The forest felt endless, a wall of trees beyond me, their shadows enveloping me. Every direction seemed identical, it was dark, the tree’s branches stretching out to each other, making an eerie atmosphere. Leaves slowly fell down, crunching beneath my feet with every step I made. The air here was moist and had an earthy smell, it was rather… unsettling, a constant reminder that I wasn't alone.
I had been wandering for hours on end, with no direction in mind, only the feeling to keep moving. My throat was dry, and I had to swallow my own saliva to no avail. Desperate, I drank the last few droplets from my water bottle, but it didn't make a difference. Exhaustion was watching my every move, and each step felt heavier than the last. I pushed to ignore it, keeping my mind focused and telling myself to keep going, to not stop, not now.
Then I heard it—a faint rustling behind me. I froze, my heart pounding faster and faster. A low growl echoed, sending a jolt of fear in me. Then I realized what it was.
Wolves.
At first, I only saw one, its eyes glowing eerily in the dark. Then, more followed, emerging from behind. Their eyes flashed hunger, their teeth bared. I was nothing but prey to them.
Panic was coming in, adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I ran, my feet pounding against the ground. “I just finished grieving for my family, and now this?” I shouted, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my heart racing as I traversed through the bushes and stumbled over roots. There was no time to think, and no time to stop. The wolves were relentless, and their eyes were fixated. They were the predators and I was the prey—but I refused to be their meal.
Branches constantly hit my face and arms, tearing at my skin, although I wasn't affected by it. My lungs were burning with every breath I took, but the wolves’ growls grew louder, echoing in my ears. I could hear their paws thudding against the ground. Ahead, I saw a lake, the water glimmering. Without much thought, I sprinted towards it and dived in, the sudden cold water taking my breath away. I submerged myself, holding my breath and listening for the sound of their paws. The wolves stopped at the edge of the water, their frustrated growls echoing in the air. I only resurfaced when I was sure if they were gone, and I was left gasping for air.
I dragged myself out of the lake, shivering, my clothes dripping with water. The cold was embedded in my skin, and exhaustion hit me all at once, like a wave crashing into me. My memories started flashing through my mind—the missiles, the loud blaring of the sirens, the people screaming. My family, gone in an instant. My grief, my pain came crawling back.
I was exhausted, scared, and alone. I was stranded in a forest, and my mind couldn't run away from the image of my family. Part of me wanted to just give up right there, to just collapse on the mud and let it end. But I just… couldn't.
I closed my eyes, trying to push it away. I didn't wanna think about it, not anymore. Tears kept dripping down, but I wiped it, trying to regain control.
I refilled my water bottle from the lake, the water bubbling, my hands still shaking. This lake had basically saved me, gave me another chance to live, but I knew I couldn't stay here. Wolves weren't the only thing lurking. Something else—something much worse, could be out here. I had to keep going.
I took one last glance at the lake before I went. “Thanks, I guess.” I whispered, but I didn't even know anymore. Who am I even thanking? I was losing it.
I stood up, my legs were unsteady, but I forced myself to keep walking.
Relief mixed with fear as I walked, my mind replaying the chase over and over and over again. The way the wolves looked at me, chased me, their murderous intent… it was too similar to the incident, the incident that I tried to leave behind—the missiles, the running, the never-ending hell. If I hadn't reached the lake, I could've ended up like my family. The thought stuck in my head.
The forest seemed to stretch out endlessly, my legs aching and my breath shaky. I was so tired from everything, every step feeling like my last. Raising my bottle up to my mouth, I gulped down some water, the coolness easing somewhat of my thirst, but making me choke and cough a bit. It wasn't much, but it had me going, just for a little longer.
At last, I stumbled on a clearing, sheltered between two large rocks. The air here was cool, offering me safety. Dropping my bag, I gathered some leaves to make a blanket, to keep me warm if it suddenly got cold. When I got enough, I lay down, exhaling a long and shaky breath. “This will do” I whispered to myself.
I curled up, pulling the leaves around me for warmth. My eyes grew heavy, exhaustion dragging me into a deep sleep. My dreams were filled with memories of my family—the warmth of our home, our happiness, our laughter. I saw my sister, Charlotte, rolling her eyes and scoffing at my jokes, and my parents laughed along. The memory felt so… real, like I could just touch and feel them.
We were at the dinner table, sharing a meal, everything was perfect. My mom's spaghetti tasted the same as I remembered, and for a moment, I felt like I was back at home again. But reality came back to me, and my dream faded to black. I woke up with tears on my face, with a heavy ache in my chest.
I wiped my face, trying to get away from my memories, but they clung to me, refusing to go. I rolled over, facing the other side to focus. My family were more than just memories, more than just an ache in my heart. They deserved more than that, and I had to honor them by surviving, to push forward, no matter what.
I was just lying there, listening to the sounds of the forest. The calling of an owl, the rustling leaves, the wind blowing. I was still terrified of the wolves, but I knew it was far from over. This was only the first step, and I had many more challenges in front of me.
I took one last breath and I closed my eyes. Tomorrow would be another day.
