THE BLAME

Obstacles

Asher remembered the previous night as clear as day. Mirah never returned to camp, she could be lost in the wild for all he knew, she could even be seriously hurt. What had bothered him the most was the way nobody apart from him went out to search for her. Even the camp leaders -who had sworn the safety of the campers were their priority- didn't think to follow the trail to find her. Instead, they questioned the ones presumably responsible for the incident to find a guilty party first. I sure hope they found who they've been looking for; I sure as hell haven't.

The crisp morning allowed him to think again, albeit he spent the entire night stampeding the ground in impulsive scouting. With every moment his feet met the ground, he thought of what could've been between Mirah and himself, of Lucas that had stolen her heart before he could. He was reminded of the good memories they had together. The sun rays peeked their way through the stiff leaves of the green above head, creeping into Asher's squinted eyes.

Several sighs and eye rubs later, he sat down on the first log he found. Unbeknownst to him, Mirah awoke that morning slumped against a similar log. His eyes fluttered against the need of slumber, but his mind attentive to what he longed for, he stood back up, almost lost footing, and stumbled for a bit. For one moment, he counted to ten and gathered his thoughts. Then, he began walking again, the hope of seeing her taking over his entire being.

                                                                                           ***

"You mean to tell me, Lucas, that you are the very reason why we're in this situation right now?!" Jamie lashed out at a small Lucas. He had his head looking down as many times during the interrogation. 

Jamie would've loved for Lucas to be confronted in front of everybody, but a lenient Cassidy convinced him otherwise. "I'm asking once more: what went through your mind when you pulled that prank?" Jamie folded his hands together, resting his chin upon them. His voice is low this time, trying to stay composed. Lucas opened his mouth, resistant to say anything still, but deliberate of the state of affairs caused by his very hands.

"I thought that..."  Jamie met Lucas' eyes almost instantly when the words left his mouth, speaking for the first time through the torment. Jamie's gaze softened, anticipating more from him. He kept quiet.

"I wasn't thinking. I... I just wanted to be one of the boys; prove my worth to them," he tried while rubbing the back of his neck with a tense and shaky arm. Jamie took notice but realized that after these many attempts of receiving an answer, he thought it better to rather punish Lucas then and to go in search of the two missing campers.

"That was a big fat lie, but you won't go unpunished," Jamie exhaled heavily, turning away from Lucas and beckoning for Cassidy to listen in, who had been waiting patiently by the door, " in the meanwhile we'll be on the outlook for any new activity which might arise here at camp." Lucas took the cue when Jamie's attention averted to Cassidy, to return to his tent, remorseful because of the consequences he is yet to face.

"Cassidy, inform our emergency teams. We're leaving in ten." With that, Jamie turned on his heel, angst enough to make impulsive but logical decisions. Cassidy carried out the camp leader's order, reminded of his leadership qualities. Even during their training, he stood out with such confidence, strolled the grounds with pride: pride of being apart of the troop, playing a part in life, and trained to make a difference in young lives.

Her admiration for him was forced down as the solemnity for the course of action crept through her bones.

                                                                                    ***

She clenched her jaw; scars were bridging her arms and legs, some worse than others still pouring the blood as though her skin was parched as she was for water. Her ankle ached with bruising and the inflammation made it difficult to move at the constant speed she'd grown accustomed to by now.

Her cheerful spirit had diminished into a dull cloudy one, much like the heavy ones in the sky. She turned to look back at the thorny tunnel, proud that she could get through it. At least there's one thing she could conquer so far. She continued to limp her way, keeping an eye out for any more unexpected ditches in the ground. Her eyes scattered everywhere possible, the pain cutting leaving her with only a fraction of attention for her surroundings. Thus, when the first water bead collided with her face, it took her by surprise.

The fluffy blanket in the air covered her cold skin, but no warmth was provided from it. At that moment, she longed for a body next to her, anybody-Asher or Lucas. She almost screamed in despair at the ones who had left her behind, unsure now whether they have forgotten her or not.

There had been no sign of anybody in search of her. Nobody who cared enough to come and look for her. Nobody worried enough. Nobody.

Nobody... no one... not one...

This had been the last straw. She realized she was alone, not even her boyfriend was net to her when she needed him the most. With hurt cutting deeper than the skin, her chest filled with resent and a loud yelp of agony left her. It wasn't a cry for help, she would manage just fine on her own, but she had had enough of being left behind.

I did volunteer staying behind, though... who do I have to blame? I can only blame myself, but they promised me they'd come back. What if they got lost? Whose fault would it be then?

                                                                                   ***

Asher hadn't been walking for long when his ears picked up the echo of a voice he could never forget.

"Mirah!" His chest vibrated deeply as he called out into the open. He called again, louder than before. As he did, he noted how the priorly seated birds in the peaks of the only obstacles separating him and his love, scattered away disturbed by the sound.

Not being bothered by anything else, he threw his useless torch down and despite his weakened muscles aching from hunger, he scrambled the slants of the earth into the direction he heard her cry. Stopping now and then to try and hear her again, he continued his accelerating pace with every step more eager than the last.

The roots of the trees, hidden from the leaves thereof, played their part in being deceiving when calculating the speed he needed to travel at. He fell many times, possibly injuring his shoulder and collar bone, however, he took no notice. He carried on.

It wasn't long until he heard the voice he longed for once more calling out.

"Asher?"