BEFORE THE STORM-SKINS UK (G.2)

EPISODE 8.3

The next day,we're waken up by the light
I get up first,stretch a little since the ground isn't the best place to sleep on and wear my clothes,Freddie does the same then sticks his hand out for me to grab and we walk to the others,hand in hand

We find Naomi,Emily and JJ already up
"Morning"
"Good morning"
"Anyone seen Pandora and Thomas?" JJ asks
"And where's Katie,thought she'd be with one of you at this point"

My heart drops,she hasn't woken up then

"She's probably still asleep"
"Katie!Katie" Freddie calls as he looks in the tents,until he finds Pandora in one of them with Effy still asleep in it
"Thomas has gone home.He's gone.I gotta go now,please"I hear her say
"Katie's not here"Freddie says to us

Shit

I wake up Effy and we start looking for Katie,as time passes I feel more and more guilty...I shouldn't have left her there,all night,alone.
But I was just protecting a friend.
And I was tripping ,
I would and could never do something like that,right?

Maybe...maybe I should tell Freddie
He's walking in front of me,wearing some sort of jacket with feminist symbol
"Freddie! I call
He turns around,smiling at me
He...he really does like me
"Nothing" I say
I can't bring myself to do it

We look for her everywhere,but we can't find her
At this point I really would bring them there if I only remembered
We go back to the car
The drive back is awkward at least
Everyone is silent,the car looks empty
The seat Katie occupied to get to the forest was now taken by Freddie

I have to do something,I can't be driving home with her rotting in some bushes
Is she dead?
No,it can't be
Maybe fainted?Injured?
I have to go something
But...how?

I pull over,near a field
"What...why did you stop?" Someone from the back asks me
"I need to pee"I say getting out
"I do too,actually"Effy says and follows me

"What do we do?" she asks
"I...I don't know,should we,like,call someone?"
"Yeah and what would you say "Hi,I smashed my friend's head with a rock in the woods and I can't find her,bye!"?"
"Come on,we still have to do something,you know it"
I say taking my phone out
I digit the emergency number

"999,what is your emergency?"
"I...I went on the woods last night with my friends,it's...it's called Gobbler's end I think...but now in the morning there's this friend we can't find,we don't know where to look or-"
"Are you saying you don't know where you are?"
"No,I mean I can't find her"
"Why not?"
"Because I just fucking can't,ok?Just send and ambulance,will you?"
"Keep calm...calm down"
"I think I hit her.No,I mean,I can't find her"
"What?"
"With a rock and now she's...I was tripping,I didn't mean to,please,please it's...it's Gobbler's end"
While I close the call,Naomi comes calling us
"How long does it take to have a wee,you two?"
"Coming" Effy answers

We stay silent,walking to the car
We stay silent as I drop everyone off,at their houses
I stay silent as she walks out the car,being the last one I drop off
"Can I...Can I come to yours later?" I ask
I need to be with someone who understands it.
She just nods and walks away

I drive home,get in and my mum rushes to the door to see in what conditions I am
I look like shit

"God,dear what happened to your hair?"
"What?"
"It's full of leaves,what happened?"