Part of the pack

7 || Lost in the woods

In the wilderness, you learn how to overcome your greatest enemy: yourself.

- Matshona Dhliwayo

'•'•'•

The wind brushed past my cheeks, stinging me with its biting cold as it swivels past my direction and continued its way to wreak havoc on the branches swinging wildly from its force.

I force myself to calm down, the heater inside the taxi couldn't keep the freezing fear inside my veins as I bite into my cheeks to stop the anger rolling off of me in tidal waves.

I've told Everyln a lie, saying that I was needed to prepare for dry materials needed for baking. I couldn't tell her the truth, she's already terrified at the mention of the woods, I don't think saying what truly happened would help.

Dad was still from work, mom couldn't come out since her knees would threaten to buckle from the cold. It was an ailment of her from an old injury she got in her teenage years. Her family couldn't afford to let her go to the hospital to treat it and so it continued to worsen her day-to-day life especially since the north was known for its cold weather.

Reaching home, I passed a four-dollar bill to the driver and walked hurriedly inside, the cold clung to me like skin and I pushed the door open to see my mom's worried face.

"You're here" she breathed in relief as she passed me a small cup of barley tea which I gratefully took in my hands.

"I'll call for Mr. Albert first" he's the sheriff in this town, the husband of Mrs. Albert whom I worked for in the wildlife association.

"Your brother..."

"He's an idiot, an utter fool" I hissed as I put the cup down, I can already predict the spread of this news and that would make every mother frown at those unruly teenagers.

Everyone knew that the forest is off-limits, especially at night.

"I'll talk to him" I heard the determination in my mother's words and I knew for sure that she won't get soft or close her eyes at my brother's foolish actions.

I nodded at her and went through my contacts before calling Mr. Albert, I briefly explained to him about the matter and as I predicted, he expressed his disappointment and dissatisfaction for those unruly teenagers.

He then dropped into my house over ten minutes and I get into his mobile car, he knew that I know the forest like the back of my hand so he agreed for me to come along with them.

With that, we drive through the woods, my senses tingled as the familiar road came to my sight. I grip my hand tighter, I never wanted to come here again after seeing that but I think it's hypocritical for me to say that I wouldn't like to search the first and look for them.

The smoke coming from the woods fifteen minutes away from the entrance caught our attention, as we walk into the bunny trail filled with bushes and hidden rocks underneath, we saw the lights and teenagers having their time of the day.

Music blasting from everywhere as it echoes through the silent forest as chatters from every people doubled the noise. Everyone was dancing and some were even roasting food into the middle of the forest without any care.

Don't they know that there are wild animals here and they could get killed easily if they were spotted? The party was like an announcement that they are free to be eaten and they won't care if they do.

"Everyone in this party will be taken to the station, do not run or resist or we will fine you" Mr. Albert came up with a megaphone in his hand.

The teens who were partying from earlier were like ants on a hot pan and scurried away but they were already surrounded by some police officers. They were either thrashing around and trying to run away but were caught, like a lamb that was about to be chopped on a wooden board.

I looked for my brother and saw him with his friends, he was with Simon ho have this annoying smirk plastered on his face as I marched in their direction. I pulled his unwilling hand and dragged him to a nearby tree without thinking of the people around us and shouted.

"What were you thinking?! Do you want to die, huh?! Mom was so worried for you!"

"I just went to a party, it's not like I'm going to get myself killed!" He refuted but I was mad at his stupidity.

"The woods are not a place to party! It's home to wild animals, those wild animals that can kill you!" I was breathing loudly as he looked at me with equal anger and that made my anger burn. "It's because of that guy, Simon, isn't it?!"

"It's not his fault! I'm already old enough to go to any place I want!" He shouted in defiance and I rolled my eyes and pierced his naive words.

"You mean old enough to ignore the danger lurking inside the first and to follow someone's orders because you idolized him? Are you that in love with Simon that you follow his whims- ouch"

I felt myself falling, my palm getting scrapped on by a sharp rock in the ground as I looked at George with a disbelief expression. He looked at me in shock before running away from me.

I sat there shocked, even with his annoying self and mocking, high blood pressure words but this is the first time that he did this to me.

He pushed me just because of that guy! Was his head been brainwashed by that Simon guy? What are they- a group of teens forming a cult that idolized Simon the idiotic jerk?!

Then I snap out of my fuming head and realized where he had gone off to. The teenagers were hauled into the train of police mobile cars and I heard my name being called.

Damn it! Where was he- oh, he ran out from me.

He ran into the woods, shit.

***
Chapter 7 is out! Hope you like this chapter everyone!

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