Chapter 3
Mia
Cool air pulled on my hooded cape as I stomped through the forest. Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to party so far in? It was like civilization took a back seat around here.
I felt like I was the real Little Red trying to find her way to her grandma’s house. The deeper I went in, the more I felt out of place and alone. So alone. For the first time in thirty hours, I missed Jack, and that was saying something.
At least with him here I wouldn’t be alone. That’s why you kept him around, that voice whispered gleefully. Sighing, I started walking faster.
I felt eyes on me like someone was watching me. I paused and scanned the forest and saw nothing but darkness. Laughing at my stupidity, I started walking again.
You’re just paranoid, I told myself. That voice cackled a little louder, and I gave it the three fingers. Read between the lines, bitch, I tell it.
After a few more minutes my heart was ready to come flying out of my chest. Then I heard it, the most beautiful sound. People laughing. I quickened my pace and rushed through the tree line and into a campground.
Slowly I backed up, but my feet crunched on some twigs and dry leaves. I froze, but my red cape stood out like a beacon or a flame in the dark.
The sound had a few people turn towards me while they oddly tilted their heads. Almost animal like. I laughed inside my head at my overactive imagination.
Fuck, have I entered some sort of cult? Really, didn’t you just go over this? That damn voice grumbled. Oh, shut it already! I snarled back at it.
I definitely wasn’t in Kansas anymore. And this sure as fuck wasn’t my party. My feet started to move again on the dry ground. The leaves crunched under my black hard-soled boots. My cape caught on a few small twigs that looked like little trees.
Everyone continued to watch me. It was eerily quiet, and no one made a move or said a word. It was seriously creepy.
I turned and ran like my life was depended on it. Who the fuck knew, maybe it did. Grabbing my phone from my right back pocket, I clicked on Stella’s name.
“Bitch, where are you?” Stella asked in a slightly slurred voice.
“In the twilight zone!” I tell her. My voice came out in puffs as I ran faster. I was trying to put a good amount of space between me and whatever I had stumbled on. My lungs were screaming as they fought for air.
“Do we need to send a rescue team?” She asked with a laugh.
“Maybe,” I huffed.
The trees were blurring, and my lungs felt ready to explode. I needed a break, and I also needed air. Then I heard the most beautiful sound, laughter, and this time it was for real. I knew those sounds.
I crashed through the tree line and came into a clearing filled with my friends and few people that I didn’t recognize. Stella still had her phone to her ear, and it looked like she was still holding a conversation with me. Slowing to a walk, I came closer to her.
My chest was heaving painfully. My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest and my legs screamed out in discomfort.
I paused, leaned over, and took deep fortifying breaths. My hands were on my knees as my body shook from the adrenaline and exhaustion.
My eyes went back to Stella who looked to be talking shit to me, even though I wasn’t even on the other side of the line anymore. I was only ten or so feet away from her.
I laughed, I couldn’t help it. Then, a red Solo cup was thrust in my direction. I turned and looked at Matt as he gave me a smile. Taking the cup, I turned my attention back to Stella. She was still talking on the phone. That one-sided conversation must have been a good one.
I loved Matt, he was like my older brother. Growing up together kind of dampened any urges to be anything more than family.
Casting my eyes back towards Matt, I was ready to thank him, but he had moved on. Straightening up, I continued to keep taking deep breaths.
“Stella!” I shouted.
I watched in amusement as she squealed and dropped her phone.
‘Bitch!” She shouted as she bent over and almost toppled over in an attempt to collect her phone. I placed the cold cup to my lips and tipped it back slightly taking a deep fortifying gulp of the bitter liquid. Beer never tasted so good.