The Story No One Knew (Third Book In 'The Story We Live' Series

Blue

It was still dark but getting lighter. Ive ran into at least seven squirrels and I'm on the verge of peeing my pants.

Nothing too exciting is really happening. Ive been walking this whole time yelling for Echo without a break. At first I had been vigorous in my search but now Im just kinda keeping a slow pace. I'm exhausted.

I try to keep my mind off of the fact that there was absolutely no way to find my way back now. I'd gone extremely deep into the woods that I had never stepped foot in before - there was no way I knew anything about the paths I was taking.

"Kade!"

I stop cold.

"Kade!" I hear the shrill voice again followed with some crunching leaves from somewhere ahead of me.

Naturally, I figured Echo had found me and was making her way over so I head into the direction of her voice.

"No! Run! Go back to the house!" I guess she saw my actions but I didn't see her. I really didn't need to see her though, her voice said it all. She wasn't yelling at me because she wanted me to leave her alone, she was yelling because she was terrified. Im not sure of what though.

I'm not sure why she told me to run but clearly something good isn't coming out of this. I do as she had instructed. Sorta.

I spin around and run maybe about four yards away before I hide behind a tree. Whatever the issue, I'd be there to handle it, or at least try.

For a moment everything seemed perfectly still. Calm. Silent.

Until I suddenly felt cold hands clasp over my mouth. Instantly, I begin to panic - thrashing and tugging at their arms until they let go. But once I spin around I thank God it was Echo.

As much as I wanted and needed to hug her, interrogation mode turned on.

"What happened? Are you hurt? Are you alright?
Did something take you? I thought you had gotten lost. Talk please." I ramble in a loud whisper.

"Shhh." She says low and slowly. I see her thin finger held up over her pink lips in the dim orange rising light. "She's close."

Her words make me shiver. "Who is?"

"We have to go now, Kade." She whispers frantically before grabbing me around the wrist and nearly taking my arm off as she sprinted, pulling me quickly along.

My guess was that we were headed back where we came but thats only if I had lucked out and really had gone straight the whole time. Its kinda hard to tell when every last thing around you is either brown or green. I wasn't too worried though - she seemed to know where she was going.

"Echo, who's coming?" I'm still whispering but loud enough so that she can hear me over the crushing leaves and wind flying past our ears.

"No one, just keep moving." She let go of my arm after saying this, allowing me to run freely behind her. We made much better time this way.

"Shit!" I hear her say in a firm low voice. She stops suddenly causing me to over run and crash into her back. I dig my heels into the dirt and catch her before she falls forward.

"What is it?" I ask, gathering myself.

"Look." She points directly in front of us. Theres some kind of blueish looking light in the distance, easily seen through the trees - a flashlight maybe -slowly getting larger. "We gotta turn around."

Without hesitation, she spins around and darts the opposite direction passed me.

How is she not tired yet?

I sigh deeply but soon realize that she's probably smarter than me, I should just do as she says. I spin around after her but turn back just for a second in hopes to catch one more glimpse at the strange lighting.

Instead, I hear Echo's high, terrified voice far off somewhere yelling just before I even got a chance to look up at the white thin face awaiting my gaze.