unknown.

Creature - Part 3

They ran out of the cave to go back to the cabin since it is getting dark. They ran so far but kept up being in front of the cave. It's like they are stuck in the same loop. They panicked and confused.
"This is the cave from earlier." says Joe, catching his breath from all those running.
"I don't understand what -" Faiz couldn't finish his sentence as he was so tired from running.
"No, we can't be stuck in a loop." Hakim said, disbelief.
"Guys, come on. We should try again." Laila said. They all started to run again, trying to escape but couldn't. They still end up being in front of the cave.
"Ughh.." All of them groan. Frustrated. Hakim looked at his watch. It's 7:56 p.m. They are getting tired, so they agreed to find a spot for them to rest for now.
It's 8:43 p.m. They found the spot. Laila and Sab took out a foldable mattress for them to sleep on. The boys did the same. They really prepared everything. After they did their prayer, Laila and the others tried to contact Mr. Zaid on their phone, but there's no signal in the forest.
"Got anything yet?" Laila asks as she was holding up her phone, and so was all of them.
"Nope." They replied.
"Ugh." Laila groaned out of frustration.
"By the way, guys. I have something to show you." Sab said. They gathered and sat together in a circle on the mattress Adam brought.

She brings out the box she took from the cave. They are all wide-eyed.
"Is that from -" Joe was about to ask.
"Yes. Uhm.. Before I was, uh.. you know, being pulled. I found this box full of..jewelleries." She said as she opened the box. Laila frowned her eyes. She gets a painful headache as soon as Sab opens the box.
"Laila, you okay?" They asked, worried. Her hands hold her head. She shook her head, trying to look at them clearly. She then remembered what her parents said.
"Maybe that belongs to my ancestors." She says as she groaned out of pain. They all look at each other, speechless.
"Okay.. Uhm, how can you tell?" Hakim asked in a soft tone, leaning his head down, trying to look at her face.
"My parents told me there are some of my ancestors' belongings hidden somewhere in the forest for some reason. They hide it by choice. Even my dad doesn't know what and where it is. It's a family secret." She told them. She tries to sit straight and catch her breath.
"I'm so sorry. I -" Sab felt guilty.
"No, it's okay.. I didn't know at first, too." Laila said, holding her hand and smiling.
"Well, I think some 'thing' must have been protecting that box for.. God knows how long. That's why Sab was attacked right after she touched it." Faiz figures it out. They all nodded.
"Okay, we'll come back to the cave tomorrow and put the box right where she found them. Agree?" Hakim asked. All of them agreed.

One hour later

"Hey, uhm.. I think you're the one who should be holding this." Sab gave the box to Laila while sitting on their mattress.
"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have taken that. I thought if I took it, then we'll have the concrete evidence for the project." Sab apologized.
"It's fine. I think I'm the one who should be sorry. I'm the one who suggested us to went to the cave because it was the nearest." The girls talked in a low volume since Adam was sleeping.
Minutes later, there's a creaking sound coming from in front of them. They are stunned. They grabbed and turned on their torchlight. They heard a loud laughing voice from earlier. They are so freaked out. Hakim tapped Adam's arm to wake him up. Adam frowned and confused. They heard it again, this time it was so loud. They stand up and convened. The voices became louder, making them feel like they were surrounded. Their eyes wandered around, frightened. Suddenly, something happens to Faiz.
"Guys, I don't feel so good -" Faiz unexpectedly went on his knees and threw up blood. Lots of blood coming out of his mouth. He's in so much pain while throwing up. All of them were freaked out and wide-eyed. They were so worried about Faiz.
"Faiz!!" All of them said in a high pitch tone. They gathered around Faiz. Joe quickly bent down and caressed Faiz's back gently while he throws up. As he was done throwing up, Sab gave him a napkin to wipe the blood.
"Okay, that's enough." Laila looks mad.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" She raised her voice, asking the creature. They are wide-eyed. Faiz is getting better. Adam and Joe helped him to stand up.
"Laila, calm down." Hakim told her in a soft tone while giving a drink to Faiz.
She walks back aggressively to her bag pack. She took and held the box up. "IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT THEN TAKE IT." The voices are louder than before and then stopped. It became really quiet. Their hearts beat really fast.
"I think it's gone." Joe whispered.
Hakim pulls the part of Laila's sleeve gently. "Why did you do that?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Because if I didn't, it will hurt you -" Hakim didn't let Laila finish her sentence.
"That doesn't mean you have to do things like that." Hakim said, frowning.
"Guys." Joe says to stop them from arguing.
"What do you mean I can't -"
"ARGHH!!!" A big branch suddenly fell in front of them, making them scream loudly and quickly run. All of them scattered.
They were almost split up, but then they got back and ran together.