Cameron shook his head, his eyes shooting daggers at the other boy who slowly went to his feet. He stayed crouched down, hidden amongst the foliage while the man continued to stalk away unknown of his prey hidden just feet away from him. Cameron shook his head quickly, continuing to watch with confused eyes at what the other was doing.
Your leg has a fucking bite mark in it! You can barely walk, what are you doing!? The young boy was trying to communicate with the taller man as he was lifting himself from the ground, he turned slowly to the side, the side where the killer came from. The boy quickly grabbed at him to desperately pull him back.
Kim Seo grabbed the other hand instead of pushing it away. He turned to look at him, his eyes firm with the decision already being made. Cameron fought back with it, his head shaking as a response. The taller one rolled his eyes, pulling Cameron up and away with him.
He was slow, making sure that they stayed silent since the killer had just walked past them. He also had to stay low to the ground, his leg was still burning in pain, he powered through, pulling at Cameron who hesitantly followed.
They maneuvered around and behind trees, making sure he looked behind them so that the man was far enough away. He stood up, letting go of the other boy who rushed over to his side. "What are you doing? Are you crazy?"
"What are you talking about?" The other kept moving forward giving a creased brow to the other boy.
"Oh I don't know- maybe how you decided to keep moving AS the killer was right fucking there..!" The boy made sure his voice was hissed and low. "That- and because this isn't the direction I saw them go off too."
"Shut up will you?" Kim Seo turned sharply to his side, glaring down at the other who returned to move with the same fierceness. The older boy felt like he didn't need to explain, he didn't have to when Cameron wasn't gonna agree with him anyway. But he knew, if he didn't, Cameron would keep on going with his loud mouth. "The girls went this way."
"Really? Are you sure about that?"
Kim Seo rolled his eyes, he was back to being annoyed by the other. "Yes, now shut up and follow."
"You do know that the man came from here right..?" His voice silently warned, forcing the boy to stop real quick. Cameron caught up to his side, looking over to the other. "If they are this way…"
"Then we should hurry up." Kim Seo silenced the boy, pushing him forward to keep going. Cameron saw the look in the others eyes, seeing and feeling the complete anxiety and courage fighting one another.
So he shut up and continued forward, ducking under trees and sliding along the ground through bushes. He didn't know what they were looking for, the fear that the killer had done something to the others made his skin both boil and run cold. But, even if he hated Kim Seo with little passion. He trusted the boy.
He walked in front, keeping his eyes open and senses just as ready. While the boy behind him kept casting his eyes behind him, he feared that they might be too loud and cause the man to hear them. He watched, following the younger boy's steps with his ears. Every small movement out of his eyes would cause a reflex out from the boy, reaching for Cameron to be ready to pull him out and away.
But, no one was there. The man wasn't there, no wild beast.. nothing, they were alone.
Kim Seo should have liked that, but he didn't. With no sign of any life or small noises besides from them, it seemed unlikely that the girls were actually there. Maybe that was a good thing?
The boy shook his head, erasing the thoughts. They were already committed to this, the girls were there. They just needed to hurry to go and see them-
He was stopped when he hit Cameron's back. He staggered back, reaching out for the other who stopped dead center in the path they were taking. "Cameron?"
He didn't move, didn't react. Kim Seo gulped, moving around the other with his hand still planted on his shoulder. He reached his side, finally catching on to what the young boy was trapped by.
It was a body..
"No- no…" He shook his head, even in the dark, the silhouette of the motionless being caused a ripple of shock and agony through his body. The long hair that was almost a swarm of a black sea was slowly becoming more and more colored the closer he got.
His eyes never left the figure on the ground, he felt hot. His breath was labored, he couldn't even tell if he was breathing or not. This couldn't be happening.. the closer he got, the more aware he became of what the situation was.
Cameron watched Kim Seo fall to his knees, his legs digging into the dirt as his hands went out to cup the girl's face in his hands. He came closer, the darkness opening the way for them to see their deceased friend lay on the dirt with her arms open to her side, her neck snapped to the side. Her face held a look of death, a death that seemed almost peaceful.
The boy covered his mouth, his eyes forming tears in an instant. He shook his head, looking away from the girl that he had started to get to know. He couldn't imagine the pain Kim Seo was feeling, seeing the girl he grew up with at school, who he cared for, die in such a painful and ugly way.
It would have been quick, he hoped that it was quick for her.
Kim Seo held her tightly to his chest, pushing the girl's head back into his to give her a tight hug. He held his eyes shut, cursing at the man for leaving her like this.. to kill her in such an ugly way. Vinh deserved more than that, the girl was beautiful inside and out.
The boy leaned his head down, his eyes shut to stop the burning rage and tears threatening to come out if he made any noise. His friend, he had lost another.. another one that he had grown to know, to like and care for. He promised to protect them, to protect her. But here she was, laying motionless with her legs and arms bent in pain, her body freezing to the touch. The only comfort was the look on her face.
It didn't look like she was in pain..
It looked like she had seen it coming. Seen it right in front of her…
And she accepted it.
Cameron had to look away, his body was shaking like crazy, he couldn't keep on watching the poor girl in such a state. He looked back up, trying to see anything other than her. To look at anything other than that. He thought for a moment, realization opening up his eyes.
"Marie…!" He whispered out, looking around for any signs of her. She had to be with Vinh, but if the older girl was dead…
No… He wouldn't have killed her would he?
A child…
Cameron didn't go to that, looking around the bushes and trees, trying to find some sign of her. The boy knew not to ask Kim Seo for help, the older boy was currently grieving for his friend, he can try and find Marie on his own. She couldn't be far…
He walked away from Vinh and Kim Seo, trying to distract himself with the hope he could find Marie.. alive..
But he couldn't see any sign of her, any sign of anything else. No sound, no dented foliage.. nothing.
No no… come on, think! Cameron shook his head, closing his eyes to breathe in to try and think. What would Vinh do to hide her…
His eyes looked down to the small bushes that were just in the line of sight of where Vinh was found. With small and steady movements, the boy knelt down and moved the branches around, stopping with his eyes landing on a small form curled up in a ball. Cameron felt his body seize up once again, he knelt down with gentle and slow movements so he didn't scare the girl.
He could only imagine the pain and sorrow she had just witnessed. She had watched the whole thing, hidden safely in the curls of the leaves while Vinh put her life on the line.. Cameron felt the tears coming once again, the clogging in his throat caused pain within him to see the poor girl flinch hard at the gentle touch.
She turned up to him, a broken look in her blue eyes that were smeared with red, soaked lids. She reached out, her hands trembled as they surfaced in the cold air. The boy made sure to block the body of Vinh, even if the girl had already seen it, she didn't need to be reminded of it again…
He picked her up, letting the girl immediately snuggle herself into him. She was surprisingly hot, her head was warm to the touch. She let out a small sigh, closing her hands around his neck. He felt the tears, the cold pattering from the silent girl as she sobbed her little heart out. The boy wasn't the best at comforting, but even so, he gently stroked the girls back with gentle and comforting movements. He allowed her to calm down in his arms, only the sound of her small sobs could be heard.
He didn't want to, but he had to face what was happening behind him. He waited a while, cuddling the girl close to him in hopes it would comfort her. The boy who sat behind him silently with a heavy heart, Cameron stayed curled up with Marie as they let the silence sink into them.
Kim Seo failed her, he had let the girl down when he had promised to keep them safe. To keep her alive along with everyone else, to find a way out of this hell of a forest…
He shook his head, feeling his throat clog. He knew if he spoke, tears would come out and he would be a crying mess. He silently apologized, apologized on and on for her death. His pain was no longer felt, he did feel the urge to run and run until he passed out or died…
He finally looked back up, meeting the girl's face that lay in his hands. He looked her over once again, letting out a small noise as he put her back to the ground. With gentle, soft hands, the boy closed the girl's eyes. She was at peace now, no use in her eyes being wide to see the horrors..
He sat there for a few more seconds, letting the realization sink in. Cameron came over to his side, holding Marie close to him while trying to shun both himself and her from the dead girl's body. Kim Seo didn't need to be told, he stood up to his side, turning around so he didn't see the girl on the ground.
"Let's keep moving.." His voice was hoarse, it felt strained.
Cameron stayed silent, falling into step right behind the other. The silence leaking from Kim Seo was felt through the other, he couldn't see his face, but he could feel the others emotion. The running turmoil of the fear, the anger, and grief. He hadn't shed a tear yet, he could tell that he would soon though.
Right now, they still had to find a way out..
Kim Seo watched everything around him, trying to catch the attack that might come before it did. He didn't want to lose another friend, he couldn't lose another friend. He had failed Vinh, just like he had failed Loire…
He couldn't protect them, they ended up dead because of him. The boy stiffened up, his injury felt nothing but a mist of wind, blowing the burning away. All he felt was anger and guilt. His eyes slowly looked behind him, catching the look of Cameron and Marie who stumbled after him, the girl hung close to the other, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck with her face burrowed in his chest.
Cameron met the boy's eyes, looking away to try and hide the sympathetic look. The boy saw it, feeling the guilt run down his spine, sending a shiver back up. He turned away, knowing that he couldn't let them down as well. He couldn't let that monster take away that stubborn boy and that little angel.
Cameron knew that the boy didn't know where to go, or even where they were going. The dark, black forest was like a labyrinth of some kind, it's purposely trying to lead them away from freedom. The closer they got, the more they seemed to be getting farther away.
Marie's arm hung loose, she slowly drifted off. Cameron could tell that she wasn't sleeping, her brows were released and her lips were dry. The girl seemed to be getting a cold. He noticed she was very tired, her face was pale and her body was withering wildly when he had found her. That could just be from the shock and fear after witnessing Vinh.. dead…
But, the girl was weakly holding onto him, her breaths were short. That, and her head was a beating red while the rest of her body was an icy cold. Holding her close to him wasn't gonna work, he alone was still freezing along with Kim Seo.
"Hey.." He spoke quietly.
The boy turned around to him, a warning look in his eyes. Cameron understood the look, he made a small motion to Marie in his arms, Kim Seo slowly relaxed, turning to him while the boy knelt down to let the girl down. Kim Seo rolled his eyes, walking forward, he reached out for her.
Cameron gave him a confused brow, looking up to meet his eyes. "Cameron." He whispered, getting him to hand the girl over. He did so, gently sweeping away the sweat from the girl's face that was growing more red. Kim Seo felt the small girl shake in his grasp, looking at her with worried eyes. Cameron pulled his ripped sweater off, shivering when the cold air hit his thin arms.
"Here-" He walked back over to him, letting Kim Seo move Marie over to him so he could slip the ripped up sweater over her head. The girl was small, and Cameron wore an oversized uniform sweater, so even with it being ripped to shreds and dried blood and dirt on it, it was the best he could give her.
"She's running a fever…" Kim Seo silently said, pulling the sweater up around her neck, he watched it swallow up her form with concern. He took his eyes off to watch the other boy, "when did she start becoming this hot?"
"When I picked her up.. it's just been getting worse since all she is wearing is a dress. And being in the cold for too long is making it even worse."
"We should have thought about this before... She's been in water more than once already, the cold clothing would have soaked her and made her more cold.." Kim Seo shook his head, allowing Cameron to take the girl in his arms to let the older boy scold himself angrily. "I'm so stupid..! Why didn't I think of this?"
"Don't start blaming yourself."
"Excuse me?" The boy turned his fierce eyes over to the shorter boy who was wrapping the girl in his arms more tightly to his chest. "All of this is my fault. How can I not blame myself?"
"What are you talking about?" Cameron shook his head, the cold making his senses go numb.
"What am I talking about…?" The boy mumbled to himself, he let out a mocking scoff. His emotions piling up, the boy heard a slight move in the foliage from afar. He didn't take any chances, reaching out and pulling Cameron over to him while sitting in the bushes as a cover.
Cameron looked back at him with alarm, pulling Marie close to him while sitting down in the dirt behind a large tree connected with a bush. Kim Seo didn't bother explaining, he looked over the coverage to where he heard that sound. The sound of someone or something moving around.
He made sure that Cameron was sitting behind him in the shadows before he took a look above the leaves to where he saw the movement. He believed it was that man, that killer. He expected him to jump out of hiding, to show his hideous form before attacking and killing them as well. But to his shock, something else came into view.
He looked on in confusion as a tall, lean figure walked out to where they once were. His mouth hung open, confusion was running through his head when watching the dark being walk forward without a care in the world.
He knew it wasn't that man, he was tall yes, but definitely not built like a tank like the killer is. But that asked the question, who was he?
Cameron moved over to his side, Marie still pressed up against him. The boy was too surprised to try and talk him out of it. Cameron stiffened near him, they both watched as the figure stopped moving, they stood in one place.
In the darkness, the only thing they could make out was light suddenly being flashed on. The figure was looking down at their phone, their back facing towards the teens, the only thing they could make out was a rust blue dress shirt that they wore, the light from the phone stayed on them for a few seconds before they suddenly put it away. They continued to stroll through the trees, stepping over rocks and other things as they disappeared from the kids.
Kim Seo waited a few seconds before he reacted on his own. He made sure he couldn't hear anything, only the whipping sound of the wind before he grabbed the boy next to him to tug him along. Cameron stumbled forward, making sure Marie was glued to his side as he was dragged along behind Kim Seo. The boy dashed silently after the figure, holding Cameron's hand with a tight warm grip.