Donsal Road

Into the woods

"Teo, ... Teo, ..Teo, Into the woods, (in a whispering tone) Teo.. into the woods". "DRAAAKKE !" Teo was mumbling and shouting Drake's name again in his dreams. Jam was trying to wake him up when she heard his screaming. She is just staying next door to Teo. After the incident Teo moved out from that house where Drake 's memories would always haunt him. Jam has helped him find an apartment in the city just next to her's. They became closer when Jam had been nursing his injuries from that accident and doctors suggested that he must be with someone all the time due to his psychological state. "Nightmares again? "Have you taken your medicine? Jam reminded. Teo just nodded. He's been in medication since sleepless nights and nightmares attacked him. Filled with sweat all over, he realized that it was again a dream. Drake has been calling him in his dreams and he couldn't help but think that Drake's still alive and waiting for his help. "Was there any new information on Aunt Mida? Teo asked Jam. "Nothing new that I know of" Jam answered. "Her disappearance.. her, leaving your house without a trace,.. , the investigation is going nowhere." Jam added. Aunt Mida has also been missing after Drake's disappearance. Some say that she's still looking for Drake and some suspected she ran away because she has something to do with the incident. Teo really wanted to talk to Aunt Mida but has no idea where to find her. "I have so many questions that I think only Aunt Mida could answer. She's been talking of her strange premonitions few days before Drake and I left the house. She may had known something". He recalled. "You need a break. You'd been living like hell and it's time to give yourself a break. The incident happened for a long while now and you should take a long needed rest from all the anxieties it brought. We all have to move on and you cannot continue to do so if you are not helping yourself." He kept on hearing that speech from Jam and He replied "It's good to know that there are still those who care and thank you for not leaving". Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. Jam opened it and it was Luke. Luke never stopped finding for answers on the incident that took lives of their 7 friends.With his excellent research abilities he was able to gather facts that linked Aunt Mida to the incident. He was the one who told authorities of Aunt Mida's disappearance and the strange facts that has been happening in that house since then and relaying it all to Teo. "I went to the Police station and gather more info and new evidence came up". " They told me that their investigation leads to Aunt Mida's coming into the forest but everytime they tried to follow her she disappeared"."She is as strange as that forest.. no wonder" Jam added., Then Luke took something from his pocket and lifted his hand, "Look what I found..., a key chain". Looked familiar to you?" He asked Teo. "That's mine,. I gave that to Drake as a sign of our friendship, where did you get That?" I found this on their files at the station."What! you stole evidences from the police ? Are you out of your mind ?" Jam blunted. "I was looking for evidence, that's where I came across, they didn't saw me..mmm, I think". Police said they got it at the back of your house during their routine inspection after the incident when Aunt Mida was already a person of interest." Luke added. "How could that be possible, I saw that on Drake's hand while I was trying to pull him up on that hill ?" "Somebody may have took Drake's unconscious body and brought to your house and that's where it fell." Luke guessed. "Who could that be.. .. Aunt Mida?". They chorused. But Teo believed that Aunt Mida couldn't hurt Drake. He witnessed how she had loved him and how she took care of both of them when he was in their house. She maybe had this weird features but hurting him wouldn't be possible. "She was like a mother to him eversince his parents died". Teo sighed. Drake grew up not knowing his real parents because he was only a month old when fate took them away and it was Aunt Mida who filled the missing stuff. She remained single through the years and it's all because of Drake. She couldn't leave him alone. She had once this suitor where she fell in love with but when that man asked her to live a life of their own and have a new family away from Drake, she decided to leave the man. That man was never seen again. Aunt Mida was heartbroken but she couldn't leave Drake. "If it wasn't Aunt Mida.., who would probably wanted to hurt Drake.. or even all of us during that accident"? Jam wondered.

7 of their friends died and 9 were survivors during that incident, 3 were declared missing and one of them is Drake. They kept on wondering who could do such things if there was indeed foul play. Filled with questions and doubts on his mind, Teo decided to search that forest after a while. Now he had some added hopes that Drake could still be alive. He was accompanied by Jam and Luke who had been with him since day one. As they were approaching the bushes Jam was complaining about the coldness of the place. "It's freezing cold out here we should hurry". We might get stucked in here before dark, looks like it would be raining soon." Luke added. Teo was in a long silence and was observing the surroundings. The woods look still and steady but there were goosebumps all over them. "I don't know where we would start looking, this place was filled with so many memories with Drake." "Enough, Teo.. I'm feeling anxious now, can we hurry up and start looking, can't stay for a few more minutes in this place". Luke nervously mumbled. They continued walking and far across them were heard a loud noise as if coming from deep inside the forest. "Aaaaaaaaaaah.." a voice screamed. "Somebody may have been hurt." Jam told. They ran after the voice but suddenly it's gone. Then a strong whoosh of the wind hit the place and they find themselves on the ground. "i told you the rain would come and now we're stucked." Luke frowned. "This place is becoming weirder and weirder and we should do something not to be afraid." Teo said. "What shall we do, befriend the forest? Luke replied. "I wonder where that scream came from and who was it?" Jam asked. "Your guess is as good as mine". Teo stared at Jam. They have been walking a mile now when Teo saw a shadow as if following them wherever they go. "Have you seen it?" Teo asked them. "What?, Luke replied. "I think somebody's following us". Teo observed. "What now, Teo? Another phantom? Please spare me.. I had enough". Luke tried to calm himself because he was already mumbling his words due to fear. "I'm not joking.. I saw a shadow following". Teo said as he was also in fear. As they talked another strong wind whooshed and filled the air with breeze and another scream was heard. This time it's almost near them and just within their reach. "Come on.. run.. run, I saw someone.. we should catch it before it catches us"Teo said, and as they were running across the voice.. they heard.. "Teeeo... Teeeoo.." They paused and were eagerly listening to where it came from. The voice came from a woman but did it came from Aunt Mida.. that they do not know. "Someone's indeed waiting for you here, Teo". That voice knew you and was calling you.." I couldn't believe this is happening". Luke told. As another wind was about to blow, Jam couldn't stand the cold and fainted. The guys were full of fear as they carry Jam through. They were looking for a place to stay to ease the coldness. They were trying to revive Jam's consciousness as the wind came rushing to and fro. They have been walking through the woods and "Where could we find a place here?" Luke said. "Jam.. Jam.. wake up.. please wake up". Teo begged. They heard another voice as it slowly faded to thin air saying "Teooo.. Teoooo help me help me! Teo was shocked and couldn't move his feet now due to the cold. Luke was so much in fear now but managed to respond to the voice.. "Who are you? What do you want from us." Luke asked. There was a long pause of silence everywhere when someone began to laugh.."Waha hahaha hahaha, and then vanished." Then a sudden struck on the head made Luke fell to the ground. It was a hard wood out of nowhere that made him unconscious too. Teo was left alone nursing his cramps. He was crawling for anything that might help him bring Jam and Luke out of that forest. It's beginning to get dark and with his unconscious friends with him, he was all messed up. He courageously stood up and uttered Drake's name. "Drake.. Drake.. are you out there? Are you okay Drake? Tell me what are we going to do to help you Drake? Please.. Drake! Then he heard a cry from afar again begging for his help and with a thundering noise filled the whole forest, a voice again was heard laughing that brought Teo on his knees begging.. " Please tell me what you want? Who are you? Why did you kill Drake... or did you?" Do you have something to do with that accident.? "I was just trying to save my friend that's why I'm here. Since that accident my life has never been the same. I miss my friend so much. He's a brother to me." Again, silence filled the air and there was no response from that voice. He was expecting answers from that unknown being. He wanted to find some clues from Drake's whereabouts now that he had a chance he was left with more questions than answers. As the wind and rain settled down the stillness of the place brought him to wonder, were they being played in that forest, were someone just want to have fun with their emotions and fears.

Jam was trying to regain her consciousness and really had no idea what had happened. She saw Luke in deep sleep, has blood on his head and asked what happened to him. Teo told her the story and now she's afraid of what's gonna happen next. From afar they saw a cottage to stay while it's dark and they helped each other to carry Luke inside. His cramps were beginning to fade.

The cottage was half empty, there were old chairs and a table and now they had a chance to rest. "I suggest that we have to get out of this woods first thing in the morning. Luke needs to go to the hospital" said Jam. Teo agreed to Jam's suggestion. They rested for awhile but fell asleep on the chair while Luke was on the table. From an unforgettable experience, Luke was being haunted in his dreams. He was talking in his sleep and shouting and screaming. "Aaaah.. don't.. don't." He kept on screaming in his dreams that both Teo and Jam woke up shocked on what was going on. "I s..sssaw her.. I ss..aw the girl.. the one Johnny saw in that bus. The fiery eyes and a thundering voice.. she was running after me". Luke struggled for words to say. She wanted something.." "You are on fire... you have a fever, you should calm down.. hey Luke.. calm down" Jam said to him. "She was saying.. "Prepare for the worse!" Luke reiterated. "What did you say? "Prepare for the worse"? It was the words Aunt Mida was telling us before we traveled, "Stop or Prepare for the Worse" Teo recalled. The three were so terrified of Luke's dream. They know they should prepare for more on the coming days. The dreams and nightmares are not limited now to Teo only . Now even with Luke, those nightmares had entered. The strangeness of the woods was about to uncover the truth. Whatever that will be, their faith will be the one to help them survive another mysterious event coming. Being stucked in the woods, they only had each other to hold on to.