Chapter 27
- Rhea's POV –
My heart exploded like a volcano when I heard a loud explosion from the part of the woods where we were. Gradually the hair on my neck stood up at the same time as the cold aura went up through my body. I swallowed when it was followed by another explosion. I also started to sweat cold on my hands.
We all looked around to find out where it came from. Obviously restless.
"Hey… What's that?" Renzo mumbled in fear under his deep breath as his eyes constantly looked around.
Next we witnessed the slow falling of some trees around us. Reason for me to really panic. Everyone's eyes widened as they watched each falling tree.
"Illegal loggers." Ceejay said before he stretched his hand on my back and wrapped it around my shoulder.
"Their stuff looks like dynamite." I then removed his hand from my shoulder.
I was about to turn away from him when he grabbed my arm again but before his grip tightened I quickly removed it.
"I'll go and see." I insisted and before he could touch me again, I immediately ran towards the last tree that I saw fell.
My eyes caught the opening of his mouth and when he tried to reach my hand but it was too late because I was already away from him.
My forehead was sweating cold and my hand was shaking from what was happening. I have a bad feeling and because it's so bad I'm restless and whatever comes into my mind causes my brain to go crazy. But I need to calm down and I might even get hurt because I can't think straight.
I stopped running at the same time I was stunned to find the trees that had just fallen. It was scattered everywhere and another tree that was still standing had a rope tied with something in the middle of it wrapped in brown paper. On the other side, the cut branches were piled together with withered leaves. Good thing there is no one.
I was catching my breath when I felt Ceejay behind me. I was out of breath from the rush and sweat was dripping from my forehead. They were equally out of breath and were also surprised to see what I was looking at.
"We have to go back to the camping area. It's dangerous here." Renzo could hardly breathe when he said this.
"Yes, dota girl. We will be in trouble if they see that someone has seen them." Said by Novrine, the one I called wolverine.
"Just you ---" I answered as I faced them but before I could finish what I said, Ceejay immediately intervened.
"Damn it, Rhea! Do you know how big case illegal logging is? When they see us, it's just luck if they spare us. What if they dispatch us?" Ceejay explained in annoyance but it sounded more aggressive to me.
That has crossed my mind even before I came here. But I have to stop it before it goes anywhere.
"You can debate later. We have to hide." Renzo was confused when he saw something in the distance.
After he spoke he immediately ran to the nearest tree to hide, so did Vincent and Novrine but separately. I turned to what Renzo was looking at before Ceejay quickly pulled me to hide. His back was leaning against the tree while I was leaning against his chest and he was hugging me tightly.
It's a good thing that the trunk of the tree is so big that some people can't hug it, so you can't really see if someone is hiding here.
I heard several pairs of feet approaching where we were. As they got closer, my heart beat faster and faster without stopping the nervousness. I lifted my head slightly and saw the change of emotion on Ceejay's face. Even though he looks aggressive, I can read in his eyes that he is scared and nervous. I bent down again and buried my face in his chest and responded to his hug.
"Let's get this over with and get some rest." Order of someone I heard.
"Oh right. I'm hungry too." His companion answered.
I heard a faint sound of something coming from behind the tree where we were hiding.
Following that sound was a loud explosion that almost pierced my eardrums. Ceejay tightened his hug as I shivered in shock.
Later, I heard a series of loud bangs that seemed like something was breaking close to us. I turned pale when I slowly looked at it. The tree next to us is slowly shaking. And it looks like it's going to hit us?!
My whole body stiffened as if my legs didn't want to move. My lips are shaking and I can feel chills dominating my body. My heart skips a beat as I stare at it, mindlessly. Oh no! Will I die a second time?
It's good that Ceejay was alert so he ran quickly as he pulled my hand. But my brain is still stuck and doesn't want to function. And because the tree was so big, Novrine also came out of the tree where they were hiding because it was sure to reach them. They were panicking while running and so as Ceejay and I, while I was breaking out in a cold sweat. I just run without thinking.
I was blown away by a strong wind in the middle of the run and hit by a terrible dust. I slightly closed my eyes and quickly brushed the dust off my face. But I am so terrified when I can't feel his hand, touching my wrist. My eyes widen and my shaky lips are hanging open as I turn back.
The giant tree hit the ground and worse, my eyes could not see Ceejay.
My eyes wandered in confusion and my brain became paranoid about what might have happened to him. I couldn't breathe properly and my knees were shaking too much to keep me standing. So it spontaneously fell to the ground.
"Come on, dota girl." Novrine ordered impatiently then pulled my hand to stand up.
But my whole body felt so weak that I couldn't lift myself up. Stupidly I stared at the tree with my mouth still open. Wolverine continues to pull me but I feel like my body has completely turned into stone.
"Quick! Before they know we're here." I heard Vincent's voice on the other side of my hand pulling it.
The two of them worked together to pull me so that my legs stood up on their own and ran sluggishly. My mind went blank with them. I completely lost all strength to move, even to step my foot. My knees are still shaking and my body is cold, causing my palms to sweat.
In the middle, my knee spontaneously fell to the ground along with my hand. I was stunned staring at it and I didn't realize that a tear came from my eye. I heard them stop running and I could feel their eyes at me.
"Oh no, Castino." Vincent panted.
I heard his footsteps coming towards me. Then he reached out his hand again and pulled it hard to make me stand up.
I immediately pushed him when my feet returned to the ground and nervously swallowed.
"W-we can't leave C-Ceejay." I find it difficult to start a word because of the roughness of my throat. I can't even hear my own voice.
"We will be equally doomed if we return to him." Renzo scolded emphatically, "We need to get back to the camping area to ask for help."
I can't speak because of my inexplicable feelings. My throat is also rough so I have difficulty opening my mouth. I swallowed first and forced myself to debate even though my lips were trembling.
"I-I.." I mouthed as a tear escaped from my eye, "I'll be back. I-I'll get back to him. It's my fault because I'm so bitter.... with my step-sister that's why... we ended up here." I don't know if every word I say has a sound because I can't hear anything, and I stammer because of the roughness of my throat.
"You can save your drama for later." Vincent ordered before he forcefully pulled my hand again and forced me to walk.
- Ceejay's POV –
Am I dead
Why is it dark?
Ugh!
I moaned in pain when I felt something preventing my body from moving and inexplicable pain. I tried to scream but only whimper comes out. Something's blocking my mouth.
I slowly opened my eyes and was shocked by what I witnessed.
I lay on top of a dead leaf withered and few branches. My hands were tied behind my back and my legs were also tied. I tried to struggle but I felt like I was going to choke if I tried to straighten my leg. It's like there's a string tied around my neck connected to my foot.
How did I get here?
I tried to activate my confused brain until a memory entered it.
I ran into a tree and got my foot stuck in its branch and passed out. I slowly bent my head, because I might choke, to see my foot. I can't see it very much because if my leg is too straight, I will choke. Even though I can't see it, I feel pain when I move it, even a little.
Good thing I'm still alive. I really thought I would never see Rhea again.
And how about Rhea? I hope they made it back to the camping area.
There were no people around and it was very quiet. But I couldn't scream because something blocked my mouth. I looked around thinking that I could use something in my situation.
But I was horrified by what I witnessed. A little black smoke rose from the piled leaves and it quickly thickened. My body is shaking and I feel like my whole body is bathed in cold sweat. My eyes widened in fear and my heart was about to burst out of its rib cage due to its pounding. I turned to stone where I was as fear slowly consumed my entire mind.
I was even more shocked when I saw the color yellow from the black smoke. Reason for the smoke to thicken around and spread faster.
I scream at the top of my lungs but only a whimper comes out. I even cried it out but I can't even hear my own voice.
Is this really happening?
How about Rhea?? Will I never see her again?