The Curse

Reunion

Filip ran wherever his eyes took him. He hadn't even realized that except Anthony, all the others had got separated. He ran as fast as he could, evading the darkness of the forest. His feet got scratched by the roots and branches of trees.........Yet he ran on and on. Anthony followed him closely, bruised and panting. Finally, Filip stopped. He couldn't run any longer. His vision felt blurry. He needed to stop. He sat down beneath a tree. Anthony followed suit. Both of them took deep breaths to calm themselves down.

"Where are the others?" Filip asked

"I don't know..." Anthony replied in between breaths," I think they got separated."

"Shit," Filip muttered as he wiped the sweat from his face. Everything was quiet after that. Nobody knew what to say. "What do you suggest?" Filip looked at Anthony.

"I don't want to go anywhere. I give up. It's clear that we are never going back. I am tired. Just let me die in peace."

Filip locked Anthony into an embrace....after all, he had nothing more to give him then. But as they say, there's a rainbow around every cloud. Suddenly, they heard the crunching of leaves.

"Shhh....let's go away from here," Filip whispered.

"NO. I AM SICK OF RUNNING AWAY! COME AT ME, WHOEVER YOU ARE. I DON'T F****** CARE. KILL ME.....KILL ME."

They expected to get ambushed any moment now. All of their hope had ebbed away. Instead, a voice answered. A voice, which they least expected to hear...but it delighted them like never before.

It was Filip's dad. "Anthony? Is that you??"

"DAD!!" Filip called out.

"DAD!"

Mr Williamson appeared from behind the clump of trees. Filip lunged forward like a missile and hugged him, tears leaking out of his blue eyes.

"Dad, it's been terrible out here. It's all that box's fault. Jillian's dead...The others are lost....," he sobbed bitterly. Mr Williamson huddled both the boys closer.

"Where are the others?" he asked softly.

"I..I...I don't know....They got separated....."

Separated.....are they even alive? Did the aliens get them already?

"How did you come here?" Anthony asked Mr Williamson.

"That's a long story. But I think we should go back to the house.....it seems that is the only safe place out here. I don't know why you all are roaming out here in the forest......"

"Well," began FIlip," The aliens had invaded the house. That's why we all are here. We should search for the others first."

"There'd be no need for that." It was Jillian's apparition. Mr Williamson was rather taken aback, but there were more pressing matters then. "What do you mean........" he vocalized.

"The aliens followed the others.....and....and....they killed them." Shiny droplets of tears appeared in Jillian's eyes. Mr Williamson could sense that Filip and Anthony were losing it. Somehow, their fear and despair seemed to strengthen him. "Let's just go back," he said,"It's of no use crying for what has already happened. We''ll surely come up with something." Saying so, he led everyone towards the house, retracing the steps he had come. He had been clever enough to mark the path with little pebbles on his way and he had also brought a torch. Otherwise, they would have to remain lost in that forest, left to their fate.