THE PERIL

“Wake up sleepy head” someone whispered. I opened my eyes to see Maggie crouched beside me. Maggie? Realization stuck me. I quickly sat upright and rubbed my eyes deranged.

“Does your head hurt Maggie?” I asked with a sleep thickened voice.

“Not much” she answered not meeting my eyes, that worried me. I looked around to find that we were on top of a cliff. I stood up slowly to get a clear view. Only then I realized that we were on top of a huge mountain! It was cleanly cut into two halves with a wide crack right between them, we were on the smaller part of the mountain. Ethan was standing by the edge of the cliff. We joined him. There were dark cluster of trees right at the foot of the mountain halves and it is evident that the river was flowing in between them. Across from us on the other side, there was nothing but barren rough rocky surface with huge cluster of trees on the horizon. My eyes widened, there was no trace of the bus skittering down last night. I looked at the foot of the cliff and searched for the remains of the bus. There was nothing. Very few branches were broken, I’m sure that, I could notice it ‘cause I actively searched for it. If someone else looked down at it, it would appear, as if not even a leaf has gone amiss. This can’t be good. I turned back to withhold a perfect line of crowded trees stretching forever on both sides. The brink of the tree line was just few feet away from where we slept last night, and it led straight into the jungle. The thing that surprised me was, the way it looked similar, each and every part looks just like the other. I found Ethan, looking at me. I figured by the look on his face that he was contemplating the same.

“What now?” Maggie suddenly asked standing right beside me. Neither of us could answer. I don’t wanna acknowledge it out loud. “Spit it out guys” she said chagrined.

“I don’t think the rescuers will find us any soon Maggie” I said. Her eyes widened. “Look at the path we came sliding down, it’s too rocky up there to leave any tracks and there is no trace or remains of the bus left either. It might take them, days to find us, and we can’t stay here with just a bottle of water left, for three of us. We can’t create a huge fire to get their attention either, ‘cause these dry grasses will quickly catch fire in the wind and could lead to forest fire" She looked at Ethan as if she expected him to contradict me.

“Ana is right, everything looks normal, as if nothing happened last night, they will find it hard to track us out here, without any trails left or with our useless mobile GPS" he said and stashed his mobile phone into his backpack.

“Well, we can’t find our way back either, can we? ‘cause it’s obvious that the only path that connects the two halves of the mountain is the bridge, and it’s in pieces. How do you both suggest, we get to the other side?” Maggie questioned anxiously.

“Listen, yesterday, right before we boarded the bus, Sharon and I were talking to Mr. Snitch about this place. He pointed out a river on his map and said that the only water source for this forest is, that river, and it leads straight into the ocean. He also said that from that beach about seven or eight miles east is the forest officer’s cabin” I said.

“So, what you are suggesting now is…?” she asked horrified, afraid to admit it out loud. I sighed I don’t like this idea either.

“Well, we certainly have to look for water and food supplies. The only means of water source, that, we know about is that river” I and pointed at the foot of the cliff. “We have to follow it to the beach and get to the officers cabin, it’s the only possible way I could think of” Maggie grimaced. And we both turned to Ethan.

“Ethan what do you think?”I asked him. He was lost in thought.

“You do realize, if it is the only means of water supply to the entire forest, it applies to the animals too right?” he retorted.

“We just have to proceed into the forest with the river close by” I said. “Besides Mr. Snitch did say that, there weren’t any predators reported in this forest, for three years now. May be the howls of yesterday were just wild dogs” I said.

“Howls?” Maggie shrieked with terror. I nodded at her. Her eyes bulged.

“I am not happy with my plan either” I admitted.

“I hate it when you are right” she said. I smiled at her sadly.

“We better get going then” Ethan suddenly said. So he approves the plan? He was unusually quiet. Other those few questions he did not remark anything about my plan. We made our way towards the forest. I am not sure of this, I’m relying completely on Mr. Snitch’s words. All I could do is, to hope he is right.

We have been walking through the forest for hours now, we were able to gather some fruits like guava, papaya, apricot, plum and berries, I wonder how these fruits managed to grow here. We were so cautious of the limited water supply, sparing just few sips of water at a time.

“Ethan?” I looked back at him, he was quietly trailing behind us.

“Yeah?”

“We have to find a place to settle down for tonight and should probably make fire, it’s getting darker by the minute, don’t you think?” I asked.

“Sure Ana” he said.

We decided to settle under a twin trees! They were entangled with each other like headphones! We managed to collect some dry logs, and lit a campfire with the help of the dry grasses. Ethan gathered long green leaved branches and made us three beds out of it around the fire. We flopped down on our ‘beds’ and ate the fruits we managed to gather.

“I’ll take the watch today” Maggie said.

“You will do nothing of that sort, Maggie be reasonable you need more rest than us you took an injury to your head” I chastised her and threw the towel at her, that Ethan lent me the before day. “Sleep now, no more arguments” I warned her when she was about to protest.

“Fine. We will reach the river tomorrow right?” she enquired lying down obediently.

“Of course” I assured her “Sleep now” I chided. Within minutes she was asleep. Poor girl.

“You should sleep too” I said looking at Ethan. He was about to protest, just like Maggie.

“No, you looked out for us yesterday and today, I will. I don’t want you to be drained out Ethan, that won’t be helpful” I said. I know he can’t refuse it when I put it that way.

“Fine let’s make a deal. You can take the first watch, but wake me up at midnight okay?” he negotiated looking at me.

“Fine” I added for his sake. He lied down on his ‘bed’. But, I wanted to ask him something.

“Ethan?” I called hesitantly.

“Yes, Ana?” he looked up at my eyes curiously.

“Um…” I stuttered, he gazed at me waiting patiently, his curiosity growing. I looked at my hands. I couldn’t look at his face.

“Tell me Ana” he insisted with a frown.

“If you…” I sighed “If you are gonna leave us. Will you promise me to warn us before you do?” I rushed. I don’t want him to leave us here. Of course if he did leave us, we can find our own way out, but still we won’t feel so secure like we do in his presence. I was looking down at my fingers unable to meet his eyes. I was waiting for him to say something.

“Ana?”I dint look up. “Ana, look at me” he insisted. I looked up into his shining eyes.

“Despite what you think I’m not that bad an asshole Ana” he muttered.

“I don’t think you are an asshole. I thought you were, two days ago, but not now” I said stupidly. He was trying to hide his smile.

“What made you think I might leave, Ana?” he asked his smile vanishing.

“You dint comment anything, on my stupid plan. So I thought you don’t really approve it and that you might have other plans” He sighed.

“Look at me Ana” he ordered and waited until I did.

“I did not remark anything ‘cause you were right, there was nothing I could say” I breathed out, not realizing that I have been holding it in.

“I am not going to leave you guys alone, okay?” he empathized, as if talking to a child. I nodded.

“Good Night Ethan”

“Good night Ana” he said and closed his eyes.

At about 5 o’clock in the morning. I was looking up at the sky and watched the stars, as the departed one by one, leaving the moon all alone. Suddenly there was a rustling sound. I looked around wildly, searching for the source of the sound. And then the snapping sound of the branch came right above us. I zeroed my vision on the branches, squinting my eyes. It was a monkey! And it had Ethan’s backpack in its hands! The, monkey shook it violently. I breathed out.

“You scared the hell out of me” I muttered under my breathe, looking up at him. I don’t want it to take away our only means of survival. I cautiously crawled to, where Ethan was sleeping .

“Ethan?” I whispered so that I don’t startle either of them. I placed my hand on Ethan’s shoulder and shook him gently. “Ethan!” I whispered little louder than before. He jerked awake. Oh man!

“Hush… Hush” I whispered with my pointing finger on my mouth and patting him on his shoulder with the other hand trying to calm him down.

“Ana!? What is it?” he asked alarmed.

“Don’t panic, we are being robbed by him” I pointed up at the tree and looked up slowly. The monkey was still shaking Ethan’s backpack. When my head snapped back to Ethan, he was leaning on his elbows and was looking up at the monkey, narrowing his eyes. I marveled at his perfect face. He was so close…so so close. I sat back on my heels immediately.

“I guess we just have to wait until he figures out that there is nothing to eat and drop the bag down on his own” I looked back up, as if on cue the monkey threw the bag down and ran away. I frowned and picked up the bag it was open.

“What’s the point of taking it up and opening it? If he, doesn’t even look inside it?” I asked confused.

“May be he was in a hurry” Ethan springed up from his bed. “You are supposed to wake me” he accused me looking up from his watch.

“You barely slept yesterday” I retorted.

“What are you guys prattling about?” Maggie asked yawning widely.

“Nothing” I said looking at her.

“Whatever” she said. “Ana, I want you to come with me” she said suddenly. I am in urgent need of the bathroom too.

“Sure, come on” I said.

“Don’t go too far” Ethan called out after us.

“He is a nice guy” Maggie commented once we were out of his earshot.

“Of course, he is! He saved our lives, risking his own”

“That he did…You like him don’t you?” she asked closely observing my face. Wow how did she do that?

“May be, I like him a little…from what we know about him” I said. I don’t want to assume anything yet. Not until I know more about him. Maggie gave a reaction that I dint want to recognize.

“Don’t look at me like that, just ‘cause I like him it doesn’t mean anything, he is way too much” I said appalled.

“Ah! Ana, how many times do I have to tell you this? You are so pretty and anyone who truly knows you will definitely love you and he seems to like you…very much actually” she said. My eyes widened at that possibility. I quickly disposed the thought.

“You banged your head pretty hard dint you?” I muttered feigning concern. She was about to protest. “End of impossible, never ending conversations” I added quickly before she can go on further with her futile theories.

“Ana?”

“Yeah?” I looked at her concerned at the tone of her voice.

“I never thanked you for saving me” she said in a very low voice, a tears rolled down her cheek.

“Hey, Come on! Don’t get all weepy on me now” I said softly to lighten the mood and put my arm around her shoulders.

“You never left me” she said sniffing.

“Of course, that’s what friends do” I said simply and pulled her back to our little camp.

Ethan was waiting for us to return. As soon as we came into view, Ethan’s eyes flashed to my face and his shoulders relaxed. He flashed a dazzling smile at me with a baffling expression so strong on his face. It left me reeling. I was concentrating so hard, not to trip under the intensity of his look. In my peripheral vision I saw Maggie deliberately turning her posture towards me. I had to tear my eyes from his captivating gaze to look at Maggie, who raised an eyebrow challenging me. I shook my head disbelievingly. She sighed.

We were half way through the day’s trek when suddenly something leapt out of the bush and stopped right in front of my foot. I stumbled back and ran straight into Ethan. He gasped “Ana!” he shrieked and quickly pulled me behind him and stood in front of me with his arms spread wide.

“It’s just a rabbit Ana” he said relieved.

“We are all getting little jumpy here” Maggie said chuckling. I crouched and picked the rabbit up into my arms. He was just a kid.

“Hey, naughty one looking for something?” I cooed and cradled him in my arms. As I looked up at Maggie ,she was looking at the rabbit like…

“We are not gonna eat him!” I was appalled, she raised an eyebrow.

“Not him please, we will find someone else, he is so sweet” She rolled her eyes at me. Ethan shrugged. I don’t blame her we need to get, all that, we could to survive. It’s not like I don’t want to kill anything to survive. It’s just that I don’t wanna kill him, after all, he found me. Yeah, Sentimental fool I am! As we were moving through the forest the air was thick and suffocating, it was stinking so bad that my stomach rolled. As we moved further in, the foul smell increased. Within seconds, the air around us turned unbearable.

“Something is definitely dead around here” Ethan muttered covering his nose with the front of his shirt. We were still moving forward so that we could quickly walk past whatever that had such an odor. The rabbit swiftly hopped off my hand and ran into the forest. I was looking at the rabbit’s retreating figure when Maggie suddenly stopped dead on her tracks. I looked up at her, horrified expression. She was staring straight ahead.

“Ana don’t look!” Ethan cried too late. I don’t really know what I am looking at. Is it a zebra or a deer? Whatever it was, it was ripped open, its entrails were strewn all around the carcass. The whole place was a bloody mess. The almost dried up blood covered each and every surface. I was rooted on the spot, unable to move a muscle. I can sense that Maggie was down on the ground, I could neither look away nor move from the sight in front of me. I held back the vomit that threatened at the back of my throat. Ethan was shouting something at me, I felt like my head was under water and like, I would either faint or puke any moment, I don’t know which one is going to be the first. Ethan was suddenly in front of me blocking my view and shook me out form the spot. Few feet from the smell, I vomited loudly, whatever fruit I managed to eat that afternoon made their reappearance. Ethan patted my back holding my hair away from my face. He helped me back where Maggie was lying unconscious. I slowly came back to my senses. I kneeled beside her. Ethan sprinkled some water on her face and made me drink some too. Maggie sat up disoriented and her eyes grew wide as the realization dawned.

“There are predators” Maggie whispered.