"What Are You Waiting For?" || ORIGINAL STORY.

Chapter Fifty.

Tanya's POV.

After dinner, when everyone finished eating, it was time for hiking.

Everyone got up from their tables and started heading toward the campsite exit.

I was walking next to my brother, Claire and Brandon, as we followed the other students who were going on the summer camp hike.

The evening air was pleasantly cool, making the summer heat more bearable.

It was quite scenic, too, with the setting sun casting an orange glow on everything.

As I walked, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

The thought of talking to Darren after the hike was both exciting and nerve-wracking.

I took a deep breath and tried to focus on the hike itself.

The trail was well-groomed, leading us through a dense forest.

The trees provided some respite from the sun's direct heat, but there was still a slight humidity in the air.

We walked for a while, the sound of our footsteps accompanied by the gentle rustling of leaves in the trees.

Every now and then, someone would point out a firefly or a small animal scurrying through the underbrush.

As the sky darkened, my fear of the dark started to surface.

The once scenic trail was now getting a little eerie, with shadows stretching out from the trees and only the moonlight providing any sort of lighting.

My heartbeat quickened, and I instinctively moved closer to my brother, seeking comfort.

Everyone seemed to have quieted down as well, the initial chatter fading away as we all started focusing on staying on the trail.

The only sounds were the occasional crunch of leaves under our feet and the chirping of crickets.

The natural noises that once seemed comforting now had a slightly ominous feel to them.

The darkness made it harder to see the trail clearly, and the thick trees on either side made it feel more claustrophobic.

I tried to keep my breathing steady and reminded myself that everyone was in the same boat as me.

However, the thought of being in the dark with all these other people wasn't as reassuring as I hoped.

The fear of the unknown lurking in the shadows crept into my mind and made me want to hold tightly onto my brother.

Ryan must have noticed my unease because he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

"You all good, sis?" he asked quietly.

I nodded weakly, feeling somewhat reassured by his presence.

"Yeah.. yeah, I'm fine. Just a little creeped out by the dark, that's all," I whispered back.

Ryan smiled and gave me a comforting pat on the back. "It's alright, I'm right here. I won't let anything happen to you, ok?"

I nodded, feeling a little reassured by his words.

"Thanks, Ryan," I said, quietly.

Just then, one of my classmates, Jake, stumbled on a root and tripped, letting out a small curse.

The sound of the curse seemed to break the tension a bit as a few people chuckled.

Jake got up, rubbing his knee and grumbling to himself.