Part Seventeen

179 8 0
                                    

Part Seventeen

•••

The moonlight filters through the trees, casting a silver glow on the trail ahead. Scott and I stumble along the path, our laughter echoing through the silent forest.

Scott's arm brushes against mine, sending a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the cool night air.

"Remember that time you tried to cook for everyone and set the kitchen on fire?" Scott teases, nudging me with his shoulder.

I roll my eyes, smirking. "Hey, I was just trying to make pancakes. How was I supposed to know you can't use olive oil like that?"

Scott chuckles, the sound deep and warm. "You should stick to cereal, Zayn."

I laugh as I glance at Scott, his features softened by the moonlight, and feel a pang of longing. I can't keep pretending this doesn't affect me.

Suddenly, Scott stops, his hand gripping my arm. "Did you hear that?"

My heart skips a beat. "Hear what?"

A low growl rumbles through the darkness, freezing the blood in my veins. We turn slowly, eyes scanning the shadows until we see it: a wolf, its eyes glinting with a predatory gleam.

"Scott..." I whisper, my voice barely audible.

"Stay calm," he murmurs, his grip on my arm tightening.

The wolf steps closer, teeth bared, a deep growl reverberating through the air. I feel the urge to run, to get as far away from here as possible, but Scott's hold keeps me rooted in place.

"I can't... Scott, we need to go," I hiss, panic rising in my chest.

"Don't move," he says firmly. "Running will only make it worse."

The wolf howls, a bone-chilling sound that echoes through the trees. The underbrush rustles, and suddenly, more wolves appear, forming a semi-circle around us. Their eyes gleam in the moonlight, and my heart races with fear.

"We're surrounded," I whisper, my voice trembling.

Scott looks around, his eyes darting for an escape route. "There," he points to a small tree house barely visible through the foliage. "On my count, we run."

I nod, my legs trembling.

"Three... two... one... go!"

We sprint through the forest, the wolves' snarls close behind us. My breath comes in ragged gasps as branches slap against my face and arms. Scott pulls me along, his grip like a lifeline.

We reach the tree house, scrambling up the ladder as the wolves close in. Scott pushes me up first, then follows, just as a wolf snaps at his heel. We collapse inside, panting and trembling.

I peer out the small window, watching the wolves circle below. "What now?" I ask, my voice shaking.

Scott leans back against the wall, his chest heaving. "We wait. They'll leave eventually."

I nod, trying to steady my breathing. "Thanks for not letting me run."

Scott smiles faintly, his eyes meeting mine. "I've got your back, Zayn. Always."

I feel a warmth spread through me at his words, despite the fear still coursing through my veins. As we sit in the tree house, surrounded by the danger below.

My heart pounds in my chest, each beat a reminder of how close we are to danger. The silence stretches between us, thick with tension and unspoken words.

Scott shifts beside me, peering out the window. "They're not leaving," he murmurs. "We need a distraction."

I glance around the tree house, searching for anything that might help. "What do you have in mind?"

Scott's eyes land on a pile of old tools and wooden planks. "We can make some noise, throw stuff to draw them away."

I nod, grabbing a couple of the planks. We start banging them together, the sharp clatter ringing through the night. The wolves below pause, ears twitching as they listen.

"Now!" Scott shouts, and we hurl the planks out the window, aiming for the far side of the clearing. The wolves snap their heads in that direction, growling and barking as they move to investigate.

"Go, go, go!" Scott urges, and we scramble down the ladder. Our feet hit the ground running, the wolves' distraction buying us precious seconds. We dash through the trees, adrenaline pumping through our veins.

But as we run, the forest seems to close in around us, the path twisting and turning in ways that don't make sense. Panic sets in as we realize we're lost, the wolves' howls growing louder behind us.

"Scott, we're going in circles!" I shout, my breath coming in gasps.

He glances around, his face pale. "This way!" He pulls me toward a narrow path, but my foot catches on a root, and I stumble. Scott hauls me up, his grip tight as we keep running.

Suddenly, the ground gives way beneath us. We tumble down a steep incline, the world spinning in a blur of branches and dirt.

I hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of me. Scott lands beside me with a grunt, both of us lying still for a moment, trying to catch our breath.

I push myself up on my elbows, looking around. "We're at the cliff," I say, my voice shaking. The same cliff we stood at days ago, the forest having led us in a cruel circle.

Scott groans, sitting up. "Are you okay?"

I nod, wincing as I move. "Yeah, just bruised. You?"

"Same," he says, his eyes scanning the darkness. "We need to find another way out of here."

The wolves' howls echo through the night, closer now. We scramble to our feet, wading through the underbrush, trying to put as much distance between us and the pack as possible. The forest is a labyrinth, each turn looking like the last.

Scott grabs my hand, squeezing it. "We'll get out of this, Zayn."

His touch is a lifeline, grounding me. "I know," I reply, my voice steadier than I feel. "We just need to keep moving."

We push forward, navigating the treacherous terrain, the wolves' howls fading behind us. The night stretches on, an endless maze of shadows and moonlight. But with Scott by my side, I feel a flicker of hope. We'll find our way out of this forest. Together.

•••

Love, Romance And A Boy (bxb)Where stories live. Discover now