Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r t w e n t y t w o ( j a m e y )

LOL the meme above goes along with something Katie says later in the chapter.

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Previously...

I shook my head at them before interrupting, "The clue says 'To find your last prize, you have to be wise and go counter clockwise.'"

We all seemed to ponder the riddle for a little bit, before it dawned on me, "Maybe, it's telling us to go backwards? Like back to the beginning?"

Chris nodded his head in agreeance, "Not too bad, GI Jane; not too bad."

Currently...

12:30 am on Saturday

"Let's get going guys," I grinned before gesturing for Chris and Katie to follow me. We began to walk back the direction we came. We were making great time, except Katie kept having to stop to fix her hair or her makeup or her nails.

There really wasn't much to say at this point, so we traveled in a comfortable silence. It didn't last long though because Katie ran ahead of us, holding the rim of her hat to keep it in place. She turned around, putting her hands out in front of her to stop us. Her eyes were bugging out of her skull, goosebumps forming along her arms as she whispered, "There's a bear."

At first, I didn't know whether to laugh or actually be concerned for the girl, "There's is not a bear. I haven't heard anything." I rolled my eyes, moving around her.

"Where did you hear said bear?" Chris asked, clearly playing along. He looked at the girl, feigning sincerity.

She ran to catch up to us, "Over there!" She pointed to a bunch of shrubs, no higher than our waist. "I heard it. It was eating something and making noises!"

I groaned, putting my hands on my hips as I turned to her, "That's what animals do, Katie!" I was frustrated with her incessant need to keep stopping. We started at moon burn and now we are here, looking for bears.

"No, I am serious. Guys, I would not joke about this," She grabbed my arm, tugging me back to face her. She stuck her finger in my face. "Believe me or not, but I am not going to save you when the bear flosses with your femur!" Her face began to turn red under all that makeup as she yelled at me. I stared at her, shocked at her bravery, but yet confused as to how all that spunk fit into someone so tiny.

"Girl fight! Yes!" Chris fits pumped the air, clearly excited at the possibilities that were not going to happen.

I swatted Katie's hand out of my face, sighing, "I'll check it out, okay?" Once she realized I meant business, she smoothed out her top and nodded her head.

"Thank you."

I rolled my eyes, snatching the flashlight out of Chris' grip. I carefully padded across the mossy ground. When I got to the bushes, I flashed the light over the top. Nothing. I moved some of the branches. Nothing. I got on the ground and flashed the light. Nothing. I stood up, dusting myself off. "There is nothing here Katie."

She huffed, crossing her arms across her chest and stomping her feet, "I'm telling you I heard something! It was a bear."

"Why are you automatically assuming it's a bear? Why can't it be a deer? Or a squirrel?" Chris smirked, raising an eyebrow at the girl. The grin that stretched across his face only somewhat concealed his enthusiasm.

"It was a bear. It was fat." She turned her nose up at the sky, not impressed at his doubts.

I shook my head, "Katie, I'm telling you nothing is here."

She stomped her foot again before she walked over to me. "I'm telling you I saw something. It was a bear." She bent over, looking into the leaves. Suddenly, she jumped backwards squealing. She landed on her butt, but what came out of the bushes was not a bear. No. It was a bunny. A little, fluffy bunny.

I don't know who laughed harder, me or Chris.

"You-you thought that," He laughed, pointing to the rabbit as it hopped away from us, "was a bear? That is like-the size of a football!"

Katie pouted, frustrated. She dug her heals into the ground, getting up. She walked ahead of us, who were still laughing. Tears were beginning to form in my eyes and my stomach was beginning to cramp. Chris didn't seem to be in any better shape either, but we continued after the girl.

"Katie, I'm sorry, but come on. You over reacted over a teeny tiny bunny rabbit," Chris tried to win her over, sliding his hand along the small of her back. Instead of a reply, all he got was her looking away from him and trying not to stumble over her feet.

"Katie. We have all had moments like that," I soothed, walking in toe with them. No response.

Chris tried a few more words of encouragement, but when she still didn't reply we just let it go, and traveled in silence.

"I don't need you guys. I will finish this on my own," She jerked out of Chris' grasp, rushing forward. A blood curdling scream pierced through the night air, which sent Katie scurrying back between me and Chris. She clutched onto both of our arms, digging her nails in slightly as if we were going to pull away.

"N-nevermind." 

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QOTC What's your biggest fear?