Peekaboo Harry • HS

Wanderlust 5 • Through the Dark

After calling Jewel and Boo's names, Dani gave up trying and sat on a random log, wrapping her arms around herself. She had always been afraid of the dark, but somehow, nature's cacophony was better to listen to than the sad voices in her brain. It was comforting, even. Although she was slightly trembling from all the running and the prospect of dying alone here, there was something strangely comforting in the atmosphere.

It was probably because she knew Jewel and Boo was there.

They would find each other somehow, right?

Dani knew they would. Jewel, at least, would find a way to spot her. She loved Boo to death but she can't say she trusted Boo to FIND her when the girl could barely find her own glasses on her face.

Yawning, Dani leaned against the tree and hoped to God that the night would pass by soon. Surely, people would be out looking for them. The moment she closed her eyes, all her dreams were filled with a sweet boy with curly long hair... dancing like a crazy monkey buck naked.

_____

Boo, on the other hand, was freaking out. She was trying not to cry, and she was trying not to scream. Honestly, she tagged along the trip not just because she wanted out of the country, but because she was excited to meet new guys.

And she could NOT meet new guys in the middle of the dark motherfucking jungle!

Jesus help me.

Was this payback for having such selfish motivations? Was it so wrong to yearn for that one big shot at romance in a foreign land?

Feeling fresh tears sting her nose and eyes, Boo sank on the ground and braced her knees. Where was Jewel? Her older sister usually knew where to go. Why did she leave her all alone here? Wasn't she supposed to look after her?

I should definitely stay put, she told herself, already shivering in the dark. Boo didn't even want to think about how frightening her surroundings were. She suddenly felt so small.

As she sat there sobbing quietly, something caught her attention.

A soft, quiet, moan.

Had she been crying louder, Boo was certain she wouldn't have heard it. At first, she felt terrified.

What if it was a ghost?

But the longer she listened, the more she noticed how the moan sounded something like a cry. Like someone was in pain.

Suddenly, as if struck by the lightning of confidence and bravery, Boo stood up on her feet. Taking a deep breath she gave herself a slap on the cheek. She recalled an episode Running Wild with Bear Gylls show, and the celebrity guest had been Barack Obama. The US President told Bear that he always told his teenage daughters one thing:

"Be useful and be kind."

And by god, Boo thought, I will be useful before I die!

Following the quaint sound from the distance, Boo made slow, careful steps. In the dark, she noticed someone. There between a thicket of god-knows-what lay someone, and he looked like he was injured.

Clearing her throat, Boo announced her presence. "Excuse me, sir, but do you need any help?"

"O-oh... Y-yes, p-please... Thank you!"

Boo went to the man and noticed that he must have slipped somewhere, judging the way he was sprawled all over the floor. He looked like he was way larger than she was, but she had to try to help him somehow.

Why ask to be saved when she can be the one to do the saving?

______

"Niall! NIALL!!!" Louis screamed. "Where the fuck are you!?" After yelling for what felt like the hundredth time, he gave up to give his throat a rest. He didn't know which way he was going and no matter how many times he flashed his flashlight to the trees, he couldn't exactly tell one tree from the other.