Umbilical

Chapter 3 Unstoppable

The woods closed in around Lara. Trees towered over her, creaking and groaning. The sound of the ocean was fading as she made her way further inland. Sticking to the stream was her best bet for now. She had to find a place to spend the night. Wondering around in the dark with no idea where she was going would only set her back. Her body needed the rest and there were decisions to be made. Should she try to find help or look for Kali? If there was a way to get to civilization and alert the authorities that would be the best option. A proper search party to rescue her daughter and an armed swat team to deal with the sick freaks that had massacred the other survivors and kidnapped her. It would be great, but how long would it take her to get out of these damn woods? A chill ran down Lara's spine as she wondered what could happen to Kali in the meantime. They took others too. Why? 

The stream had gotten wider. Her foot slipped on a wet rock and splashed in. The ankle twisted painfully. Shit! Be careful! A nasty sprain is the last thing she needed right now. Feeling grateful for the sturdy boots, Lara inspected the area. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness but she still couldn't see much further than an arm's length ahead. Eventually she found a big mound that had formed around a large fallen tree. There was a small hollow in the side of it that could provide a bit of shelter and conceal her from sight. Good enough. A quick look with the flashlight for snakes or insects, just in case. She had no idea what to look out for in this forest. 

Curling up into the hollow took some effort. It was uncomfortable, cold and humid. The wound in her abdomen ached even more from the awkward position. She considered looking for a strong painkiller in her stash but the idea of not being fully alert was frightening. Maybe in the morning, before she started moving. Moving where? Some of these trees were huge. If she could climb high enough, she might be able to spot a road or some other sign of civilization. Grunting in pain and frustration she dismissed the idea. Don't be stupid! She hadn't climbed a tree since childhood and in her current condition it was too much of a gamble. Then what? She couldn't just pick a direction and walk. What were the odds that would work out? A feeling of hopelessness tried to creep in. No! Stop it! You didn't survive a fucking plane crash and the bloodbath on that beach just to give up now. Think! There were others! Some of the survivors had gotten away. She was sure of it. There was no way of knowing where they went but surely they would be trying to get away and find help. If even one of them made it, they would alert the authorities about what was happening here. Finding Kali had to come first. It only made sense. She had no idea where to go looking for a rescue but there was a way to find her daughter. Follow the people that took her. 

Lara jumped as something rustled nearby. What was that? It was too dark to see. She hugged on her duffel and listened. There it was again but this time further away. Doesn't sound like a person. She tried to reassure herself and settle down. Night stretched into an eternity. The sounds of the woods and pain prevented her from falling into a deep sleep. Shapeless shadows took on life and lingered in her peripheral vision before melting away into the dark. She tried to keep her eyes shut and dozed for a few minutes at a time hoping for the sun to rise. It felt like being trapped in a void of blackness filled with unknown danger. She was transported to her childhood, to the small cluttered apartment she grew up in. During the winter they couldn't afford to run the heating all the time. Her tiny bedroom was so cold and dark at night. She would sit in bed after a nightmare, hiding under the covers, desperately waiting for the dawn. 

Lara took a deep breath, hands squeezing the duffel so hard her knuckles had gone white. She overcame that fear a long time ago. The memory was crystal clear. That one night when she turned off the light all by herself, walked to the middle of the room and challenged the dark. She remembered the rush it gave her, facing up to fear itself. The feeling of being unstoppable. That's what she needed now! Lara pushed the bag out of the way and slowly got up. She followed the sound of trickling water back to the stream. Her body was stiff and the skin around her wound pulled against the stitches painfully. Her face contorted into a harsh grimace. Unstoppable. That's what she had to be now. For Kali! She looked up at the sky. The darkness was receding.