After Dark (Completed)

Season 1: Episode 16

Lucas led us through the dimly lit forest in sure steps with Adrianna walking beside him intentionally sashaying, she was obviously proud of the fact that it was her man that was bold enough to take the lead.

Lucas walked like he had been in the forest before, like he was used to walking through dimly lit and scary forest probably full of shadows waiting for us to come near before they devoured us.

As we went deep into the forest murmuring started to rise, people were starting to get less scared because we had been walking for at least 2 hours and nothing had happened yet.

The only sign of living things were rabbits running around the thick bushes at the sight if us.
Adrianna still stayed stuck at Lucas's side and I wondered how long she'd do that before she actually gets bored and move to talk to someone because all Lucas did was match forward like he was a soldier on parade while the others tried to catch up with him.

'Seems we over thought things'. Irena said beside me. I jumped slightly I had forgotten she was right beside me so deep in thoughts.

'Yeah, maybe we did'. I answered not really sure because the forest still gave me the creeps.

'But I can't help but wonder what happened to the first batch, the ones that went before us. Maybe something happened to them or maybe they were transferred to another place, does that even make sense?'.

'I don't know what makes sense anymore'.

'They were transferred to another higher branch'. Someone said behind us. I turned to see Sia, up close she looked so thin and short her head barely reached my shoulders.

'Wha--umm--h-how do you know that?'. I stuttered. I spotted Irena giving her a dirty look and pinched her arm.

'Ow'. She yelped and frowned at me.

'Well, Penelope told me'. She said with her head down shifting on her feet.

'And how did penefrog know that'. Irena snapped.

'Irena! That's rude'. I tried to correct.

'It's also to rude eavesdrop on people's conversation'. She shot back and grabbing my hands she walked away pulling me along with her.
I threw an apologetic look at Sia and she nodded. I felt bad for her, afterall there was no harm in trying to make friends.

'That was uncalled for Irena'. There was a long stretch of silence before she replied.

'I'm sorry I just felt... Pissed. I don't know why'.

'I understand'. I muttered.

'Do you think I should apologize to her?.'

'Yeah you should do that.' I noticed the sad expression on her face and chose not to push it.

I must have been lost in thoughts again and walked faster than Irena because the next thing I noticed when I looked up from the wet forest floor was Lucas's warm brown eyes looking down at me with curiosity mixed with amusement.

I looked back to see Irena at least 10 feet's behind us and Adrianna throwing me looks right beside Lucas.

'Hi there'. He said even though I was right beside him.

'Hi' I murmured.

'How's it going with you?' He asked with a raised eyebrow.

'How's what going?'.

'The whole walking into a dark dangerous forest, how are you holding up?'.

'It's that bad you know. And it's not dark at all. I just don't like the dense atmosphere and the too tall and wide trees which takes up ninety percent of the place'.

'I see'. He said stroking his rough stubble.

'And you, how are you holding up?'.

'Holding up?'. He chuckled.

'I'm not holding up at all babe, it feels...normal'. He shrugged.

'Normal? I don't understand your meaning of normal, how's walking through a forest that looks haunted normal?'.

'Maybe because I'm used to it'. He said giving me a pointed look.

It took a while for me to understand..
'Oh, you're a forest technologist?'.

'No. I'm a Silviculturist'.

'Oh. Never heard that before'. I muttered not meaning for him to hear but he heard Anyways.

'A silviculturist coordinate and assist with the pruning, thinning and felling of trees'. He explained and I could see laughter dancing in his eyes.

I snorted. 'Just laugh if you want to'.

His deep masculine voice flowed to my hears and touched something within me. I found myself blushing unconsciously.
I reached out and smacked his arm, hard but that only made him laugh more and I found myself laughing alongside him. Adrianna's face was already red in anger and that made me double over in laughter that Lucas had to carry me from how weak I became after the hellish laughter.

'That was so hilarious'. I said to Lucas hoping he'd get the drift and fortunately he did and bursted out laughing again.
Adrianna's face almost burst when she realised we were laughing at her.

'I thought you guys were together'. I found myself saying sleepily laying in Lucas's arms comfortably.

'Nope'. He said loudly intentionally letting Adrianna hear.

He then put his warm lips to my ear and whispered loudly. 'she acts like that to make people think we're together when we're not and will never be'.

I caught a glimpse of Adrianna's face again and this time she didn't look so angry anymore. She looked heart broken. Betrayed. I instantly felt bad for laughing at her and told Lucas to put me down.

'Why?'.

'I just want to walk'. My voice sounded like I was whining and a blush crept up my face. I felt stupid for acting like a baby and mentally slapped myself.

'No'.

'I insist. Drop me Lucas'.

'No, you look weak'.

'I am not weak'. I growled.

'Fine, fine you're not weak you're very strong baby just let me carry you a little more'. He said pouting.

'Fine'. I said sleepily.

He was right, I felt weak and slightly sick that my eye lid started to get heavy.
At once I felt a strange cold breeze blow past that made me shiver and open my already closed eyes a little bit. I caught sight of a pale looking slim man wearing a blue tight fitted tee shirt over black leather jeans and brown jacket to my right. He was standing far far away from the group so he was obviously not a part of us, he was looking down all along but as he lifted his head, I saw a his eyes turn deep red before he disappeared completely leaving me shivering against Lucas's body.

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