Chapter 8: Lost 2

'Keep going straight. Don't stop. Don't look back, just keep going.'

I kept chanting in my head. I don't know how many days I've been in this forest. I've lost count of everything, all I know is that once it's dark, I find a place, a very uncomfortable place to stay. I don't sleep, I just rest till it's morning. Whenever I close my eyes, I always have nightmares of that night. Their screams, the shots, their faces held so much horror. I shuddered at the memory.

I've been walking for God knows how long, my legs are bruised, aching, begging to rest but I don't. I have to get out of here. My night wear looks like shit, it's all covered mud, exposing my legs to this treacherous twigs and weird grasses that are up to my thighs

Grumbles

I held my tummy. This is the tenth time it's doing this, I haven't eaten since that night. There's nothing edible here, all I see are just tall tree, weird grasses, antelopes, some rodents and snakes. I'm so lost but still I keep heading straight.

I really wish I'd died with family. I wish I wasn't here in this hell hole of a forest. I wish I was with jasper, playing at the backyard. I wish I was cooking with mom, teasing her about her size, I smiled softly but it fades almost immediately. I wish I was really in Tokyo, with all of them. I wish they'd taken me with them, cause I can't live like this. I feel empty, all I feel is this unending emptiness, waves of pain. I'd give anything to have them close to me, to see them, to hear their laughter, to see their comforting faces. But that's impossible and it hurts to know that I'd never ever see them.

Maybe if I die I'd be able to see them. If I die I won't feel this emptiness, this pain, this feeling of being alone. Broken and alone. My eyes were burning with unshed tears at these thoughts, but I can't help it. I want to be relieved of this pain, it's suffocating me. I lone tear slide off my eyes and I wipe it away. I should rest, maybe a wolf or bear would come and devour me. "I'm coming mom" I said looking at the blue sky "Just wait for me".

I woke up to the sounds of rumbles, slowly open my eyes and take in my surroundings. I was laying awkwardly on the roots of a tree 'I must have fallen asleep', I groaned trying to move but all my muscles were screaming at me. I manage to get on my feet. I could still hear the rumblings, I look to see the clouds darkening 'yeah great, it's gonna rain'. I sighed, maybe I should rest a little while I thought but that thought just went down the drain as I heard voices and heavy footsteps on the little branches.

I pressed myself into the tree, like it'd hide me. I was now hyperventilating, sweat beads were forming on my head. 'It's not them, it couldn't. You left since. It's just some hunters'. "It's just some hunters" I whispered reassuring myself.

I took little steps to the side of the tree, once I was close enough I took a peek. What I saw made my breath hitch. It's him. It's the man I almost killed, he had some bandages wrapped around his head, closing one eyes.

I took a step back but thanks to my luck, I stepped on a branch and it snapped. I held my breath, pressing my back to the tree. "Examinar allá (Look over there)". I heard his voice saying, then some footsteps headed over to my side. I felt like crying but I couldn't make a sound. To my surprise they both passed the tree without noticing me. For once, I'm grateful to the rain. They went back to the crew saying something incoherent. I finally released my breath. The rain had started to drizzle, drenching my hair a little. They started leaving while I tried not to make a move till I was completely sure they were gone.

I felt something crawling on my shoulder, it felt ticklish and it was trying to curl on my shoulder. I turned to see the horror of my life. Right there on my shoulder was a God forbidden creature, trying to wrap itself on my arm.  A snake!!!. My face went pale and I let out a loud shriek, I didn't wait a second to swat the thing off me. Then I heard heavy footsteps, like people were running. Oh shit

I pushed myself off the tree and made a run for it. I ignored all of the pain shooting all over my body



Cause all that mattered to me was to get away from there and them. The clouds got darker, making the day look like night. I could barely find my way but I still had to run, I still had to life ahead of me. A future and probably a happy ending. 'Yeah I'm not ready to die'. I could hear them yelling, calling me out but it only made me push my legs to go faster

I tripped. I fucking tripped. Just imagine my luck. I felt something cut through all my layers of skin and God, it hurts like hell. I couldn't give up right now, so I shot back up, standing up I ran but a little slower. I could still hear them, so I tried to run without making noise. 'Is that even possible'.

I felt an energy, like I just passed through something and I stopped. I looked around but it's still the same dark forest but I couldn't see clearly because of the rain. I was totally drenched but that wasn't what caught my attention, it were the voices, I couldn't hear them. 'Did they leave?' 'Of course not'. I didn't have the time to think about them because I felt a sharp pain rake my body causing me to wince and I placed my hand over the right lower side of my abdomen.

I saw blood, not just any blood but mine. It was oozing out slowly 'Thank God'. I pressed my hand against it, creating pressure to stop the bleeding. My body was feeling like jello, I was trembling slightly. All the adrenaline I had were then, were long gone, leaving me tired. I staggered trying to balance myself, I couldn't stay here any longer. I didn't want to spend another day in this forest. Once I was stable, I started walking, I had no idea where I was going to, I just let my legs lead me since it knows the way. Every step sent absolute pain, raw, intensive pain, but I won't stop now, I didn't want to rest so I just kept walking.

I could make out a house from afar, I could see the windows, they look so tiny from here. The more I got close to, the more the pain in my chest aches, It wasn't the pain of losing someone. It felt like I was being called by the house, like the house has been waiting for me weird. The rain had stopped falling and I could see the house or rather mansion. It looked magnificent and it still had that 'calling vibe', I wanted to turn around but my legs now had a mind of it's own. The closer I got to the house, the pain in my chest intensifies.

I burst out of the forest. I could finally breathe fresh air, I felt like crying, tears of relieve, like kissing the ground. When I rose my head, my jaw dropped to the ground, right before me stood the 'calling house'. Magnificent could never define this house, it was breathtaking, with white and black painting with huge glasses as windows, the ground were trimmed and cemented, a two storey building, the width was WOW. I wonder who builds such a house in the middle of no where.

I stood there gawking at the building in front of me that I didn't notice I had company. I took a step forward and a shot rang. I don't dare to look at who shot, my eyes were set on where was shot. A few inches away from the foot I moved was a bold gun hole staring at me. Not again. I felt sweat run down my wet body, mixing with the droplets on my body. I was been questioned but I didn't pay attention, not because of the fear, of saying the wrong thing. No, it was the God forsaken pain in my chest, it increased by a ten fold and dear Lord, it throbs so bad. If I was in my bed, I would have curled up into a ball. I kept staring at the gun hole and my foot. Maybe I sure am dying today.

"State your mission" A deep husky voice said but I don't respond. For some odd reason his voice is comforting and that makes me even more scared.

"Who do you work for?" He asked again but this time his voice was deeper and darker and I took a step back still looking at the ground, a pair of expensive shoes does the same but it's forward. "Answer me!" He yelled making me flinch. I didn't even notice the rain had started falling.

'Just get over it. Kill me already'. It was silent. Very silent. Eerie silent. He took a few steps towards and I don't back out. 'He's finally going to kill me. I'm coming mom'. I close my eyes for the impact to come but nothing came. Not a gunshot, not a knife stab, slit of throat. Nothing.

"What's your name?" He demanded. 'My name?'. At least I could answer that. But  it seems my body had another idea. I was falling, dropping to the cold, hard wet ground, maybe this is a good way to die. I braced myself for the fall but I was caught before I could even hit the ground. I wanted to move, to open my eyes at least but my body wouldn't bulge. Whatever caught me was strong, very big and hot! Yes very hot. I snuggled close to the heat. I was been lifted and my head was touching a hard chest, I try opening my eyes once again and I succeed but it's half open. I stare up at what was carrying me. As I looked up, I was met with an icy blue orbs. They were staring right back at me, and it was a he. A guy or man. He said something but I didn't hear it.

Darkness was calling upon me and I don't fight it. I closed my eyes, drifting into the darkness. I don't know but I can't  seem to shake this feeling away. This strange happiness of being in this man's arms. Who is he and why do I feel a pull towards him?