The VOID

Ch 7 (M. Beckerman)

      I'm a medic, so there was no need for me to tag along, but I felt more comfortable with the rest of the group. I've been sensing eyes on me for a while now; the creepy skin-crawling kind that sent shivers down my spine. We were out exploring the firey red forest, hoping to find anything, literally anything. It was quite dead, dead silent to the point it was unnerving.

     My eyes watched Jacob as he walked steadily in front of me just behind Melody and Byron, who walked silently together. Pursing my lips, I held back from slipping my hand inside Jacob's rough hands; I once knew well how they felt against mine. I stared longingly at his wide back.
Jacob used to stick close by my side when I was feeling nervous or scared, but now it's like I no longer exist. I can understand why he wants to keep his distance, but him shutting me out like this hurts more than I'm willing to say aloud. If I were to ask him to stop ignoring me I'm afraid it would move him further away from me.

     I force the thoughts of Jacob out of my mind and tune into the lively conversation behind me.

     “Beacuse,” Luca replied to something Angus had said, “I might not be tech-smart or whatever, but I like using them to record things.”

     "I don't understand you. What do you even need them for? Your children?” I raise my eyebrows.

     “My what?” Imagining Luca's surprised face was almost enough to make me laugh aloud, “I'm not even married!”

     “Neither am I,” Angus commented.

     “True. No, wait. You plan on proposing when we get home,” Luca told him excitedly.

     "Can we not record this conversation? I don't want my nerves to be recorded,”

     “She’ll say yes,” Luca encouraged his brother.

     “Are they talking about Anna?” I thought to myself.

     “I know,” Angus replied warily.

     “Then what’s wrong?” Luca asked causing Angus to sigh heavily.

     “I love her. So. Much. With all my heart, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like she feels the same. I’m afraid,” He paused, “That’s the whole reason I agreed to go on this mission. I needed time to think before making any rash decisions, ya know?”

     “I’m sorry. I’ve never been in a relationship, I don’t think I can give you any advice about this,” Luca responded receiving a chuckle from his scottish friend.

     “Awe~, aren’t you a pure snowflake?” Angus mocked teasingly.

     “Shut up, Gus,” Luca shot back.

     “Ugh! Don’t caw me that! Ya know I hate that!” Angus hollered at him.

     “Must you two be so loud?” My eyes watched as Melody stopped and turned back, fuming. Her brows furrowed as she glared at the two young men. I took that chance to look back at them. Angus didn’t seem surprised, but Luca looked as if he were holding his breath.

     "We are here on an exploration. This means we are to explore, study, investigate, and document everything here, which includes plants, terrains, and animals. Animals that you are scaring away with your loud voices, so. Shut. Up," My friend’s voice was danguously calm, but her tone was strong. She kept an icy look on her face before turning away. I looked at them once more before I kept walking.

     “Oh my God,” Luca let out a breathy whisper. Their talking stopped, afraid to get in trouble I assumed.

     My eyes focused on my surroundings. The red trees swayed when a gust of wind blew. I plucked a leaf off of a sapling, spinning the fiery red leaf in my hand. I paused when I realized that the sound of the birds had just stopped. I knew that the woods were quiet, but now it’s completely silent besides the shuffling of our feet on the forest ground; twigs snapping underfoot. Not liking the eerie feeling I was getting by focusing on the strange forest, I tuned into Luca and Angus’ voices again.