Far Away From Home

Part Seven

“Steph, I need water.” Caleb said.

“How is that my problem?” Steph said.

“I'm thirsty, and besides, you stole my sandwich,” he said in defiance.

“Shut up, Caleb. We walked the same path. That means that we are all thirsty. But if we drink that water now, we might not have enough later.” Tony said.

“I agree, but I also think that we should replenish our lost body water now. Not that we would drink everything, but we can gather the strength to keep on moving.” Steph said.

She brought out one of the brightly colored water bottles and passed it around the group, limiting how much they consumed. 

“Guys, I think we should go back now. This is telling us something.” Renia said.

“I agree with Renia.” Tony said.

“Are you guys scared? If not, then you should take the bull by the horns. It was your idea in the first place.” Steph said.

“You were firmly against it before. Why are you in it now?” Tony asked.

“Does it seem like I am? I feel like I am in an alternate universe.” Steph said.

“Don't mind her. She's just trying to scare you. We should see this through to the end.” Caleb said.

With that, they took off.

They walked for miles, and Jackson couldn't understand why they couldn't reach the end of the trampled path.

Could it be that they have been walking in circles all this time?

“Do you think this forest is a mirage after all?” Steph said, voicing his thoughts.

“I wish you were a mirage.” Caleb said.

Steph glared at Caleb.

“How about we camp here for a while?” Renia said.

“We are out of food and water, and all we have is what I brought. What use will that be if we can't even eat anything around a campfire?” Steph said.

“I don't know Steph, but wouldn't that be better than walking in circles?” Renia said.

“Let's wait it out.” Caleb said.

“Are you scared?” Steph asked him.

“Not really, but unlike someone, I'm smart and I know when to stop.” Caleb said.

“Okay. It's decided. Let's rest up here and take off after a while.” Jackson said.

Everyone sat around the fire, except Renia. Jackson watched her as she tried switching her phone, but it couldn't come on. 

“Do you guys have a problem with your phones?” she asked.

“I switched mine off before we left. You said so, Renia. So that, your dad can't track us.” Jackson said.

“I know, but I think my phone's dead. It doesn't want to come on,” she replied.

“You want your dad to track us?” Tony asked her.

“Yes. I want him to know that I am fine and he doesn't need to worry about me. They will be freaking out now. We should try and give them a call,” she said.

“I would rather not. But if it helps you sleep at night, I will give them a call.” Caleb said.

Jackson rolled his eyes. He knew that Caleb cared about his parents more than he cared about them, but he's pretending to tough it out.

He took out his phone to turn it on, but it couldn't come on. That's strange, he thought. He's sure that he charged it before he came to the edge of the forest to wait for the others. He tried to use his power on the device, but it shocked him instead.

With an unsteady hand, he pulled himself up to the surprise of everyone, including himself. He's not supposed to feel the pain of electricity at all. He could conduct electricity into and away from anything, and it has never shocked him.

Why now?

He stared at Steph and watched as her eyes were going all over him. He understood one thing. They were far away from home.

They weren't walking in circles like they had predicted. The monster must have put up an illusion to cover up where they had been going.

This monster, he thought, must be smarter than anyone gave him credit for.

He must have known that they were in the forest from the beginning; if they had to have been walking in a forest, they knew next to nothing about.