Ridgewood Town

Chapter 11.5

Ana

June 25

Thursday; 10:03AM

There she goes again. She was looking around like she was so scared of being caught. Her eyes immediately met mine and I answered her with a smile. This is the second time that I’ve witnessed her sneaking out of her own house. Her parents just went away and now their daughter is out to play. I hid behind the walls of the first floor and watched her walk away. She was wearing a denim jumpsuit and a black baseball cap that she used to cover her face. She keeps on dragging the cap to hide her face. She was carrying a large backpack too. What are you up to, Sophia?

I didn’t want to suspect her or anything, but she seemed suspicious enough, so I decided to quietly follow her. She kept on looking around her as I continued to hide from her eyes as well. She was heading to the woods. I saw her heading straight to the end of the ridge, where the line of houses ends. The left side heads to the woods and Lake Srori. The right side leads to the cliff.

She was very cautious about being seen, as she always bent her cap to hide her face. I followed her closely, trying not to be noticed by her. I have always known that she loved going there with Luis. Everyone knows as we watch their love bloom. They were those couples who tried to keep it low but everyone knew. It dawned on me that she was the last person who had seen him. Could she possibly be connected with the case?

With the instance that Luis might have really killed Taylah, Sophia might be blinded by her love for him. She agreed to help him hide. It’s possible.

I pat my shoulder for a having a sound suspicion right now. And with all the thoughts clouding my head, I didn't realize where she had gone. I lost her. It was a few seconds ago that she was just around as I watched her closely. And now she's nowhere to be seen.

Now, how am I supposed to find her here? I'm not familiar with the woods. I couldn’t possibly shout her name right now. She’ll find out that I’m suspecting her. And even worse, I am following her and she could really press some charges about what I'm doing right now.

“I hate it here,” I unconsciously whispered to myself. It had already been forty minutes since I was inside the woods. It's eerily quiet in here and smells like poop. Ugh. I feel like I’m lost now. I feel so stupid. I should've been careful.

Wait... if Luis was the murderer, how would I protect myself from him? I can't just scream for help and expect people to hear me in here?

I hug myself as I watch my surroundings. I wouldn't risk my life with this curiosity. I should find the way out now.

“Luis!” a distant voice echoed. I heard the rustling of the leaves and the twigs snapping around from a distance. I ran frantically to where the sound was coming till I lost myself in the woods again. This is so annoying!

I tried to calm myself and listened to the voices but I couldn’t hear anything. Dejected once again, I settled on sitting on the dry ground as I pondered about my decisions. I don’t know how to go home. I’ve never really liked this part of the town. It’s scary and alarmingly calm.

“I hate it here!” I muttered to myself. I whipped out my phone from the front pocket of my jeans. My heart sank when I saw that there was no mobile signal. Now, what?

I took some pictures instead as I continued to walk around the woods.

"-running away," a desperate shout came. The voice seemed to come from around me.

But when I stood up, I felt a bag of sack being thrown at me as my phone slipped out of my hand; my body rolling hard to the ground. The next thing I knew, my body hurt all over and I was groaning with pain. Why does it seem like I was always pushed to the ground?

And is someone trying to kill me? Here?

Despite the fear I was feeling, I gathered all the courage in me and looked at the thing that pushed me and I saw her. A woman with curly brown hair was beside me. She was lying on the ground face flat on the ground. I woke her up, trying to see her face. I immediately recognized her when her clear black eyes met mine. Sophia Chase looked at me as she tried to study my face. My fears tripled when I saw a wound on her forehead that was bleeding. I helped her but feared my life.

Oh my gosh! What did I do? It wasn't my fault! It was an accident!

I crouched down and pulled out my hanky. I put her head on my lap as I tried to stop the bleeding. She was just groaning while her eyes closed. No, don't sleep!

Her denim jumpsuit has some leaves and twigs on it like she battled well with the woods.

"Sophia? Hey, are you awake?" I shook her body but there was no response. " Stay awake!" I slapped her cheek a little and she opened her eyes once again. She needs to be awake. I shook her body once more.

She answered me with a low groan. In a few seconds, her eyes fluttered open. Her forehead creases as she continues to stare at me.

"Ana?" a low guttural voice came from her.

"Yes, it's me. Are you okay? OH, don't answer that. I know you don't. Can you get up? I'm sorry this has happened to you. Even if it's an accident, you're the one who went straight on me," I defended. She came straight to me leading to what happened to us, so it is safe to conclude that it was her fault after all. I didn't expect her to bump into me either.

I hooked her arm to my shoulder as I helped her get up. I saw her backpack on the ground. I ducked down a little and pulled it up with me. I need to take her to the hospital.

"Let's walk out here. Your head seems to need stitches. What the hell are you even doing here? Running around?" I joked.

"Okay," she said, ignoring my questions. I helped her up as she walked with me limping from time to time.

I was lucky I didn't hit my head or anything. Sophia seems strong, but right now she looks weak.

I wonder what her reasons are for running around.

I heard her calling out for Luis. Did she really see Luis? Or is she actually hiding Luis Mason?

I guess I'll find out when she's in the right mind to answer. But first, I need to take her to the hospital. Please, don't die on me, Sophia.