Chapter 13

"Elena. It's such a sweet name," Sarah shook Elena's hand with pleasure. She flashed her teeth in a wide smile, her face was genuinely delighted that Elena finally spoke to her. 

Elena smiled subtly.

"We're heading back home. But if you have somewhere to go along this way, you can hitch a ride with us. Just like before, we'll drop you off at your destination."

Elena was a bit perplexed. Does someone live in the woods? She asked herself. She remembered the woods at the outskirts of Morsville stretched wide and broad. 

Thinking like this, she assumed that the family lives beyond the thick, foggy forest, and was only taking the route for a shortcut. 

On the other hand, she had nowhere else to go. And after realizing where her feet had been taking her, she decided to go back to that place.

The place where it all began. 

However, she was in a bind. She could not remember where it was. Her eyes darted to Sarah's kind, smiling face, and then, an idea came to her mind. 

Pressing her lips tightly, she opened up after a few seconds. "Do you…perhaps remember the place where you picked me up?"

Sarah's smile faltered. Elena unconsciously embraced herself. Is it weird to ask that? She thought inwardly. She parted her lips to take back what she said, but then Sarah's concerned, careful voice came through again. 

"Why do you want to go back to that place?"

Elena flinched. She averted her eyes, lowered her head, and bit her lips. Why? Why else? 

After walking for so long, being under the scrutinizing and patronizing look of the townspeople; added with some pitiful gazes and shaking heads, and getting suffocated by their hush murmurs, Elena suddenly had a determined plan to prove herself to them—that everything she said was true, and that, whatever made her get in that van was not herself, but something else. 

Perhaps it was a strange influence or control of someone, or maybe she was hypnotized. 

Because no matter how she racked her brain, she could not remember that scene happening. Is it possible that the footage was edited? If so, who would do such a thing to ruin her reputation, her relationships, and her life?

Her eyes flickered back to Sarah who was patiently waiting for her answer. 

"There is just…something, I want to check…" Elena's voice was small. She was unsure if that answer was convincing enough.

If Sarah decided to not give her a ride because of her weirdness, she would understand, but that meant she had to walk ahead until she remembered the part where they picked her up. From there, she could head east, that was the only thing she remembered. 

Sarah let out a sigh. Worry danced in her eyes, but she kept her lips closed. She nodded and motioned her hand to get in. 

"Alright. I remember that part. Whatever you want to check in that place, we'll help you." 

"...thank you, Sarah."

"No problem, sweetie. Now, come up," Sarah replied with a friendly grin. She lightly tapped her daughter's leg and pointed at the small bean bag on the van's floor. "Move over there."

Elena quickly remarked, "I'm fine sitting on the floor—"

"Oh, no. I won't let you. You should be taking care of yourself more now that you're living for two," Sarah casually replied. 

Elena stiffened. "How—"

"Are you guys settled in now? Properly? We're moving on! So, wear your seatbelts, dear passenger!" Richard exclaimed from the driver's seat. He briefly looked back at Lara and widened his eyes at him. "Princess, hold tight."

"Ugh. The road ahead isn't that tough!" Lara rolled her eyes, but she squeezed herself to the corner and clung her arm to her brother's leg. 

The warmth of their family was too much for Elena to bear. It was heartwarming to see, yet her heart couldn't help but feel sorrowful. She looked away, focused her eyes on the passing tall trees, and let her mind wander. 

After an hour that stretched longer than it usually does to Elena, the camper van stopped at the foot of a large sequoia tree. 

"This is where we found you, Elena," Sarah said. She carefully rested her hand over Elena's knee and added, "Will you really be okay here?"

Elena took a deep breath. She glanced over the dense forest ahead. There was nothing she could lose anyway, so she stoned herself and nodded. 

Sarah sighed. "Alright. There you go. Be safe on your way."

"Thank you." 

The family waved at her before they continued ahead. 

Elena inhaled deeply, turning her back to the road and facing the dark forest. 

Tall trees obstructed the sunlight, so despite the hour hand just striking past six in the morning, the surroundings were still dark, as if the night was still peeking through the place. 

A cold, chilly morning breeze blew, making Elena shiver. She hugged herself as she walked deeper into the woods. 

East…just continue to walk, Elena. You'll find it. You're going to find it no matter what. Elena sang in her head. She gripped the phone in her pocket, her eyes were just looking ahead. 

Her shoulders would jump if she so much heard the rustling of the leaves, the crunches they created as she stepped onto them, that haunting sound of the wind passing between trunks, and the distant hoots and chirps of birds. 

Nevertheless, she moved forward without looking back, despite her knees shaking a bit. 

After hours of walking, at last, at the end of the path she was talking, she saw a building. However, her heart sank as it was no more than a ruin, a pile of burnt debris, and the smell of something rotten lingered in the air. 

She could not stomach the smell. She hurriedly walked away, clutching her stomach. Then, she vomited beside the tree. 

After feeling a bit relieved, she took out her phone and recorded the place. She took a few pictures as well. Once she thought it was enough evidence to show to the police, she whirled around and walked away immediately. 

However, her steps halted, when in her path stood a man carrying a bundle of logs. 

Elena's body shivered uncontrollably. Her eyes shook in astonishment, and her breath was caught in her throat. The phone she held fell to the ground. 

The man's gaze followed as the object fell. Elena took a step back. 

She needed to run, as far away as possible. But her feet wouldn't move. She gasped for air as if something strangled her. But her struggles were useless, her vision spun, and then she fell on the floor, eyes shutting close involuntarily.