The Soldiers Of Darkness

Waking Up

As I lifted my head, I couldn't remember anything. Where am I? How did I get here? Who... no. That much I remember. I know who I am. I'm Jack. But the thing I can't figure out, why am I here? I swiveled my head around, finding out where I am. There's nothing but forest for miles.

"Damn. This can't be good. What... happened?"

As I stood, a sharp pain in my right leg sent a stabbing sensation through my body. It hurt a lot but I had to get through it. I had to get moving.  Can't survive out in the forest. I started moving, all the while trying to figure out what happened.

"Ok... last thing I remember..."

I thought back to the last think I remembered. I remembered going to school that morning. I had finally gotten the guts to talk to Ellie. We exchanged numbers. Said we would go to catch a movie that next day. I went through the rest of the school day. Got home. Ate. Bragged to my friends a little bit. We messed with each other. I did my homework. Went to bed. Then I woke up in the middle of the forest and my right ankle's messed up again somehow.

"I don't understand... How did this happen??"

As I walked through the woods, I combed through the events that happened with a fine comb. Trying to figure out how I had gotten to the woods, and why? I couldn't be sure. I mean, I'm a 17 year old. How did I get out of the house without my parents knowing??

Eventually, I came across a car. MY car. Why did I get out of it? Where was I going? I climbed into the car, and started the engine. The gas meter was almost full. I turned around, thinking to myself that if the car was almost full then I had to be close to getting out. Right? Maybe, maybe not.

As I started cruising along, I saw my phone, charging. No service. Not yet at least.

"If I keep driving, I should get some signal soon. Then I can find my way out of here. I should call Ellie. No idea how long I've been out here. Probably missed our date..."

Eventually, I came across a road.

"Thank God. Maybe now I'll be able to get home."

I entered my address into the GPS, and started driving home. I thought about calling first, but something told me not to. So I just drove. I put on the radio, listened to music, heard a few new songs. Still ignoring the throbbing pain in my ankle. I figured, when I got home I could rest it for a while.

About 6 hours later, I pulled into my driveway, and unlocked the front door with the key. I went inside.

"Mom? I'm home!"

There was no response. I walked into my room, grabbed a few things, and walked into my parents room. I unlocked the safe and grabbed my pistol. I wasn't sure why, but I felt like I might need it. How right I was. As I walked out of the house, I decided I should call Ellie. I dialed her number into my phone.

"hello?"

"Jack? Where are you?" Ellie said, sounding as if she had been crying.

"I'm home, why? What's wrong?"

"I'm coming over," she said, as she hung up the phone.

As I sat there, I couldn't figure out why she was coming. I mean, not that I minded. And why did she sound like she was crying? So many questions... I thought to myself that maybe I'd figure out these answers when she got here. Hopefully that would be soon.