2021, December 3rd
Everyone was here. We started on the trail. Most of it was in the woods, so we would be hidden. I wonder if Nari purposely left this, or if she was studying something, or knew something that I didn't.
It was terribly cold, I was shivering. Maybe I didn't pack enough. I wonder how long this would take. Days? Months? I didn't care. I just want to get out of here.
The snow crunched under our feet. It wasn't too much snow, but it was fine. I just hope that it doesn't get in the way. I'm pretty sure the police are on our case already. I mean, who wouldn't. They probably watched the cameras on where we went and are probably on our trail. I wanted to run, but it was getting colder and colder throughout the night. I know we're gonna have to go up a hill soon, everyone is gonna hate that.
I thought more about our journey, what if we have to separate? We won't have any contact with each other, there would be no wi-fi or internet out here. I guess we'll figure it out whenever it happens, which I hope it doesn't. There are so many things that could go wrong, but at this point I don't even care.
"Nox, are you sure this is the right way? I remember you not being able to read maps." Catori asked.
"Well, uhhh, let's take a look at it." I opened the map, all of the routes are through the woods, but maybe some might not be, because this map is like 400 years old. But it looks like most of it is wood.
"So, it seems pretty straight forward, I think I'll be able to read it." I smiled.
"Let us take a picture of it so that if we think we're lost we can all look at it." Valentine uttered. Valentine pulled out his phone and opened it. "Come on guys, let's take a picture so we can read."
"Alright, I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea." Chayton grinned.
They all took pictures of the map.
"Yeah, yeah. This is a perfect opportunity for me to learn how to read a map. You guys are being very supportive." I huffed.
"Cheer up, we'll just make sure you're going the right way every once in a while." Mango giggled.
"It's for the best." Catori smiled, her hand on my shoulder.
"If you say so," I sighed.
Suddenly, we heard voices, loud. Tons of people, I can hear their feet crunching on the snow. I saw flashlights from afar. I heard dogs barking and howling.
"I don't think we should stay here much longer. Let's get going, and make haste." Mango shoved us to move along.
We started walking faster, but it seems like the party kept getting closer. I don't know if we will escape them. Mango stayed behind, making sure we were ahead, ready to run in the snow. Are we really going to run?
We saw the police lights, heard the sirens, and felt our heartbeats. They were closer than before. We heard one of them yell, I could see a finger pointing toward us when I turned around.
"Run!" Valentine shouted.
We all ran, different directions. We were separated. I ran farther into the trees, the forest was biting at my feet. My nose and finger tips felt numb. I saw a frozen pond up ahead. I ran closer to it.
I heard crunching, I had stopped moving. The crunching sound hadn't stopped. I looked around. A large silhouette appeared. Army pants and t-shirt. Ginger hair, small freckles on the face. Rome.
He had something in his hand. He stopped, I couldn't see what he had. I could see his green eyes peeking from the dark shadow he was hiding in.
Rome pointed whatever he had at me. He stepped closer, he seemed to aim for my heart.
I felt my heart pound. I looked around, snowflakes hit the snow, the pond shimmered, I could see the stars, despite the trees covering the sky. I heard the snow crunch as I backed up some. I wondered what he was gonna do. Why? That's all that went through my head.
Why me? Why now? Is it really my time? I don't think it is. I watched him closely. He stood there, shaking. He barely had anything to keep him warm. What is this man thinking? Is he insane? Is he drunk? High maybe? He can't be serious, can he? This can't be real. Am I hallucinating? What is this? Was this really my life? This can't be my life, can it? My mother, my sister, and now me? Is this how it was always supposed to be? Is this just a sick example of fate? Did I have no purpose? Did I have an impact in this life? What will happen when they find my body? Will they cry? Will they even care? Will they even find me? Will I rot here until some run away dog finds me? Will I just be a missing case?
Sweat began to drip off my forehead. How was that possible? It's winter. My breathing was heavy. This is the end.
I heard a bang and I fell back into the snow. Pain ran through my body, I saw blood running from my chest. I began to pass out.
At that moment, I realized what he had was a gun.