Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r n i n e t e e n ( m i k i e )

Previously...

We traveled further in silence, before Jade spoke up, "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That beeping. Like someone is texting or dialing a number?" Jade looked around, clutching the blanket under her chin, as if it would protect her.
We stopped moving, listening to the woods around us.

Our eyes widened at the voice that would haunt us forever, "I found her."

Currently...

10:45 pm on Friday

"It was probably just an animal, stop bickering," Shawn rolled his eyes at Jade and I as he moved the branches out of his way.

"An animal?! Are you telling me an animal spoke the actual English language?" Jade clutched the back of Shawn's letterman.

However, Shawn was confident, "You guys are just paranoid. It's probably from lack of water."

Jade sighed, rolling her eyes, but glanced back at me to shake her head. I guess that was the clue to drop it. I didn't think we were just paranoid. Another voice was clearly heard in the woods earlier. I don't care what he thought. In the future, I would have to be more aware of our surroundings. You know, just in case. A sense of uneasiness settled around me, and I began to wonder if the other two could feel it as well.

"Maybe we should stop so I can fix my makeup," Jade's voice came out quiet, like she wasn't quite sure of herself. Well, I guess she definitely wasn't feeling it.

"Really? Do you need to fix it now? We can't even see it in the dark," Shawn sighed, turning to the small girl.

"Dark? Why, Shawn, that's why I have this!" She opened her bag, dug around for a bit, and then pulled out a small circular object. She smiled, flipping it open and light emitted from the small object.

Shawn sighed, "You have got to be kidding me."

Jade went on to explain how Kim Kardashian's light up phone case gave her inspiration to pay someone to make her mirror for her, but then she began to apply her makeup so she was quiet.

It was beautiful to have some peace and quiet from Jade's dumb remarks.

I watched as she applied a skin colored liquid all over her face with a pink egg shaped thing. I wasn't sure what look she was going for because as she added different shades of the liquid in different places she looked like a clown. Somehow though she was able to use the egg and mix it together to make her face look normal and more defined. It was like magic.

Shawn was growing impatient, "Are you done yet?"

Jade was making a horrific face at the moment as she applied some wand thing to her eyelashes, but she managed to mumble, "Almost."

Shawn seemed very freaked out by the face she was making, "You know I'm kind of picking up that constipated platypus look here."

I found myself laughing at his comment, but Jade stopped what she was doing long enough to slap the boy on the shoulder, "You said you wouldn't bring that up."

Shawn chuckled, the corners of his crinkling a little and a grin on his face, "It's funny though."

Jade continued to apply her makeup quickly, and it wasn't long until we were walking again.

"Guys what's that over there?" Jade questioned. We all squinted and sped our pace up, but then the woods opened up to reveal a large lake. My automatic reaction was to pull out my camera and snap a picture. I could feel Jade and Shawn judging me as I focuses the lens before clicking the capture button.

"Mikie," Jade drawled out, running her fingertips up and down my arm, "Can I see that camera?" I gave her a sideways glance, but handed the camera over slowly. She smiled, kissing my cheek as she took a picture. The flash caught me off guard as I was blinded for a few seconds. I knew my cheeks were red, but she didn't seem to notice since she was snapping pictures of herself with my camera.

"Give a girl a camera and suddenly it is selfie central," Shawn muttered, moving forward. I decided to follow him, leaving my camera in Jade's hands. We slowly stepped onto the dock which seemed to sway a bit under our weight. Not a word was uttered, the only thing we could hear was the clicking of the camera's shutter.

On one of the posts was a piece of paper stapled to the wood. On it the words, scrawled out in someone's handwriting:

To find your last prize, you have to be wise and go counter clockwise.

"Okay, so we need to get a move on. Probably need to go back to the start," Shawn turned around, walking back down the dock. I went to follow him, but caught sight of Jade as she pushed down the straps on her romper. She stepped out of the flimsy fabric, reaching behind her to unclip her bra, but Shawn ran to her. He tried to cover her up with his jacket, "Whoa, whoa whoa. Put your clothes on."

Jade giggled, batting her eyelashes at the boy who held up his letterman to cover her up, "Thought you wouldn't tell a girl that."

"Me either," Shawn rolled his eyes, keeping eye contact with the girl. I swallowed hard, pulling at the collar on my shirt. My eyes looked everywhere except where Shawn and Jade stood by the edge of the water.

"I just want to go for a swim, Shawn."

"Nope. None of that. We are running behind as it is."

Jade pouted, batting her eyelashes again, "Please Shawn?" I watched as she stood on her tip toes, whispering something in his ear. He seemed to be having an internal debate with himself. I shifted on my feet, clearly uncomfortable.

"Quick swim, but keep on all the essentials," Shawn gave her a hard glare, nodding his head slightly. Once Jade smiled, agreeing with him, he slowly lowered the jacket. Jade didn't waste anytime jumping into the water, careful to keep her head above the water.

I sat down on a nearby log, wrapping my head around the fact that Jade was about to undress completely in front of two guys she barely even knew. I shook my head, flipping through the pictures on my camera. Selfie after selfie appeared on the screen, and I couldn't help but laugh at some of the faces she was making.

Pretty soon, Shawn joined me on the log, his eyes on Jade as if she would disappear any second. "How can she be so careless?"

I shrugged, glancing at the girl as she swam, "Some people just don't care."

He nodded, still watching the girl. He ate one of the granola bars, "Pretty girls have everything handed to them."

Again, I nodded. By this time Jade was pulling herself out of the water. She seemed frustrated, about what, I wasn't sure, but I knew we were about to find out. She grabbed her clothes, stomping her feet as she came to us.

"What is wrong with your face?" Shawn asked, both of us trying to contain our laughter. Somehow, during her swim Jade had lost one of her fake eyelashes.

"It fell off," She spoke through gritted teeth, quickly getting dressed.

"You...you're eyelash...fell off?" Shawn was gasping for air, wiping his eyes from tears that came from laughing so hard. Jade groaned, smackin g him on the back of the head. "Oh, gosh. Yep. Definitely a platypus." I snickered, covering my mouth to shield her of my laughter.

"I. Hate. Both. Of. You," Jade stomped off into the woods, throwing her hands up in the air. Now, Shawn and I were both doubled over laughing.

"God I hope she can get the other one off, or we are in for one heck of a night."

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QOTC Would you go swimming if you were there?