Pine Ridge | 18+

5

"Just keep going, don't look back!" August vaulted over a fallen log, Emilio keeping pace with him. He couldn't feel his legs, his heart was pounding so fast he thought it would explode in his chest.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Emilio glanced back over his shoulder, staring past Rylen and Burton and into the overwhelming darkness. Just a few hundred feet away, he could make out the faint glow of something. It pulsed slightly, visible from where he stood. He was imitating a heartbeat. The creature snarled loudly, pushing a tree to the side and causing it to snap and splinter.

"I have a hunch, j-just keep running!" Burton sped up, making his way past Rylen. She panted heavily, trying to keep up with them. She pressed forward, her foot getting caught on a tree root and causing her to trip. August looked back at her, his eyes widening slightly. "You gotta be fucking kidding me!" He turned and ran back to her, helping her up and pushing her forward so she was with Emilio and Burton, leaving August in the back.

"Where's the damn road?!" Burton aimed his flashlight all around. "It's just been trees for at least a mile now!" August kept looking around, hoping to find any sort of salvation before he finally laid his eyes on what appeared to be a small hunting lodge on a hillside up ahead. "In there!" August pushed past a log, moving it so they could run up the beaten path. 

They dug their nails into the dirt, doing whatever they could to stay secure on the ledge and get their footing. August made it up first, leaning over and helping everyone else get up. Burton ran to the door and pushed it open, breaking the small latch holding it shut in the process. "Get in now!" The kids ran into the hut, Burton shutting the door behind them and pushing some boxes up against the door to hold it shut. Emilio ran a hand through his hair, leaning against the wall and sinking to the floor. "What the hell-"

August covered his mouth and looked him dead in the eyes before holding a finger up to his mouth. The snarling of the creature grew closer until it was right up on them. It walked around the hut, causing a hefty thud with each step. August pulled away, slowly and carefully making his way to the other wall and peeking through a thin gap in the wood. He could only see darkness, before the bony claw of the creature passed by. August backed up and looked around the hut. The faint orange glow was back, circling the hut like the creature was. It's part of it

The creature finally let out a bellow and slowly stomped away, the forest falling silent now. Rylen brought her knees to her chest, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. "Oh god... What if that thing got Victoria..." She raked her nails over her knee. August looked at her. "Chill. Freaking out isn't gonna solve anything." He set his journal on the floor and flipped it open while Rylen just stared at him.

"Chill out? There's a fucking monster in these woods that could've taken my sister, and you just tell me to chill out? Fuck you!" She got up and kicked the journal away, the book sliding across the floor and hitting a wall. "What the hell has gotten into you?" He got up, staring her down. Burton grumbled and walked over, pulling August away. "Take a seat son, I don't need to hear you fighting with her, especially when that thing is still out there."

Rylen scoffed. "I don't even care anymore. I just wanna know why this douche has a stick up his ass 24/7. Not once today have you ever shown an ounce of respect to anyone around you." August huffed and walked away from her, grabbing the book. "I don't care enough to show respect to you. After this, we probably won't even talk again, I'm just doing this to help you."

They all watched him as he sat down at a table with the book. August drummed his fingers on the edge of the table before he looked up at them, seeing they were still watching. "Could you not stare, it's uncomfortable." He bounced his leg, looking back at the book. He kept skimming the book, letting out a quiet huff. "I don't need people's help, so in turn... I keep myself from getting attached."