The waitress understood when I tell her about my intention to find someone behind Lucas's back, so our secret is safe for now. She also told me how to spot the door so that I am free to go anytime without her help.
"I'm not always available," she told me with a sheepish smile. I don't understand what she meant, clearly, the diner does not keep her busy all the time.
"Thank you! But next time don't be too helpful to a stranger," I thanked her for the night and went back to Daisy's house when everyone was already asleep.
When I woke up this morning, Lucas was already gone. Daisy said that Lucas will be busy for a couple of days. I'm assuming he's with Savannah because I haven't seen her around the camp all day too. Mason and Olivia are still busy training the Fighter, and that leaves me unoccupied for the rest of the day. I keep thinking to go back to the forest again, so after training, I pack my bag with food and other supplies that might be useful. Thankfully, Daisy is busy at the infirmary, so she won't be suspicious. I put on the running shoes that Lucas had prepared for me two days after my arrival.
I get lost several times trying to find the chicken shed, and the diner is still closed. It's midday, for God's sake!
Once I find the chicken shed, I have another problem.
Where the fuck is that hidden door?
She told me how to locate the door, but I was too excited last night that I didn't pay attention to her. Do I ever pay attention to anything?
After an exasperating hour, I'm finally standing in the forest once again. Apparently, the waitress had left me a mark near the door, so I can poke my finger in it and pull it open.
I close the lid behind me, wishing I will be able to find it again later. Before I go, I leave some trails by tying Lucas's shirts in the trees along the way. Yeah, I stole them, I hope he won't mind.
"What am I really doing right now?" I wasn't even planning on a journey to find Liam in the first place before I decided to run away from Suburbia. But somehow this camp and even Lucas give me hope in finding Liam.
Especially after the moment I opened my eyes and found Lucas in front of me, I never thought I would ever meet him again. It opens up my mind that anything is possible, even finding his brother. Dead or alive.
The thought of finding Liam dead makes me shiver, and I feel an outrage burst inside my chest. Why would I even think of that? Liam is not dead! I know he's still alive out there, somewhere.
I have no idea where I'm going, and I have no clue where to start looking for Liam. Seeing Lucas every day hurts me, and it even shatters my heart. I still can see the resemblance of Liam in him, and that's what drives me crazy.
I don't think about Liam during the training session, but every time when I am with Lucas, the thoughts come back. Even if I fail in this unexpected mission, exploring the forest will still help me find an escape if I ever find something wrong with this camp that I don't want to be involved in.
The trail I'm taking is way too complicated than the training I've been doing. They teach me nothing compares to the real situation and arena! Sometimes I will find no path at all or a tight opening in between trees if I don't measure my way. The ground is mushy and rocky with huge roots that appear too suddenly below my feet. I have to stop sprinting several times to crawl down, climb up, and even jump over huge rocks. The woods over my head almost covers up the sunlight, so it's somewhat helpful with my sight.
After several hours of exploring, I find a wide creek. The view amazes me. This place feels too unreal, it awes me. The wind is cold and humid as if it just rained several hours ago. But the pebbly land I'm standing on right now is dry. The water is so clear and streams faster than I thought as I look at a tree branch that is being swept away. The opposite forest seems so far from me, making me curious about what's beyond that side. I will definitely go back here often!
I settle in a long and wide tree trunk not far from the forest I just came from, and it is a perfect place to rest and have my lunch. If this is a real vacation, I would really love to live in this place! Maybe build my own tree house, eat fish I catch myself every day until I'm sick of seeing them, and probably grow a family!
What am I even thinking?
I am already halfway devouring my sandwich when I hear the rumbling sound of a car engine, and then a pickup truck appears from the forest across the creek.
Does Lucas have one of those vehicles? Oh my God, did he notice I'm missing? No!
Panic starts to rise through my whole body, and I quickly shove my things into my backpack. I look around to find a place to hide, but all I can see is the forest behind me and the other one across.
Why is there a pickup truck in the middle of nowhere? It comes to a full stop, and when the driver opens the door, I turn back and hide behind the tree trunk. It's big and wide enough to cover my whole body if I crouch down to the ground.
I'm thinking to run away, but those strangers are already walking towards the stream. I don't think it is a good idea to uncover myself at this point, knowing nothing to defend myself, and having no weapons to fight back.
I hear someone whistling and the sound of rocks and pebbles scraping underneath his soles. I can hear water splashing as he keeps whistling.
I know it's a he because... how do I know? I don't even know, lucky guess maybe. I try to take a look at what that person is doing, and I push my head a little higher but still low enough to hide. My heart is racing, making me hard to breathe.
This is actually dangerous! What if this person can see me? What if he is a hunter? It's a better option than knowing he is an enemy! I don't even know which is the enemy nor do I have one!
What if that is actually Lucas? But how did he get across the forest? Is there a way that I don't know? Or maybe there is a bridge somewhere.
I can see his back! He's walking to the farthest side of the stream. Is that a fishnet in his hand? There are so many fish in the trap, and their mouths are gaping for water.
He's wearing a brown faux leather jacket, and he's so goddamn tall! He wears a black beanie over his head, covering all of his hair.
I shiver from the cold winter wind when it blows and grazes my bare neck. Damn it, I used my shawl as a trail and tied it somewhere back in the forest. He turns his body slightly towards my direction like he can sense my gaze on his back. I realize I probably have been staring at him for too long, and I gasp a little bit too loud when I catch a glimpse of his face and his features.
"Who's there?" he shouts out.
Oh my God, no, did he see me?
"Is someone there?" he shouts again, and his voice is too close to where I hide now. Shit, he's coming over here, isn't he?
My mind is playing a trick on me, isn't it? Is that Lucas? But he sounds completely different, and Lucas has subtle hair around his face. Did he just shave? I want to think that the person is Liam. But it's impossible, it can't be him! It is way too easy, and I haven't even started to look for him. I didn't even know what I was doing before these people suddenly appeared!
No, that's not Liam! I must be dreaming right now. Maybe that's Liam's spirit, but a ghost cannot drive a vehicle, can it? I have to get out of this place! This forest might be haunted, even when the sun is still up. Maybe the ghost is sunbathing, and I disturb them. They can use a little sun because ghosts can be a little too pale during winter anyway.
Oh my Lord, what am I thinking? I should turn back and sprint as fast as I came here!
I don't care anymore what that person is going to do if he ever catches me, so I jump out of my hiding place and start sprinting toward the little gap in the trees without looking back. Somehow I can hear someone calling my name when I'm already running deeper inside the forest. But I keep my head focused on the track, even when the voice inside tells me to look back.
Can that really be Liam?