Chapter 28

"Evie!"Irye calls out for the sixth time to see if she will hear any response but there is silence.

She is stuck behind this boundary and her family is outside probably coming to her.

She sits under the tree, holding the baby in arms. The baby smiles at her and she holds his little cute chin in between her fingers. The baby holds her finger tight, staring at her and cooing.

"Shhh"She smiles. "We gonna get outta here fast okay? It's gonna be alright"She hugs her baby brother and rubs his soft back.

Meanwhile, Evie runs back to Grams. She squats, heaving and trying to catch her breath. As soon as Grams sees her, she stands and walks to her.

"Where's Irye? Why are you alone?"She asks, getting scared.

Evie is still breathing heavily and doesn't answer. When she thinks she can talk, she looks up at Grams.

"She.. she.."Evie swallows and breathes in. "We found the baby. She said I should come tell you while she stays with him. That's why I run here alone."she explains.

"What!....Really..."Grams exclaims. " How is he? Is he alright? He's okay right?" Grams helps Evie up.

Evie shakes her head causing Grams to change her face expression, thinking something is wrong with the baby.

"We...didn't get to see the baby yet"Evie speaks on her breath.

"What?"Grams interrupts. "Then which baby did you find?"Grams sounds disappointed.

"Grams.. we heard a sound."Evie begins.

"A sound from a baby. It was cooing and the sound was coming from a path on our left. Irye decided to check it out and told me to come find you guys."Evie explains to Grams.

"Well the others are not back..."Grams is interrupted.

"We are here"Claude says. "Did you miss us?" he teases, winking at them.

"Oh you are back. That's great."Grams welcomes them. "Where's Gerrard?"She asks.

The look around and back to each other.

"Is he not here already?"Mae asks.

"Isn't he with you?" Evie asks, confused.

"No."Mae shakes her head. "We parted ways here. I wonder where he is."

"Well.. I think we should talk of Irye." Claude speaks and they turn to him. "Wasn't she with you? At least Gerrard wasn't with us."he shrugs.

"Am here"Gerrard shouts and run to them. "One, two, three, four.."he counts them.

He looks around with a crease in his forehead and checks the time on his phone.

"6:53 PM"he reads. "Where's Irye?"he finally asks.

"That is what am trying to tell you guys." Evie sighs. "You don't even let me speak."she pushes her pressure on one foot.

They all turn to and Grams smiles. They all except for Evie look at Grams confusedly. Grams gestures for them to gather around.

"The baby has been found. Well...we are not sure yet if..."Grams is cut off.

"Really..."Mae and Gerrard say in unison.

Excitement written all over their faces. Their trip there isn't in vain after all.

"But where is Irye?"Gerrard asks.

"She is with the baby and told Evie to come find us."Grams tell him and he sighs in relief.

"Then what are we waiting for?. Let's go. She must be waiting for long"Claude says looking at them.

"Yeah it's getting very dark here."Gerrard agrees. "We don't want to leave her all alone in the dark... especially when we are in a forest."

They begin walking with Evie leading the way. After some time of walking, they reach the spot where Evie and Irye previously were.

Evie looks around but there is no sign of Irye. She calls out Irye's name but doesn't hear any response.

"She was right here when she told me she will go check..."Evie pauses. "Don't tell me...."

"Hmph...she really went all alone."Gerrard mutters and they hear.

"She can't be serious"Evie whispers to herself. "She went that way."she points to the direction they heard the sound from.

They look to that direction and some sigh while others take in a breath.

"Let's go" Grams says and follows after Evie.

They walk through the path. Mae checks the time, tired from walking almost the whole day. It is dark and they switch on their phone lights.

The path becomes more and more narrow as they walk deeper. At last, they come to an opening and see Irye sitting under the tree with the baby in her arms

She is dozing off out of tiredness and the baby seems to be asleep. Their tired faces express accomplishment and excitement as they call Irye.

Irye in a doze wakes up when she feels her body balancing to one side. She shakes her head and looks around. Her eyes spot something and she abruptly stands, almost forgetting the baby is in her arms.

She runs over saying something. They relative don't hear. She hears them call her and walk forward. She reaches the boundary and hits it.

She is saying something but the relatives don't hear her.

"What is she saying?"Mae asks, completely worn out. "We can't hear you."she shouts,asking a gesture.

"Don't come in."She yells back as an answer but all she gets is a scowl.

Evie cocks her head and laughs.

"Is she trying to be mime."she chuckles and shakes her head.

"Don't mind her guys. Let's go"Gerrard says and continues walking.

Soon, they pass through the boundary Irye has been warning them to turn back from.

"Guys"Irye says anxiously. "You can't go out again".

"What do you mean we can't go out again?"Claude asks and turns towards the path they come from.

He tries walking towards it and is pushed back forcefully. He tries again and again but still gets the same reaction.

He touches it, getting desperate to get out. The others exchange scared and worried looks and try with Claude.

Irye shakes her head, knowing it's impossible for them to go out no matter what they do. She has already tried everything she can. Grams looks at Irye with anxiousness written all over her face.

"Guys stop it..."Irye finally says after minutes of them trying to get through.

"It's impossible. I've tried everything I could."She shakes her head.

"All I know is we are stuck here for God knows when. I don't think we can get out now."Irye concludes and Evie's knees weaken in shock.

She squats, in shock, she whispers.

"How did this happen?"