The 19

3

The bloody, gory, and downright disgusting image was a terrible sight. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening in the picture. Ethan had a knife stuck into his hip, with blood pouring out from under his grey sweatpants.

"Help me." the caption read across the gory photo.

I panicked. I checked Ethan's location on snap maps. There was no location found. I began weighing my different options. I could call the police, go search for him, or... yeah I pretty much had zero options at this point.

I desperately tried to call Ethan through his cell phone number. I had it memorized in my head since we were 15 and I got lost at a music festival with Ethan and his family.

riiing riiing

"Hey, sorry I missed your call, leave your-" I threw my phone across the room. His phone was either dead, or powered off. Either way, I had to find Ethan.

I knew the most efficient and smart option would be to call the police to help find Ethan, but I had a small issue. I had a habit of prank calling the police when I was drunk, to the point where they no longer trusted that any of my calls were genuine. It was 100% my fault, but it frustrated me that I now had zero outlet to go to for help.

Without waiting any further, I walked out of the dorm room. I had to find Ethan one way or another. I walked across campus to the parking garage where I had my Honda Civic, and got in the car. My ignition was shot, so I was forced to start my car using a screwdriver.

As I back out of the garage, I realized that I had left my dorm key in the dorm. I had no time to waste, so I continued to back out and drive towards the main road.

The metallic banging of a nearby construction site reminded me of my dad. Again, just like that, all the memories started flooding back. How he used to come home late and be so exhausted, but still have the strength to read me stories before I went to sleep. He always had my best interests in mind, and now he was gone. For good.

I snapped out of the trance. I reminded myself that I have an objective. I needed to find Ethan.

In Ethan's Snapchat message, the background appeared to be a forest floor. The only woods near us were the densely populated areas surrounding Lake Kenyon. I took the 15 minute drive to the park next to the woods, and when I got there, an overall sense of uneasiness washed over me.

While strolling into the entrance of the woods, I saw a glistening piece of metal. Immediately and instinctively, I dashed to the item. It was a sterling silver necklace with a dog tag attached to it.

"Non Ducor, Duco" the tag read.

Given my extensive knowledge of Latin, I knew this to mean "I am not led, I lead." I pocketed the chain and continued walking.

I started to call Ethan's name as soon as I had gotten about ten feet away from the entrance to the woods. It was at this point that the combination of beauty and fear of the forest washed over me. Although I knew I was safe, I don't think anyone can confidently walk through the forest alone without feeling somewhat uneasy.

My mind wandered back to thoughts of my dad. I missed him. I knew he was watching over me, and I asked him to guide me to find Ethan. Although my dad never got to meet Ethan, I'm sure he is looking down and realizing that he is one of my only true friends in my life. At least, I'd hope he'd think that.

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice, far in the distance.

"SPENCER! OVER HERE!" Ethan shouted from the left side of me.

I ran in the direction of his voice. I felt a sense of relief that I had already found him. When I turned the corner around a large oak tree, the puddle of blood leaking from Ethan's sweatpants was staining the forest floor.

Spitting blood as he spoke, Ethan asked me where I was this whole time.

"What do you mean? I never knew you were leaving." I replied, somewhat disappointed that he thought I'd have abandoned him.

"I told you this morning I was going hiking and you told me you'd come in 10 minutes and catch up with me."

My mind danced around, looking for the slightest sliver of a memory to which I had agreed to do this. Either my mind was playing tricks on me, or Ethan was.

"I- I- I'm sorry. I forgot about that." were the only words I could get out. "Let's get you out of here, you're gonna need to go to the emergency room."

I took my hoodie off, leaving only a liquor stained Metallica t-shirt to cover my chest. Crafting a sling from my hoodie, I crossed Ethan's right leg across his body.

"On the count of three I'm going to help you up, and then we need to make our way to the car." I told Ethan.

"Ok." he obliged.

"One..."
"Two-"

"AGGHG!" Ethan let out a painful yell as he was unexpectedly hoisted to his feet.

"Sorry, I just figured you were going to resist it if I actually had done it on three." I informed Ethan.

He let out a painful laugh.

"I probably would have. Let's go."

I had Ethan's arm around my shoulder and he was slowly walking alongside me using only one leg.

"So, what the hell happened?" I questioned Ethan, wondering the nature of what had transpired in the woods.

"Oh it's nothing. I just slipped." Ethan replied. I immediately felt a sense that he was not telling me the truth. That's the thing about being best friends with someone for so long. You begin to pickup on their bullshit.

"Oh okay." I reacted.

However, as we were just making it to my car, I had a realization. The knife that was stuck in Ethan's leg was familiar. I recognized it now, and a sudden feeling of shock, fear, and absolute alarm surged through my body.

That knife had killed my father.