Chapter 27

Gerrard parks the van at the entrance of the woods and the family get out to cherish the scenery.

With trees as tall as their mansion and sounds of birds chirping loudly, filling the whole place like spectators in a stadium.

From where they park their van to the entrance of the forest is full of tall weeds able to cover up a person's tracks and presence.

"We are here now"Gerrard sighs, looking at the others.

"Yeah. How about we make this a trip too while we look for our baby cousin."Evie suggests.

"You are not here to play. I hope you know that."Grams reminds her and walks into the woods.

The others follow, looking around at the tall trees and rare plants with intoxicating flowers on them.

Gerrard, Irye and Evie in unison mouth a wow as the stare at one beautiful flower in front of them.

"But won't you ever take off those glasses?"Gerrard looks at Irye."It's been on you for some time now. Aren't you getting tired of it?"

"Ahh"Irye sighs."I already told you it's because I don't want to be seeing things. You guys thought I was a lunatic when I said I saw my mom when she was already dead."she tells him again.

It's been like for the hundredth time Irye explains her wearing of dark glasses even in the evening.

She makes up some kind of explanation to tell the family when they ask. And she gets no other explanation than to tell them it's because she wants to avoid her mother's ghost or her from seeing things.

Believe it or not, Gerrard and the rest think it kind of makes sense that she is wearing it so avoid seeing things.

"Seriously... don't you feel stuffy with it on all day. I mean it's not like you actually wear glasses"Gerrard continues anyways. Touching the flower they are admiring.

"It's understandable for those who actually wear them. They are used to it and besides they take it off at night. It's more like you sleep and wake up with it"he jokes and they laugh.

"Do you think am married to it?"Irye chuckles.

"Well I will understand if you only said it that way."Gerrard laughs and gets hit by Grams.

"Which way are we supposed to go?"Grams hands the map to Gerrard who's rubbing the spot Grams hit.

He takes the map and looks closely. The cousins gather around.

"Err...the police said they found their bodies around here but their tents weren't there"he says pointing a circled area on the map.

"So if they searched that place and didn't find their tent...."Claude says removing something from Evie's backpack.

He takes out a pen. "Then it must be around here."he circles a spot a little bit further in front of the previous circle.

"You mean..."Evie says with widen eyes.

"Yes... they based their tent somewhere around there."Claude confirms.

"Yeah..."Irye backs him up. "Knowing my mom, she would love to stay in a clear area. She'd rather be surrounded by the trees than to stay in between them."

"And exactly where Claude has circled"Grams says.

"Not only is it surrounded by the trees, it is not far from the cliff here."Irye adds up, pointing at a sign at the far right of the spot Claude circles.

"It also has a stream leading to a waterfall around that same area, almost a half mile before the edge of the cliff."Irye continues circling the blue wavy line on the map. "Mom loves nature and somehow I got that trait from her. I would love to stay at a place where I can see the sunrise and enjoy the fresh air from the trees and the view of the mountain and waterfall. So am sure she based their tent there." She concludes.

"An area where she can feel everything about nature"Mae mumbles. "She really has some tastes"

"But how sure are we that the baby will still be there?"Evie questions. "No offense but it's been more than a week. Can the baby still hold on? Wouldn't he be...."

Mae covers Evie's mouth, stopping her from continuing.

"It's okay."Irye smiles. "Evie is right. It is confirmed by the autopsy personnels that he is a month old. He still not grown to hold on for a week not talking of it being two already."

"Let's just hope he is safe"Grams prays.

"So we are going this way right?"she points to the path in front if them and Gerrard nods.

They walk about a mile and a half already and stop to rest.

"But how did the police find out Aunt Abigail and Uncle Sam were here?"Evie asks, sitting on a rock under a tree.

"Apparently two hunters were out on hunt and found them so they called the police."Gerrard answers, removing a water bottle from his bag.

"Oh okay" Evie says, nodding her head. "But if the police didn't see their tent, could it be that they didn't check the place we are going to or that the tent wasn't there?"

"Am not sure but before we make conclusions, we must see for ourselves whether it's there or not and plan where to go next."Clare comes in. "It could be that they didn't think of checking that place because it's a bit far from where their bodies where found."

After some time of resting and moistening their throats, they continue their journey.

It takes hours and their last energy but they finally reach their destination. They search the place but no tents are found so they decide to spread out.

"Evie and Irye will go that way."Gerrard points to the path leading to the cliff. "Mae and Claude, you go this way"He points to the path in front of them.

"How would we know if we won't get lost?"Mae asks. "Although this area is clear, it's also big enough to lose someone and there is nothing we can make to keep our tracks."

"Count your steps and mark on trees. It's true this area is clear but still there are trees here and they will confuse you."Gerrard tells them.

"I will go that way"Gerrard points to the left. "Grams, you stay here and rest.We will meet you here to know we are in the right place."he turns to Grams.

"Alright shall we?"Evie asks, ready for some adventure.

They all nod and go their designated ways.

"Do you think the tent will be somewhere here?"Mae asks Claude along the way. "We've walked and searched quite a distance now but nothing catches out attention."

"Am not sure but we have to search. If we can't find anything if we walk to that place..."Claude points ahead."then we'll go back."he says passing under a plant's branch.

Meanwhile, Evie and Irye search and search but to no avail. They go to places where Irye thinks her mom will have gone but still find nothing.

They sit under a tree near the stream to rest when Irye hears a sound. She becomes alert, bringing all her attention to it and ignoring Evie's complaints.

She hears the sound again and this time she is sure. It is the sound of a baby cooing. She turns her head to the direction it comes from.

It is a narrow and dark path at their left side. She narrows her eyes and pays attention once more. She hears it again and a chill runs down her spine.

"Evie"Irye taps her. "Listen...can you hear it too?"she asks.

Evie sends her ear to the direction Irye points and hears it. She smiles widely out of relief.

"Let's go tell the others. We found the baby"Evie stands up happily.

"Wait.. we can call them"Irye brings out her phone. Sha calls but hears nothing.

She looks at the signal sign and sighs heavily.

"There's no signal here"She says with a worried face.

"I guessed"Evie says."Really.. you should learn more about life."she tells Irye and she becomes confused why Evie says that.

Evie turns to go but Irye stops her. She turns and stares.

"What again?"Evie asks, rolling her eyes.

"I will go there and you find the others and lead them here."Irye says.

"Are you out of your mind?"Evie almost yells. "You can't be here all by yourself"

"Don't worry...it's not like am scared"Irye smiles. "You should know that by now" she points at her eyes.

"But still.."Evie gets cut.

"No buts"Irye chuckles. "I'll be fine... Hurry up and look for the others. I'll check there and meet me there. Okay?"

After some seconds, Evie reluctantly nods and tell Irye to be careful before running back to the previous place.

Irye walks through the narrow path for a while and comes to another clear area.

"I don't remember seeing this on the map."she mutters to herself and walks further.

She spots something on a mat on the ground and someone near it. She walks closer and suddenly she doesn't see the person again. It startled her but her focus goes to the thing on the ground.

As she reaches there, she opens her mouth in surprise.

She finally finds the baby although she's not sure if it's her baby brother. But hell.. who will be living there? She looks around and finds a piece of cloth on the ground.

Irye walks to it and picks it up. She looks around again and finally, she finds a tent up ahead. She runs to it and it is already opened. She enters and try to look for something she will recognise.

At last, she finds a necklace. One she recalls her mother wearing on the day she ce to the house. She is certain it's her mother's because it's custom made from Richard to her. It has Abigail's name on it.

Out of happiness, she runs to the baby and takes him in her arms, hugging him tightly with a smile.

"Finally...I finally found you." She caresses the baby face."Let's get out of here"she walks to the place she enters from and stops.

Something is keeping her from going out. She looks closer and it looks like a boundary is in front of her.

She tries walking out but is pushed back again. She tries harder but to no avail. Her face spells fear. She is stuck behind that boundary in the middle of nowhere.