Chosen.

Chosen. Chapter 24

Chapter TWENTY-FOUR

Autumn

I wake up to utter chaos in the campground. Ryker is missing, and it has been decided to split into groups so we can search the area as fast as possible. I'm heading out with Ellie, Heath and Lance. (Dad is the one who paired us up, or else I'm sure Lance would have opted for another search party.) Our marching orders are to search the overgrown grasslands to the right of our camp. Each search group was given a stun-gun....just in case. I'm almost to the point of freaking out, hoping that Ryker is okay. Hannah said she'd heard a scream, but couldn't tell where it came from, which has me even more worried.

Heath leads the way, with Ellie right behind him. Lance and I find ourselves partnered up, watching the rear, as we slowly make our way through the darkness on high alert. We have our night-vision lenses on to help with our trek through the jungle, but there's no moon out tonight to reflect off of, so it's like a thick wall of blackness and jungle all around us. And this has me freaking out even more. I know it will only make it harder to find Ryker.

I ask, "Do you think we should call out for him? I mean, what if he thinks we're another family and stays quiet?" Lance shakes his head, "No, we can't risk attracting anything....or anybody. We'll all just have to keep our eyes peeled and look for any signs of him." I nod in understanding, "Okay, you're probably right. It's just so dark out here, though." Even with the night vision, it's so difficult to see more than a few feet in front of us. I have to squint just to make out Heath and Ellie ahead. 

"I know I'm right, Autumn. And, don't worry, if he's over here we'll find him. Ryker's a tough kid, and he's smart. He's going to be fine," Lance pats my shoulder as he says this last part, and I realize this is the most we've talked in the last four days. 

I decide this will most likely be my only opportunity where he'll actually listen to anything I have to say, and I go for it, "Look, Lance, I just want to say that I'm really sorry about how things looked at the waterfall that night....with Arris." I push on, my eyes straight ahead, afraid if I look up at him I'll lose my nerve, "I never meant to hurt you, and I know I did. It was really messed up, and I hope we can at least be friends again. I've been so confused since we got here, but I'm not about that. You've been such a great guy to me and my family, and I want to be a good friend to you, too." I finally risk a look at his face, and I am surprised to see a slight smile on his lips. (Great, he's making fun of me and now I'm just some big joke to him!) Embarrassed, I force out, "Uhh, anyways, I can see you don't care about this conversation, so I'm going to see if Heath and Ellie have seen anything up ahead, okay?" I plunge ahead, trying to put some distance between us. (Oh, my friggin' gosh, why did I have to open my big, fat mouth??)

Before I get too far ahead though, he grabs my hand and pulls me back to him, "Hey, wait a second, Autumn." I look down at his hand on mine. He instantly lets go and begins running his hand through his blonde hair, "Sheez, you truly are a difficult one to figure out, aren't you?" His eyes are looking straight through me. I'm about to ask him what he means, but then he grabs me and pulls me close to him and whispers softly, "Thanks for saying that. And I want us to be friends again, too, okay? I don't like walking around camp acting like we're strangers either, so let's just start new right now. How does that sound?" He releases his grasp and then holds his hand out for me to shake. I look into his eyes and only hesitate a second before grabbing his hand in return. "Sounds pretty great," I say, and I can't help the smile creeping up my cheeks.

Heath, interrupting the moment, "Hey, guys, what are y'all talking about back there? We're looking for Ryker who could be in danger, remember?" Ellie gives us a disapproving look and puts her finger to her lips in a shushing motion and points ahead. Instantly, Lance and I are back to reality and the seriousness of the situation. Lance pushes me ahead of him, keeping the watch behind. Admittedly, I can't help but feel a weight has been lifted, and I'm glad that I won't have to hide in my tent at the camp anymore. I still need to apologize to Arris, though, for the way I've been acting the past few days. After that is done, hopefully we can all be friends and there will be no more drama. (Wishful thinking?)