It was terrifying, the man was getting closer to them the faster they ran. The crunching of dried leaves, flashed from the growing moon that darted off through the trees above. It felt like deja vu, having to run and run again.
Soon, the heavy steps from behind them slowed until it became the mist in the air. The group didn't stop, Kim Seo who was looking around had to drag Vinh forward with them. He thought for a second, gulping while his breaths came shallow and hard. He reached forward, grabbing onto Cameron who was pulling Marie along in the front.
He couldn't let out a word, being pulled harshly, he was forced to run to the side into the bushes and trees. The girls were pulled along with them, Kim Seo quickly hushed the others.
They were in the bushes on the ground, hidden from where they once were. Marie was pushed to Cameron's side, she was terrified, holding back sobs all the while Vinh was silently crying beside Kim Seo. She tried to keep it silent, but the thoughts replayed in her mind. She was sitting right beside her, an inch from her as the spear took her life away. It was just a second.
A second.. just a second…
Now she's gone.
Vinh let out an uncontrollable hiccup, Kim Seo quickly held her mouth close with his hand. She turned to him, tears falling onto his hand. He put his finger up to his lips while making eye contact with the girl.
It was then that the rest of the group heard what the older boy heard. The footsteps that held its heavy pressure coming from around them. It sounded threateningly slow, coming in low crunches, and clunks. Cameron felt his lips and whole body shake.
Marie was quickly stilled, she moved closer to the other boy she was leaning on, making a small shuffle noise. The boy quickly held onto her, stopping her movements when he leaned on top of her like a shield.
Kim Seo took his eyes away from Vinh, watching from where they were crouched behind tall and thick foliage, a figure stood above like a giant. The moon was becoming bright, high and mighty. The figure blocked the light, it bounced off them to make their form appear larger to the kids that were hidden.
The older boy held his breath, his heart skipping in beats as he watched the figure. It stopped right in front of them behind the bushes where they were hidden. They were so close. So close to the being that killed their friend.
Kim Seo tried not to let his angry thoughts threaten their hiding. He watched as the figure moved around their head, the large snout of the skull reflected off the moon's light. The older boy noticed as the man moved, how the light reflected their face and body. The ripped up hoodie that was dangling like a cape didn't cover their whole head, he saw tufts of dull orange hair come out.
He also took into account that they wore no shirt underneath. It was a man, tall with broad shoulders. His chest was covered in old large claw marks. Dirt covered his ripped pants that were stained in dark blood, patches of dried blood also hid there. He watched as the man stood motionless. His head was up in the air, as if he was tasting something.
Like he was following their scent.
He let out a huff, making the whole group let out a flinch. A few more agonizing seconds went by while the kids believed that they were going to die, the masked man turned away from them, the snout of the wolf's skull hung low, the sharp teeth dripped into silence.
Only the sound of the wind was heard, they couldn't hear his breathing, they couldn't even hear their own breathing as the seconds went by. The man was silent, only the loud steps as he walked away. Kim Seo didn't take his eyes away from the leaving figure, he watched as he walked away from the group, dragging the bloody spear behind him. The group stayed still, letting the silent seconds tick by, they all were terrified to even breathe.
It was about a minute, though none of them were counting, until Kim Seo saw no trace from the killer, he finally let out a hard breath. He must have been holding his breath, breathing gave him a silent relief he needed.
He took a look at his group, releasing Vinh that was shivering under him. When he moved away, the girl let out a sob, breathing in harshly and hanging her head low. The tall boy didn't know how to react, he also heard Cameron let out a sob along with the little girl.
The sinking realization of what they all had just witnessed came crashing down on them. It all came crashing down onto Kim Seo who didn't fully register what had just happened.
Loire is gone. She is dead.
She was murdered..
-And that same murderer was now stalking them like they were prey. He ran after them after brutally killing their friend. The shocked look in the girl's eyes, her body harshly falling onto the ground like a chunk of dead meat. She was forgotten within a second, the teens now had to run for their lives while the killer stalked them.
They stayed down in the bushes, hidden for more solid minutes. The occasional sounds of footsteps that walked a few feet away from them made the group freeze, a shrill feeling sliding through each of them like a knife.
Kim Seo didn't know if it was actually a good idea by pushing them down in the bushes to hide instead of running away. What he did know was that the killer walked past them. It would give the others time to suck in their energy and actually register what had happened to Loire.
Vinh took it harder than Kim Seo expected. He can't remember the last time he saw the cold girl cry her heart out. It was scary, seeing her break down like this was so out of character. He expected that from Cameron, and the short boy was truly breaking down like a child. He was still above Marie, holding her tightly, his hand was over his own mouth. Biting down hard to suppress the painful sobs.
Kim Seo couldn't see the child, but he knew by the smaller sounds of cries that she was losing it too. So young, yet so true and frightened by what was now happening to them. It all became so real to them.
The true feeling of life or death.
He didn't know when he should speak, or even what he was supposed to say. What can he say at a time like this? Loire was gone. The girl that he really enjoyed being around, the spunky teen that held so much life. She went out so quickly.
She was brave, fighting against boys twice her strength, sticking up for those weaker. He never expected any of that from any of the kids at the Delinquent Cord. No one had that much bravery as much as a strong heart. It angered the older boy that she went out so quickly.
It wasn't fair. None of this was fair..
"We can't stay here for long," the tall boy decided to say. He took in as many breaths as he could, finding his feet while his legs shook from underneath him. The group didn't follow at first.
Cameron made a huffing sound, moving away from Marie while he tried to look as if he wasn't crying. "Where are we even going to go..?" His voice was quiet yet stern, it sounded drained.
Vinh was the next to stand up, he wiped her red eyes, nothing was on her expression when she looked up from Kim Seo and toward Cameron. She moved forward, grabbing Marie and putting her on her back with a small huff. "Back to the others."
She looked down to Cameron, glaring hard with small eyes. The boy saw the grief and determination behind them, he wanted to feel the same, yet he was tired and scared. He was at a loss, he never expected for one of them to get hurt, and Loire. Loire, she was so strong. How did she go out so quickly? It pulled at the boy's heart, making him feel like passing out and never waking up.
The others waited for him to stand, Vinh already making her way past the taller boy with a determined face. Cameron finally stood, ignoring the shaking his legs audibly gave away. He gulped in a shaking breath, looking up to find Kim Seo standing next to him. He waited for the shorter boy to move before following.
Vinh took the lead this time, instead of being more carefree, they slowly traveled through the dark forest with ease of their environment. Vinh held tightly on the girl's hand that was around her shoulders. She squeezed them, making the small girl cry lightly.
The boys followed behind, Kim Seo letting Cameron stand in front of him, making sure that they weren't being followed. The group didn't even know where they were going, where they had to go. They wanted to get back to the others, it was much darker now. The field trip must be over but if they make it to that clearing, then they would know where to go.
Cameron felt his eyes sore up, they must be red from the harsh sobbing he had just a few seconds ago. He kept regretting being with the group over and over in his head. He should have just stayed back!
Fight back and not let himself be dragged over to be lost along with them.
But this murderer wasn't their fault. Getting lost definitely was, but this maniac of a killer? No, they had no control over that.
-And Loire…
Cameron shook his head, feeling tears well up in his eyes. He can't get distracted now, he refused to think about her, it would only get in the way. He had to focus on what is happening now. Getting out and living with everyone was the plan, thinking about the spunky girl that he just started to get comfortable with was not a good idea. It would only distract him.
The boy took a glance at Vinh up front, her mood changed so quickly. She was more distraught than him when Lore was killed. That would make sense since she was there as that murderer killed her. Yet, she changed so quickly. She wiped away her tears and took the lead, a face that showed no emotions, stone cold just like when he met her.
However, something had changed. Rather than her just being cold, she seemed distant from the others, from herself. Even with Marie, instead of comforting the scared child like Vinh normally would, she just picked her up and ignored the girls crying.
That was unlike her.
A loud snap froze each of the group's steps. Kim Seo made a quick look around him. No one was behind them, the snap wasn't coming from behind or even in front of the group. The two older kids stood completely still, Vinh shook from the weight she carried, although she held her stance strong from the fear building up in her chest. Kim Seo knew that it wasn't in front of them or behind them. It was like the predator was circling the group.
Loud snaps, crunches from the dead leaves made each sound retaliate a violent flinch from each of the kids in the row.
It would just be an animal, maybe a night creature? But the kids didn't want to take the risk of it not being some harmless animal. Kim Seo made a slow and hesitant step towards the others. While keeping his head up and ears wide open, the tall boy took hold of both Cameron and Vinh by the arm.
They didn't say anything, the whole group filled with fear of the unknown about what could happen. It was a small movement, but it caught the boy's eyes. The taller of the three saw a large figure moving around from the trees to their left. It was almost pitch black, the sky fading darker and darker by the second.
Just the smallest of movements made the boy react. He pulled them down as far from the moving being as he could. He pushed them forward, keeping his eyes in the direction from where he saw the movement was. The others didn't need to do anything but run forward, they did so with quiet feet so they didn't make as much noise.
Kim Seo was right behind them, watching as the darkness was swarming from around them. He was lightheaded, the fear welling up inside him. He felt like his heart had dropped.
Why?
What happened? He kept his eyes in the same spot, looking for the man. He was there, and he was in full view for a split second.
He was fast, as fast as he had killed Loire, he was now up in front of the boy. Kim Seo let out a yell, causing the rest of the kids in front to finally stop their small movements so as to not make much noise to sprint forward. The tall boy was right behind them, hearing the crashing of feet only inches from behind him.
He would thank his nasty coach for making the kids in the gym run laps every morning back at school if he could actually make it out alive.
Even if the kids were fast, full of energy with death chasing after them, the grown man was just as quick. As fast as he was there, he was now back in the darkness far behind them. The group didn't slow down, didn't even stop to look at the figure that was longer behind them but for sure chasing from within the darkness somewhere. They kept going, their legs sprinting with the energy pumping through their blood.
Kim Seo made it close enough where he could lead them to a hiding spot. Vinh caught on quickly, jumping down the small ledge that hung off like a cliff into a large river. They tried as best as they could as not to splash, emerging into the dark water in the shaded part just as the boys soon joined them. The older boy kept a hold on the smaller boy as if he would run off and get killed.
They huddled together close along the roots that hung above them from the ledge that stood strong as a cover. The freezing water went up to their chests, sinking through their dirty uniforms as they stung the kids' skin. It was nothing compared to the fear running through them when the sound of the heavy footsteps appeared right as they began to suck in some air.
The kids stayed close, Vinh held tightly onto the girl that clung for dear life on her back. She tried to keep the girl from the cold water, but had no time to actually try. So he opted for holding onto her small hand as a comfort. Kim Seo stood with his back to the roots, dirt fell from the small movements he made, littering his hair with the tough soil. Cameron was left to stay squeezed between Vinh and Kim Seo in the middle, the water up to his chest as its freezing temperatures had made him shake even more than he already was.
Even with the group staying close from the small guarded hiding spot, it didn't stop the fear as the sound of the killer above became louder. It was coming closer, he was coming closer.
It was sudden, the steps felt like they were echoing around them while he came closer and closer. It went silent, only the sound of the small water splashes from beyond in the darkness. Not even the air felt like it could come back, only the thundering and anticipating silence stretched on for minutes.
The teenagers flinched, swiping their heads above them as the dirt fell from the pressure from above it. The man was there, looking over the ledge towards the river that grew darker the farther it went out. It was now eerily silent, fading away into the darkness was a few pads on dirt falling from above along with heavy steps slowly fading away. It went off into an unknown distance, the sounds seemed all too clouded among the teens.
Fear piled up within them, they stayed still in the water. Not even a rapture of water was made by the motionless teens. They were too afraid to move, too afraid to breathe.
With the unknown amounts of seconds ticking by, Cameron decided to make a small move from the group. Being as he was closest to the end of where the "shield" was, he moved forward within the water. Only slightly, the ripple of water swayed with his movements. The shadows glimmered in the dark murky water, hiding the unknown from the boy who took in the courage to see if it was safe.
Just as he made the slightest of steps in the waist-deep water, he was startled to a stop when just beside them, the masked man appeared. It was silent from above, but when he entered the water, its silent riptides waved around the group off into the distance.
Kim Seo grabbed Cameron by the jaw, forcing his hand around his mouth and pulling him to his chest to be caged between the two older teens. Cameron had made a grab from the boy's hand, feeling his body pressed tightly to the other male while Vinh pushed closer to the others.
He froze once again, all eyes following to the same place.
The skull bounced back off the moon's glare, it hit the water with its bright glimmer. The group saw blood seeping from the man and into the water. It created waves, floating with silent ripples over to where they hid. The fear piled up now that the killer was in the water with them. They knew they were no longer safe as they watched the man slowly and silently trudge forward in the deeper parts of the water.
He was now in their view, the only light they could see was the stained white skull he wore in place of his head. The darkness was thankfully a good cover, while the killer seemed to walk right past them. Only a few feet apart, the man caused the water to fly up around him, all the way towards the frightened teens.
Kim Seo had unintentionally squeezed the boy he held closer. He watched with wide eyes as the killer with soaked red clothes walked right past them. His whole body shook, cold shivers ran through his body that felt numbing compared to the panic running through him. They were all terrified at the thought of him finding them, he was so close. So close that they could practically hear his harsh and heavy breaths that were muffled behind the skull.
With a sharp exhale, the man looked towards the moon, the hood slightly waving from the sharp wind. The man suddenly lifted a blood soaked spear out of the water, he put it up to his face that was just under the large, sharp teeth. The group felt a chill clashed with disgust when he began to lick the remaining blood from the weapon.
Loire's blood…
Vinh moved her head away, not making a sound from her chattering lips. Cameron was stuck watching along with the taller boy behind him while the killer seemed to enjoy the taste of their friends' blood. When he seemed satisfied, the sharp weapon was plunged back into the river.
It was lifted up once again, now shining brightly from the moon's glare. Even through the hazing fear within the boys, they soon came to realize what exactly that weapon was. It shined brightly, almost white from their view.
It was built together with little bones. One long enough and sharp at the tip that it really looked like it would kill. The killer was using bones that were large and sharpened at the tip to kill. It must have come from a large animal, seeing as it fit the man's hand at the end where a makeshift holder was.
The wisp of the air was crashing along with a loud trampling sound from above. The man's head snapped in their direction. The teens stayed silent, air not meeting their lungs for the seconds that passed by while the black voids of the wolf's skull watched them.
They were caught..
They were dead…
The man moved his head down, crooking it from the side like a predator would when peering at another animal. He was even acting animalistic, stalking forward in the water without care of his ripped up cape of the teared up hoodie floated behind him. He was coming closer, just a few more steps and he would catch them.
The tall boy's mind raced with thousands of thoughts. They couldn't just stay there and do nothing. He was almost at them, sniffing the air like a wild beast, tasting their flesh with the mere air floating through them before straight to the blood thirsty being.
The alarmed group jumped as he came forward at inhuman speed. But instead of directing toward them, the man jumped out of the water. He was by the ledge, making small huff sounds that almost sounded like growls. It was deep, gurgling that chilled the kids even more. They refused to move an inch while the killer stalked whatever was above them.
The roots from the earth above them tumbled down, burying them with its dirt. They still refused to move, clinging closer to one another until the distant sound of footsteps faded away. It was chased away from above them, the ground that guarded them fell apart, leaving them crumbled but very hidden.
Even when being hidden, the group was soon under the dark water from the ledge that swallowed them with dirt. Though the killer ran off, the group now had to fight back through the dirt and mud from their mouths all the while pushing away the heavy, thick water that was now filled with roots from their once guarded ledge.