Chapter Thirty
1393 Words
A howl comes from somewhere in the distance.
"Mauve, we really need to go."
The hair on the back of my neck prickles at the sound.
"You're right," I whisper, clutching the flashlight tighter.
Another howl rises closer this time, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Let's not stick around to find out what that is," Rose urges, eyes wide.
"Agreed. Back to the path."
We pivot, hearts pounding, scrambling through the underbrush as branches scratch at our arms. The darkness deepens, shadows stretching like fingers toward us, but we refuse to look back.
"Just move!" Rose shouts, her voice breaking through the silence.
Branches snag at my clothes as I surge ahead, adrenaline driving me.
"I should have listened when you wanted to go back!"
"We can't think about that now! Just keep going!"
The howls echo, growing closer.
"Faster!" she urges, scrambling behind me.
We push through a thicket, the moonlight barely illuminating our path, hearts racing as we dodge shadows that loom like spectres.
"Did you hear that?" Rose gasps, her breath quickening, eyes darting around.
"I did. Just keep moving!" I urge, pushing her forward.
Another howl reverberates, cutting through the silence.
"It's too close!" She stumbles, grabbing my arm for support.
"Onwards!" I pull her along, desperation fueling our escape. Just ahead, the trees thin out, moonlight spilling into a small clearing.
"Do you think we lost whatever that was?" Rose pants, glancing over her shoulder.
"I hope so," I breathe, scanning the shadows. "But we can't stop yet."
"I'm not sure I can keep up," Rose gasps, her face pale in the moonlight.
"Just a bit further, then we can take a breather," I urge, darting forward.
Ahead, the edge of the woods appears, promising safety. We push on.
As we break free from the trees, the cool night air kisses our flushed cheeks.
"Finally!" Rose gasps, glancing back nervously.
I scan the darkness behind us. "Did we lose it?"
"I don't know." she reaches for her phone and starts frantically texting.
"I can't get a signal out here!" Rose huffs, her eyes darting between the trees and the glowing screen.
We stand back to back in the clearing, and I hear rustling coming from several different directions.
Rose's breath quickens, eyes scanning the perimeter.
"I can't shake this feeling," she mutters, clutching the flashlight tightly.
"Neither can I," I reply, heart racing, convinced something lurks just beyond the treeline.
"We wait here," she insists, voice steady, though she trembles.
A snap of branches punctuates the heavy silence.
A voice comes from the trees. " Rose?" "Who's there?" I call, stepping closer to Rose.
"Just me!" Lyle's voice emerges, relief washing over his features as he materialises from the darkness.
"Where've you been?" Rose exclaims, half angry, half relieved.
"We were looking for you!" he says, eyes wide with concern.
"Who's we and how did you know we were here?" I say
"I text him before we left, and I'm so glad we did," she says, running and jumping into his arms.
He whispers something into her ear and kisses her forehead.
"You scared us half to death," Rose breathes, her grip tightening around Lyle's neck.
"Sorry, but I felt something was off," he replies, scanning the trees, a serious edge to his voice.
"You're not wrong about that," I say, a chill creeping up my spine.
"What did you two find?" Lyle's brow furrows.
I hesitate. "Something chased us in the woods."
Lyle's features harden. "What do you mean something?"
"It howled," I explain, glancing back toward the dark thicket.
"Are you serious?" he says, voice low. He doesn't look worried, though.
"You said we , we were looking for you?" "Who's with you ?" I say, looking around.
"Ladies... It's a lovely evening for a stroll, don't you think?" Miles says, sniggering.
Of all the people to come to our rescue , it has to be these arseholes.
"What's so funny, Miles?" I step closer, fists clenching at my sides.
He shrugs, feigning innocence. "Just picturing you two running from a little noise."
Miles rolls his eyes. "Overreacting much?"
Rose stands her ground. "You don't get it. We were scared."
"Well, don't you think before you come out into the woods at night?" Another voice comes from behind Brett steps into the moonlight, a cocky grin plastered on his face.
"Look who decided to be brave," he smirks, glancing at me.
"We're not afraid of you," I shoot back, heart still racing.
Lyle, unamused, glares at them. "Guys, leave it out. They're obviously scared." Brett scoffs, folding his arms. "Scared? It's more like overreacting."
"Mauve, what did you see?" Lyle turns to me, his expression shifting to concern.
"A howl came from the woods," I say, glancing back, unease creeping in again. "Something lurked in the shadows."
"A howl? Come on now, that sounds like a wild animal, not a monster," Brett scoffs, crossing his arms and leaning back against a tree.
"Is that so?" I shoot back, eyes narrowed.
Rose steps forward, her voice steady. "You weren't running in the woods with something on your tail, were you?"
Brett crosses his arms tighter, a smirk creeping onto his face.
"Just sounds like you're afraid of the dark."
Lyle shakes his head, muscles taut. "You're missing the point. We're all out here for a reason, so drop it."
"Fine," Miles shrugs, glancing at the path ahead. "But nothing's lurking. You two got spooked over nothing."
I roll my eyes, frustration bubbling. "Whatever's out there, we didn't imagine it."
Miles shrugs with a smirk. "You sure you weren't just spooked by a deer?"
"Is that what you call it when it chases you?" I snap, crossing my arms.
Miles raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Get real, Mauve."
"I'm telling you, it sounded like a wolf or something."
Everyone just looks at each other, like they all know something I don't, including Rose.
"You all know something , i can tell, what are you hiding?" I say, getting frustrated.
Miles exchanges a look with Brett, a silent understanding passing between them.
"You really want to know?" he finally says, the smirk dropping from his face.
"Yeah," I shoot back, crossing my arms. "This isn't a joke."
Brett glances at me. "You wouldn't believe it anyway."
"Try me," I challenge, refusing to back down. The air thickens with tension as the others shift, the unspoken truth hovering above us.
"You want to know what roams these woods at night?" Miles leans in, brows raised.
"The boogy monster," he bursts out laughing.
"f**k this, and f**k you all, Rose I'll meet you at home " I say whilst storming off.
"Mauve, wait!" Lyle calls, his voice cutting through the cool night air.
I spin back, fury flaring. "What? You want to join them in mocking us?"
I continue walking off.
"Mauve don't go it's not safe, just stay with us" Rose pleads
"Seriously, Mauve, don't be stupid!" Lyle calls, frustration in his voice.
I spin around, fists clenched. "Spit it out then! What's lurking in the dark?"
Brett leans against a tree, smug. "You've got more to fear from your imagination."
The tension hangs heavy. "Mauve, stop!" Lyle's voice cuts through the silence, a rare urgency in his tone.
Brett chuckles. "You're letting fear twist your mind."
"You think this is a joke?" I shoot back, heart pounding.
"Guess we'll find out," Lyle murmurs, a flicker of resolve in his eyes.
Just then, a snap breaks the tension, and we all freeze, hearts racing anew.
"Girls you need to run and run fast" lyle shouts.
Before I can process, a shadow leaps from the brush, dark and quick.
"Go!" Lyle shouts, eyes wide with urgency.
I grab Rose's wrist, sprinting toward the path, the howls behind us igniting every instinct to flee.
We head back into the woods not knowing where we going , the mist is getting worse.
"This way" Rose pulls me.
We trip and hands separate.
"Rose, you ok?" I get no reply
"Rose"
"Rose" I scream
"I'm okay, just keep running" she says somewhere in the distance I push forward, frantically scanning the darkness.
"Where are you!"
The mist presses in, wrapping around me like a cloak.
"Just ahead!" Rose's voice wavers, filled with urgency.
I race toward the sound, heart pounding, desperate to find her.
- Writer
