Chapter 2.5: What happened to Kevin, Carlo and Ryan? (Kevin’s POV)

2.5-1

"Where are we?" Ryan asked,

We continued walking this forest for half an hour now and we still yet to see any notable structure or benchmark to know of our location. I just think we are lost.

I don't know how I got convinced by Carlo to join this joint exploration when I am not even much of an explorer myself, I could have just stayed in the compound but here I am. Am I really easily convinced? I just couldn't say 'no' most of the time.

"I don't even know." I replied to his question, Seriously Ryan. Why are you asking a question where none of us doesn't know the answer? Aren't we as clueless as you are? You need to use your brain sometimes.

"Guys. We are in the forest." Carlo said,

I sighed to the remark of Carlo. Stating the obvious?

"Did you even put benchmark back to the compound?" I asked Carlo,

"Of course! Wouldn't want to get lost you know. Let's continue for a few more minutes then we go back to the compound." He replied.

We continued walking this god forsaking place. What were we expecting to find? Trees? I have already seen one even before we got here. Can we go back now? Can anyone initiate retreat? Sigh. This is getting tiresome.

"Have you ever made the move to Jane?" Carlo asked,

"What? No-o-o." I denied,

"Why are you hesitating? You're such a cold-lipped person." Ryan said,

"Wow! Said the cold-lipped person himself." I rebound Ryan's insult,

"Maybe you want Gregory. Greg did have a thing for you." Carlo teased,

"Ugh. Yuck. Gregory is only a friend, man. And I am not gay. Yuck." I felt disgusted to them. Gregory did confess his feelings to me but of course I don't like men. I'm a simple man; I love women and boobs. So yeah… There was never any awkwardness towards the both of us even after his confession. It was just another day, I guess. I don't like to complicate things. Though, Gregory is a very reliable person. It's not very beneficial to be in bad terms with him.

"Hahah. We all know that Gregory is obsessed with chubby people. You're no exception, Kev. Not an exception at all." Carlo added,

"But Venus though." Carlo changed the topic. What is with them attacking me with my past crushes? Am I a trend? When did I become a trend?

"Yeah. Venus is very beautiful but she is already with Troy so yeah." Ryan said,

"You also had a thing for Venus before huh? You could have a chance for her Kev if you just made the move but you never did. I think I heard her say that she likes guy who makes the move. You lost all points from her because of that." Carlo said to me,

"Like I said. I don't date classmates." I replied. It is my personal iron-clad rule. Just imagine dating your classmate and then you both break up. Just imagine the daily interaction between the both of you as exes.

"She said that? I could have made a move." Ryan said,

"Shut up Ryan. You're even slower. She likes men who make the move not a cold-lipped person like you." Carlo teased.

"Huh? You guys might not know but I already had multiple chicks in the past." Ryan confidently said,

"Through stalking?" I said with disinterest.

I teased Ryan but I am no different from him. Man, I am getting tired. I should have just gone along with Daryl and just watched these trees near the compound then maybe sleep all day. This is so tiresome than I anticipated.

We've been walking for a good minutes and there is still nothing here but trees! We've been walking for a good thirty minutes that I nearly forgot what we were supposed to do. What were we looking again? Trees? As I have said, we've been passing by these for a long time now!

"Ugh. I'm tired man. Let's go back." Ryan whined,

"Yeah. I'm getting tired too. We have only been seeing trees, nothing notable. I don't think there is something that will give us any clues at all." I added, thank you Ryan for the initiative of saying let's go back. I highly appreciate that.

"Yeah. You guys are right. We did cover a good distance so this should be enough for today." Carlo agreed,

As we slowly reduce our pace to turn back, we saw a cave from a good distance from us.

"Hey! Isn't that a cave?" Carlo said pointing at the distance,

"Hmm. Yeah. Yes, it is." Ryan said,

"Let's go to it." Carlo said.

We all walked towards this peculiar cave. It was a good distance but we finally reached it after a few couple of minutes. At the very least we found something other than trees, weeds and bushes.

"Whoa! This looks amazing!" Carlo said,

"RYAN IS HANDSOME!!!!" Ryan shouted as echoes bounced back,

"Ry. You don't need to lie, you know?" I said,

"Shut up. You just don't have my handsomeness." Ryan said,

"Let's take a picture guys! For our new profile pic." Carlo suggested.

We all agreed and posed to the camera. Carlo just smiled. Ryan did his usual pose where he squints both his eyes and tries to look handsome. While I did the usual gang pose that those hypebeast reenacts.

"It looks great." Ryan said as he looked at the picture,

"We should enter it." Carlo suggested,

"NOPE! NO WAY! It's freaking dark in there. You can't even see the end of it." I refused, I don't like darkness. Darkness frightens me. I would rather not enter a questionable cave and meet ghosts or something.

"I was only joking, of course we won't enter it. There might be a bear in there. I would rather not though." Carlo said,

"Let's go back." Ryan said.

We all agreed to Ryan. We are about turn around when I suddenly stepped on a loose rock losing my balance. We all stumbled down the entrance of the cave.

"Fuck! Can you be more careful Kev!" Ryan said,

"Ouch! It's not my fault man! It's the rock!" I said,

"Aw. Aw. Dude, be careful on stepping. Let's go back…" Carlo said as he pat his shirt from dust as he tried to stand up.

We started walking up when suddenly Ryan was pulled out of nowhere.

"AHH!!! WHAT THE FUCK! AW! AW! FUCK! THEY ARE BITING ME!" Ryan screamed as he disappeared into the darkness deep in the cave,

"RYAN!" Carlo and I shouted simultaneously, what the hell? What the fuck was that? Biting you? There's a fucking bear?

Ryan continued screaming and screaming. Along with his screams were sounds that came from another beast and multiple of it that we don't know what. A silhouette showed up in front of us until this silhouette multiplied in the background.

Me and Carlo, afraid to be next, ran up immediately but it was too late.

"AHHH! FUCK! KEV HELP!!!!!!!! SHIT! THESE MOTHER FUCKERS! FUCK!MY ARM!" Carlo screamed horribly as he tried to fight back the bite of these things by punching and shoving. I couldn't muster the will to help as I am too scared. I climbed the fucking cave to the entrance. I could now feel the sunlight on the skin of my hands but I was pulled back. A claw like thing pierced my leg, hitting through the bone. I cried, I screamed. I asked help to whoever is near us. I wish there is someone there.

"HELP! FUCK!" I shouted.

I laid and saw these horrors, scary shits that looked like Gollum. They encircled me.

"HEEEEEEEELPPPP!" I cried and shouted. I tried fighting back. I tried to push them but I was too weak due to the excruciating pain that I'm feeling on my leg. These motherfuckers are drooling and smiling, fuck! I was gnawed by these things like a pack of hyenas playing with their food. My hands were chewed, my foot was bitten, all I could do from all that is scream to the bottom of my lungs until I couldn't anymore. Is this really the end of me? Get eaten by these motherfuckers? Inside this…This… wasteland of a forest? I stopped fighting back because I already lost all my power and already spilled a few liters of blood already. I slowly lost all consciousness as the last thing I saw was a huge mouth coming at my face.