Amorphous

Chapter 5: Alone

Ellie's PoV

I really hated this place. My plain old dream of having a simple trip with my friends has shattered. I wanna find my friends but I'm not sure how am I gonna start.This knot in my chest keeps tightening but I couldn't cry while Claire was. Someone had to calm her down.

"We'll find him I promise" I hugged her.

She kept sobbing and calling his name.

This broke me down.

"Claire I need you to stop" I sobbed.

She didn't stop.

"Bring her to my cottage, I'll give her something to soothe her down" Lara said walking outside.

"Good idea" I replied.

I wrapped my arm around Claire's shoulder and leaded her to Lara's cottage.

She had stopped crying but was still breathing heavily. Lara gave her a drink. Reluctantly she took the vial and gulped it down. After 5 minutes she went unconscious.

"What was that" I asked Lara horrified.

"Don't worry, it's the same thing I injected Zach with, She'll just be asleep for some hours."

I stared at her for a moment then went on "then let's go to the woods before she wakes"

We walked outside the cottage. She had a small basked in her hand. She walked us to a small fruit stall. No wonder why she was carrying that basket.

"Is it necessary to take fruits?" I asked Lara who shoved a basket filled with various fruits in my hands.

"Yes, they won't be attracted otherwise" She stated as a matter of fact.

I still didn't understand who she meant by they.

We walked to the east side of the forest from the town, opposite to the direction from where I had came to here accompanied by my friends. This side was less dense and the trees here were relatively taller. We walked for five minutes with moderate pace and then she ceased walking.

"I think this one is fine" she walked to the tree she had stopped in front of and patted it.

Glancing up I realized the tree was huge. Much bigger, thicker and denser in contrast to others. I walked towards it and asked, "Am I supposed to put the basket here?"

"Yeah and sit beside it" She gave a curt nod and sat.

I sat beside her asking "how long do we have to wait?"

"Not sure"

"Are you sure they'll show up?"

She shook her head.

"You mean we're sitting ducks here?" I asked losing my temper.

"Calm down. There's a high probability." She said softly.

We waited for what felt like two hours. Talking about how stupid our lives felt.

"You heard that?" Lara asked me.

I shook my head.

"I think I heard footsteps" She said.

A moment later a boy appeared. He was no older then twelve.

"Lara, daddy is sick we need your help, you need to hurry" the boy was panting.

Lara stood upright.

"We need to go" she looked at me.

"No I can't go" I shook my head.

She looked at me like I've lost my mind.

No I couldn't leave now. I couldn't back off. My friends need me. Pulling all the courage I had within me I spoke,

"It's alright, don't worry about me I'll be back before dark"

She seemed reluctant to leave me but the boy tugged at her sleeve. His eyes were pleading.

"Okay, take care" with that she left.