Blood Moon Lake

Chapter 42

Trigger Warning! ⚠️ De@th, mentions of de@d bod!es

The first thing I noticed was light shining through my eyelids. Must be morning. Sighing, I cracked open my eyes. The sun shone through the trees and beamed into them. Scrunching up my face, I closed my eyes to block it out. I sighed, even though I had slept fine I still felt exhausted. My physical body feels fine, it's more of a mental exhaustion. Like when your brain has processed too much and it's trying to shut off. I guess it makes sense, a lot has happened. I should have known it would all catch up eventually. After everything we've been through I'm sure it would get to anyone. I wonder how Amelia and Chase are doing. Maybe I should check on them once they wake up. Or maybe they're already awake. I should probably look. Forcing myself up, I began to rub the goop from my eyes. Once my vision had cleared, I looked around the area.

Most everyone was sleeping, the only other people who were awake were Amelia and Chase. Oh, so they are already up. If they even went to sleep in the first place. Hopefully, they slept. Pretty sure it helps your brain process grief. It might have helped, or maybe not. The brain has a way of replaying bad memories and making them worse. Some nightmares are worse than not sleeping. Especially if they're about the death of loved ones. I wonder if they'll ever be able to sleep peacefully again. Or will they wake up night after night screaming from reoccurring nightmares about Carmen's death? I shook my head, that is not what I need to worry about. I should see how they're doing. Standing to my feet, I grabbed my backpack and made my way over to where the two were sitting. "Hey," I whispered.

Chase nodded in reply and Amelia gave a small wave. "Want to see if this thing has coffee?" I asked extending the backpack toward Chase. He blinked at me in surprise but grabbed it, "Sure, I could use some. Amelia?" "Yeah," she nodded, "That would be great." Unzipping the bag, Chase reached his hand in and pulled out two thermos. Taking a drink from one, Chase smiled, "It's coffee, alright." "Good," Amelia smiled grabbing the other one from his hand. "Thanks," Chase nodded handing the bag back. "Anytime," I smiled sitting down. We sat in silence as I watched them drink their coffee. A light breeze rustled the trees behind us, and soon enough the sounds of animals could be heard throughout the forest. After an hour or two passed everyone was awake except for Ella. Anna and Jack had woken up around the same time and Leo had just woken up a few minutes ago.

"Should we wake her up?" Anna asked, "She'll sleep all day if we let her." "I think we can let her be," Amelia said, "...I don't plan on going anywhere today." "Okay," Anna nodded. "Anyone want breakfast?" I asked. "Yes," Jack answered, "What do we have?" Reaching into the backpack, I pulled out a breakfast burrito. "Um... breakfast burritos apparently," I said tossing it to him. "Ooo, nice," he grinned unwrapping it. I passed out the other burritos and handed another thermos of coffee to a half-asleep Leo. As we munched on our breakfast, Ella began to stir. "Looks like she won't sleep all day after all," Jack commented. "Looks like it," I hummed, "It's probably the smell of food that woke her up. "You're probably right," he nodded, "That's one of the only things that can rouse her." "Stop talking about me," she mumbled shuffling over to us, "Give me the food." "Okay," I laughed handing her her burrito. Plopping down next to Leo, she unwrapped her burrito and tossed the wrapper at him. "Hey!" he shouted flipping her off. She smiled smugly and returned the gesture. "I should pour the rest of this coffee down the back of your shirt," he muttered. "But you won't," she smiled.

"You're right," he nodded, "But I will do this." Grabbing her hand that held the burrito, he smashed part of it into her face. Oh well, he's dead. "Did you hit me in the face with my breakfast?" Ella asked calmly. Leo's face paled at the tone, "Shit." Bolting to his feet, Leo took off running. "GET BACK HERE!" Ella shouted chasing after him. We watched as the two chased each other around. "You think she's gonna catch him?" Jack asked. "Probably," Anna nodded, "Haven't seen anyone escape her before." "True," he nodded. "I don't know," I shrugged, "I think Leo might shake her." Anna shook her head, "No way. She'll outlast him for sure." "I don't know," I replied, "He doesn't have to outrun her. Just outsmart her." "Speak of the devil," Jack snorted. "What?" Anna asked. "Look," he said pointing. I looked toward where Jack was pointing, Leo was scaling a tree. "Is he climbing a tree to get away from her?" I laughed.

"Looks like it," Jack smiled. "See I told you he was crafty," I told Anna. "Yeah," Anna nodded staring at him, "I'm sure that's a pain." "Why?" I asked confused. "Huh?" she asked looking at me, "Oh! I mean I'm sure that's a pain for Ella. Sorry, full sentence didn't come out." "Oh," I said, "No it's fine. I'm sure it is annoying for her." Glancing back to where the two were, I saw Ella glaring up at him. Huh, well if she wants to get him she'll have to wait a while. ...how is he going to get down? Ella is very stubborn. She will wait all day for him to get down from there. I think he just trapped himself! The only time climbing a tree is a good idea is if you know whatever is chasing you will go away. Ella will not be going away. He's screwed. Well, guess he won't be getting away from her after all. Unless I intervene... which I will. "Hey, Ella!" I called, "Are you going to eat or can I have your food?" "Don't you dare touch my food!" Ella yelled glaring at me. "Then come eat it!" I hollered back. Looking into the tree, Ella glared up at Leo and then stormed back over to us.

"Touch my food I kill you," she stated picking up her burrito. "Noted," I hummed. After everyone finished their breakfast, we had a less pleasant thing to consider. "Do you think we should bury him?" Amelia asked. "I don't know," Chase replied, "I feel like we should but at the same time how would we do it?" "I don't know," she shrugged, "We could dig a hole with our hands." Chase shook his head, "That'll take a while." "We could leave him to the elements," Amelia suggested. "No," Chase snapped, "I'm not leaving him for animals." "Okay," she nodded, "We won't." "I could see if there's any shovels in the backpack," I said. "Would you?" Amelia smiled. Digging around in the backpack, I came up empty-handed. I shook my head sadly, "We don't have any." "Oh," she frowned. Chase took a deep breath, "That's fine. We'll use our hands." "Do you want help?" Anna asked.

Amelia shook her head, "No, we want to do this ourselves." We all nodded. We watched as Chase picked up Carmen's body and walked farther into the woods. No one spoke. We sat and waited for the two of them to return. The stifling sadness had returned. I don't know why but I thought it might leave with the body. Like the sadness itself was attached to it. Which is crazy because that's not how it works sadness doesn't attach itself to stuff. But if it did I think it would be attached to whatever was around the body. That's why nature seems to mourn with people, the sadness attaches to it too. It was several hours before Amelia and Chase returned. When they did, both were covered in dirt and tears. Sitting down, they leaned on each other hands intertwined. They sat there for a while, none of us went over to them. There was a feeling that they didn't want to be disturbed. So, we waited. We waited in silence until they finally broke apart and turned to us. "Want some water?" I asked holding out a bottle. "Thank you," Amelia smiled accepting it and taking a sip. Handing it over to Chase, he took a sip as well. "Would you be mad if we used this to clean up?" She asked. I shook my head, "Go ahead."

Amelia began to pour it over her hands and wash the dirt off them. Just as she was about to rinse off her face she paused. "I almost forgot," she said, "I got this for you." Pulling a red spider lily out of her pocket and handing it to Chase. "These were his favorites, right?" Chase smiled, "Yeah they were. Thank you." "Of course," she said kissing him on the cheek. Once Amelia was done cleaning up she handed the bottle to Chase. "Want me to hold the flower for you?" She asked. Chase shook his head, "No, I got it." Carefully placing the flower behind his ear, he gestured to it, "See." As he began rinsing off his hands, a bee began to approach the flower on his head. Hovering around the flower, it started to land on it.

As it did Chase reached up and swatted at it knocking it down. In retaliation, the bee stung him. In the neck. Chase's eyes widened and Amelia gasped. "Get an epi-pen!" she shouted, "Now! GET AN EPI-PEN NOW!" Shooting into action, I tore open the backpack and began digging through it. No epi-pen. No! There needs to be one! I frantically searched through it trying to find one. "Hurry!" Amelia cried. Chase was on the ground gasping for air. "I can't find one!" I replied, "There aren't any in here!" "NO!" She shouted, "THERE HAS TO BE! KEEP LOOKING!" I continued scouring the bag but none appeared. Then the wheezing stopped. I stilled. Don't tell me. No. No. Whipping my head up, I saw Chase lying still in Amelia's arms. He was dead. Chase was dead. Amelia screamed. A long anguished scream. All was silent and then something familiar screamed back.

Well, he's dead. I told you I'd be killing people. Poor Amelia though, first her brother-in-law dies and now her husband. Not to mention his death is slightly her fault. Anyway, have a great day! Bye!

The backpack: I have everything you need!

Also the backpack: I don't have most of the things you desperately need!