The Protectors

Chapter 1 - Power Within

The stars illuminated the night sky, casting a radiant glow over the cabin retreat. Emile, accompanied by his closest friends Ethan and Tom, found solace by the crackling campfire. As they basked in each other's presence, Ethan couldn't help but express his disbelief, "Doesn't this feel like a dream?" A smile adorned his face as he absorbed the enchanting ambiance. Emile glanced around, his expression tinged with a hint of melancholy, before responding, "We've made it, my bro. Against all odds, we've done it. We deserve this moment after the years we've all had." Both Ethan and Tom nodded in agreement, raising their beers in unison, a silent toast to their shared journey. Throughout the evening, the trio reveled in conversation and camaraderie, cherishing each passing moment until the early hours of dawn. Tom succumbed to tiredness, leaving Emile and Ethan awake, engrossed in a video on their phones. "Did you watch it?" Emile asked, his voice filled with anticipation. Ethan remained silent, the tension palpable as they awaited his response. Suddenly, Ethan burst into uncontrollable laughter, clearly amused by the video Emile had sent him. "No way! That's how it ends? I can't believe it!" Ethan chuckled, struggling to compose himself. Emile, on the other hand, appeared devastated and slightly irritated, not at Ethan's reaction, but rather at the disappointing conclusion of the anime, on the video they had just watched. "The series started in 1998, and this is how it ends? I'm done. Never again will I be so invested in something I swear" Emile lamented, his disappointment evident. Ethan nodded in agreement, empathizing with Emile's sentiment. "I understand, bro. I get it," he affirmed, preparing to share his thoughts when a piercing scream shattered the tranquility of the night. Startled, Emile and Ethan exchanged glances, their silence speaking volumes. They waited anxiously, hoping to discern any further sounds, but the night remained eerily quiet. The scream had left an indescribable sense of unease hanging in the air. They waited for a minute to see if they could hear anything again but they heard nothing, the scream sounded like a woman but also sounded far away. "Yeah, bedtime" Emile jumped up "Tom, wake up you nitty" Tom woke up, with a yawn "What time is it?" he asked "Time for us to sleep before we get killed mate, me and Emile just heard someone scream. I'm not trying to die tonight" Ethan replied while collecting all of the things he had with him, such as a blanket, drink, and phone. Tom got up, clearly still tired, didn't question it, and simply went inside the cabin. Both Ethan and Emile followed, putting the fire out and going inside to get some sleep. 

The boys had made plans for a hiking trip through the woods the next day. They were all prepared and eager to embark on their adventure and Emile and Ethan didn't dare mention the scream they had heard in the early hours of the morning. As they walked for a few hours, they found themselves ascending higher into the hills. Tom, however, was gripped with fear of heights. "I think we should turn back," he expressed, feeling queasy. "This heat is unbearable, and I don't understand why you two enjoy walking so much." Emile and Ethan couldn't help but chuckle at Tom's apprehension. Emile responded, "It's good for you! Remember how much weight you lost from all the walking we used to do?" Ethan chimed in, "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just stay away from the edges." He then took out his phone to check the number of steps he had taken. "I've already done 20,000 steps. I'm actually with Tom on this one. Let's head back. I've had enough." Emile shook his head at their narrow focus. "You two always miss the point," he remarked. "Look at the breathtaking scenery and the beauty of nature around us. We don't get to experience this back home. We should cherish it." Tom and Ethan exchanged bewildered glances, thinking Emile had lost his mind. Emile, unfazed, sat down on the ground to take a sip of water from his bag.

Tom joined him as Ethan continued walking a little further along the trail. Suddenly, both Emile and Tom heard Ethan shout, "YO!!!! YOU TWO COME HERE NOW!" Startled, they jumped up and ran to him as quickly as they could. When they reached him, they were met with a trail of blood. Fear hung in the air, palpable to all. "Let's follow it," Tom suggested, his voice tinged with excitement. "It could be anything." Ethan and Emile exchanged glances, their minds filled with memories of the scream they had heard the previous night. "Nah," Emile responded firmly. "Forget this, bro. We're going back. I'm not trying to die out here." Tom looked annoyed, his eyebrows furrowing. "I wanted to go back earlier, and you were like, 'Nah, you'll be fine.' Now that something is interesting, do you want to go back? What if it's an injured animal? We could potentially save it." Worry flickered in Tom's eyes as he considered the possibility of a wounded creature. Meanwhile, Ethan continued walking, unfazed by the back-and-forth between his friends. As they argued, the trail veered off the main path. "Yo guys, it's gone off the trail and into that area over there," Ethan called out. In the distance, rocks and trees obstructed any clear path. Without hesitation, Tom sprinted towards the trail and began following it, with Emile and Ethan close behind. Emile expressed his dislike to Ethan, saying, "You know, I don't like this." Ethan nodded in agreement, acknowledging the consequences of not following their companion. "If we leave him alone, we'll never hear the end of it," Ethan added. Emile let out a sigh, fully aware that Ethan was right.