Cotter Woods

Part 24

 We walked for over an hour, calling Avery's name. We met up with Evan and Dallas not long into the walk. 

"Where is Layla?" Jess asked.

"Well," I hesitated, "Cotter picked her up..."

"Okay, so we have to find her too!" She said.

"No. She picked her up, and threw her..." No one spoke for a good thirty seconds. Jess and Evan knew what I meant, they knew she had probably died.

"If she's okay," Jess whispered, "She can take care of herself. Finding Avery is our mission as of right now." She walked in the front of the group so no one could see her face, but I saw her wipe her eyes. I walked next to Aiden, the others stayed close behind us. A strange smell lingered, among the other scents of the woods. Through the smell of bark, leaves, dirt, and the humid air, I swear I could smell sulphur. 

"Anyone else smell that?" I asked looking around. Diego had already covered his face with his shirt and Camila was plugging her nose.

"She's near," Evan said sturdily.

"What? That smell is her?" Asher asked, waving his hand by his nose.

"Yup," Jess turned around finally, her eyes were red, "It's sulphur, Cotter is here." 

Just then, a tree fell to the ground. Soon after, all the trees in it's path fell with it. "Stay behind us, kids," Evan said loudly, standing next to Jess in the front. My friends and I all got our weapons ready, even though we had no idea what was going on. I stood on the tips of my toes and peaked over Evan's shoulder. I saw her. At the end of the path that the fallen trees had made, Cotter stood. She had a green cloak on, and her golden hair curled around her face. She took a step forward, and I felt the ground shake.

"She's right there!" I whispered to my friends who peaked around the adults to see.

"That's Cotter?" Aiden asked, shocked.

"She's looks pretty human-like to be a demon," Dallas said.

"Shut up! That's her disguise!" Camila hit him.

With every step she took closer to us, the tenser I got. I could feel the air getting thicker, Aiden squeezed my hand tight.

"Hello, Evan. Jess. Nice to see you both," Cotter smiled, about ten feet away from us.

"Where's Avery?" Evan shouted and pointed his gun at her.

"Not so fast, Evan," She laughed, stepping to the side. Avery stood behind her. I almost ran towards her, so did Camila and all of my friends. But, we knew better than to fall for Cotter's trap. "Shoot me, you shoot the girl." Avery looked up at us. Her face was streaked in tears as she stood there shaking.

"Let her go!" Aiden screamed.

"Oh, I'll let her go, as soon as Summer makes her decision," Cotter stepped closer and  stared at me behind Evan and Jess. Chills ran through me as her icy eyes locked onto mine. "But if she doesn't, then I'll make my decision. And I decide to kill Avery first!" She patted Avery's head, who flinched at the touch, and broke down crying.

"What decision, Summer?" Everyone asked me frantically.

"Make it fast!" Camila yelled hitting my shoulder.

"Summer?" Cotter laughed, "You haven't told them yet?" I stared back at her.

"What do you have to decide?" Diego asked, "We can help you."

"Ha! No, you can't, sweetie. This one's all on Summer. Maybe you should tell them first, though." Cotter said adjusting her cloak. "Go ahead!" I stayed quiet, clenching my teeth and fists. I shook my head. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jess did too. She knew the decision I had to make, Emily had to make the same one. "Oh, alright! Let me do all the work!" Cotter began, "Summer has two options. She can, A, with my help, get out of these woods and make sure no one comes back in. Which doesn't mean all her little buddies go with her, by the way. Or, B, she can watch while I kill all of her friends!" She almost sounded excited.

"What!" Camila yelled.

"Why the hell didn't you tell us?" Diego said covering his face. They all yelled at me and panicked, except Jess and Evan. They knew this would happen the entire time, and didn't warn me. Although, I do take the blame for not telling my friends about what Cotter had told me.

"So? What will it be, Summer?" Cotter asked, patting Avery on the head once more. Avery stared at me, shaking her head. I could tell she was holding in a sob. I looked at the ground, I couldn't look at the pain I was causing all around me. "Tick tock, sweetie!" 

"Okay!" I screamed at her, tears filling my eyes, "I'll leave!"

Cotter took her hand off of Avery's head and smiled at me, "Wonderful."

With that, she disappeared into a glowing cloud once more. Avery ran towards us as soon as she was gone, collapsing into the group's arms and sobbing. I stepped back, looking at them all. Guilt. Guilt was all I felt. If I didn't suggest that we went to the abandoned asylum in the first place, none of this would have happened! I wouldn't be looking at my new friends, all covered in dirt, crying, scared, angry... I needed to apologize, even if they turn me away, I had to apologize!

"Guys.." I began, but before I could say another word, I was lifted off of the ground. They all stared at me with wide eyes. I felt weightless, it was hard to breathe. I stopped about five feet above the ground and knew I would be pulled away soon. "I-" Then it was happening. Faster than a car could drive, I was being dragged away. "I'm sorry!" I screamed out, even though they couldn't hear me anymore. "I'm sorry!" All I could see was a blur of green and brown, passing my eyes at a speed I couldn't imagine. Until, I stopped, and was sitting on the playground bench, just outside of Cotter Woods.