The Girl from the Trees(Completed)

What Followed

A scream ripped through the camp, Jakub sat bolt upright, sliding his face against the inside of his tent. Ignoring the burn from his chaffed skin, he slid out of his tent into the fire light. Sam was standing his back to the fire, blood dripped down his left leg.

"What the fuck happened?" Taylor asked him, appearing from his own tent.

He pointed at the tall grass, "I was walking back and forth to keep myself awake and something slashed my leg!" A rustling sound made him turn, almost stepping in the fire.

Jakub pointed at Taylor, "Bandage his leg as quickly as possible." Taylor nodded his agreement and grabbed his pack.

Evan had joined them, holding his machete, his pack at his feet, and surveying the surrounding area. "Do you think it is possible that whatever it is out there has been following us?"

A shrill shriek split the night, as a hunched blur launched onto Evan's tent, ripping, and shredding it quickly before dragging the destruction back into the tall grass. Evan and Jakub put their backs to the fire, Jakub also grabbing his machete and pack in case his tent got hit next. Taylor had cut Sam's pant leg off as it was in tatters and quickly bandaged the injury. Blood had soaked his shoe, Sam refusing to sit down while Taylor had worked.

"We need cover!" Taylor said, slinging his pack onto his back and drawing his axe.

"The cabin," Evan said quickly. "The trees around it provide a barrier."

"Are you okay with forcing our way inside?" Jakub asked, watching the grass.

Sam laughed, "I am more than happy to force my way in if I must, given we can make it all the way there."

"Can you run?" Jakub asked him quickly.

"You bet your ass I can run," Sam replied.

Evan scanned the grass, "We left a path when we walked through the grass, follow it, and stay close together."

"I will cover the rear," Taylor piped up. "Leave the tents." When the others remained silent, he continued. "Go, go!"

They did not need to be told twice, as they all took off at a run, following the small path, grass whipping their arms and faces. As they ran, they could hear soft footfall in the grass around them, something was following them and from the sound of it, many somethings. A darked clawed paw ripped through the darkness, catching Jakub's upper left arm, tearing through his pack, and nearly knocking him off his feet. Taylor, whose face was now covered in blood, grabbed the strap of Jakub's pack, and helped him maintain his balance. He also swung his axe through the grass, but the animal was already gone.

"Keep moving!" he shouted. There was a sound to his right, and he acted instinctively, swinging his axe. Another spray of blood and a terrible shriek echoed around them. They were now passing from the field into the forest, the thick trees they had cut through earlier in the day just ahead of them. The sound of footfall on the ground had disappeared, but the ripping of bark and branch could be heard overhead. "They are in the trees! Do not stop!"

Pushing as hard as they could, they lowered their heads and tore into the gap they had made in the thick undergrowth. Branches that had settled, hung across the path, causing the boys to have to run with their arms in front of their faces. The run was painful, but they were soon in the near pitch-black opening around the cabin, a small trickle of light shining through a small gap of the boarded window. Breathing heavy, they made their way to the door, Evan knocking frantically.

"Go away!" a soft, scared voice called out.

"Please let us in!" Evan cried. "We do not have much time!"

There was no reply and a few moments passed in silence. Loud footfall could be heard bearing down the gap, making Sam prepare to ram the door with his shoulder. Just as he was about to slam into the door, a loud scrapping sound could be heard, and the door swung open.

"Hurry up," the soft voice whispered as she backed across the room and sat on a disheveled bed.

Taylor and Jakub were the last ones into the small cabin, slamming the door shut behind them and pushing the worn dresser back in front, then collapsing to the floor, holding it in place. "Thank you," Taylor said breathlessly.

"You have brought them too me," She replied quietly. "They could not get in before."

Evan looked at her, "Do you know what they are?"

The girl looked from boy to boy, accessing the small cuts and lacerations on their faces and arms, as well as the gash on Jakub's upper left arm and Sam's left leg. "I know them as murkrels," she said quietly.

Taylor rounded on Jakub, "Let me see your arm, I will bandage you up."

He nodded his agreement, letting his bag slip off his right arm. The bag hit the floor and small pieces of black plastic fell to the floor. "No," the words escaped Jakub's lips involuntarily.

"Are you fucking kidding me!" Sam gasped, seeing what had been damaged.

Evan covered his face with his hands, "That is not good."

Taylor had removed his first aid kit from his bag, cleaning the gash on Jakub's arm. "We would not be able to get service in here anyways," he said calmly. "Mr. C will come looking for us, we just have to hope he comes prepared to deal with these murkrels, or whatever she called them." The girl was sitting quietly in the corner, a blanket pulled up to her chin, watching them. She nodded when he said the name of the creatures.

Jakub took to looking around the cabin, which was surprisingly clean given the state of the outside. The fireplace was ablaze, which is why they had seen the smoke before. "How long have you been here?"

At first, she looked as though she was not going to respond. She glanced around at them one by one, making eye contact. Her movements were very jerky and unnatural. "I am not sure," she said flatly. "As long as I can remember."

"Are you the only one that lives here?" Taylor asked, peering out the gap in the window, a shadow moving across the opening outside. She nodded. "That does not seem safe."

"I was safe before you all arrived," she remarked flatly.

"We will not hurt you," Sam responded, slightly abashed.

The girl shook her head, "I am not afraid of you."

"She means the creatures followed us into her grove," Jakub replied. "What is your name?"

Sitting still, most of her face now hidden by the blanket, she stared at him. A few moments passed before she responded. "My name is Sarzali."

"That is a very exotic name," Evan chimed. "I have never heard it before."

"I am from a very different place," she stated softly.

They all fell into silence after that, sitting quietly and staring from one to another, except Taylor, who was staring out the small gap, watching shadows moving back and forth. Slowly, the boys fell back to sleep, exhausted from their endeavors, drifting off where they sat, Taylor falling asleep against the wall.