Timeless and Bliss #wattys2016

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

There are things in this world that are so complex it is impossible for a living organisms, such as us beings, to even comprehend. There are forces out there so strong, so simple, so complicated that they have the ability to change your morals, the way you perceive things, and most definitely change your life in a single moment. Forces such as life, death, love, hate are just a few of the things that make up this world that are not in our control. You cannot put a formula to these things, it just is, it's something we must all learn to cope with and eventually accept. Such things are inevitable, and we cannot avoid the inevitable as much as we believe we can. Something I would soon learn as we walked the path.

I inhaled then exhaled the heavy air surrounding us attempting to calm my shaky voice and body. The boys inched closer to the viscous creature snarling at us while Exie, step by step, advanced toward me. She met Felix and Dexter who grabbed her arm pushing her behind them. The Animal stepped onto the path showing itself under the dim moon light. The mountain lion flashed his teeth hissing at the four of us before stepping back into the darkness.

"Let's go," Felix sighed in relief and we began down the path. Felix led the way followed by me, and Dexter by Exie's side supporting her.

"I think we're safe now. I don't think the cougar will follow us," I tried to reassure everyone. Exie found stability so Dexter released her as she followed behind everyone a bit slower from the sudden shock.

Exie suddenly let out a horrendous ear splitting scream. The animal crouched down low, crimson blood falling at his mouth with bits and pieces of Exie's flesh between its teeth. The cougar let out a low rumble warning us to back off. Felix pulled out his knife challenging the beast while Dexter and I helped Exie off the floor. The wound wasn't as bad as we had thought, but Exie continued to lose blood crying from the pain. One of Exie's hand was placed around Dexter's neck and the other around mine standing her up.

We began running. Exie tried her best to keep up with us. She struggled to run and as we weaved through out the forest her run turned into a lagging limp. The mountain lion took it's time stalking us like it knew we had no chance of escaping. We all were terrified and stopped as Exie pushed past her injury.

"I can't run anymore," Exie cried out. The cut was deep. The animal saw that we had stopped and used it to its advantage. Dexter, who had been supporting Exie, saw the same thing I had. He threw Exie into his arms and we started running again, this time a bit slower.

Dexter strained to keep up. It was harder for him with the extra weight. All of us were slowing down and that's when the animal took its chance. He pulled his claws out slashing them against Dexter's calf. He fell to the floor with Exie who was crying from the hard impact.

Just as fast and sly as the first time the mountain lion charged at Exie. Felix was quick to shove the knife in the animal's back, but not before it took another snap at Exie's leg causing it to break. The animal howled out from the wound as did Exie. This time Dexter took his knife while the animal continuously pawed and snarled.

"Help me p-please," Exie cried out. Felix and I made a reach for her. She rested in a pool of blood and the bare bone stuck out from her leg. She was now losing even more blood which worried us tremendously.

Felix and I took Exie's trembling hand helping her up once more. Her leg was barely hanging on to her body. Her body was going into shock and there was a change in her eyes. I peered over my shoulder watching. Dexter was swift, dodging the animal's sharp claws. He circled the animal never looking away from its beady red eyes full of hunger. The animal clawed Dexter's shoulder causing him to loose grip of the knife and grimace. Exie was pulled from us and Felix and I tightened our hands around her arms.

"Please don't let go!" Exie screamed tears pouring from her eyes and blood pouring out of her body. Her body quaked from the amount of blood she was rapidly losing.

"We aren't letting go Exie!" I sincerely looked into her eyes promising from my heart. The animal sunk its teeth deeper her into her other leg. She released another anguished howl. Exie's face was soaked from her own trembling tears. The last bit of tissue that connected her leg to the rest of her body was torn away.

"I've had enough of your shit!" Dexter came from nowhere. Right as the animal was about to claw him he jabbed the blade into the animal's paw. The cougar whimpered for a moment but then quickly gained its courage slowly stalking us. Exie's breathing slowed down. Felix was kneeling beside her now limp body.

"Felix we have to go." I looked down at him and saw the sorrow on his face. I took his hand helping him up and the three of us began sprinting leaving her behind on the forest floor surrounded by her very own shimmering red blood. The mountain lion continued to chew on the girl's lifeless body. I tried to leave the guilt behind, but it only seemed to follow. And with each step I took that led me further from Exie's body, the guilt would creep closer.

We sprinted through the trees changing direction here and there. The beast was injured which slowed it down a bit, not by very much though. It was fast approaching us and we were losing our energy trying to stay ahead. My throat was burning when I took deep inhales of the cool air. The burning sensation dropped down into my chest, and my legs started to feel weak.

"Look, there's where we need to cross, "Dexter said as we came to a halt. The current was heavy carrying the water violently down the stream.

The night was dark with very few stars and only the moon to light our way. The cool wind was also frantically blowing and I knew that crossing the river wasn't going to be pleasant. We heard a growl from behind us and automatically began moving our feet. One by one we each jumped in followed by a loud splash.

The water was soaked up by my clothes. The three of us moved forward treading the water. All of my body became numb and the current wanted to push us down stream. The three of us brutally fought against it. The water was just shallow enough for my feet to touch the rocky bottom. Because of the rapid current, it wasn't easy for Felix and Dexter to stand up either.

"Guys, it's following us," I warned everyone causing the men to move their feet faster.

"What the hell is wrong with this animal," I heard Felix murmur. The current was too strong for me. My boots were slipping against the rocks covered in algae and could feel myself being dragged under and away from the group.

"Felix!" I yelled as I struggled to stay above water. The current kept pushing me. Though I tried to firmly plant my feet on the floor, the water sloshed in my face repeatedly. Not only was I slowly drifting away so was the animal. It gave a fierce look as it came straight at me paddling its immense legs.

"Uh Felix!" I yelled a little louder grabbing his attention.

"Blaize! Quick grab my hand!" Felix leaned toward me. Dexter grabbed his shirt for support. I tried my best to steady my gaze only the water kept coming and it was becoming hard to breathe. Finally I placed my hand into Felix's, Dexter pulled Felix, and he pulled me until we were safe on the other side. I threw myself on the hard rocky ground panting heavily. The animal let out a loud mewl as the current carried the beast further and further away from us.

"We need to keep moving. I have no doubt that that wasn't the only killer in these woods," I spoke. Felix and Dexter agreed, but not a single one of us inched from out spots not quite sure how to process the event that had just took place. So we just laid there in the darkness for what felt like hours but was only minutes.