Chapter 10: Face the fear 1

"The Echoe Man," Ellie whispered, her voice trembling.

"We need to move, now!" Fredrick urged, pushing Thomas forward.

They broke into a run, the haunting melody growing louder with each step. Thomas's breaths came in ragged gasps, fear gripping his heart. The others surrounded him protectively, determined to keep him safe.

"Why is he back?" Thomas managed to say between breaths.

"Because you looked at him," Fredrick said grimly. "You weren't supposed to look at him. He haunts those who see him."

The landscape around them seemed to warp and twist as the music grew louder, the Echoe Man's presence palpable. Shadows danced at the edges of their vision, and the air grew colder.

"We have to lose him," Dr. Isaac said, glancing over his shoulder.

"Keep running," James urged. "We'll find a way."

They dashed through the underbrush, the sound of the Echoe Man's music ever-present. Thomas stumbled, but Ellie caught him, her grip firm.

"Don't stop, Thomas. We're almost there," she encouraged.

Suddenly, Fredrick veered off the path, leading them towards a dense thicket. "This way! It might confuse him."

They pushed through the thick foliage, the music fading slightly as they moved deeper into the thicket. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs setting them on edge.

After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a small clearing, gasping for breath. The music was still there, but it was faint, distant.

"I think we lost him," Fredrick said, his voice barely a whisper.

Thomas sank to the ground, his body shaking with fear and exhaustion. "Why did I look at him?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"He's a remnant of this cursed place," Fredrick explained. "He preys on those who break the rules. But we won't let him take you."

The crew gathered around Thomas, their expressions resolute. They knew that the Echoe Man was a formidable foe, but they were determined to protect their friend.

"We need to stick together," Ellie said firmly. "We'll find a way to break this curse and get the treasure. But we do it together."

Thomas looked up at his friends, gratitude and determination shining in his eyes. "Thank you," he said, his voice steadying.

....

"We have to sleep early. Tomorrow, we move to the sea, and it's not friendly at all," Dr. Isaac said.

"I-I can't sleep," Thomas said, shivering from both fear and cold.

"Well then, try to. We have a long day ahead of us," Ellie yawned, clearing some space to rest.

Everyone did the same, readying themselves for sleep except for Thomas.

Time passed, and everyone was already sound asleep. It was as if Thomas could still hear the Echoe Man's song, but it was just his imagination. His eyes kept roaming around, hoping he wouldn't come out and take him.

Soon enough, he heard some noise and quickly shook from fear. It was just Fredrick, who was awake. He came and sat beside Thomas, looking down.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," Thomas said, almost breaking down.

Fredrick was about to speak up but stopped. Thomas stood up, about to walk away, but paused when Fredrick finally spoke up.

"You see, Thomas, I've been here for so long, and I've seen so many things that should have broken me," Fredrick began, his voice steady. "But every time I felt like giving up, I remembered why I started this journey in the first place. It's not just about the treasure. It's about proving to myself that I can face the darkness and come out stronger on the other side."

Thomas turned to look at him, eyes wide with desperation. "But what if I can't? What if I'm not strong enough?"

Fredrick placed a reassuring hand on Thomas's shoulder. "Strength isn't about never feeling fear. It's about pushing forward even when you do. We all have our demons, Thomas. The Echoe Man is yours. But you're not alone in this. We're all here to face it together. You have to believe in yourself and trust that we're with you every step of the way."

Thomas took a deep breath, feeling a bit of the weight lift from his shoulders. "I don't know if I can do it, but I'll try."

Fredrick smiled. "That's all any of us can do. Now, try to get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll face it together."

Thomas nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. He settled back down, and though sleep didn't come easily, Fredrick's words echoed in his mind, giving him the courage to face another day.

As the night wore on, the sounds of the wilderness faded into the background, and Thomas finally drifted into a restless sleep, ready to take on whatever challenges awaited them.