lost in the woods

"Are you running away from me?" he questions as if the answer isn't obvious.

She smiles "No. Why would I?"

He can hear her giggling from the manner in which her words sounded. He can't see her now because her back is backing him.

"Why wouldn't you? I'm attractive and contagious"

She laughs in her thoughts but smiles outwardly. It's time for them to take direction. The supervisors are ahead while the groups walk behind.

Evan stands next to Nice, picks her tiny hand that are by her side and cover it in his. It takes her off guard. Her fonts her raised as she stares down at their entangled hands.

She feels that warmth returning. She smiles hanging her head ahead. His hold is firm and gentle. It makes her feel safe.

As they ride on into the woods, some become tempted to touch plants and other wild creatures.

Their guardians educate them on their environment and give them rest when necessary. The night falls quicker than supposed and they still haven't found their way back. Mr. Michael tries to use a tracker to get them out of here, as he too cannot explain how they are imprisoned in this deep forest.

"Slow down kids. We'd get all of you home. Just a little more time" he tries to re-assure them for the third time.

"Common, you said that some minutes ago. We're tired of hearing it" A teen crumbles and the other youths start their strike.

"Are we missing, Sir?" Another student questions

The disciplinary is stressed. They don't know what else to tell the kids.

"Would all of you just shut up?! You're not in your houses here. The least noise, you are devoured" a teacher says

They become silent as though they heard him say 'We'd be dead in a minute'

Nice walks towards Evan who is talking to one of the Sir. His face is crumbled with fear and she wonders what is happening.

He sees her coming and diverts his attention to her "What exactly is going on Evan? Are we stocked here?"

"Mr. Michael just told me that we have been walking in circles", he whispers to her.

Nice's mouths falls upon "Are you serious right now?"

He shakes his head "No, I'm not. I'm playing with you" his eyes ogling her like an eagle.

She understands the gravity of danger standing ahead of them.

"I have a geographical picture of this area in my backpack. Let me take a look" Nice takes off her bag from over her shoulders and brings it ahead. She unzips the bag, removing a large paper.

On this paper is the city Elmont. She smiles and Evan stands by her side studying the map. He traces his finger and she follows with her eyes.

"This is where we are" his finger pressing over an area in the map, which is not far from their settlement.

They give one another a knowing look and hastily walk over to the disciplinary. They explain everything. And they are now assured that they'd soon leave this place.

A kid is distant from his group. He sees a strange creature flying past to him with an abnormal speed. He briskly walks towards his mates but falls short when he is drawn to a force.

It pulls him like a spell. He is propelled to turn around as the creature waits for him to meet eyes with it. However, luckily for him a friend calls out his name and he becomes conscious.

He walks back to his group and sticks with them. He is scared. But he doesn't know what exactly he fears about.

"Listen up kids. We found a way out of here and we will be walking towards that direction as your friend's map leads us. Just make sure to be prudent" Mr. Michael informs and they start matching.

Places are visibly dark now as the find their way and come face with the settlement they longed to meet.

The teens start rejoicing and their guardians join them in the moment. It feels good to be found. However, this is just the start of this mystery city.

Nice rushes to have her bathe as well as the other students. They were damn hungry. The table is set for dinner and everyone eats as he/she wants.

"I want us to give an applaud to your friend Nice for being brilliant to save her map for the journey. If not for the information it gave to us, we won't have gotten out of that place. We would've been stocked there till God knows when." Mr. Michael speaks and students stand jamming hands.

Nice is flattered. She hates being the center of attention. But Evan doesn't stop teasing her with his eyes.

Their dining session is over and student are surrounded in the living hall where the chart their minds off. The teen who was caught up in a deadly moment in the woods is silent and still very afraid.

The least thing he wants from anyone is being sent to do something away from this crowd of students chattering.

Abi has never been the same from the moment she saw that dead spirit. It keep appearing in her dreams and making her unable to shut her eyes at night.

She is in the same building with Nice and the rest of the kids. They are having a good time telling jokes, stories and real life experiences. Their teachers are in their private moment talking to one another.

She looks over to them and notices worry over their faces. What are they talking about?

Suddenly the light goes off. Everyone is quite and the feared kid grips a friend next to him. The one used as an anchor laughs at his classmates' reaction.

"Don't be scared children. Stay where you are. I'd go check the generator" A woman speaks then departs to see what's wrong.

After a moment of wait, the light returns but not as clear as it was. However, the woman who went to arrange the light is not back. Mr. Michael is worried.

"Someone should go check Mrs. Evelyn downstairs" he randomly assigns students and a boy wakes up with all confidence to seek for her.

He goes and doesn't return either. Mr. Michael is obliged to go for himself. However, he doesn't go alone. He takes along one of his colleagues.

Once the decent down the store house below their settlement, the woman who went first and the confident boy who came after where climbing the staircase together.

Immediately, they see Mr. Michael and his colleague, they smile proudly in synchrony. Mr. Michael sighs in relief

"What took both of so long?" he inclines and they are silent

He frowns at their robotic countenance and the teenage boy says at once "She needed some help that's why"

With a little hesitation, Mr. Michael faintly grins and they rejoin the others upstairs. All the while, Mr. Michael doesn't stop wandering why everything seems weird from the day of their arrival.

Firstly, it was Abi who was attacked and now dumb. Recently, they almost got missing in the woods.

Is he overthinking? He shakes his head and focuses on his students having a good time.

...

The next morning Mrs. Daigle arrives BHSC after a long journey. She packs in the school's lot and hoops out of her black car. It's rainy in Ashton city so she's taking out her umbrella from next to her and opening it for coverage.

She walks briskly into the ancient building with the plastic coverage over her head. The inside of the building is vast and cold just as the outta sphere. She tugs in her sweater and extends her collar over her neck.

She walks straight up to the principal's office. She meets Mrs. Jana going through a bunch of documents on her desk. Mrs. Jana cranes her neck to see a woman stepping towards her in vexation; her face showcasing shock.

"You told me you'd call my daughter so we could talk but you didn't. I kept calling you and you didn't respond either. Now where is she? I want to see her" Victoria is impatient; she taps over her left fit with her hands supporting the bag over her right shoulder.

Mrs. Jana sighs and rests her pen against her table, giving the worry mom her full attention.

"Something happened after you called that's why the couldn't return"

Victoria frowns and Mrs. Jana covers it up at once "But they're all doing well. I just didn't want you worrying about it."

Victoria is aiming an unbelievable look towards the old woman seated in front of her.

"Did you dare lie to me?"

To be continued...