Chapter 19
1053 Words
Fiona has been quiet ever since they began the hike. Even when the weird things started happening to her friends, she didn't say anything. It's not that she doesn't care. Her mind is telling her that something is happening, but she has no control over her body.
No matter how hard she wants to say something, her mouth won't open. She can't even command her body to move. Whatever is in the mountain is messing up with their mind.
"Alright, let's find them. Let's group ourselves, but I'll go find Keisha and Camila first." Brandon announced, before leaving them.
All of their friends look high. It's like they were drugged, or maybe there's something in the air that makes them that way. As Fiona watch her friends continue drinking, she notice a shadow looming over each of them. Those shadows are not of her friends. They stand still behind each of them, as if watching them.
Then, out of nowhere, her friends' facial expression changed. From looking high, they all became catatonic. None of them move a muscle, not even her as she later noticed. That's when she heard the whispers. Like gust of wind that blown across their faces.
'You should not be here.'
It was a voice of not only one, but many. It sounded so near, yet nowhere to found. But the effect it has on them was evident. Natalie stood up and face Kristine. She was holding a huge hunk of rock, and her eyes are burning with anger.
"Here are they." Brandon announced even though they are still a few feet away from them. Fiona noticed the look on Keisha's face. She saw what Natalie was about to do, and how she somehow went back to normal when she Brandon's voice. " Alright, Natalie you will come with Keisha, Dianne, Latacia, Kristine, Fiona, and Lina. Antoinette, Sarah, Brittany, Margarette, Bethany and Camila, you will come with me."
"Let's take this way. " Fiona said. She has no idea why she said that, all she knows is that her body wants to. Her friends doesn't seem interested on asking her why, because all they care about is finding Gaia and Sierra, well, at least Keisha does.
Her group started walking, but for some reason, she looked back. There's no reason for her to do that, but she did. That's when she saw Brandon staring at them, or is it just her? Her heart almost jumped out of her chest, as goosebumps spread throughout her body like ants crawling.
"Fiona, come on." Keisha called her name, snapping her out of her thoughts. She felt normal again when they went out of the clearing. Like she finally regain control over he body.
"Keisha, you know there's something going on, right? You're suspecting Brandon of doing something to us." She said. It was a relief that she was finally able to say what's on her mind.
"Let's not talk about it." Keisha said in a serious tone. That confused Fiona. Keisha was the one who's openly accusing Brandon of a lot of things, and now she doesn't want to talk?
"Is there a problem, Kei?" She can't help but ask.
"Nothing, Fi. I just want to focus on finding Gaia and Sierra, okay?"
"Chill, Kei. You don't want to talk about it, that's alright."
Fiona chose shut her mouth and kept walking, but her mind is drifting to the fact that there are so many weird things happening. There's a dreadful feeling in her gut that something bad is about to happen.
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They say that a mother's instinct is never wrong. No matter how far her child is, a mother would always feel if her child is in danger. In fact, there are so many accounts to prove that theory. Mothers who were able to rescue their children, or prevent something bad from happening to them.
It's the same with Mrs. Jillian Lanes.
It's already three in the morning, and their entire neighborhood are still in deep sleep. The moon still shines brightly in the dark night sky with millions of stars looking down on earth. Out of the blue, she woke up in the middle of a dark forest.
"Mom! Help me!"
"Latacia? Baby, where are you?"
Her heartbeat is like drum beats against her chest. Her daughter is crying for help, and she has to do something. She braved the darkness and run deeper into the forest, ignoring those protruding branches that cut through her skin.
"Hold on, baby! Mommy's coming! Just hold on!" She said in panic.
"Mommy, help me!"
"Latacia, where are you? Tell me where you are, baby. I'll come and get you! Tell me where you are!"
"Mommy, help me!"
Her daughter is hurt, and she has to find her. But, no matter how fast she run, it's as though she's not getting anywhere. Everything is the same. She took a right turn, a left turn, but all she sees is darkness and shadow.
The air is blowing like an echo. Like the forest is inside a cave. How can she find her daughter in this maze? But she can't stop, she needs to find her daughter.
"Latacia! Tell me where you are, honey! Give me something, anything that you see around you! Help me find you, baby!"
"Latacia! Come on, honey! Give me something. Where are you! Help mommy to find you! Latacia!"
"Come on, baby! Talk to me!"
"Mommy, do you want to where I am? Do you want to know what I see?" Latacia finally answered her call. But, her voice made Jillian stop on her tracks.
"Latacia, what's going on?"
"It's all darkness, mommy."
Jillian's scream woke her husband who was sleeping sound beside her. She can't stop crying that she didn't even understand a word he said. All she know is that she feel scared.
"We have to find our daughter. We need to find her." She said hysterically.
"What are you talking about? You're daughter is with her friends in a beautiful place, having fun." Her husband said.
"No, she's in danger and I can feel it! I'll be damn if I will let something bad to happen to my daughter!"
"Okay. Okay. Calm down. Alright? We will contact her, if we can't, we will go to the police."
- Writer
