Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r f o u r ( m i k i e )

6:45 pm on Friday

I had already unfolded the dainty paper that was between my fingers, and I read it quietly to my group, "What can unlock your dream can be found near the stream."

Shawn, the guy in the varsity jacket, was the first to speak, "Okay, so I guess we should just go into the woods and start looking for water."

The girl in the romper, whose name I discovered to be Jade, pointed towards Wyatt's group, who had began to disappear into the shadows, "Let's go that way!"

"Wouldn't following one of the other groups aid them in finding the next clue?" I questioned. I was trying to tell her her idea was stupid without being mean. If I'm going to follow any group, it is going to be Charlie's group. I could feel my pulse quicken at the thought of the sporty girl.

Jade stomped her foot impatiently while throwing her hands in the air, "But he's cute!" I could see Shawn roll his eyes from my peripheral vision. I decided it was best to sit this one out, so I kept my mouth shut.

Suddenly, Shawn pointed towards the right and said, "Let's just go this way."

Before anyone else could argue, he began to take long strides into the woods. I looked at Jade, who was looking from us to the other group, before I followed behind Shawn. Jade had mumbled some curses under her breath, but she followed behind us nonetheless.

We didn't get very far before Shawn glanced back to ask me, "Is Lovergirl following behind you?"

I nodded, but then realized he wouldn't see me because it was dark, so I spoke instead, "Yes."

Shawn continued to talk after that, "The ground slowly lowers in this direction so that's probably where the water is."

Jade flips her hair over her shoulder, and skips ahead of me to be next to Shawn, "Wow, you're so smart." Her fake eyelashes flutter seductively, and I watched as she placed her hands on his muscular, leather clad arms.

Wasn't she just saying she liked Wyatt?

However, Shawn seemed to enjoy the attention, "Yeah, I get decent grades. I have solid C's and the occasional D." I rolled my eyes, following behind them.

Jade grinned before removing her hand from the boys expensive jacket and twirling a piece of hair around her finger, "That's amazing! I'd love to have you tutor me sometime."

"Tutor you? If anything, you both need a tutor," I mumbled under my breath, moving by the two flirtatious teenagers.

"What'd you say?" I heard Shawn's voice come up behind me before I felt him grip the back of my shirt. In a matter of seconds, he turned me around and pressed my back to a tree.

I closed my eyes in fear of what he would do. "N-nothing. I said nothing."

He released me, not saying a word as he walked passed me. Jade followed him, not bothering to say anything either. Before I could peel myself away from the tree, I evened my breathing. Once I caught up to them, Shawn and Jade were standing right next to a quickly moving stream.

I watched Jade as she stared at her arms intensely before squealing, "Oh my God! Do you have sunscreen? I thought I was going to be with Katie so I didn't pack any. I am going to burn!" She wailed, starting to pace. Speechless, Shawn and I just watched the small girl rant.

"Sunscreen? Of all the things you could have packed...you wanted to pack sunscreen?" As Shawn spoke, he opened the girl's small bag. "Did you pack anything useful?"

Jade smacked his arm, offended, "Of course, I did!"

Once again, I didn't know what to do in this situation, so I let the two bicker as I looked for the clue.

"How exactly are tampons suppose to help us in this situation?" Shawn laughed as he spoke, only making Jade angrier by the second.

"You just never know when Mother Nature decides to visit!"

"Or how about this miscellaneous bottle? What are you going to do with that?"

"Are you kidding? That is every girl's necessity. That is frizz control spray!"

"Frizz control spray? Do you have any food in that bag of mess?"

"Why would I need to bring that, Shawn? I ate before I came. Duh."

I turned back to my worthless group, astounded that they were still arguing over this matter. Shawn seemed dumbstruck by the girl's response, and she only pulled out a mirror to fix her hair.

Shawn slowly turned towards me, "What did you bring?"

I stared at him, not quite sure if I wanted to respond, but when he started to walk in my direction, the words just flew out of my mouth, "I brought my camera, calculator, notepad, and chapstick."

Shawn stopped dead in his tracks, expressionless.

"There was no more room in my fanny pack for anything else."

All three of us stood in the middle of the woods, staring at each other in complete silence. I was frozen in my spot, but luckily Jade looked at Shawn.

"Well, what did you bring Sporty Spice?" She smacked him on his chest, which made me wince, but Shawn held strong.

"Well, I brought my essentials."

Jade brought her hands to her hips, "And what would those be?"

Shawn set his bag down on the grassy area before unzipping it, "I have my uniform, some water bottles, extra clothes, cleats, and my phone. Oh, and I have my lacrosse stick." He looked so proud as he lifted his head to look at us. I could see rage etched in Jade's features as she stomped to him.

"Give me that stick."

"Why?"

"So I can beat you with it!" My eyes widened as I watched this tiny girl run with all her might at a guy twice her size. As soon as her body came into contact with his, she crumbled to the ground as Shawn stayed planted, amused.

I stepped back a few steps as Jade wound up for round two. She flew at Shawn, wrapping both hands around the lacrosse stick. She didn't stand a chance, however, because Shawn practically threw her into a nearby bush.

"You jackass!" Jade screeched, pulling herself from the bush. "You just tore up my Nordstrom romper! Nordstrom!" She smoothed out her outfit, and that's when I noticed something shiny in the bush.

"What's that?" I asked, but got no response since they were still bickering. I think Jade learned not to throw herself around anymore. I walked to the bush, reaching out for the shiny object. My fingers wrapped around a key.

"Uh, guys, I think I found it," I held up the key, which had a tiny bag dangling from it. At my words, the two stopped arguing to look at me. Before I could open the bag, Jade ripped it out of my hands, only to have Shawn take it from her. When she went to take it back, Shawn held it above her head. "Guys, come on, there is something in the bag. This is not hot potato, this is a scavenger hunt!"

Shawn turned his attention to me, careful to keep the key out of her reach, "Don't get your fanny pack in a twist Grandpa."

He tossed the key to me, so I caught it, pulling out the piece of paper in the bag.

I read it out loud for the two.

"Your thread can be found behind a flower bed."

"Well that narrows it down to about the entire woods," Shawn grumbled, putting his bag over his shoulder.

"Well, let's just get this show on the road," Jade replied, moving her way down the bank.

"Where are you going?" I asked her, tilting my head.

"To the flowers. Can't you smell them?" She never turned back around as she spoke, so Shawn and I had no other choice but to follow. 

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QOTC Who's your favorite member of the Dragonflies?