The Legend Farm

Missing

Once bandaging me up, I sat on the bed with trembling fingers that held onto the mug of hot chocolate as Amelia, Jack and Olivia stood around me.
"So, explain carefully to us what happened back there." Olivia politely said.
"While taking a break as I tried to catch my breath, something clawed me. I don't know what it was because I just ran off without looking back." I admitted, keeping my eyes down at my lap. Goosebumps stayed constantly since the incident.
Amelia ran her hand through her hair, sweeping it from her face to reveal a frustrated expression. "You didn't look?" She asked, as if she were in disbelief.
"No, I got scared and panicked. I didn't want whatever it was, to catch me." I shook my head, rethinking on the event. Jack applied his comforting hand on Amelia's shoulder but she shrugged it off just as quickly.
"She was scared, Amelia." Jack reminded her but she kept her frustration as her eyebrows furrowed together.
"You should've looked! At least we could find out what's out there, so it doesn't harm anybody else!" She exclaimed, waving her hand around before signing heavily to herself, leaving the room and making her way to the night. Jack, without speaking, rushed after her to meet her outdoors. Olivia took the empty space by me onto the bed.
I rubbed my finger around the top of the mug, making circles with my index finger. "She's mad with me?" I asked, confused. Olivia puts her hand on my shoulder before tapping her fingers on it.
"It's hard to explain." Olivia admitted.
"Feelings aren't hard to explain, she's clearly angry with me. All because I didn't see what attacked me, why?" I desperately tried to search for an answer from Olivia. Olivia looked me in the eyes with sadness, before standing up from the bed.
"That isn't my place to speak about, if you really wish to know the backstory. Get close with Amelia and know her, maybe then she will be able to explain." Olivia shrugged before heading out for the night.

As the night came to an end, I gathered my belongings. Once Amelia had calmed down, she informed me that I was not to stay overnight at the shack being that I was new to the new job. As she became comfortable laying in the thin mattress on the wooden bed, her eyes glanced over to me.
"I hope that wound gets better." Amelia spoke softly. Throwing my bag around my shoulder, I looked down at the white bandage and gave a warm smile to her.
"Yeah, thanks by the way. You did a good job." I complimented.
She nodded, "I'm used to helping with wounds. Happens more often than you think."
"Really?" My eyes widened.
"Don't let that scare you though, you're a fine addition to this forest family." She spoke without smile. I nodded, unable to refrain a happy grin before leaving out the room. Making my way through the pathways, my shoes crunched over twigs and branches. The pale moonlight shined over me and the trees, causing a gentle glimmer across me. Perfect for just enough light to see my path. Though, I couldn't help but still feel shaken up after the thing that clawed me earlier in the night. Why couldn't I have just looked back?

After making myself a quick and not as tasteful dinner, I laid down in my weak excuse of a bed and scrolled through my phone until a call came across my screen. Sawyer. Hesitantly, I picked it up.
"I was just getting ready to sleep, Sawyer." I inform him immediately.
"Alana, I needed to warn you-" his voice begins to break up as static started to take over the phone call.
"Warn me? About what?" I attempted to question him anyway.
"Mill, tomorrow. I'm-" That's when the call had abruptly ended with three beeps, signaling the end. Mill, the last name of my ex boyfriend. He couldn't be talking about him again, could he? I rolled over in my bed, feeling even more confused than ever.

After I ate a full breakfast, brushed my teeth and showered, I changed into my uniform before grabbing my bag and headed out the door for the cafe. Once making my way through the door, I noticed Jack at the desk already smiling as his eyes landed on me.
"What can I get you today?" He asked me.
"Just anything coffee, honestly." I said with a weak laugh. As he chuckled, he turned to make the coffee.
His head turns to the side, "Rough night I take it?" He guesses.
"Something like that." I reply, taking the coffee cup as he places it onto the counter.

Arriving to work, I stand outdoors on the side of the path as multiple families and couples walk through. Asking for directions or just simply gossiping to me once passing through. Though, a man in the crowd catches my attention, wearing a nice suit. Well, that's an unusual outfit to wear to a national park. From a distance, I see Olivia hop into the crowd and smile at the suited man. He shows her a photograph, before she looks up with a serious expression before pointing to me. Acting as if I hadn't just been watching the whole situation, I turned around and pretend as if I'm distracted with something until a hand lands on my shoulder. Turning around, it's the man. Dark hair with grey peeking through, and a thinning beard along with shining blue eyes.
"What can I help you with today, sir?" I smiled widely at the man. However, the man did not match my friendly composure as he only replied with seriousness and perhaps, a hint of boiled up anger.
"You're Alana right?" He questions me immediately.
My eyes take his entire appearance in as I attempted to remember him, "Uh, yes sir. That's me, why?"
He holds up a photograph of Ethan Mill, my ex boyfriend. "Then, you'll know that my son is missing." He informs me. Missing?