The Gathering: Race For Immortality

Chapter Twenty Four: Moving On (Natalia)

I woke up with that heavy feeling that comes from a long, deep slumber. My eyes felt sore, like I'd just been crying. I opened them slowly, light flooding into my vision.

The forest around me was greener than ever, illuminated by the early morning sun. Light fog still settled around the forest floor, but it was a soft fog, making everything feel calmer.

I pressed off the ground and sat up, looking all around and taking in my surroundings. Rich browns and lime greens, furrowing ferns, gouged bark, and rays of golden light.

A squirrel scurried up a tree in front of me, stopping now and then to give a little clicking sound.

These woods were peaceful and serene, in stark contrast with the feeling that lingered in my throat.

I was pushing off memories of last night that begged unanswered questions.

I didn't want to go into that. Not now, not ever. I thought if I just didn't think about it then maybe it would disappear, like it had never happened.

It wasn't a dream. It wasn't real. It was somewhere eerily in between.

It was a sobering truth forged by sinister hands.

Corrupt.

I stood up and got my bearings, dusting off my long red dress. There was no sign of the path I'd come down yesterday. I had trailed off from it. 

The others were not in sight but they had to be near.

"Mhercee!" I called out.

"Paaaaaz! Reqium?" I yelled.

"JAAAAAAEEEEEEEEESSSSSOOOOOOOOOONNN!"

Then I waited in harsh silence.

It seemed like a minute had gone by with no reply. 

Finally a muffled sound came from my left. Somewhere, far away, someone was yelling back.

I ran towards the sound, shouting as loud as I could and listening for the response. I could hear them, louder and louder.

Soon, their words became audible.

"NATALIAAA!" Someone screamed.

And then I spotted her, Paz stood off in the distance, peering through the trees. She gave a huge two armed wave.

For the first time, I was actually happy to see her.

"Paz!" I yelped, beginning to walk towards her.

"Have you seen the others?" She asked.

I shook my head.

"Fuck." She said.

I looked around.

So I guess we had all been split up. I wondered if the others had experienced the same sort of thing as I had last night.

Paz didn't say anything but the look on her face was one I'd never seen before. She looked deeply troubled. But her expression changed when she noticed me staring.

"Come on and look for them, we've got a fucking stone to find." She hissed.

We started walking and yelling some more. Every thirty seconds we'd both scream at the top of our lungs.

"Do you know where the path is?" I asked, between screams.

"No."

"MHERCEEE!" We yelled in unison.

"Should we really be walking? My dad always used to say the best thing to do if you get lost is to stay in one place. Cause if you're moving, there's a fifty fifty chance you're moving away from the person you're trying to find. And if they're moving too-"