Blood Moon Lake

Chapter 34

Stumbling through the corn, I could feel the stock's sharp edges cut my skin. The demons screamed from the edge of the woods, they were close. Rapidly moving farther into the corn, I glanced around for a place to hide. The sooner we stop moving the sooner the demons can't see us. Hopefully, the corn will impair their vision and they won't be able to see us as well while we look for a place to hide. The adults are back there too, if the demons do catch up they'll get to them first which will buy us more time. Unless they went in a different direction and the demons split up. Let's hope not, I can't have those things catching my friends. Surging deeper into the field, I kept my eye out for a particularly dense spot. Unfortunately, the corn was evenly spaced. Whoever planted this is a good farmer but it's not very convenient when you're trying to hide.

Finally, we came to an area that had tall weeds growing. Slowing to a stop, I can only assume we're in the middle of the field. Putting my finger to my lips, I crouched to the ground and motioned for my friends to join me in the weed. My friends slowly crept into the weeds making sure there was room for everyone. Glancing around, I checked to make sure everyone was safe. Anna, check. Ella, check. Leo, check. Jack, ... where's Jack? "Jack," I hissed, "Where are you?" No reply. My eyes widened, he was gone. How long has he been gone? Where did we lose him? Did the demons catch him? "When's the last you saw him?" I asked no one in particular. "Last I saw him was when we left the sleeping bags," Ella whispered, "I thought he was right behind me." Shoot. "I'm going back to look for him," I announced, "You guys stay here."

"No!" Ella protested, "I'll go back for him, I'm the one who saw him last!" "That doesn't change anything," I told her, "I know how to get back. You stay." "No," she said again, "I know how to get here too. We ran straight, besides you're the smart person I can't let you die." "Well I'm not letting you die either," I argued, "Besides, I'm faster." "Really?" she questioned, "How do you know that?" "I ran cross country for five years," I stated, "I'm positive I'm faster than you." "You're probably out of shape," Ella argued, "I highly doubt that statement has any standing." "Or neither of you could die and I can go get him," Anna chimed in. "NO!" Ella and I both snapped. "Gezze fine," Anna pouted, "Be that way." "I'm stronger," Ella argued, "I have a better chance of fighting off the demons if they catch me." "I'm faster," I told her, "I won't get caught!" "Well I'm sure the demons are faster than you," Ella shot back, "Besides, what will you do if Jack is unconscious!? Could you carry him?" "Maybe," I snapped, "If not I can drag him!"

"Well, I can carry him!" Ella declared, "Which is better than dragging him! Which would slow you down, by the way!" "Oh my- MMMMMM!" I seethed, "Leo! Tell her she's wrong!" There was no reply. Turning to where Leo had been earlier, I noticed his spot was empty. My face fell, where did he go? "Anna," I said, "Where did Leo go?" "I don't know," she shrugged, "He left a while ago." "WHAT!?" I shouted, "When!?" "When you two were arguing," she replied. AHHHHHG! Now I need to find Leo too! Where did he go!? "I'm back," Leo said running into the weeds. "Where did you go!?" I cried. "Where did I go?" he asked, "While you two were arguing I decided to be productive and went back for Jack." "Yeah," Jack chimed in, "Standing around and arguing doesn't help." "What happened!?" I asked ignoring his comment. "I tripped," he replied, "When I got up you guys were gone." I let out a sigh of relief, "Okay, next time just holler for us. Please." "Okay," he nodded, "But if the demons find us it's your fault." "Speaking of demons," Leo said, "Shouldn't we be quiet?"

Oh. Right. I nodded and crouched back down. Hopefully, the demons weren't close enough that they can see us. Now that I think about it, it's oddly quiet. Did the demons catch the adults? Are they snacking on them right now? Or did they get far enough away from us that we are out of danger? Hopefully, they shot past us and we don't need to worry about them for a while. If that's the case, we can backtrack and hot-wire that car. But where would we go? I still don't want to go back to civilization and risk putting others in danger but I don't want us to be sitting ducks either. We'll figure that out in a bit when I can talk to people and see what they think. We crouched there in silence no one moving for fear of triggering the demons and killing us all. I stayed there listening for any sign of movement. There was no sound. Everything was oddly quiet, just like it had been in the town.

We weren't out of danger yet. We just need to wait till the animals return. Then we'll be in the clear. I feel a little bad for leaving the adults behind but it's their fault for not keeping up. Aren't they the ones who said they won't keep useless people around? The same rules should apply to them. Suddenly, the adults burst through the corn. "RUN!" Carmen shouted grabbing my wrist and pulling me behind him. Instinctively reaching out to steady myself, my hand wrapped someone's arm and pulled them along with me. Before I knew it, I was sprinting through the corn behind Carmen trying to keep up with him. Glancing back, I saw the demons charge into the area we'd just been standing. My stomach sank, if we hadn't moved we would be dead. We continued dashing through the corn attempting to put as much distance between us and the demons as possible. Eventually, we slowed to a stop. Turning around to check on my friends, I noticed a distinct lack of people. Spinning around, I realized there were only two people with me, Anna and Carmen.

Oh no, oh no, no, no, no! This cannot have happened! Where are the others!? Are they safe!? Did Anna see what happened!? Did the demons get them!? No! No! No! I'm sure they're fine. They have to be fine. Anna must have seen what happened! I'll ask her. "Where are the others?" I asked in a shaky voice. Anna looked around and paled, "I thought they were with us. Do you think they got caught?" My heart sank. She didn't see what happened. They could be dead. "Ah! No," Carmen interjected, "Don't think like that. We must have gotten separated at your little hiding spot." I nodded, that would make sense. Carmen grabbed me and I grabbed Anna. The others must have scattered in a different direction and the only reason we're together is because we grabbed each other.

Yes. That's what happened. It has to be. "What should we do?" I asked, "We don't know where the others are." "Right now the best thing we can do is head to the edge of the cornfield," Carmen said, "Hopefully the others will head that way two and we'll meet up with them there." "So we just leave them and hope for the best?" I whispered. "Yeah," he nodded, "I don't like it either but if we go looking for them and get lost we'll never find them and they'll think we're dead." I frowned. He's right, us being lost wouldn't help them and I have the pack with all the food and water. If we get lost they'll die of dehydration or starvation. I guess hoping we find them at the edge of the field is the best option... hopefully we find them before them. I don't want anything to happen. I let out a sigh, "Okay, let's start heading to the edge of the field. If we get lucky we might be able to intercept them on the way there." Carmen nodded, "Let's hope so." Anna nodded in agreement, and we rested for a few more minutes. Then, we set off toward what is (hopefully) the edge of the field.

Sorry about the short chapter but there was only so much I could say in this one without making it unnecessarily long. I wonder if the others are okay, do you think they are? Because I have no qualms with killing characters. :) Anyway, see you next week! Have a great day! Bye! 🙃