"Wow! What about this picture?" her daughter squealed,while pointing at a picture of Aurora, Elliot, an Natalie standing in front of a forest.
"That? Oh yeah, I remember that… We got lost in the woods that day. Haha, do you remember that, honey?" Aurora giggled as she looked at Elliot who was standing at the door frame.
"Oh yeah! I remember it, still saying I told you so to Natalie about it." Elliot snickered as he pushed himself off and sat on the couch next to them.
"How about You tell her the story this time?" Aurora suggested while smirking.
Elliot nodded, "Sure, I'm not against that… So… this is the beginning of the trip and…"
——————
I was at school, people were talking, boys with their friends and girls with their groups.
They were all discussing about the new trip that the teacher just announced, I looked around and saw that there weren't anyone even interested with me joining them.
I noticed that a lot of girls keep whispering while looking at Aurora, maybe planning to get her to join them.
But before I realized it, a girl had approached her, Natalie… Always the brave person to do anything unapologetically.
Natalie whispered something to Aurora, and Aurora suddenly got up and looked away, I didn't notice her face blushing, she said something before Natalie also said something and dragged her to me.
Unfortunately that conversation was overshadowed with tons of other students just talking and yelling with each other.
When they both were in front of me, Natalie winked at Aurora who took a deep breath and spoke up.
"Hey! Uh… Can you join me and Natalie?" She said, I heard some slight hesitation in her tone but not enough to notice, so I shrugged and nodded.
At the day of the trip? Well, I was sitting between next to the two girls, it was awkward but good thing I'm at the window tho!
I got tired at the middle of the bus ride, so I sometimes put my head on the window, trying to nap but ending up just hitting my head from the bumps.
So I just tried to stare off, but my eyes still closed, and I'd still get awoken by the window.
So I decided to remember if I forgot anything, because I brought the essentials: a compass, a map, a water bottle, a water purifier, a bunch of fire starters, a bat in case an animal attacks… And more!
But I just have a bad feeling in general about this trip… something in me screams that something will go wrong… which is why I'm ready, yet I think I'm not ready ENOUGH.
And finally I fell asleep while think of those stuff, but not on the window but the seat so it felt like I was being rocked.
I was suddenly woken up by violent shaking, I thought the bus crashed for a few seconds but when I opened my eyes it was just Natalie waking me up because we arrived.
Damn you Natalie! I got up, taking my bag from the compartment on top before wearing it on my back and walking out the bus.
I was met with a lush and green forest, it was filled with trees, bushes, some mushrooms and there were a few orange leaves on the ground, signaling autumn has almost arrived.
The teacher called for everyone before leading everyone on a dirt path to the main part of the forest which was just a fountain and a large brick floors surrounded by large trimmed bushes that act like walls.
In the middle of the brick floored field was a house that looked like it was made for a person living here, and a person in a uniform which those who protect the forest wear, forgot their names, haha.
He had a lot of noticeable features like three claw marks on his left eye, like something attacked him and barely survived, his hair was a buzz cut, his eyes were that of someone who is a veteran and seen a lot of things.
"We will be camping for the next 3 days, here are the rules, no outside communications, so no texting, calling, OR SCROLLING AND POSTING!!" he yelled as he glared at a girl who was scrolling on her phone and next to her was a girl recording a video in chatsnap, the two girls immediately stood straight.
"Second, no outside snacks other the ones provided, so no chips, no gummy bears, or oleos… Third, any physical fight would result in a painful punishment, GOT IT?!" he yelled once again, this time standing straight and looking at the students expectingly.
Most boys suddenly yelled "SIR YES SIR" except arrogant ones and shy ones like me.
The man nodded then began walking, we all followed him and finally we were at the camping site, it had the basic things, like one of those bathrooms that are portable.
A BBQ place and some of those picnic tables, the rest is just empty spaces for tents.
The man introduced us to everything here like we were some kids who knew nothing, it was annoying, but I just let it go.
I kept my bag on me and watched as students talked and walked around and hung around, but I noticed that Natalie and Aurora were sneaking into the forest, what they doing?
I quietly followed them, I took out the bat from the side of the bag and held it close, ready for anything, but then they looked back and saw me… busted…
"Hey! What are you doing?? What's with the bat?" Natalie asked.
"Just feeling paranoid, I mean… It's weird, something is just… wrong." I admitted.
Natalie nodded then smirked before grabbing my wrist and dragging me towards Aurora who was just staring at me, probably thinking about how weird I am, I think.
They kept walking with me next to them, Aurora just replying with snark replies, and me just observing the surroundings, it was calming but something felt wrong in the back of my mind.
I kept following them until I heard a thud and a crack of a branch, I immediately looked back and my face drained… I froze, I had no idea what to do…
The girls kept walking but I was frozen… Natalie looked back at me then looked at it then also froze…
Finally was Aurora who wanted to check out what was going on and she fell down, breathing heavily.
"A-a Bea-bear!" Natalie smiled, she tried to run to it but my body moved instinctively and grabbed her by the back of her shirt and pulled her back at me.
"Why are you always the one with the dumb decisions!?" I yelled, the holding my mouth and watching as the bear winces and roars.
I immediately grabbed her wrist and Aurora's before running as fast as I can, the bear running behind us, the thudding sound was just close enough to say that it can claw us.
Good thing I didn't throw my bat, I let go of their wrists and they kept running, I kept running but getting the bat out, but when i did I finally bonked it on the head, I'm not sure if it was hard or soft but all I knew was it whined and ran away.
"that's it?" I stared as it ran away, then my legs gave up and I fell down to the ground, laughing quietly, the adrenaline going away.
I looked back at the girls, they kept running, i tried to get up to catch up but my legs were too weak so I kept yelling, but they finally stopped and looked back at me.
Natalie bent down and looked at the ground while her hands were at her knees, and Aurora fell down once again.
I took a few deep breaths before walking over to them, Aurora stared at me, this time I noticed her pupils got bigger, probably just me seeing stuff…
Natalie was breathing hard, she bumped her fist against my shoulder and muttered something out, "Thanks, nerdy"
"Didn't really do anything to be honest, just a bonk." I chuckled.
I then looked around then… my face drained again, where are we?
I then took out my compass before realizing that I must have dropped it…
"Shi-!" I subconsciously yelled.
"What?" Natalie looked at me.
"The compass! I must've dropped it while running, I knew that rubber wasn't tightened enough!" I then remembered the bear trying to claw at us, it must've cut the rubber!
"We still have the sun… right?" Aurora looked up.
I then looked up and couldn't see the sun, but I did see the direction it's light came from, so it's… about to set… I need to memorize this direction.
I looked through my memories and found that the sun was shining left when I decided to follow them, so it must be… there!
I turned to the direction that I thought was right but then… I remembered that we ran in a not so straight path so this is as good as it gets.
So the only option is to walk in this direction.