forgotten lives.

Suddenly, without warning, a tremendous force sent Billie hurtling off her bike, the impact similar to a collision with a speeding car.

Dazed and disoriented, she struggled to fend off the unseen assailant, her instincts kicking into overdrive.

As her senses returned, she beheld a grotesque sight—a creature that resembled a human, yet bore the unmistakable marks of decay and malevolence. Its mouth contorted in a scream that she could not hear, a chilling reminder of its inhumanity.