The Cursed Campfire: A Night of Unleashed Fears

Chapter 7: The Forest's Chosen One

Evie's heart pounded with fear and determination as she frantically untied Henry and Lucas before the cannibals could reach them. Gripping the sword tightly, she summoned all her courage, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her veins as she assumed a fierce warrior stance.

She firmly told Henry and Lucas to find a safe place and wait for her to defeat the huge enemy. Without a second thought, Lucas sprinted back into the cabin, while Henry chose to stand steadfastly by Evie's side.

"Henry, I need you to go! It's not safe here!" Evie urged with concern, imploring Henry to leave.

"I'm not leaving you. I saw what happened to Nina. I won't let anything happen to you too," Henry spoke with a protective tone in his gruff voice.

Evie's hand tightened around the hilt of the sword, her knuckles turning white as she braced herself to strike at the cannibal. But before she could move, a commanding voice boomed from behind the cannibal, bringing it to an abrupt halt. Startled, Evie turned her head to see the unexpected sight of the old woman who had once aided her and Nina with the mysterious red potion.

"You're the one who asked us to drink the potion you gave us in your cabin, and now Nina has disappeared! What have you done to her, you old woman?" Evie shouted angrily.

"I needed someone willing to fight and risk their life for their loved ones. When I saw both of you, it was hard to choose who could be the chosen one," the old woman said with a smirk.

"I also drank that potion! Why isn't anything happening to me?" Evie inquired, filled with curiosity and frustration.

"The potion determines the chosen one once it's in your system. It has chosen you," the old woman smirked wickedly once more.

"I can't believe this! She's so connected to the forest and nature. Honestly, she was even stronger than I was!" Evie expressed with a tinge of pain in her voice.

"That was the decision of the potion, my dear. My job here is finished," the elderly woman said as she tossed her grey hair and strutted away from them.

"This isn't over, old woman!" Evie yelled, feeling dissatisfied. 

"Oh, dear! It's just the beginning, and you kids can call me Mrs. Agnes Pritchard," she said with an evil smile before vanishing into thin air again.

Evie found it difficult to process Nina's death and couldn't bring herself to mourn just yet. As she returned to the cabin after the cannibals were all gone, she couldn't believe that Lucas sprinted into the cabin like a headless chicken trying to cross the road. Her hurried steps came to an abrupt halt as she noticed Henry lying motionless on the ground.

"No wonder he didn't respond when I spoke to that nasty old woman just now," Evie whispered as she tried to wake him up.

"Lucas, I need your help!" Evie urgently beckoned to Lucas. "I need you to help me pull Henry into the cabin!"

Lucas cautiously cracked open the cabin door, his eyes darting around, searching for any potential threats lurking in the shadows. Evie's reassuring words floated to him, convincing him that it was safe to emerge from the protective shelter. She beckoned for his aid in transporting Henry's limp body into the safety of the cabin, her eyes reflecting the urgency of their situation.

Lucas dashed over to Evie and exclaimed, "I don't know what just happened, but I'm not sticking around for another mealtime!" 

Seeing Lucas frantically running away, Evie shouted, "Those are cannibals! I need you to carry Henry back into the cabin, now, Lucas!" 

"How sure are you that they won't come back? I almost died thinking I'd be their dinner," Lucas motioned wildly, eager to escape the forest. 

"Are you really going to abandon us just like that?" Evie asked in disbelief. 

"I saw what happened to Nina, Evie. How can you be so calm about it?!" Lucas uttered in frustration.

"I am not calm about anything here, Lucas! I am just as shocked and devastated as you!" Evie shouted, her voice trembling with frustration. "I am trying to solve one problem at a time and I need help, Lucas!"

"Are you, Evie? Whose brilliant idea was it to come to this place for camping? It is always about you, and you have made this group place you on a pedestal, Evie!" Lucas snapped, his frustration boiling over.

"You do this all the time, don't you?! You see a problem and you run away, thinking a miracle will solve it! But you know what, Lucas, you are just a coward!" Evie shouted with a smirk on her face and started pulling Henry slowly. 

Henry jolted awake from his nap and shouted, "Help! Please don't turn me into dinner! Let me go, please!" 

Evie quickly intervened, saying, "Henry! It's just me, Evie! Chill out, will you?" 

Then Lucas realized that Henry had the keys to the car, "Hand me the keys, Henry." 

"Oh, great! Someone has to get us out of this crazy place!" Henry said as he clumsily tried to stand. 

"He's not asking for the keys to save us; he wants to make a break for it," Evie remarked, rolling her eyes at Lucas. 

"Classic Lucas move! Sees a problem and runs for the hills," Henry said, shooting Lucas a fierce glare. "By the way, why aren't we getting out of this place yet?" he looked at Evie in shock. 

"I think the exit sign is on a break," she shrugged. "I'm not leaving until I receive a fair explanation for Nina's death. Don't you think she deserves one?"

"You want a clear explanation from a cannibal who crushed Nina?" Lucas was once again clueless.

Evie rolled her eyes at Lucas and turned to Henry, asking, "Are you on my side or with Mr. Elopy here?"

"I'm with you, Evie. Nina deserves justice," Henry nodded and then followed Evie into the cabin.