Foreverland

Chapter III

Chapter III
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"I know this must be scary for you," Cam whispered as he and Iris walked quietly through the forest. They were both on high alert, watching for any reapers. Iris still wondered what reapers really were, and what they wanted with her. 

Iris stepped over a moss-covered log. "A little."

Cam gave her a small smirk. "It's surprising," he started. "You haven't freaked out yet. You don't seem scared."

Iris definitely was scared, but she knew she couldn't let her guard down around anyone. She thought for a second. "I don't know what's normal and what isn't." She paused. "I don't know what should scare me."

"I understand."

It was as dark as it was when she and Peter had first travelled through it. Iris wondered why that was, why when even the sun was shining brightly this forest was still clouded in darkness. She looked up, hoping to see sun rays peaking through the branches of the trees. There was nothing but darkness.

"I still look for the light, too." Cam spoke quietly, and Iris could hint a bit of sadness in his voice. "I know you know nothing about me, or about any of us. But I wanted you to know that I look for the light too." This surprised her, and made her feel the tiniest hint of guilt for being so distrusting of him. 

Iris glanced at Cam as they walked. He was looking at the ground, watching his feet step over branches and twigs.

"How long have you been here?" Iris hadn't wondered this until now. They all seemed to be young, no older than twenty. Why are they on their own, living in the ground in a perpetually dark forest?

He looked up into the trees, seeming to think about his answer. "A very long time."

For some reason, she felt her heart pang in her chest. She felt sad for them, and the forest around her didn't do much to lift her spirits. Iris had already felt as though she'd been here for a very long time too, when in reality, she'd been there for almost a day at most. Maybe that's what Cam meant, she thought.

As they caught glimpse of light signifying the end of the woods, a buzzing resonated from behind them. It got louder and louder quickly, and Iris looked at Cam. His eyes widened, and she could barely hear him over the buzzing when he shouted, "run!"

They hopped over logs, and didn't hesitate even when they were making more noise than the buzzing. Iris's heart pounded in her chest as the buzzing got closer and closer, and she thought for sure whatever it was was about to consume them when they broke the tree line and dove into sand. Cam immediately pulled her up. They ran to the water in front of them, and Cam pushed both of them under the water. The buzzing sounded muffled, and soon faded away.

Iris took a huge gulp of air when they came back up. Cam did the same. "What was that?" She asked. She had been there for less than a day, and already twice she had been running for her life.

He looked at her, shaking his head. "Peter can tell you," he said, directing his attention to the wooden boat in the distance.

They swam towards it, the waves propelling them forward. Iris was shivering by the time they reached it. As soon as they were at the side of the boat, Peter pulled Iris out of the water while Liam and Max helped Cam in. Both Cam and Iris were breathing heavily. Iris ached heavily for answers. She'd been here for less than a day, and every time she turned her head something surprised her. As she sat there, soaked in sea water, she wanted to yell at the four boys, to make them explain to her what was happening. She looked up at Peter, who was looking back at her with a calm expression. "What were those?"

"Fairies," He answered.

Iris puffed out a breath of air, despising him for mocking her. She stood up unsteadily, slapping his hand away when he attempted to give her support. Her fists were clenched at her side, and all four boys stared at her as she stood angrily at the front of the boat. "Don't mock me," she said through clenched teeth. Her strong demeanor was destroyed with one sway of the boat, knocking her off her feet and onto her butt.