The Fog (HIATUS)

Chapter 14

The sun shone in my eyes, waking me up unfortunately. I would love some more sleep but apparently the sun doesn't care about that.

It is rather chilly today, the breeze sending a shiver down my spine. I stretched in my hammock and looked down expecting to see Cooper, but to my surprise he was nowhere to be seen.

Did he go hunting or for water?
That didn't make sense to me as we hunted and got water yesterday.

His hammock is also gone, he must have packed it already and wants to leave as soon as I'm ready.

After climbing down, I noticed that the fire was out, so he didn't go for water or food. Maybe he went to check the area and make sure that its safe.

I need to get the hammock down first, then I will just wait for him and we can go.
Climbing up wasn't the problem, it was untying the knot Cooper made. I just wanted to cut the rope at that point, but when the knot finally loosened, I grinned like a little child, until I remembered that there's the second knot on the other side.

After successfully getting the hammock down and rolling it up I looked for my bag. I remember hanging it next to my hammock on a branch yesterday, but it seems like Cooper moved it.

I looked around and spotted it under a tree. So he did move it.
,,Cocoguy!" I shouted, just in case he was close by and could hear me.

The bag had some additional food, the rabbit he smoked yesterday, and a full bottle of water.
,,Cooper?"

Where did that guy go?
Rummaging through my bag I found a folded piece of paper.
Confused I grabbed it and unfolded it gently. It definitely wasn't new as the paper was slightly yellow.

It was a note left by him as Cooper signed his name as if it was a letter.
Some words and sentences were unreadable as he scratched them so much some places had tiny tears.

I started to read the note quietly.

,,Look kid,
I'm not good with words and writing it down felt like the best option for me.
I gave a promise to Pedro that if anything happened to him, I would take care of you, but I feel like I can't keep the promise anymore.

It's not your fault kid, just go to the fort, they will welcome you and live your life there. Living inside will be easier for you and you won't die out here.

-Cooper"

I stared at the note in disbelief. This had to be a bad joke he made. There's no way he just left me here.

The longer I stand here the more real it seems to me. He suddenly started talking about forts like those were the safest places on earth, as if he never cursed at forts before.
His sudden will to show me every fort we went by and risk the animal attacks and getting spotted.

I scan the campsite for any of his belongings. Any indication that he was pulling a horrible joke on me.
His bag was gone, his hammock is gone, he is gone.

My breathing picked up as a sudden wave of panic hit me.
He left. He's gone. He left me alone.
Reading the note again, again and again I start to wonder. Why? Was it something I did? What did I do?

I try to calm myself, breathing deeply and closing my eyes. It takes me some time, but my breathing is back to normal, and I open my eyes again.

Looking at the note one more time I read it again.
,,Go to the fort..." I read out loud, and the next second, all of my anxiety suddenly turned to anger, rage even.
Crumpling the note in my hands I grab my bag and throw the note inside and pack the hammock.

,,If you think I will give up then you're wrong. You hear me Cooper?! I'm not giving up! I made a promise, and I will keep it!" I shout at the top of my lungs, feeling the tears slide down my cheek. I dug through the bag and took out the compass and go south-east.