Call from Destiny | COMPLETED | English

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Scarlet Peaks: Part Three

▬▬ C L A I R E ▬▬

"They're so loud," she complained but I ignored her this time. We can't really do anything.

We don't own this mountain so they can do whatever they want. Besides, this was a trip. They probably had the same idea - just mountaineering for fun.

Heaving a sigh, I waved her off. "Just ignore them."

"Fine."

I really thought that she would let it be. We walked for a few seconds - Sam did not utter a single word right beside me.

But when the boys suddenly made a ruckus and loud laughter was heard, my eyes widened when Sam went over and decided to yell at them.

"Hey! Can you quiet it down there!"

Her voice echoed throughout the area and even made our old classmates look back in confusion. 

I could see that most of our batch mates weren't really in favor of what Sam did. Knowing Sam, I was the one who apologized to them before tapping Sam on her shoulder.

"You're not the only ones on this mountain!" Sam didn't even bother listening to me. Instead, she continued.

I heard the man answer her before the laughter followed. "Then you keep quiet!" 

 "How dare he—" When Sam was about to start back, I stopped her. I don't want Sam to get in a fight anymore. 

 We just joined the group's mountaineering just for fun and then here we are, making a mess. I don't really think that's great. 

 Everyone looked at us as I continued tapping Sam so she could stop. "Sam, please. Don't make a fuss anymore."

As soon as she glanced back at me, I gave her a look. "Fine. But I'm only doing this since you told me so."

When we walked again to follow the group, my eyes widened when the guys answered that Sam had yelled at me earlier. Damn it, why now?

"Well, why are you so quiet now, huh?"

"Maybe she's gone."

"Baby girl, where are you?"

Making a face, Sam decided to shout at them again. She obviously wanted to go down to face them and won't really back down on any chance.

If it wasn't for me, she would've hurt herself already. "Jerk!"

"Sam!" My glare was enough for her to stop.

"Alright, fine!" she replied back before frowning. We made sure we get back at a fast pace since everyone that was with us was already climbing their way up the mountain.

While taking a photo on our way, I decided to speak. "I just want to clear my mind. Picking up troubles won't help."

Sam nods back at me, noting the fact about why we were here in the first place. "Sorry. I forgot that we're here to have fun."

In less than a few minutes, she immediately stopped me. Her hands stopped me by grabbing me on my shoulders. "Wait..."

"Why?" I asked her in astonishment. I raised an eyebrow as she raised her hand as if she was thinking.

"The guys from earlier..." she then trailed off, her finger pointing off in a far distance. "What if the ones shouting back at us are those players in the basketball team of our university?"

"No, it can't be," I replied back, my head shook in disagreement. That can't be. Of all the mountains that they could climb, why this mountain?

"I mean, what are the chances? I heard that they were going mountaineering as well," Sam answered, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "It could be a possibility."

"I'm sure that's not them."

"But—"

"It's not them," I reassured her as she just laughed it off before we continued to walk.

No, you shouldn't react like this, Claire.

What is so bad about seeing that guy again?

Just because he made your life like a living hell, that doesn't mean that you should literally hate him.

Hate was a strong word.

Sam probably noticed my silence since she immediately asked me afterward, "Let me guess. You're nervous, aren't you? 'Cause Ethan's there?"

"Why would I be nervous?" I countered back, rolling my eyes to make it seem like I actually wasn't bothered by it.

"I don't know. Maybe 'cause it's love at first sight." She then shrugged, knowing that she'll get me to spill the truth somehow.

Once again, I coughed and shook my head. "There's no such thing as love at first sight, Sammie."

"Samantha, Claire, you will be left behind if you just talk there," replied our vice president as we just nodded.

"Alright, fine, we'll follow." Our vice president just smiled at us and immediately followed the others.

I then heaved a sigh once more as Sam just nudged me and gave me a smirk.

"You know what, let's just talk about that later after we get back down on this mountain," she told me before she continued to mock me about that Ethan guy, 

"His charm is really something. Think about it, we're already on the mountain and he's still in your mind."

"I told you already, I'm not thinking of him," I complained as she laughed and rolled her eyes at me. She's really confident in saying that I'm thinking of that guy. Already mentioning him gives me shivers.

Does she really think that I would think of that guy? Hell no, I would never.

"Fine. Whatever floats your boat." Though, I was surprised when she left me, running right ahead of me.

"Sam, wait for me!" I yelled at her as she giggled. Her hands waved at me, telling me to go faster if I actually wanted to catch up. Geez, this girl. She was the one who made me join this trip and she's the one leaving me right now.

"Claire, come on. They're almost leaving us behind." My eyes looked at her, glaring as she called me again. I was not the type of girl who would normalize a hiking trip.

Running on a mountain to climb up and catch up with the others was never a part of my plan.

"Wait, Sammie." My feet halted to a stop as soon as I heard another voice yelling down the mountain. And when I heard a familiar voice and names, I bit my lip and widen my eyes.

"Ethan, wait for me!"

"Cap, you can wait for Benedict."

"Ethan!" his friend shouted.

"Ethan?" When I forced myself to look back, I didn't notice that the vine I was holding wasn't sturdy.

"What the---?" As soon as I noticed it, my feet suddenly couldn't support me. It was all too late when I felt my foot slip. I couldn't help but scream. Everything happened too fast.

I suddenly thought it would be my end. The pain all over my body was unbearable, rolling over down the mountain until I felt my hand letting go of the camera that I was carrying.

Death.

That was the only thing that I had in mind at that time.

The only thing that I could hear was Sam calling my name over and over again. "Claire!"

When everything finally stopped, my eyes focused on the sky above - hearing a lot of murmurs from the environment.

"Wait, what was that?"

One.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Two.

"I think it came from up there!"

Three.

And suddenly, everything went black. The vast darkness taking over my vision.