Hi my name is De'vonte Tyler and this is a story about how me and 7 friends almost died. It all started on the last day of our junior year of high school. We live in a small town called Frank Valley where everyone knows everyone as well as everything that happens. Let's start this story at my house the morning it all began. It began like any other day at my house with my mom losing her car keys, me almost being late for school as well as no breakfast. I don't really care if I miss breakfast but my mom always asked if I had eaten before we left each morning.
"Mom I'm going to be late for school."
"Ok give me a sec I can't find my keys."
"They're down here next to the fridge."
"Ok, I'm on my way down. Did you make yourself something to eat?"
"No I didn't have time to make any."
"Do you want to stop and get something?"
"No, I'll be fine. And plus today's only a half day."
"That's right, but remember your dad has a doctor's appointment today."
"Do you know what they're going to be doing today?"
"They said they're going to be running a couple more tests just to make sure everything is fine."
"Ok I'll see y'all when y'all get back then. "So you're not going to work today then?"
"No, I put in a three days notice and I have someone covering my shift."
My mom didn't always work but now she does. She also takes care of my dad now. He normally does all of the working but since he's sick can't work so she does. He's been in and out of the hospital for the past few months and the doctors can't find anything wrong. He doesn't complain about it at least not out loud that is. He tries to put on a tough guy act but we see straight through it.
As we pulled off I got a text from my friend John that read "Where r u ur going to be late u know Mr.Green aint going for none of ur excuses. u already know he's going to give you a lecture about why being late is such a big deal in the real world." I didn't respond to his text. I didn't think he would mind cause we would see each other in a few minutes anyway. As we pulled up to the school so did my principal Dr.Carter. He's a tall guy who played basketball when he was younger. He says he could've gone pro if he didn't break his leg. Now he walks kinda funny with a limp. Everyone makes fun of the way he walks but I think they're childish. But it is kinda funny tho.
"Good morning young man and Mrs.Smith. How's your husband?"
My dad is the sheriff of the town and basketball coach at the school. He's led our school to the finals for the past 4 years. We only won the last two.
"Good morning Dr.Carter. He's doing fine. He's just a little bitter cause he's sick again"
"This is the second time this month isn't it?"
"Yeah. But he's getting better, he'll be back in no time."
I walked off and left them talking. When I got to my class I noticed we had a new teacher. She was tall and kinda young. I thought she was a student at first.
"Good morning class my name is Mrs.Walters and I will be your substitute teacher for the time being."
A couple of students asked what happened to Mr.Green. She said she didn't know, but we all knew what happened. Mr.Green went hunting in the forest that weekend. And he never came out. He knew the stories about the myth but he still went. He always told our class that he didn't believe in it. But I guess he knows now if it's true or not. After class me and John meet up at our lockers.
"Wassup bro, you got plans for this summer?"
"Bro didn't I tell you I'm going camping in the forest. You tryna come to it will be fun and plu..."
"You don't mean mockingbird forest?"
"Yeah! You know it's just a myth right."
"Yeah, but I still wouldn't go into the forest. I don't care if it's a myth or not."
He looked disappointed "Bro, you're so scary like nothing's going to happen there's like 8 of us going that's if you go too. And plus old girl is going to be there."
"You talking bout Olivia."
"Yeah"
"Ok I'll go but, how long are we going to be out there?" I know I should've said no but he's my bestfriend and well the hottest girl in the school is going.
"Like 2 or 3 nights, nothing crazy. You know what I mean."
"Sounds good but I gotta get home my mom and dad are at the hospital. I gotta make sure there's good waiting for them when they get home."
"Yo dad still sick?"
"Yeah, see ya!"
When I got home my mom had left a note on my bed. She took my dad to the hospital for his checkup. I knew that they were going to be gone for a while so I cooked. My dad doesn't eat a lot before he goes to the doctor's so I make sure there's something to eat when he gets home. Minutes after I finished eating they came home.
"Hey! What did the doctors say?"
"They said I'll be ready to go back to work sometime next week."
"That's good! I made you something to eat. Your plate is in the microwave. Have a seat, I'll warm it up."
"Thanks!"
The next day I met up with a couple of the others that were going camping with us. We met up at an ice cream shop not too far from my house. James, Jordan, and Bailey were all saying that they don't think this is a good idea knowing what happened to our english teacher. Jordan Said that she might opt out and stay home. She's not a fan of the idea of sleeping on the ground. Bailey is ok with camping; she just doesn't want to possibly come up missing. James isn't scared he's just not an outdoors type of guy. He likes to stay inside and chill.
"Hey, guys!"
"Wassup, Orlando!"
Orlando's also coming with us. He's all about going to find out if the myth is true or not. John and Abigail showed up a little after that. Abigail is a country girl so she loves going camping. John just wants to be alone with Jordan. He's always coming up with ideas to get them alone he thinks we don't notice but we all do. It's cool doe we don't mind. Olivia walked in just behind them. She's only going because John asked her otherwise, she wouldn't have come. Olivia and John are best friends.
"Hey Olivia!"
"Hey!"
While we ate we talked about what we did that day and what we thought happened to our teacher Mr.Green. He's a short middle aged man with two kids. His kids don't stay with him tho they stay with their mom. He was in the process of trying to get them back.
"You guys done yet?"
"Yeah, yall tryna hang out tonight?"
"Let's go to my house. My mom's not going to be home until tomorrow night."
"Alright let's go"
When we arrived at Olivia's house she noticed her mom's car parked in front and another car behind it.
" I don't know why my mom is home so early. Wait, isn't that our substitutes car?"
"Yeah it is. But why is it at your house?"
"I don't know but let's find out."
We walked in and saw Olivia's mom seated near the fireplace sipping her coffee.
"Mom?"
"Hey sweetie."
"Why are you back so early? I thought you weren't going to be back till tomorrow night?"
"I know but my trip got cut short because of an issue at the office. Oh! That's right an old friend of mine from college is here."
"Good afternoon, I hope you all enjoyed your last day of school!"
We left our substitute and her mom downstairs. Olivia still looked confused cause her mom didn't call her like she said. Her mom usually calls or texts when she's on her way home. Especially when she combs home early.
"All I want to know is who's bringing the food."
"I am"
"No I think we should all pitch in and bring something or at least give him some money to pay for everything!"
"We can talk about who brings what in the morning."
"Ok you guys wanna stay the night my mom won't mind she's probably going to leave anyway."
"Sure my parents won't care."
"Same, my parents won't even notice I didn't come home"
We all stayed the night at Olivia's house. We could tell that she didn't want to be alone that night. The next morning I woke up before everyone else but Olivia who looked like she'd been up all night.
"Hey are you ok? You look like, you didn't sleep last night."
"No, I didn't. I couldn't really, I guess I wasn't tired."
"Let's go downstairs, I don't wanna wake them up?"
"Okay let's go"
We sat on her couch and talked for a while about her mom and our substitute teacher. She said that her mom never talked about her past. She never asked either. Her mom is the only person to ever come out of the forest alive. No one knows what happened to her nor how she got out. The local newspaper and radio station tried to interview her but she always turned them down.
"Good morning! How long have y'all been up?"
"We haven't been up to long just a couple minutes and you?"
"I just got up and heard you guys down here talking. You guys hungry , I'll make breakfast?"
"We have eggs, bacon, sausage, and cinnamon rolls in the fridge and pancakes mix in the pantry, I'll grab it for you."
As the smell of breakfast started to fill the room so did everyone else. One by one everyone started to sit at the table. Jordan was the last person to wake up. After we ate we talked about our plans as well as what we should bring. Orlando and Abigail agreed to bring flashlights. John and Jordan agreed to bring food. Bailey and James agreed to bring tents. While Olivia and I agreed to bring drinks. We all agreed to meet at my house an hour before.
"John you wanna go to the store with me? We don't have to I jus thought cause we're getting food we could do it together but, only if you want to?"
"Yeah why not that way we don't get too much of the same thing."
"Yeah same Orlando, you wanna go with me?"
"Alright, let me grab my phone"
We all went with the person who was getting the same thing. At the store Olivia and I decided that we would get bottled water and some energy drinks. John and Jordan got hotdogs, beef sticks, marshmallows, gram crackers, chocolate, and they made sandwiches. Orlando and Abigail got 10 flashlights. James and Bailey got 2 really big tents. We all arrived at my house back to back. Me and Olivia then James and Bailey after them John and Jordan last Orlando and Abigail.
"You guys think we should bring a gun or something just in case?"
"I'll bring my rifles but I don't think we're going to need them."
"How many rifles do you have?"
"I have 3 but ones my dad's but, he never uses it so we can take it."
"Did you guys bring shorts to swim in or am I the only one."
"Bro why wear shorts when we can go skinny dipping."
"Your right I guess I got an extra pair of shorts then."
"Wait, are yall for real about skinny dipping?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"
"Who's going to tell us to put on clothes?"
"I'm not saying we shouldn't I'm jus making sure y'all are being for real."
"Ok but I think we should wait a couple of weeks before we go or at least a week."
"Are you for real bro, we already bought everything and now you want to say something. Like it's too late now we might as well do it now, cause if we don't then I'm not going."
"Chill I think he's right we should wait but only like a week. We can eat the food now and buy more when we go. Everything else can be stored in my house."
"Ok but I'm not buying the food next time."
"That's fine, I'll buy it no problem. Is everyone ok with that."
"Bro are you sure?"
"Yeah it's no big deal."
"I'll buy some food too."
"Nah you don't have to, I got it."
"Bro I'm buying food with you."
"Alright that's koo."
"You guys want to go to the mall?"
"Yeah we can get some clothes for when we go camping."
Orlando, John, Jordan, Bailey, and I all went to the mall together. The others went home they said they already have clothes that they can wear.