Rescue From The abyss

Chapter 5

My life now is a lot like a jelly bean, 

I never quite know what I am going to get.

I barely sleep at last night, tossing and turning, mind playing that scene over and over again. I try to keep myself self-occupied even though that dark energy never do the kindness of leaving me alone for a moment, lurking back of my mind. 

It wasn't until the second day that things starts to feel somewhat normal again. I think to return to my routine. 

“Maybe I am overthinking this,” I tell myself as I prepare for collage, hoping that immersing myself in my classes and friends might help me forget.

When I arrive at college, my friends greeted me warmly. I smile, grateful for the normalcy. For a while, I manage to push the thoughts of the forest aside. Ken and Zane cracked jokes, filling the air with laughter, and I feel myself blending back into the group, the tightness in my chest loosening.

But then I saw Alex.

At first, I refuse to recognize him. His face was pale, there are dark circles under his eyes, as though he hadn’t slept in days. His usual energetic demeanor is gone, replaced with a sluggishness that made my stomach twist in concern.

“Alex?” I call, hurrying over to him. “What’s going on with you? You look terrible.”

He offers a weak smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been studying for DAT5, and it’s been draining. Plus, I’m trying to learn some music theory stuff on top of it. Just… a lot.”

I frown, noting the weariness in his voice. It didn’t seem like Alex to push himself this hard. “You sure that’s all it is?”

He nods, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

“Okay” I say as I reach for his hand, we walk through the hallway

We all studied together for the rest of the day, but even as we sit, surrounded by books and notes, I can barely concentrate, and every so often, I glance at Alex, catching the hollow look in his eyes that unsettled me further.When the day finally ended, I return home, my body heavy with exhaustion. 

 I collapse into bed, my body too tired to resist sleep any longer.As my head hit the pillow, my eyes close almost immediately, and for the first time in days, I didn’t dream of the forest or the ghost. Instead, I am greeted by a deep, dreamless sleep—one that I desperately needed, though I know the haunting thoughts of the forest would return once I wake up.

The exhaustion finally overtook me, and as my head hit the pillow, my eyes flutter shut almost instantly. For the first time in days, her mind quieted, the tension melting away. No visions, no ghostly figures. Just sleep.

A sense of relief wash over me, though my mind still buzz with the faint echoes of everything that had happened.

Sitting up in bed, I grab my phone. The screen lit up, showing missed messages from my friends, but none from Alex since the last time they met. I hesitated, thumb hovering over the screen, then opened up a group chat with Zane, Ken, and Alex”

Me: "Hey guys, I've been thinking…Maybe we should all take a break. How about we go for a hike tomorrow, fresh air, clear our heads, you know

I stare at the message, feeling a mix of hope and nerves. we all need this. I need this. A moment to unwind, to forget the forest, the ghost, and everything else haunting my thoughts.

Moments later, my phone buzz with replies.Zane: "Hell yeah, we could all use some chill time. I know a great spot—quiet, secluded, perfect for a hike.

"Ken: "I’m in. A hike sounds good. Let’s make some noise, freak out the forest critters, lol.

"Alex: "Yeah, I could use a break too. Let’s do it."

I smile, feeling lighter. The thought of spending time with my friends, out in nature, away from the stress of school and the nightmares in my head, was exactly what I need.The plan is set. Tomorrow, we will hike into the mountains, away from everything that had been weighing us down. For a moment, I allow myself to relax, to imagine nothing but the sounds of nature, the company of my friends, and the peace that came with leaving the past few fatigue days behind