Into Darkness We Walk

Which Way is the Sky?

The fire pit was very impressive; it was huge, deep, and there was a large stack of wood beside it. "I'll start the fire, and you write about it, OK?" Evan smiled.

"Yeah, OK." Gavin opened his poetry journal to the first page and waited for the fire to start.

When it did, a wave of inspiration riding on the heat hit him, and he began to furiously write. "See? I told you this place gives me inspiration!" Evan yelled over the roar of the fire.

That was when Gavin noticed how big the fire was, and took a few steps back. "Uh, Evan... isn't that a little big?"

The craziness on Evan's face when he answered made Gavin take another step back. "No, I don't think so."

'This was a bad idea,' he thought. "I really should get going..."

What he said aloud made Evan's face drop. "I-I'm sorry, I'll put it out,"

He reached for the jug of water he kept by the pit, but then the fire snapped toward him, and he jumped back. It roared upward, catching the tree beside it on fire, and then from there the other trees beside it.

Gavin's expression was one of terror. Grabbing Gavin's hand, Evan pulled him into a run. "We have to go, we have to go NOW!"

They ran, hand-in-hand, Evan leading Gavin through the forest, the fire chasing them. Something snapped shut next to Gavin when a flaming branch landed on it, breaking it in half. That was when he remembered that the forest floor was laiden with traps. "Jump!" Evan yelled back as he jumped over something on the ground. Gavin jumped, now seeing that what he was jumping over was a hole in the ground that was covered by underbrush.

The duo zigzagged as they ran, the gap between them and the fire closing, until they came to a small pond. "Get in!" Evan instructed him.

"What? Why?" Gavin protested.

"Do it if you wanna live!"

Ditching his pack in a small hole and covering it with dirt, he stepped into the pond and did what Evan was doing; immersing himself in the water, and then getting back out. "What now?" He asked him.

"Grab your stuff and come with me! Run!"

Reaching down and grabbing his pack in one fluid motion, Gavin ran after Evan. They stopped at a strange mudhut-looking thing, with a small opening in the front. "Get inside; I'll be in in a second."

First, Gavin tossed his bag in, and then himself after. Inside, it wasn't very big, but it was enough for three, so it was fine. The roar of the fire was becoming louder, and he could see the smoke. He began to fear for Evan. "Evan! Get inside! EVAN!" He screamed.

Seconds passed, and then a bag flew into the opening, followed by Evan. Gavin had never been happier to see him, but Evan didn't even notice him; he was too busy with the bag. Opening it, he dug inside and brought out a handful of mud, which he slathered on the opening. A few handfuls later, the hole was completely covered. He then began to spread the rest over the inside of the hut until he ran out.

Gavin could hear the sound of rubber gloves, and assumed that Evan had been wearing gloves. "Gavin," Evan called.

"What?" Gavin replied.

It was completely dark; Gavin couldn't see a thing, so he didn't notice Evan wringing his hands nervously. "Come here. We have to save our air, so we have to be close." That made sense, so Gavin scooted across the dirt floor to Evan's side. He didn't feel Evan wrap his arm around him.

Snapping and crackling resounded thoughout the hut as the fire reached them, and then they were completely engulfed. Gavin buried his face in Evan's shoulder, gripping his shirt. Fear coursed through him, mixing with the adrenaline in his veins, making his heart pump thrice as fast. Evan could feel it, and held him closer. That terrified voice in Gavin's head told him that they weren't gonna make it, that the hut was gonna catch on fire and lock them inside, that the smoke was gonna creep in and suffocate them, that the hut was gonna collapse and the fire would burn them alive, and all manner of other horrible things.

He must've fallen asleep, because when he opened his eyes everything was silent. Evan was beside him, head resting on his, which was on the other teen's shoulder. He looked up at where he figured he would be and called in a whisper, "Evan."

Nothing. He tried again. "Evan. Wake up."

This time he stirred, and then lifted his head. "What...?"

"We fell asleep." Gavin sat up and stretched, as did Evan.

The air inside the hut was musty and smelled of dirt and smoke. "Is it safe?" Gavin asked.

Evan checked his watch. "Should be, it's eight forty-seven."

By now, Gavin had completely forgotten about his curfew, and the time didn't even faze him. They kicked out the front of the hut, and slowly emerged.