Until The End

Alone in the Woods

My heart skipped a beat when I noticed him standing there. I turned back to the forest, to where he was standing, but only to find trees, air. Nothing. He was gone. Like that. It was almost like...no I need to stop fantasising over a stupid boy. It was probably my imagination. I try to believe that it is. But the only thing is...it's not. I know he was here. I know he is here. I can feel his presence. 

"I'll go check in the boot, see if there's something that will help us." 

"Mum. There isn't going to be petrol in the boot. No one carries petrol in a boot of a car." 

"Don't speak to me like that!" I scrunched up my face and turned to my phone. 

"I'll call someone-" 

"Don't bother. There's no signal here." I said, looking at her with a smug expression but then quickly turned away at the sight of hers. "Do you mind-" 

"You know what? I do mind! I'm going to start walking back. How far?" 

"Don't be silly! You are not going out there. Alone at least-" 

"I don't care! How far?!" 

"Get out. Walk if you want. Just...leave." I hop out of the car and slam the door behind me. I turn and look at my mum. She was in tears. She hates it when we have these fights. She hates it when I'm upset. She hates it when she's upset. Without a thought, I start my journey to the service station. 

It was starting to get dark an hour after leaving mum alone in the car. The wind started blowing and the night started to awake. As I'm walking alone the old, crumbly road, suddenly in the woods, some bushes rustled. I froze and turned to the forest. It was dark. All I could see was blackness. Reluctantly, I moved towards the noise. While I was stepping on the rocky slope, the bush rustles again. For a second, I consider going back, onto the road and back on my journey.  

I shake my head and walk ahead. 

By the time I got to the bush that was rustling, my heart was pounding like a drum in my chest. Slowly, expecting the boy in the deputy's I opened up the bush with my hands only to find a snake killing a small animal, like a mouse or a wild rabbit. Disappointed, I leave the bush and the snake to do its business. 

After walking for another hour or two, I finally reach the gas station. The pounding in my chest becomes an excited beat, instead of a worried, frightened beat. "Hello, welcome to the 24 hour service station. What can I do for you?" The counter lady said. 

"Do you have any gas?" She looked at me like I was a stupid, young girl. 

"Yes." 

"Do you think I could borrow some? My mum is stuck in the middle of the woods with our car. Which is out of gas." 

"Mhmm. How are you getting back? Walking?" She bursts out laughing. 

"I'm hoping that I could get a lift." 

"Well, if you want a lift, you're going to have to call someone." I stare at her with cold, hard eyes. "Fine. Just give me the petrol, and I'll go." Suddenly changing her mood to a frightened girl, she backs away and rushes to get the petrol.  

Once she had left, I slipped my phone out of my pocket. I dialled in my mum's number. 

"Scarlett? Where are you? I'm worried sick!" 

"I'm sure you are...The gas station lady is getting some gas. Who should I call for a lift? No one goes down that road." 

"Try hitch hiking. Or wait until morning and then catch a bus." 

"I'm not leaving you in the forest for that long. It's creepy and in the newspapers, older ones, there have been stories of people going through there and never coming back. No one knows if it's the forest or our home, but everyone that has lived there, has never survived." 

"What? Oh...no. Please hurry! Get any lift you can!" 

"Ok." 

"I've got your gas..." The lady walked in carrying a big tank of petrol. 

"Mum, I've got to go, I'll talk later." 

"Ok. Don't be too long. Please." 

"Ok. Bye." 

"Love you." I hang up and slip my phone back into my pocket. 

"Thanks." I take the tank and start to leave.  

"That's $30. You can't just leave. That would be called 'stealing'. Have you heard of the term?" 

"I'm familiar with it. I don't have any money with me. I'll pay you back tomorrow." Her anger started to rise. 

"Just leave." Raising my eyebrows, I turn and leave. 

As I left the service station, I was face to face with the boy that haunted my day today.  

The boy from the Deputy's.