The Cult Of Seven Devils

Chapter 18: A Shot of Hope

The group trudged through the forest, their movements slow and sloppy. Though the Siren Mother was gone, the oppressive atmosphere of the woods lingered. Every shadow felt alive, and every distant sound sent a chill down their spines. They knew their ordeal wasn't truly over until they were out of the forest, which meant finding a way to contact the police. The original plan to fix the watchtower seemed old and out of the question. Finding a way out of this hellish forest was the top goal. 

Hunter leaned on Itsuki for support, his legs shaky from the battle. "How far do you think we are from the road?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"No clue," Itsuki replied, glancing around the dense trees. "It feels like we've been running in circles for hours."

Ali stumbled over a root but caught himself, his face pale. "Do any of us even have our phones? They took all our stuff when we got caught by those cult lunatics."

Dahlia stopped and turned to face them, her eyes scanning each of their exhausted faces. "We need to find a way to get ourselves together. We can't keep wandering around with nowhere to go."

Sakka groaned as he adjusted the sling he'd made for his injured arm. "Easier said than done. This place feels like it was designed to keep us lost."

Dahlia frowned, then looked at the faint light of dawn filtering through the trees. "Wait—the sun. If we follow the sunrise, it should take us east. That's where we parked the van before...everything happened, right?"

Quinn, who had been unusually quiet, nodded slowly. "The road was east of the forest entrance. If we can reach it, we'll eventually find someone to help and maybe even return to that old watchtower."

The group murmured in agreement, and with a new purpose, they began moving eastward. Every step was a struggle, but the faint rays of the rising sun gave them direction and a glimmer of hope.

After an eternity of walking, the forest began to thin. The air grew lighter, and the oppressive feeling over them lifted. Hunter paused and sniffed the air. "You smell that? Smoke."

Ali's eyes widened. "A campfire? Maybe someone's nearby!" 

Itsuki's face became pale again, "But remember," he said concernedly, "This place is abandoned. Who would willingly camp here? I mean, look at what happened to us."

"It's our only choice, Itsuki. We can either pass this up and eventually collapse due to exhaustion or use it as a quick option for help." Hunter laid it out to Itsuki. 

Itsuki sighed and nodded his head reassuringly. They followed the scent, weaving through the trees until they stumbled upon a small clearing. In the middle was a makeshift campsite with a smoldering fire pit, a rusted kettle, and a tattered tent. But more importantly, an old hand-crank radio was on a stump near the fire.

Sakka rushed forward, ignoring the sharp pain in his arm. "No way. Is this thing real?"

Hunter inspected the radio, turning it over in his hands. It was battered, and the dials looked worn but seemed intact. "It's old, but it might still work. We just need to get a signal," he said.

Quinn grabbed the radio's handle and began cranking it, her movements frantic. "Come on, come on..." The radio crackled to life, static filling the air. Dahlia knelt beside it, turning the dial slowly. "We just need to find the right frequency. There has to be someone out there."

Minutes passed as they worked the radio, hope flickering with each burst of static. Finally, a voice broke through the noise.

"...emergency...repeat, this is Officer Turner with the county sheriff's office. If anyone can hear this, respond."

Dahlia snatched the small microphone. "Hello? Can you hear us? We need help! We're in The Seven Devils Forest!" The static crackled, and then the voice returned, clearer this time. "This is Officer Turner. Who am I speaking with?"

"This is Dahlia Harper. There are six of us, and we've been attacked by a cult and lost in the forest. We need help getting out!" There was a pause, then the officer's voice came back, steady and calm. "Understood, Ms. Harper. Stay where you are. I'll get a team out to your location. Do you have any landmarks nearby?"

Dahlia looked around, her voice shaking. "There's an old watchtower before you head into the Seven Devils town. It's not far from the eastern edge of the forest. Can you find us?"

"Copy that," the officer replied. "Hold tight. We'll be there as soon as we can. Stay together and keep this channel open." The radio went silent except for the faint hum of static. The group let out a collective sigh of relief, the weight of their ordeal finally beginning to lift.

Hours later, the distant sound of voices and barking dogs broke the forest's silence. Flashlights cut through the trees, and soon, a team of officers and rescue personnel emerged into the sight.

"Over here!" Dahlia shouted, waving her arms.

The officers quickly surrounded them, offering blankets and water as they assessed the group's injuries. Officer Turner, a grizzled man with kind eyes, approached them. "You're lucky we found you. Seven Devils isn't known for letting people go so easily. This place is as old as time and a hotspot for missing people's reports. How'd you get out so easily?"

Hunter managed a weak smile. "Long story."

As the police led the group out of the forest and toward safety, the first rays of full sunlight illuminated the trees. Though they had survived the nightmare, they knew the memories of what had happened and the horrors they had faced would haunt them for the rest of their lives.