Blue Lagoon

Chapter 4 - Nicole

We had been following Joseph for hours and getting no where it was mid-day and the sun was burning our skin, with no water or food we could barely move.
"Joseph are you sure this is the right way? Maybe we should turn around and go another way." Kneil stated
"No, I'm sure this is the right way trust me, I have a feeling."
Kneil and Joseph began to argue about which way to go,
"You said that hours ago and we are no where closer than before! We are all so tired and can barely stay awake!" Kneil shouted,
"Guys come on stop fighting, it will get us..."
"No one asked you Nicole! Stay out of it!" Kneil yelled,
my head started spinning and my throat hurts. I decided to let them argue and I would take a break. I dropped to the ground and rested up against a tree Taylor followed and laid his head on my legs. Within seconds I fell asleep when I woke up there was a fire going and it was getting dark Kneil was sleeping on Taylor's stomach and Joseph was no where to be seen.
"Joseph?" I whispered trying not to wake the boys.
"Joseph where are you?" I said a little louder,
Then I heard a snap behind me I jumped and turned around waking up Taylor and Kneil who began to complain,
"What the heck Niki, what...."
"Shhh! I heard something." I whispered,
"What's going on?" Joseph asked,
I turned and saw Jospeh come in the clearing, it must have been him that made that noise. I saw that he was holding berries in his hands,
"I heard something and got scared but I guess I'm just being paranoid, where did you get that?" I asked pointing to the food,
"Oh well you were all sleeping and I decided to go get some food so we could eat and get more energy to...."
SNAP
It was the noise again we all froze, how could they have found us? Is it them or is it and animal? Crap! The fire, they could have seen the smoke and knew where to find us. I got Joseph's attention and looked to the fire, but we had no water to put it out. We could hear footsteps coming closer to us. Then a voice barely hearable.
"Help me, please some..."
Not sure what I heard I slowly got closer to the noise Joseph tries to hold me back but I shook him off. I went around the tree and saw the outline of a figure stumbling around it wasn't till the figure looked back at me that I saw her face.
"Renee?" I asked,
Her head turned in my direction and tears filled her eyes she came and stumbled onto my arms crying.
"I found you thank goodness I was so worried I would never find you they forgot to lock and I ran I saw smoke in woods followed." Renee was rambling on then she fell to the ground. She had cuts all over her arms it was hard to tell if it was from the woods or something else. Joseph looked at me half terrified half relived. No one spoke for what felt like hours we just stood where we were staring at our unconscious friend. Finally Taylor spoke up,
"How did she get out? How is she alive? We need to get out of here fast."
"He's right if Renee found us so quickly it means that they can find us quickly too. We ate the berries Joseph got quickly to get energy then Joseph and I each grabbed one of Renee's arms and began to drag her as we went on walking again. It was hard getting Renee through the woods. I kept tripping over rocks and branches, my arms and legs were covered in blood from all the scratches. She was heavy and hard to drag with me. Arms shaking, knees trembling I dropped to the ground. Renee fell sideways and Joseph was pulled to the ground, he shot right up and helped me up.
"Are you okay?" He asked,
"Ya, I just lost my balance, lets get out of here.....I'm good now I promise." We picked up Renee and kept going, how are we going to get out of here? We are jut getting more and more lost, Jospeh has no clue where we are going he just doesn't want to scare us and say we are lost. I could feel the hope of freedom slowly slipping away. We are going to die here. That's when we heard rushing sound and began towards it, the joy in our faces where so big to see that it was the river we were looking for. We put Renee down and ran to the water taking sips, the feeling of the water go down and sooth my sore throat fills amazing the pain decreased and I could feel my energy slowly come back. I got all the way in to wash off all the blood and dirt. Then Renee began to stir we turned around and ran right to her, when she woke up she has still hazy so we got her some water and Joseph and Kneil went to look for more food while Taylor and I stayed back to ask questions. I'm crouched down next to her while Taylor is standing behind me.
"Renee what happened?" Taylor asked,
"After you guys left they threw me down the stairs into the basement but I guess out of um anger they forgot to lock the... the door or even close it all the way. Then they left one guy to watch over me while the rest looked for you, then the guy just fell asleep and I ran, that's when I saw the smoke and it had to be you guys because why would it be you know someone else. So I followed it for forever so tired I was about to give up then I saw you. And well you know the rest. So ya.."
"I'm so glad you found us, I'm so sorry we left you it was all my fault I'm such a horrible person for leaving you there to suffer. I'll never forgive myself." I cried
"Niki don't blame yourself I told you to run and get the others to safety, you all shouldn't have suffered because I didn't check my surroundings I forgive you an look I'm fine now. We are all together and free."
She smiled at me but it looked painful and forced like she was hiding something, only saying that to make me feel better.
"Guys we should get going now if this is the river then we just need to follow it out to the clearing and we will be one step closer to our goal." Joseph said coming over to us with food.
"Come one Jospeh its dark out and in tired can't we just eat then sleep and continue tomorrow?" Kneil begged,
Joseph shrugged his shoulders and agreed. So we all sat in a circle and ate.