Ghost Town

Chapter 16

"Sara?" Fern shouted as they walked through the thick wilderness. Fern was in the front, following the trail where the footprints led. The footprints were harder to see now, because of the grass and sticks and brush. Sam was right behind her. "Sara!" She shouted again. The only answer was her echo. Ferns' heart was racing now. What on earth is Sara doing out here? They continued moving through the narrow trail, snow-covered leaves and branches rubbed against Fern's skin. I wish I put on a jacket before running into the woods with nothing but a flashlight. They eventually came to a clearing in the woods. A big builder sat in the heart of the clearing. Fern walked over to it and touched it with her hand. It was cold, but she still jumped up on top of it. She stood up and looked around. She noticed a drop off to their left. Fern could tell how far of a drop it was but knew it was dangerous. "There's a cliff that way." She told Sam, pointing to where the drop-off was. She jumped down from the rock. "It's pretty dangerous out here." She had a feeling Sara was near. She thought to herself. Just wait. As they continued through the bushes. Fern moved some branches that were in her way. A sharp pain made Fern jerk her hand back as she noticed the small vine, covered in spikes. "Stupid plant." She mumbled to herself as she stepped under the vine.

"Look!" Sam said pointing at something in the bushes. "Footprints. Or something at least." He said. Fern looked at where he was pointing and saw a basketball-sized mark in the snow. It didnt seems to have any shape. 

"Which direction do you think she-"

A scream interrupted Sam as it cut through the forest night.

"Sara!" Fern screamed, almost smashing back into the spiky vine as she ran. Im coming! Once she got into the clearing, she saw something that made her stop in her tracks. 

"What are you kids doing here?" The figure asked. He sounded older, maybe forty. Fern stood there for a moment. The man was wearing a dark hunter green suit, that covered his whole body. The astronaut suit.

"10-78 in the clearing in the woods." The man spoke into his walkie-talkie.

"10-101." Someone responded.

"10-106. I think we found our 10-65."

"10-4." The voice in the tiny speaker replied. It was like hearing robots talking. The man in the astronaut suit looked back at Fern and Sam. 

"W-we were looking for our parents." Fern stumbled.

"You dont have to worry about that." Fern could see him smile through the translucent face covering. "Where's the other girl?" He asked them.

"Sara?" Sam asked.

"Do you know where she went?"

"That's who we're looking for. We heard her scream so we ran." Sam told him. Sam seemed to have no problem with talking to people.  

"You guys need to come with me." The man said.

"But what about Sara?" Fern shouted at him.

"We'll find her. right now, we need to get you two back to your parents." 

"We are not leaving without Sara!" Ferns screaming at this point, and the astronaut suit man didnt seem happy either. Before she knew it, she was running. She heard the man shout something, but she didnt catch it. That scream. It was definitely Sara. 

She was in trouble.