Page 43

Footsteps reached the cabin porch. I dropped the rose and crawled under my bed and onto my stomach. Kaila and Sandy were across the cabin under the bunks and could see me. I slowly raised my finger to my lips, and they nodded.

The door knob to the cabin turned, and we watched as the door slowly creaked open.

I felt sick. The three of us watched as the masked person slowly stepped inside.

They were dragging the bloodied axe behind them and walked deeper into the cabin, searching.

The women’s eyes shot to me, and I knew they were terrified.

The masked person continued to walk further into the cabin before stopping at the window I left open. I hoped they’d assume we’d crawled through it and leave, allowing us enough time to escape.

That’s right. Take the bait.

The killer stood there for a moment and looked out the window.

Take the bait!

They eventually turned around and slowly walked back through the cabin and towards the door. I couldn’t help but smile.

Yes!

I watched them step past us, and my smile faded. Sandy was fidgeting with something. I tried to get her attention, but whatever it was, it was freaking her out. And then I realized what was happening. A large spider was crawling on her, and Sandy was terrified of spiders.

No. Don’t move!

I watched her squirm and try to swat it away as the plague doctor reached the cabin door and looked back one last time before they stepped out onto the porch.

Sandy couldn’t contain herself any longer and shot out from under the bunk.

She rolled onto her back and loudly freaked out, trying to get the spider off her.

Only once she looked up, it wasn’t the spider she found, it was the plague doctor.

Sandy screamed, and Kaila and I watched as the plague doctor slammed the axe straight into her chest. Blood began to pool around her body and pour from her mouth. She sobbed and gurgled, making all sorts of unnatural noises.

No.

My eyes burned from tears, and I looked across the way at Kaila.

She had both her hands covering her mouth as tears rolled down her face and she cried silently to herself.

She had to keep silent and watch as her best friend died in front of her.

My body trembled, and eventually, she looked over to me.

My finger shook and I once again placed it in front of my mouth, reminding her to keep quiet.

The plague doctor grabbed Sandy’s feet and walked backwards as they began to drag her from the cabin. Her blood trailed behind as her body remained limp with the axe still stuck in her chest. Kaila and I both held our breaths and waited until they left.

Kaila lowered her head and stayed there. I did the same. The two of us sat there for a good ten minutes before I heard Kaila move. My head snapped up, and she crawled from under her bunk.

“No,” I whispered. Kaila motioned for me to do the same. I shook my head. “We should wait longer,” I whispered.

Kaila quietly rushed over to me and helped me out from under the bed. “They’re gone, Aster.” Her eyes were red, and her face was streaked with tears. “It’s just us now.”

I pulled her into me and hugged her tightly. She cried quietly against me while I gently rocked her. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. We’re going to survive this. You will survive.” Kaila slowly began to gather herself. “And we’re not alone. Doug is back at the cafeteria.”

Kaila snorted and pulled away. “Of all people here to survive, it’s Dirty Doug.”

I smiled and nodded. “And you.” I wiped her tears and adjusted her glasses. She was being so strong, despite watching all her friends die tragically before her. I admired her bravery.

Kaila stood and grabbed my hand. “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered.

I nodded, and we began to walk towards the door.

I felt my pocket and realized I dropped the Sapling somewhere.

“Oh, one second.” I let go of Kaila’s hand and spotted the small handmade figure on the ground.

“There you are.” I quickly stuffed the eerie little thing into my pocket and followed Kaila to the doorway.

We both took a large, deep breath. Kaila stepped out into the darkness first. I couldn’t really see, but I heard a loud squelching sound and something splashed all over my face.

Something warm. “K-Kaila?” I whispered her name.

She didn’t respond. My hand slowly reached into one of my pockets, and I pulled out the small lighter from Willie’s room.

“Kaila?” I whispered her name again and flicked the lighter.

The flame burned, and I immediately noticed my hands.

They were covered in blood, as were my chest and face.

“Oh my God.” I looked up and stared straight into Kaila’s eyes.

She was standing in front of me, unable to speak, with an axe in her neck.

Blood soaked her body from the deep wound and seeped from her mouth and nose.

“Kaila!” Her eyes rolled, and she fell over and landed on top of Sandy’s body.

The plague doctor suddenly appeared and lunged at me. I bolted away just in time and sprinted from the cabin in the direction of the cafeteria. The masked killer quickly gained on me and tackled me to the ground. “No!” I screamed. My nails dug into the dirt, and I tried to break free. “No!”

The person whipped my body around and seized my neck as they began to choke me.

I kicked my feet and shouted through clenched teeth, but none of it mattered.

They only squeezed harder. “You cannot stop us,” they hissed.

“We only need one more!” My face burned and my head ached as I gasped for air.

My vision began to blur, and I didn't know how much longer I could fight.

I couldn't reach my scar, and I knew there was no one around.

So, I resorted to the one thing I thought would save me.

Sabbath. Please, help me.

“You may not be one of the chosen, but your blood will serve The Redwood.”

Sabbath. Please.

My eyes began to roll. “Sabbath.” I strained with my last breath.

I could hear footsteps and listened as something attacked the person choking me.

I couldn’t make out who or what it was, but suddenly, their hands released my neck and air surged through my lungs.

My eyes shot open as I gasped. I had to take a second to settle back into my body and regain the feeling in my limbs.

I looked around and noticed the plague doctor on the ground and another, the one with the all black mask, standing beside it.

“No,” I breathed as I crawled backwards.

The second plague doctor tilted its head and didn’t move.

“No!” I immediately scrambled to my feet and began to run away.

The cafeteria wasn’t far, and I needed to get inside.

I needed to get out of these fucking woods!