A Perilous Challenge

→❀ Chapter 12

Great.

"I'll take the truth." Niall answered immediately.

Doubly super.
And what do I say to myself?
He did not let go of me. I felt cold sweat descend on my back. I had the impression that there was only him and me left in this cabin. I did not even see Liam anymore.
I shrugged when a question burned my lips.

"Do you like Mathilde?"

In fact, he did not expect me to ask him that question at all. My heart was beating like never before, until he finally deigned to give me the answer I expected.

"No."

He added nothing more.
He leaned forward to turn the branch.
Liam.

"Chick." He smiled.

I watched him for a moment. He seemed to be in better shape, and I was pretty sure it was Amy's kiss - thanks to the bottle game - that made him feel so. I would have to talk to him to make him understand that this kiss did not mean anything, since we were in a game.

"Either you kiss Theo on the mouth, or you go outside!" Announced Niall. "Or you kiss Amy on the cheek."

Liam sat up. I already knew his option. He was heading for Amy, who was already standing, following the action she had accepted. There, he dropped a little kiss on his cheek before turning around. He returned to his place in silence, with a shy little smile on his lips. He could not help hiding it, and he was twirling the branch.
Louis.

"I'll take action."

"You have to sing what you want."

Louis accepted with joy. He loved singing. He began to sing The A Team by Ed Sheeran, to the delight of our ears. He really had a very pretty tone of voice. He should sing more often.
He turned the branch again; me.

"Action!" I replied immediately.

"Kiss Niall in the neck."

What?
No!!!
No way!!!
I will avenge Louis.
So I got up against my heart. He was getting up in his turn. Liam glanced at me.
I put a stealth kiss on his neck, while I was already shifting.
Never again would I choose action, especially from Louis.

"Maybe it's time to go!" Amy said, staring at the tiny window.

The night was beginning to fall. I nodded eagerly. What I could not wait to return home, and find my laptop.
The boys straightened up as the door was gently opened with Amy. Nevertheless, we remained cautious. Since Niall still refused to tell us what he saw. But it was surely better that way.

"Come on!" He whispered. "We'll go through there."

He was ahead of us and beckoned us to follow him in silence. Perhaps the prowlers were still there, and they had been waiting for us for a while.
I stuck to Liam while my friend hugged Louis. We all followed Niall, who seemed to know the road, while silence reigned.
Beside me, I felt Liam blow slowly. He needed a cigarette I felt it.

"Courage." I whispered. "We'll be home soon."

"I hope!" He sighed.

We kept going, always behind Niall who was guiding us. Suddenly, above us, several birds began to fly. This was not good, and indeed, a few moments later, footsteps echoed behind us. My heart squeezed as I clung to Liam's arm, which made me pass slightly behind him.

"What is happening?" Worried Niall, turning to us.

"I think we are followed!" Louis said, glancing behind him.

"So let's run!"

We started running at once, I clung desperately to Liam. And it was the same for my best friend and Louis. We ran, then at a certain moment, I slipped on a branch.