#Chapter 216 – Future Plans

The next morning, Victor and I make short work of packing up the tent. We send the boys off with a little H20 test kit to see if they can find fresh water, and they come back with a couple of bottles full. We quickly set the water to boil over the rekindled fire and then re-bottle it, slipping it into our backpacks for later use.

Then, ready for our day – and whatever new magical twists it brings – we head out along the trail.

It’s not really much of a trail, though, when I think about. We’re following what can best be described as a little game path, just a small winding clearing between plants in the woods, probably made by the routine travel of deer passing through.

What we’re really following, I suppose, is our instincts.

I sigh. More magic there, probably. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it like Alvin and Ian clearly are.

It was difficult, getting up this morning. My body dragged against the dawn, screaming for more sleep. When I was able to pry my eyes open, I found Alvin peering down at me, his face worried.

“Are you okay, mama?” he had asked. I had reassured him, as cheerfully as I could, that I was fine – I just didn’t like sleeping on the forest floor. But in reality, my breath was coming shorter, and I could feel my heart beating fast in my chest, even though I was resting.

We are short on time, my body is telling me. It makes every moment feel tense and precious.

Our progress through the woods is slow, the boys flitting around us like butterflies. I swear they run three times the distance that Victor and I walk, dashing ahead and then back to us, and then looping behind to re-explore before coming to tell us all about it. I envy them their strength, but am also glad that at least some of us are feeling up to the strain of this hike.

What’s perhaps the most frustrating, though, is that I have no idea where we’re going. I know that we’re on some kind of sacred journey, but honestly? Most of the time it just feels like we’re wandering aimlessly in the woods, which grates on my nerves.

Victor stops at around noon, turning and offering me a drink from the lukewarm water bottle. I grimace as I sip at it. I’m thirsty, but damn it, what I’d give for a glass of icy water.

He glances forward to where the boys are climbing over a rotten old log.

“Well, at least they’re having fun.”

head on his shoulder. “Does it feel ridiculous to you? To be spending these…well, these final hours,

me, and I know that I’ve hit the nail on the head. It feels exactly that way to him

forest is dark, now, for noon. I glance around it, noting the heavy canopies above that let in

spooky in here,” I murmur,

when the ghosts visited last

– those ghosts were weird, but they weren’t…unfriendly. The vibe

his left eye with the back of his

shouts, his voice tight and upset. “Alvin

his brother. “I just threw it up and it landed in

pry Ian’s hand away from his eye, inspecting the damage. No harm done, just irritation. “Alvin, apologize. Ian, accept it.

the energy to deal with that today.

Ian do as I say and then, shooting each other dirty looks,

Victor says, looking after them. “They’re always such

know,” I murmur, then nudge him

and we

I find my mind turning to dark places. The forest around me glowers, and so does my mind. I think about what it would be like to die in here, the

question on my

if we did make it out of this forest…would the two of us make it? It’s very easy to make big sweeping romantic promises to each other in a time of crisis, and I have

will it be enough? Will I be enough? Or, will he grow bored of me? Or me

my lower lip, worrying about it for what

in my tracks looking at him. Then he turns, shaking his head and glaring at

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