Phoenix (Disconnected)

VIII-XVII

Nhinx

We're walking for five minutes now. I have no idea where we are. Then I heard something snap.

"What was that?!" I tightly grab Carter's shirt from behind.

Carter shook his head and assured me. "Small animal." I looked at him dubiously. "How can you say it's a small animal?" 
He motioned his hand on the empty space in front of us. "All of the living creatures have their very own core, even animals. We can sense them."

I breathe in relief. I can survive for another hour, who knows something might burst out of nowhere. And so, our journey continues.

My mind goes to panic when I hear noises here. Okay, self, calm down, Carter's with you.

Think about pretty things! Like....that blue flower! Looking it closely, it looked so pretty...

I snapped back when I hear another noise, I looked around to only find myself crouching in front of the flower, alone.

Sh*t. Where's Carter?! Where the f*ck is Carter?! F*ck, stay calm Nhinx, stay calm.

I tried to find his footprints but the soil is semi filled with small rocks, which made his footprints almost impossible to find.

Okay, if I could just track the trail we went earlier before we got here, I could wait for him in the exit. Okay, good thinking self. I deserve a  pat on the back.

I confidently trace back the path we took. The forest is noisy with the insects around. It's better than total silence, right?

As I was walking, I saw a lady, based on her body, she's literally white from head to toe...Nope, I'm no horror story main lead here. I'm not going near that ghost.

"L-let's pretend we don't see that..." I mumbled nervously. The lady must've sensed me, her head whip to looked at me, her face is covered by her whited hair.

Sh*t, since when did my life became a horror movie?! I ran, who knows where, hoping I could get away and find Carter.

My heart is beating faster. Is it because of the ghost or because I ran? Either way, the first priority is surviving!

"Carter!" I yelled, hoping he could hear me. "F*ck f*ck f*ck f*ck, Carter!"

I keep looking back to see if she's following me. I bumped into something that sends me sitting on the ground. I looked up but it's already looming over me.

She caught up already?! I reflexively thrust my fist out and punch it. My fist contacted her and send her on the ground too. I punched her. I f*cking punched her! Can you really beat up a ghost?!

She groaned and I flinched, she's getting up! "Ugh, that hurts." Her voice is low...

"Ow, chill! It's me, Carter!" The lady said. Carter?!  I stand up frantically and helped him. He accepts it and still massaging his jaw.

"I am so sorry! I thought you were lady Winter!" I hastily explained. He looked at me and sigh. "It's just a rumor and a folk tale Nhinx."

"I saw her with my own eyes! She just standing in front of a tree and and– " As I doing motions, I feel a weight in my left hand, I looked at it and saw my hand grabbing a branch of white berry thingies. "What is this?"

Carter just looked at me like I have suddenly grown two heads. "Are you okay? We we're just picking these and you suddenly punched me when I tried to help you."

Ah, yes...nothing makes sense to me anymore. "T-That's not possible..."

He shook his head. "We got what we need. Let's go back, the cold is hitting your brain hard."

I wanted to protest but I felt very exhausted and just followed him out.

We exited the forest. I spared it the last glance to see a flash of white among the trees. I regret that.