What goes bump in the night

As I awakened from my restless slumber, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins, jolting me from the depths of sleep into a state of heightened awareness. Fear gripped me like icy tendrils, its icy fingers wrapping around my heart and squeezing tight. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

With trembling hands, I reached out into the darkness, searching for the comforting presence of Alex beside me. But to my horror, I found only space where he should have been. Panic welled up inside me, threatening to overwhelm my senses as I frantically scanned the surrounding darkness for any sign of him.

Every shadow seemed to twist and writhe with malevolent intent, every rustle of the leaves a sinister whisper in the night. Was he dragged away by some unseen force? Was there another presence lurking in the darkness, waiting to pounce upon its unsuspecting prey?

I tried to calm my racing thoughts, to rationalize away the rising tide of terror threatening to consume me. 

"Maybe he is out there peeing somewhere"

"Perhaps he is just getting a quick jerk off..."

"Damn, I wish It was that one, but if it was would I truly feel so creeped out right now?"

As I rose from my makeshift bed, my heart was a frantic drumbeat in my chest, its rhythm echoing in the stillness of the night. The stars shimmered overhead, casting a faint glow over the island, and illuminating my path to the dying embers of the fire.

I hurried over to the fire, the warmth of its fading glow a welcome comfort in the chill of the night. But as I knelt to add more wood, a sense of unease washed over me. If Alex had left willingly, he would have replenished the fire before he left. The fact that it was on the verge of dying out only added to my growing sense of dread.

I gathered armfuls of wood from the nearby pile, stacking them carefully onto the dying embers. The flames flickered and danced, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with a life of their own. But despite the warmth of the fire, a chill lingered in the air, a palpable sense of foreboding that sent shivers down my spine.

As the fire's flickering light offered diminishing comfort, a growing unease crept over me, gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. Then, like a bolt from the blue, realization struck—a cold shiver racing up my spine as I stared into the darkness ahead.

I should have noticed it...

I should have noticed it.

Why didn't I notice until it was too late?

 I was being stalked.

A primal instinct took hold, urging me to flee. With my heart pounding, I sprinted toward the beach, the sound of my ragged breaths mixing with the pounding of my feet on the sand. Panic gripped me as I reached the shore and let out a scream of terror, hoping to scare off whatever was hunting me.

But my cry was met with an eerie response—a guttural, unnatural sound that chilled me to the bone. I turned to face my pursuer and was met with a sight straight from my nightmares. Emerging from the shadows was a figure cloaked in darkness, its form twisted and grotesque.

It wore a mask made of bones and coconut husk, a macabre visage that sent a wave of terror crashing over me. In its eyes, I saw only hunger, a primal, insatiable urge to destroy. With a desperate cry, I grabbed a nearby shell, my only weapon against this monstrous foe.

The creature charged toward me, its movements jerky and unnatural. With a primal scream, I swung the shell, striking out at the creature with all the force I could muster. But it was relentless, undeterred by my feeble attempts to defend myself.

Alex burst from the shadows, launching himself at the creature with a primal roar.

With a powerful tackle, Alex knocked the creature away from me, buying us precious seconds to regroup. Relief flooded through me, mingled with a surge of adrenaline that propelled me into action. Running away wasn't an option—we had to fight.

I joined the fray, mustering every ounce of strength and courage I had. The creature fought back ferociously, its bone weapons slashing through the air with deadly precision. I felt a searing pain as its claws raked across my arm, leaving deep gashes in their wake. But there was no time to dwell on the injury—Alex was counting on me, and together, we stood our ground.

The creature's mask hid its expression, but its movements were filled with primal rage. It wielded its bone knife with deadly skill, aiming for our vital points with deadly accuracy. But we were not so easily defeated.

Alex grappled with the creature, locking it into a full nelson as I unleashed a flurry of punches, each blow landing with satisfying impact. But the creature refused to go down, its resilience a testament to its monstrous strength.

With a primal scream, Alex summoned every ounce of his strength, his muscles straining against the creature's thrashing form. With a sickening crack, he snapped its arms like twigs, eliciting a howl of pain from the creature's twisted lips.

But still, it fought on, its bone weapons clattering to the ground as it struggled to break free. With a swift kick to its left knee, Alex brought the creature crashing to the ground, its leg twisted at an unnatural angle.

As the creature lay writhing in agony, we stood victorious but exhausted, our bodies battered and bruised from the ferocious battle. But there was no time to celebrate—we had survived, but the fight was far from over.

As the creature continued to thrash and struggle, I felt a rising panic grip me. "What are we going to do?" I cried out to Alex, my voice trembling with fear. But Alex was already moving, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger.

"We leave everything," he said grimly, his voice low but resolute. "There are more of them."

My heart sank at his words, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I heard rustling in the bushes around us. The creatures were surrounding us, closing in for the kill.

"Run with me," Alex commanded, his voice urgent. Without hesitation, I jumped onto his back, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck as he took off into the jungle.

As we ran, I felt a rush of sensations—the heat of his skin beneath my fingertips, the strength of his muscles rippling beneath my touch. Despite the terror that gripped me, there was a strange exhilaration in being so close to him, moving together as one.

I closed my eyes and held on tight, feeling as if I were weightless in his arms. Alex ran with a speed and agility that defied belief, his every movement calculated and precise.

But the creatures were relentless, their sadistic laughter echoing through the night as they pursued us. Alex didn't falter, his determination driving him forward even as the sounds of our pursuers grew closer.

The river was a raging torrent, its waters churning and frothing as it rushed past us with a deafening roar. The other side seemed so close yet so far, the bank on the opposite shore a mere stone's throw away. But between us and safety lay the treacherous currents of the river, threatening to drag us under at any moment.

With a firm resolve, Alex gently set me down on the riverbank, his eyes scanning the turbulent waters for the best path across. Without a moment's hesitation, he grabbed me from behind, his strong arms encircling my waist as he prepared to make the perilous journey.

"Hold on tight," he shouted over the roar of the water, his voice firm and commanding. And with that, he leaped into the river, his back hitting the water first as he tried to keep my head above the surface.

The current was fierce, pulling us downstream with a force that seemed almost insurmountable. I clung to Alex for dear life, feeling the icy grip of the water as it threatened to pull me under. But he was a rock, his strength unwavering as he fought against the current with every ounce of his being.

The journey across the river was a harrowing one, filled with moments of fear and uncertainty. The water battered against us, threatening to tear us apart. But through sheer determination and strength, Alex forged ahead, his muscles straining against the relentless pull of the current.

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, we reached a calmer stretch of water. With a final burst of effort, Alex propelled us towards the riverbank, his movements powerful and decisive. With a gasp of relief, we finally made it onto solid ground, collapsing onto the bank in exhaustion.

As I struggled to catch my breath on the riverbank, the horror of our ordeal washed over me like a suffocating wave. My lungs burned from the water I had swallowed during our desperate swim, and every muscle in my body screamed with exhaustion. But as I looked over at Alex, lying motionless on the ground, a new wave of fear crashed over me.

Rushing to his side, I felt a knot of terror form in the pit of my stomach as I saw the extent of his injuries. Deep gashes marred his chest, the blood staining his skin a dark crimson against the pale moonlight. I could feel panic rising within me as I realized the gravity of the situation—we were stranded in the wilderness, miles from civilization, with no one to help us.

With trembling hands, I gently cradled Alex's head in my lap, my heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. The only sound was the soft lapping of the water against the riverbank and the distant hum of insects in the night. There were no laughter or screams, no signs of the creatures that had hunted us just moments before. In that moment of eerie calm, the weight of our situation pressed down on me like a leaden blanket.

Despite my exhaustion, I forced myself to stay alert, scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. But as the minutes stretched into hours, my eyelids grew heavy, and I felt the exhaustion of the night's events weighing down on me like a physical burden. My body ached with every movement, and the cuts and bruises that marred my skin throbbed with pain.

I glanced down at myself, realizing for the first time that I was clad only in my bra and panties, my clothes torn and tattered from our ordeal. Panic surged through me as I realized the potential for infection out here in the wilderness, with no access to medical supplies or help.

But my fear was nothing compared to the sight of Alex, his breathing shallow and labored, his skin pale and clammy with sweat. I knew that he was in far worse shape than I was, his injuries deep and severe.

"Alex...."

I wait for an answer before calling out once more. 

"Alex..."

As I shook him gently, calling out his name, I felt relief when Alex groaned in response. With trembling hands, I helped him turn over onto his back, his movements weak and difficult. He was wearing even less clothing than I was, his shorts torn and barely covering his well-toned Ass.

Damnit am I an ass woman? This is the most fucked up time of my life to find this out.

Why couldn't I meet him before this stupid trip?

"You... Ok, Lex?" he managed to choke out between coughs, his voice strained and weak. Putting on a brave face, I moved closer to him, determined to help however I could.

He collapsed onto his back, and I hurried to support his head, my heart aching at the sight of him in such pain. "No cap, how bad is it for you to look at me like that?" he joked weakly, a faint smile tugging at his lips even in his suffering. 

Damn, I thought to myself, I cannot help but to admire a man like him.

I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes, but they came anyway, silent tracks of anguish tracing down my cheeks.

"Hey, it's going to be ok," he reassured me, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just... just a little nap."

"It's ok, rest," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "I'll be here." But he shook his head weakly, his eyes searching mine with a desperate intensity.

"No," he said firmly, his voice barely more than a hoarse whisper. "I need you..." He coughed again, the sound echoing through the silent night like a desperate plea.

The urgency in his voice sent a shiver down my spine, his weakened state only adding to my growing sense of dread. "You need to find Echinacea," he repeated, his words slurred with exhaustion. Panic seized me as I struggled to comprehend his request. What did he mean? Why was it so important?

"I don't... I don't..." I stammered, my mind racing with fear and uncertainty. But even in his weakened state, Alex reached out to comfort me, his touch gentle and reassuring. "Shhhhhhhh," he whispered soothingly, though I could see the struggle in his eyes.

"Purple coneflower," he managed to say, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. "Must be some near this area, the soil is soft and moist. Near water..." With trembling hands, he grabbed a handful of dirt, his fingers digging into the earth.

"I need you to find it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We need it badly. Get as much as you can from only the roots. The roots will... be what we need..." But before he could finish his sentence, my heart stopped as I realized he had passed out.

Fear and desperation welled up inside me as I knelt beside him, his still form a stark reminder of our precarious situation. But as I leaned in closer, I felt a surge of relief wash over me when I realized he was only sleeping.

As I gazed down at Alex's still form, the weight of our situation settled heavily upon my shoulders. His life now depended on my ability to find and harvest a plant I knew nothing about.

At this moment, it feels as though a chapter of our lives has come to a close, and a new one is about to begin. A chapter filled with challenges, danger, and the relentless pursuit of survival.

But despite the fear and uncertainty gripping me, there's also a spark of determination deep within my heart. I can't let Alex down. I can't let our story end here, not like this.

With a deep breath, I square my shoulders and set out into the unknown.