Murder in the woods

Chapter 5

After our final activities of the day, we are allowed a few hours of free time. I spend it half comforting Chloe who is pretending to be fine and half searching for my medicines. Where on earth could they be?

Lara helps me look for a while, tipping all of my possessions onto the floor and rummaging through them. We even try packing and unpacking everything again, but it's no use: they're nowhere to be found. Then she says something that really shocks me. "Sky... I don't think that you lost your medicines. They were in a clear and identifiable place- someone must have taken them."
"What? But who would do that? Why?" I'm really surprised by what Lara said, but maybe she's right. We searched for ages and didn't find them. Also, they are strong pills which are highly addictive. They're also extremely dangerous if you take too many.
"I don't know, but I don't think you'll be getting them back. We've searched everywhere now."
"Would someone really do that? On a school trip to some woodland?"
"No clue, you're guess is as good as mine, but let's face it: they aren't in here."
"Wait! We always lock the cabin before leaving. Whose turn was it to lock up yesterday?"

Chloe looks up guiltily, "Oh, no! Sky, I'm so sorry! I didn't lock the door yesterday because I couldn't find the key. I found it in my pocket later...how could I be so stupid? No wonder my mum wants nothing to do with me!" Chloe starts sobbing on her bed and I try to console her, but she's clearly overwhelmed with everything: no one knows where her mum is, the guilt of not locking up and that resulting in my pills being taken.

"I'm so sorry, we were in a rush to get to lunch and I didn't think anything would happen! I'm so stupid!"
"Chlo, it's alright, don't worry. I'm hardly going to die without them, they're just for my insomnia. I'll live."
I wrap my arms around her in a hug and Chloe starts to snivel, "Eww, I hate emotions."
"God, that's a mood!" Lara giggles, joining our hug, much to Chloe's annoyance.                   "Ugh, you guys are crushing me! Is this my punishment for not locking the door?"
"Yep." I smile, not letting go of her even as her limbs flail about wildly, nearly poking my eyes out.

                                                                       *

I don't sleep well that night, not that it's a surprise. Laying on my bed, I stare up at the ceiling and listen to the sounds outside. Rustling of leaves in the wind. Twigs snapping underfoot. Who would be out at this time? It must be past midnight by now.

Then I hear the scream.

At first I wonder if it's the wind, but the wind doesn't make noises like that. Noises of agony, desperation and fear all rolled into one hideous sound. The person sounds wild, producing an animal-like groan that sickens my stomach. The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I lay there, trying to work out what to do. Stay here, safe and warm in bed. Or face whatever is out there. The choice is clear. I listen for what feels like days but can't be more than a few hours. There are no more screams, just an eerie silence that shouts louder than a thousand words.

It takes me hours of lying still, pulling my duvet right up to my neck before I finally fall into a restless sleep filled with nightmares. I toss and turn, apparently I was even screaming "No!" on several occasions. Needless to say, I wake up the next morning feeling drained. Of energy, of comfort, of life.