Survive - Zalfie (BOOK 1)

15. The riverside

Chapter 15 - The riverside

A few days later Thomas decided I was ready to travel again. We were all getting ready to leave. The last days weren't fun for either of us. I was pissed because Jim and Thomas totally ignored the fact that I knew they were hiding something from me. Also they still didn't like each other. So if I wasn't talking, because I was upset with both of them, they argued.

Now that Megan was gone Thomas was kind of taking the lead. Jim was walking closely behind him and I was walking at the back. I didn't feel like asking them what was so awful that they couldn't tell me. They would come up with a lame excuse anyway.

I really missed Megan and Poppy. In a situation like this I could've talked to them but they're gone. Poppy died and Megan was send god knows where. I could feel tears sting in the corner of my eyes. How I wished Alfie, Joe or Louise was here. I missed them all so much.

I tilted my head up and saw Jim and Thomas now walking next to each other. They seemed to be talking about something. Probably about me, I thought. Anger rose inside me and I decided to do something really reckless.

We were surrounded by trees again so I could easily slip behind one and wait for them to be gone. They would panic and try to find me. I didn't really want to leave them I just wanted them to be worried about me, find me and then tell me everything because they realised that I would run away if they didn't. Sounded like a plan.

I waited for the right time and shot to the left. I hid behind a tree and held my breath, waiting for them to notice. To my surprise I didn't hear them yelling my name for at least two whole minutes. Seriously? They didn't even notice my disappearance? Let's take it to the next level then.

I started to move swiftly from tree to tree. I was getting away further and further from the place where I left. I could hear worried voices by now. I smiled, finally they would come look for me. To hear their voices better I started to walk backwards. This obviously wasn't a good idea.

Soon I realised I was standing in something wet. I looked down and saw that I was standing at the beginning of a river. I turned around to see a huge wild river that ended with a waterfall. I must've been so focused on hearing Jim and Thomas yell my name that I had completely shut out the water noises.

I started feeling anxious. Why did I ever think it was a good idea to run off? Where am I? How could I ever find the way back.

A horrendous smell then hit my nostrils. This smell I could recognize anywhere. Dead people. I looked around where it came from but I had no clue. Were they watching me?

Out of nowhere one of them shot forward towards me and I had no choice but to run in the river. If I was lucky they might not be able to swim. The stream was stronger than I thought, though and I was knocked off my feet. The cold water hit my skin like knives. I screamed out loud, hoping that Jim and Thomas were near.

I tried to stand up again but the river was not only stronger but also deeper than I thought. I fell again, head first this time. Immediately I inhaled a large gulp of water. I managed to get my head out of the water again and I coughed up the whole load of water I breathed in.

"Help!" I screamed so loud it hurt my voice. I couldn't hear or see anything. I could only feel the river drag me with it. I had given up all hope and was ready to drown when I felt someone grab my hand and pull me back to the side. I looked up to see who was my saviour but I saw something else first. The waterfall. We wouldn't make it.

Just as I thought this I could feel the hand let go of me and I fell and fell. Soon I hit the water again and fear took over. I couldn't swim or fight anymore. I gave up and let my body go with the stream.

After some time my head hit something hard, which gave me back some sense. The stream had calmed down and I was hitting some rocks at the sides. I coughed out all the water that was still in my lungs and sat up, my back against the rocks. I was so so cold. Why was I so stupid to run away? I didn't even want to go away. What if they hated me now?

The wind blew against my cold wet skin. I shivered and my teeth were clattering. I needed to get out off the water. I stood up. My legs were exhausted. I could barely move but I somehow succeeded at reaching the dry grass. Breathing heavily I collapsed on the ground. I had just escaped death.

But where was the person who tried to save me? I looked up but I was alone. I let my head gently fall back on the ground and sighed. Why did I get myself in such mess? Now I was all by myself and there was no way that I could survive on my own. The cold was getting worse and I realised that I had to get out of these wet clothes or I would get a pneumonia.

Shaking like crazy I took of my sweater and shirt. I also took of my shoes, socks and black trousers. There I sat, shivering in my underwear because I had been such a fool. I curled myself up in a ball on the ground and started crying. Thomas, Jim, please find me, my mind begged.

The night was long and cold. Nobody was near to help me. My clothes were still wet so I was half naked for the whole night. I prayed that I wouldn't die from the cold. At least I was dry now, I tried to stay positive.

My mouth was feeling dry, but stupid as I was I didn't have any water or food with me. Exhaustion hit me but the cold was still too bad to fall asleep. I decided to close my eyes anyway. With a bit of luck I could fall asleep and at least die without knowing. Yes, at this point I honestly thought I was going to die. There was no hope in my cold tiny body left.