Forgotten Pines: The Chronicle of the Kodnikado

SIXTEEN

SIXTEEN

Max
----

I was pouring myself a solo cup when the beverage table seemed to move. Then out of nowhere Donny's head came popping up. "Max-"

"The fuck".

"Shhhh!" He held his finger up to his lips then glanced around as if someone were listening. "Talk quieter".

"Why?"

Instead of answering he motioned for me to climb under the table.

"I'm not-"

"Quick before they find me".

"Huh?" I arched a brow at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Get under the table!"

I rolled my eyes then did as he asked.

When I was sitting vertical to him, with my head digging into the wood above, I asked, "Who are you hiding from?"

"Cemre".

"Aha". I took a sip of my drink, and grimaced when the alcohal seared my throat. "Why?"

"Cuz I wanna do something and he won't let me".

The sound of feet passing by made Donny clamp his mouth shut.

"Are you okey?"

"Fine". He slightly lifted the flap of material concealing our hiding spot. "Look". He pointed at the zip line. "I need your help with something".

Donny's strange mood was somewhat familiar.  I just couldn't place my finger on it.

"What are you wanting to do?" I asked.

"Just finish that cup and I'll tell you".

"Why?"

"Cuz you won't help unless your drunk".

Oh jeez.

I probably shouldn't be participating in anything Donny has planned, but I was curious.

Or maybe I was just a little tipsy.

I tipped my cup back and gulped down the essences.

"Will you tell me now?"

"Are you drunk?"

I chuckled then smacked him atop the head. "You idiot. It doesn't work that fast".

"I just-" his eyes darted around, "I really wanna do this thing".

"Ugh fine". I crawled out from under the table and filled myself up another cup; with something a bit stronger this time.

I was about halfway done with my first sip when I heard Cemre call my name. I lifted my gaze over the rim of the cup and watched as my brother, along with Onnie, and Simon came jogging over.

"Have you seen Donny?" Cemre asked through a pant.

"No".

"I can't find him".

"What's the big deal? It's a party. He's probably off with that girl he likes".

"Simon gave him some edibles".

Oooh.

Well that explained a lot.

No wonder he was acting so strange.

I finished with my cup and tossed it. "Well, I'm about four drinks in so....I'm not gonna be much help". I pointed in a random direction, and grinned. "He might be that way".

They started to walk away, but then Cemre stopped. He tossed me a worried look, "Be careful dude."

I raised both my hands, and gave him a thumbs up.

When they were gone I ducked back under the table. "Alright. Let's go do this thing that you won't tell me about".

Donny's eyes seemed to sparkle as his lips pulled into a smile. "Fuck yeah!"

--------

"Let me get this straight", I said as we walked. "You wanna go down the zipline but upside down?"

"Yes".

If I were in my right sort of mind I would have told him to drop the idea, but I wasn't in my right of mind.

"That's insane Donny". I swung my good arm around his neck and pulled him closer. "And I'm totally in".

"Lower your voice Max". He hissed.

"There's music playing. No one's gonna hear us".

"I'm not taking a chance".

Donny always became super paranoid whenever he got his hands on anything weed based. It was actually quit funny.

"Where are we even going?" I asked. This whole time I had just been letting Donny lead.

Since we were trying to stay out of sight we decided to travel through the surrounding woods.

With the sun gone, and the moon only at a crescent it was damn near impossible to see without the light of the fires. And Donny wouldn't let me use my phone flash.

"We're going to the cave". He responded in a duh tone.

"We've been walking for a while". Or maybe I was just to damn out of it.

This statement made Donny stop. I couldn't see his face, but I could feel him staring at me. "Um".

"What?"

"Did you hear that?"

"No".

I felt my heart exhilarate as I swiveled my head in a circle. The forrest was alot more threatening in the dark.

Images of those prints from earlier flashed in my mind.

"Come on Donny". I snatched his wrist and started for the edge of the forrest.

"What are you doing?"

"Going back to the party".

"But-"

"We can still do the zipline".

When the light from the fires came into view I felt myself relax a bit. That is until Donny clutched my arm to the point of pain.

"Donny". I hissed, "Loosen your grip".

"Sorry".

We were just about to the edge of the treeline when Donny yanked on my arm.

"What?"

"There's the cave". He pointed in a direction.

We had successfully made it closer.

"Let's go do this thing". I said as I stumbled over a patch of tree roots.