Just a thought in Time: contest book

Some Things are Better Left Alone

Oliver, Annette, Nora, and Korbin had been walking in the local woods for some time. Their footsteps barely audible on the pine needle and leaf covered path. Their laughter bouncing off of the fallen trees laying around them. About midday they settled in around a small fire they built. Once again they laughed and joked, each taking  turns using the bushes for the bathroom.

Nora squatted and noticed a small...thing nearby, after finishing her business she picked up the item. She carried it back to where they lounged.

"Whatcha got there Nora?"

"Not sure Oliver. It looks like it's just a box."

Korbin jumped up and snatched the box from her hands, "Well, let's open the sucker."

"It looks disgusting, Nora, just put it back." Annette picked at her nails.

"Oh come on babe, its just a box. Maybe there'll be some good grass in here." Korbin snickered. He pulled out his pocket knife and began prying it open. He struggled for some time, finally popping the lid open a little ways and stabbed himself in the palm in the process. "Shit!" He dropped the box, its contents spilling out onto the mossy ground.

Nora drew closer, "Are those?"

"Teeth." Oliver confirmed, "Mostly molars but this one is an incisor."

"Animal right?" Annette squirmed. Her eyes flicked from the ground to the wound on Korbin's hand. 

"No. Not animal. Unless you count us as animals."

"Well that's some bullshit!" Korbin kicked the box, causing the lid to fully come off. An earsplitting sound erupted from the box. 

The group held their ears. "What is that?!" Nora screamed.

"Some kind of alarm!" Oliver yelled. "We should get out of here!"

"What!!??"

"I said! We should get out of here!" He bellowed as silence fell upon them. He and his friends looked at each other as they realized the alarm had stopped.

The group heard hoots and cheers in the distance.

"Run!"

Nora was breathlessness she gulped down air as if seated through her lungs. She could hear her pursuers until she crossed the creek. Dogs had barked and gruff voices were in close proximity when she last saw her friends. Annette and Korbin had gone another direction and had heard their screams, one of terror and the other of rage. Then a gunshot. She knew Korbin was the one to be shot, he always joked that was how he would be taken out of this world.

But none of them ever imagined that they would be hunted. Even Oliver was no where to be found. But she had to push forward. Each step was like a red hot rode was shoved through her foot.

She pushed onward, sure that she was hearing the highway. She leaned against a tree, gasping. She was so close. She had to make it. She could make it. Grunting she shoved off the trunk and lurched forward. "I...can...do...this."

Something made her hair stand on end, "Hi there girlie."