"WE'RE HERE." After a small jump, a foot down, she stood aside. "Now for the exciting part."
He followed suit, then stopped beside her. "Go on. I'll be right behind."
She nodded, gripped her straps, and marched on.
There were trees as far as the eye could see, each tall and thick with moss. All the while, insects buzzed, birds chirped, and tiny mammals scurried. As for the aroma, it smelt of damp moss, flowers, and life.
It would seem perfect.
"Don't worry, Eliott." She peered back. "I never came across any real threat."
He remained quiet.
"We're almost there."
Moments passed.
Head down, she stopped, considered, then continued. "It should be just up here."
Up ahead, a tree had fallen, a few feet wide, with no obvious way around.
"This might be tricky," she said.
"But it's our only choice."
When it was reached, Lottie looked over her shoulder. Then, with a sigh, she grabbed at the bark, propped herself up, and jumped over. "Your turn!"
"No pressure, right?" he mumbled.
"Right."
After doing likewise, he hopped over but missed his landing. On his side, he groaned and held a leg.
"You alright there, buddy?" She stood over him, looking down. "Did you twist your leg or somethin'?"
Moments later, he sat upright, massaging his ankle. "I just... I'm not sure what happened."
"You almost remind me of myself," she said, offering a hand. "Though, I've never known you to be clumsy."
After accepting it, he was pulled to his feet. Then, doubled-over, he took deep breaths.
"Just, uh, sit down or something. Maybe... you're not ready yet."
He peered at her, jaw set.
"What, am I wrong?" she asked.
He looked down and nodded, stiff. "I'm done holding us up. We're close, so go on."
"You sure?" She searched him, head tilted. "There's a stump right t-"
"My ankle's fine." His tone was heavy, eyes sunken. "I'll follow."
Lottie mumbled incoherent words. After gesturing, then sighing, she proceeded deeper.
A minute passed.
There, before them, was a green fabric, now torn and faded, tied over a tree.
"That was my shirt, Eliott." She gave a murmur, looking it over. "This was where I spent my month."
"That it was," he said. "That it was..."
She turned to him. "Are you talking about the shirt?"
He met her face.
"You remember me wearing that, don't you?"
He gave a subtle nod.
"Yeah, I remember, too." She stared off, past the shirt. "I remember a lot of things, Eliott."
He began to shift, then nodded ahead. "Let's keep going. I'll follow you."
She gave a double-take. "Uh, what did you say?"
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𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒆 | ✔
Mystery / Thrillerᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ 'Well, if it wasn't you, who was it?' - In her eyes, there was only before and after the fire. At the tender age of nine, her woodland home alit in flames from a stovetop accident. Along with their livelihood, her parents were lost in the...
