The Woods of the dead Asylum

Chapter 3

Two hours before

Kiara's Point of View

We entered the forest. I felt the temperature drop slightly, but it was noticeable to me. I shivered. I saw Mark who was in front of me stop in his tracks. My eyebrows scrunched in curiosity. I heard myself calling his name. Dragging the attention of the others to us. He didn't respond. My hand moved to touch his shoulder. But I froze as I saw him walking again. I looked around at everyone, we were all bewilderedly at Mark's actions. I heard Jason and Kayla call and go after him. He didn't even budge. I looked at Inés and Lira and raised my eyebrow at them. They nodded. So I started running after Mark, Jason, and Kayla, who were already a few meters in front of us, behind me Inés and Lira.

After a few minutes, we managed to catch up to them. Someone on the back of my mind whispered that we were lost, but I pushed the thought. We had more important things to attend even tho I felt fear crawling slowly through my bones. I closed my eyes counted to ten and focused in Mark, who was walking but not reacting, his eyes, I realized with fear, looked soulless, lifeless, I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, I looked back at Inés she had come to the same conclusion as me, he was in a trance or... he was possessed.  I looked around for a moment. I couldn't place exactly where were we. A dark but realistic thought crossed my mind we were lost and we will be here for a while, if not forever.

I was about to voice my thoughts, but my words died in my throat as I saw Mark fall down in the grass. We quickly crouched beside him. He was sweating, but when Inés touched his forehead, she recoiled as if touching him had burned her "He's cold as ice" she whispered. Bewildered I touched his hand. True to Inés word he was cold as ice. Kayla started calling his name desperately.  Worry took place in all of our eyes. "What do we do?" I heard Jason's voice ask. As he finished the question. I heard Mark gasp for air. I turned my face so fast to see him that I felt my neck cracking. He was gasping for air, eyes closed then he froze...in fear? Kayla started shaking his shoulders trying to wake him up. He opened his eyes. I exhaled in relive. "What happened" Kayla demanded. But my relive was short lived as I saw Mark losing consciousness and closing his eyes.

"Give him some space" Kayla harshly snapped. Inés told her she could help. As she looked back at Lira, Jason and me. "He's burning up we need water to cool him down, does anyone still have some water in your backpacks?". We took off our backpacks and searched for our water bottles, as we expected they were almost if not already finished. Inés sighed. "there must be some river or lake close by" we nodded "Also, I am pretty sure we are lost" I commented. She sighed again. "Okay I still have half of my water bottle full, but at the temperature he is, it won't be enough to cool him down and as Kiara mentioned we are indeed lost, so we have to search for the exit". "So we divide ourselves, one of us has to stay with Mark and the others divide into two groups so we can search the lake and the exit at the same time and hopefully be able to get out of here before night falls" Jason said.

"Inés has to stay with Mark" Inés opened her mouth to protest "As she is the only one who knows something about first aid in the case of the worst scenario" Lira finished. We all nodded except Inés. "Fine" she mumbled. "Okay, I am going to search for the exit with Kai" I firmly said, I had a bad filling about going in the dark forest alone, but I ignored. "No, you can't go alone" Inés protested. I chuckled "I am not going alone, Kai will be by my side" I petted Kai. As Inés knew she wasn't going to be able to change Kiara's mind. She huffed "Whatever but Laika is going with you" Laika barked happily. "Whatever you say" I chuckled. Lira clapped her hands "So that settles this, Inés is staying with Mark, Kiara is going in search for the exit with the dogs and Jason, Kayla and I are going for the water". We all nodded. As we started to get ready to leave to full-fill our tasks. I saw in the corner of my eye Kayla's hesitance to leaving her brother's side.