May 7, 1977
"We actually did it," Theo remarked, his body trembling, yet he was relieved. "But what now?" he asked, admiring their surroundings and realizing how beautiful nature is.
"Maybe we should try that pathway over there," Ethan answered.
They both stood up and began to walk along the trail. . Years have passed since anyone utilized these paths; one wonders what happened. The air was filled with the scent of pine and earth and beams of sunlight. As they walked, the path divided into many, endless paths.
Theo hesitated at the first fork, glancing at Ethan for guidance, "In which direction should we go?".
Ethan considered his options. "Let's go to the left. It feels right".
The forest didn't seem to end even after what felt like hours had passed. "Can we rest here for a while?" Ethan suggested sitting under a spruce, its branches stretched out like arms. Theo nodded, sitting next to him.
"Do we have any food? Theo turned to face Ethan and remarked, "I am starting to feel hungry." Theo added.
"We don't have any, we're going to die here." Ethan answered, laughing.
Theo gave him an eye roll.
For a while, they sat in silence, watching as the sky turned cloudy.
"I'll go and look for some berries," Ethan said, standing up and glancing back at Theo.
"Can I stay here? I'm tired," Theo replied, watching Ethan nod and leave. "And don't get lost," he added, shouting after him.
Ethan looked back with a smile. "I won't," he promised.
Ethan walked for about an hour, marking his path by placing leaves and twigs behind him so he could find his way back. Eventually, he stumbled upon an apple tree. Even better, he saw a road, indicating a village might be nearby. Filled with excitement, he picked as many apples as he could carry, hoping he would find his way back to Theo.
Just then, he felt a raindrop on his shoulder. "Great," he muttered. He started running back, but the wind picked up, blowing away the leaves and twigs he had used to mark his path. He ventured deeper into the forest, but soon realized he was lost. The rain intensified, soaking his clothes wet.
Theo soon felt the first raindrops and grew worried about Ethan. He's been away for too long, he thought. Concerned, Theo decided to try and follow Ethan's path, even though he had no idea which direction he had gone or how far away he was.
They both wandered the forest in desperation, calling out for each other as the rain soaked their clothes. The forest under the stormy sky seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions.
Ethan walked through the forest, watching the sunlight slowly set.. He had to find Theo while he could still see something. Every minute stuck alone in this forest felt like eternity he couldn't escape from. Ethan soon found a river that flowed through the forest. Luckily, the rain began to calm down a bit, so he got closer to the river and rummaged through the rocks at the bottom. He found a piece of brick he could use to guide Theo if he passed by. As he walked through the forest he left marks, using a piece of a brick he found. He marked some of the trees behind him with an arrow showing the way he went and 'E' as his inicial, hoping Theo would get it. "The forest can't be that big", he reassured himself.
Meanwhile, Theo was also wandering through the forest, calling out Ethan's name and looking for any signs of him. They both walked through the forest looking for each other, yet they were starting to feel hopeless. It was already getting dark, but at least it stopped raining.
As Ethan made his way through mud and dirt, suddenly, he slipped, rolling down a hill. He screamed in shock as he tumbled. His leg landed on a sharp rock, his whole body ached— especially the leg, yet he knew he had to keep going. He used a tree to help himself up, and after a few steps, he couldn't really feel any pain. But as he kept going, he started to feel a strong burning sensation in his leg. Ignoring the pain, he continued marking trees and searching for Theo.
Theo blamed it on himself, if he went with Ethan they wouldn't be lost now. As he walked along, he spotted one of Ethan's markings on a tree next to a river. "Ethan must've left that. I hope he did so," Theo muttered to himself, relieved that Ethan was okay. He forded the river. The river wasn't very deep, but the ends of his trousers got wet.
Ethan's leg pain had become unbearable. He couldn't continue anymore and sat down, realizing that blood was dripping from his leg. The pain intensified as he saw the wound more clearly. The forest was completely dark now, but Theo had the flashlight they brought. After what felt like hours of walking, he saw Ethan in the beam of the flashlight. Ethan immediately noticed the light and tried to stand up. Theo ran towards him, hugging him tightly when he reached him.
"Ethan!" Theo exclaimed, holding him tight. "I thought I was going to die here".
When Theo pulled away from the hug, the pain caused Ethan to collapse. Theo caught him, helping him sit down carefully.
"Are you okay?" Theo asked, his voice full of concern.
Ethan showed him his leg, and Theo gasped at the sight of the bleeding wound. He pulled out the water bottle they brought from their backpack.
"What are you doing," Ethan asked.
"Obviously helping you to survive. Hold that flashlight," Theo answered, handing Ethan the flashlight.
He poured some water on Ethan's leg using his hand to clean up the wound a bit. Ethan tried to not move, but the pain was insane. At least Theo's touch was gentle, so it didn't hurt as much. Then Theo took off his hoodie, using it as bandages.
"Use mine," Ethan insisted.
"No, it's alright" Theo protested and wrapped the hoodie around Ethan's leg.
"Okay like this?" he questioned, looking up at Ethan.
Ethan didn't have the strength to respond with words, so he nodded.
"I found some apples," he added.
"Really?" beamed Theo. "I am literally starving," he continued.
Ethan handed him an apple.
"I haven't eaten anything in years" Theo bit into the apple.
"Yeah, and I am talking to a ghost, right?"
They both laughed.
"What about if I climb up this tree? I could look from there to see if we're close to any village," Theo suggested.
"I forgot to tell you, but I've actually ran into a village on my way," Ethan answered.
"That means we could be close. I will look anyway," speculated Theo, pulling out the rope they brought from their backpack.
"Just be careful," Ethan insisted, reaching out his hand to Theo.
"I will, don't worry. Can you shine that flashlight on that tree for me, please" asked Theo, trying to wrap the rope around one of the highest branches of the tree. That didn't work, so he had to try another one that was quite lower. Eventually he did it. Theo looked back at Ethan and began to slowly climb up to the branch. Then he got to the end of the rope, he was about eight meters high.
"Theo, the tree is really high, don't climb further," Ethan became worried.
"I'll live," he called to Ethan, unwrapping the rope and throwing it on another branch that was higher.
"I think I have to jump, if I die-".
Ethan interrupted him, "You're not dying because I said so".
Theo gave him a smile from up there preparing to jump. As he jumped, Ethan got a strong ache in his leg that made him accidently turn the light away from Theo. He immediately turned it back on Theo. Luckily, Theo managed to grab the branch, but he was hanging there, unable to climb up.
"Theo!" Ethan shouted, worried.
"Hey, I joked before, but I think I am actually going to die," Theo shouted back, trying to pull himself up. "I don't have the strength to pull myself up".
Ethan stared at him trying to figure something out. But before he could, Theo's hand on the wet branch slipped.
"Theo!" Ethan repeated.
Fortunately, Theo managed to catch one of the branches as he fell, panting.
"I think enough climbing for now," Theo laughed as he sat on the branch. Climbing up this branch was easier because he could get a better grip than before.
"Can you get lower somehow?" Ethan questioned.
"I don't know, I can't reach the rope," Theo shivered, looking down. "Actually, I only know how to climb up, not down," he added.
"Are you serious?" Ethan cackled.
"Yeah," Theo rubbed his head.
"Try Jumping over there," Ethan pointed to a branch. "From there you can jump down easily," he continued.
"I can't," Theo looked down, scared.
"You can do it. Loser".
"Oh? Who's the one that can barely walk? You're calling me the loser?". He confidently jumped down on the ground without any further words.
Ethan observed him. "Yes, you are the loser," he smiled, relieved Theo made, though not making it evident.