haunted, the forest // nct [3]

{11}

     "I need to get back to Daerin." Taeyong nervously rubbed his arm as the small group walked through the dark forest. Jihwan, Ten, and Mark were alongside him.

     "One thing I've learned from my past experiences is that separating just makes things even worse," Mark added while shaking his head.

     "Thanks," Jihwan scoffed. "That makes me feel a whole lot better. Did anyone grab a flashlight?"

     The boys glanced at each other before shaking their heads.

     Jihwan sighed in frustration. Her hand disappeared into her sweatshirt pocket before pulling out her phone. "I'm going to try to text the others. We can use the flashlights on our phones too."

     The three boys crowded around her phone as she held the button down to turn it on. The Apple logo popped up briefly, before the screen glitched with pink, green, and blue colors. Then, it went completely black.

     All four of them flinched from the sparking sound it created and Jihwan dropped her phone. "What the hell?" She gritted her teeth, shaking her hand because of the burning feeling when holding the phone.

     "Mine isn't even trying to turn on," Taeyong put in.

     "No luck with ours either," Ten spoke for himself and Mark. He had a cold chill run through his spine at the thought of him and Johnny being separated from each other during a time like this.

     "Great." Jihwan's hands fell against her legs. "Just peachy." She paused to look around the towering trees. "You know, I bet Lucas is going to be the first to die."

     "Let's not jump to conclusions," Taeyong told Jihwan. "At least let's not jump to bad conclusions so we can try and stay calm. I don't want to believe anything bad is going to happen to any of us."

     "Just telling the truth." Jihwan brushed back her short hair in annoyance. "He always wonders why I won't take up his offer to go on a date. How am I supposed to date someone I can't have a normal conversation with without him just randomly screaming or shouting out the most random things? Ugh! He's such an annoying loud-mouth and that's going to get him killed tonight."

     Jihwan picked up her phone from the forest floor to angrily dust it off. With heavy steps, she continued walking through the trees.

The three boys awkwardly glanced at each other before catching up with Jihwan. Ten and Taeyong kept their distance from her, afraid to be caught up in her rage. Though, Mark slowly started to match her steps

     "I know you're worried about Lucas—"

     "I don't give a damn about him," Jihwan argued. She turned her face away from Mark.

     Mark took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Look, Lucas does seem like a very... outgoing guy. He may be loud and annoying, but I know that he really does care about you."

     "Yeah? Like how he cares about all the other girls?" Jihwan rolled her eyes.

     "I've only known him for a short while, but the way that he tries to be next to you, and how he gives you his full attention." Mark shrugged. "Just saying, you seem different to him."

     "Whatever."

     "I also want you to know that I knew a boy a lot like Lucas. A really great friend of mine. You wouldn't expect it, but he was a very brave and strong guy." Mark chuckled. "He saved my life. Twice."

     Jihwan's eyes stayed glued on the ground.

     "Don't let the outer layer of his crazy personality keep you away from getting closer to him."

"If I even get the chance to," Jihwan's voice was low. As if she had the feeling to cry, but wouldn't let herself do it.

Chanmi's P.O.V

Chunja flashed a picture on her camera to light up the forest in front of them.

"You're one brilliant girl," Jungwoo commented as he cautiously walked next to her. "Better watch out, Chanmi."

"Chunja doesn't even have to try to be smart," I started. "She barely studies, yet gets amazing grades. I always have to stay on top of everything while reading outside sources and—"

"All I did was use the flash to see where we were going. I'm not that special," Chunja interrupted. She finished her statement in a softer voice.

Jungwoo brought up his camera as well to snap a picture for light. He stopped in his tracks, causing us to holt for a second as well. "Sorry," he apologized, shaking his head. "I thought I saw something in the flash. I think I'm just tired and paranoid."

I brought my camera up as well to snap a picture as we continued on, Jungwoo and Chunja in front. My eyes traveled around the picture that popped up on the screen. A strange shadow could be seen just on the edge of the photo near a tree. It was pitch black compared to the rest of the trees and growth that had been lightened by the flash.

     I closed out of the picture, believing my nerves were getting to me and making me see silly shadows as something ominous.

"Don't fall behind," Chunja called to me from a few feet ahead. I hadn't even realized I was lagging. My pace quickened until I was right behind the two.

Chunja sighed sharply, a puff of frosty breath escaping her mouth. "It's getting really cold out."

     "We should be meeting the end of the forest soon." Jungwoo snapped another picture to light up the area. "Hopefully," he finished in a whispered.