Chapter 06

Allison Clark's POV

We crash landed into a grassy area near some trees, so it didn't hurt as much as if we were to hit solid ground. The plants were a little wet, maybe it just rained, or maybe it was dew, but I wasn't too sure if it was morning. I moved my arms and legs, nothing seemed to be broken, which was a relief, if I needed to defend myself, I don't want to only be able to use one arm or hop on one leg while running away.

The forest was surprising peaceful at the moment, unlike the sunflower field, the trees blocked the sunlight so I could get some shade, and it wasn't so hot, either. In fact, it was relaxing, I could just lay down for a nap...

I quickly got up, I can't fall asleep, I thought, no, I needed to be alert at all times, so what happened before won't happen again. Stretching, I tried to admire the scenery, but it was hard, knowing that mysterious things are probably hiding behind the beautiful facade.

I suddenly realized Isabella isn't here with me, I turned a full circle, but it was just me in the forest, panic started rising in my chest, she was holding my hand when we jumped, how can she disappear like this? Despite the cool air in the forest, I was sweating, the kind of feeling that makes my vision blurry and causes me to be dizzy.

I tried to focus and think thorough, review all the possibilities. I've been doing that a lot recently, choosing what will be safest, I guess I just like knowing what I will be doing, not stumbling blindly into a situation.

But my mind was empty as I tried to figure out how to find Isabella first, there were no clues like footprints, and I don't hear her yelling for help anywhere close, either. Its like she disappeared into thin air! I just got to this...world, I guess I could call it that, and lost my best friend, is the person doing this so cruel that they take away my only friend in a situation like this, the only person keeping my sane, the only person I have for support?

Another terrifying thought struck me, is Isabella dead?

I didn't want to believe it, but a small part of me felt certain of that theory, the sliver of doubt in someone's mind when they have an idea in their mind. For me, it was always something like 'What if everyone else doesn't like my idea?' or 'What if my idea is so bad that people laugh at it?', now, in this case, I tried to fully believe that Isabella was taken, not dead, and that little annoying part of me kept repeating that question 'Are you sure?'.

I had no choice but to go forward, and the good news was there was a little trail I could see on the ground, barely visible. The little bit of luck in this luckless day. Well, that was at least one sign that there are living creatures around here somewhere, because animals can't make hiking trails in the forest.

I lived near forests back home, so I went hiking in those forests often. I'm more of an outdoors person, so I enjoyed those walks very much. It was also a way for me too cool down whenever I'm a little moody because who couldn't resist the soothing and gentle air blowing in the shade of the trees?

I tried to imagine this forest was no different from the ones back home, it was fairly easy, since I forget just about everything as soon as I see the greenery and hear the birds chirping.

It was sort of relaxing in a way, the forest was beautiful, the leaves of the trees were different shades of green, all lovely and exquisite in their very own way.

The fresh forest air slowly cleared my mind like it always do, allowing me to think clearly, which was something that did not happen easily these days. I have been focusing on trying to save Isabella, neglecting other things that should not be neglected when I'm in the forest all by myself.

Finding Isabella was a priority, but there were wild animals in the forest, like bears or wolves, though I heard bears won't bother me if I don't have food lying around. Which brings me to the other thing, food. I have nothing other than the clothes on me right now, so no food, no water. I read books before about surviving on berries, but I don't know any edible berries other than the basic raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. It was in the middle of summer right now, so there will be some raspberries, blackberries and blueberries. Thats good.

I saw sunflowers before, and I recognized some plants I was familiar with a while back so I can only assume that this place has the same kind of plants I had back in Alberta.

So now I had to find water.

I can probably wander around a little and keep the trial in sight, so I don't get lost, but all of this was so confusing! My classmate, Layla, goes on camping trips or hiking trips every weekend, so she knows a ton about nature-related things, like what plants are edible or how to make a little fort out of branches when you don't have a tent at night.

I was grateful I had running shoes on, because if you want to walk in the forest, you can't be wearing flip flops, too slippery. I wandered aimlessly around both sides of the trail, looking for a pond or river, thankfully, the trees blocked out the sun, which was in the middle of the sky, so it must me sometime around noon, and I wasn't too thirsty yet due to the shade.

I walked into a small clearing with soft looking grass, there was a light breeze, and I closed my eyes, but suddenly, I could hear someone running behind me, before I could turn around, a pair of hands pushed me into the trees beside me and someone said very quietly-

"Don't move."