ANNABELLA’S POV
At first, I thought it was insane walking in a forest with a map, but after my group and I discovered one treasure, I became overwhelmed with the whole thing. We didn’t know what was inside yet but I was excited and couldn’t wait to discover more.
I was lucky my group was made of two boys and a girl plus me. ” Bella.” I stopped when we got to a junction with two roads ahead.
” The map ends here,” I told the other girl; her name was Amanda, and she seemed nicer than she appeared. ” Does that mean we stop here?” One of the boys asked, and I learned his name was Brooke; he seemed to be very close to Amanda, and I think I had seen him in the school a couple of times, not like Amanda, whom I had just met. Most of the students I saw today on the field weren’t familiar, and I guess that was because Rivers was huge, with quite a number of wolves attaining education.
” Let me check.” The other boy named Hens collected the map and, after looking at it closely, he shoved it back to me.” We should head back.” His eyes met mine before lazily turning on his heels.” We can’t return with only one treasure.” Amanda scolded and I didn’t see anything wrong with what she said.
None of us was wolf-less, and besides, the school might have forgotten to draw the map longer. ” Don’t tell me you will go that far for a stupid prize.” Hens chuckled, and I thought he was being rude. ” Do you seriously think there is anything in that place?” He asked, turning to walk back. ” Bella, you are the group leader; whatever you say is what we will do,” Amanda said, and Hens halted in his step as if he just had a change of mind. ” I think you are right. Let’s go a bit further, and if we don’t find anything, then we return.” I said feeling Hen’s gaze on me.
I have never spoken a word or two to him, even though I see him in school often, especially around Wade Jackson.
I put the map in my pocket and led the path. It was a small forest path that led to only the goddess knows where.
We walked for a few minutes, and Amanda started to complain about her feet.
And Brooke, being the good boyfriend, carried her at his back like a little girl.” You guys are….”
” A couple?” Amanda asked with a smile but that wasn’t what I meant to ask. ” We are.” She replied happily and I wondered if her feet hurt like she said.
” You are beautiful.” she suddenly said, and I turned back to look at her.” Thank you.” I replied, and I heard her murmuring something about Wade. I didn’t catch that one and I didn’t care.
We resumed our search; the treasure we found was with Amanda; it was a small yellow box with Jo’s traces of what could be inside.
” I think we should stop here so Brooke can rest for a while,” I said, pulling my water bottle from my bag to have a sip. The sun was going down, and the path seemed to be a never-ending route.” Thank you, Bella, you will make a great Luna.” Amanda commented and I gave my head a little shake. Was that even necessary?
I finished the water and shoved the bottle into my bag.
” You and Wade make a good couple.” She commented, her words leaning a frown on my face.
” There is nothing like me and Wade.” I clarified, but Amanda did not seem to believe me; she murmured something under her breath that I didn’t want to hear. ” Let’s keep going.”
Brooke resumed carrying Amanda at his back as I led the path ahead. After walking for a few more minutes, I suggested we head back and everyone agreed.
As we turned to head back, a loud growl resounded from a distance. ‘Rogue ‘ Eve growled in my head as everyone else stared around.” I think we are out of Rivers territory.” Brooke said, and Amanda’s eyes widened. ” Does that mean we are in the D zone?” Amanda panicked.” What is D zone?” I asked because it was my first time hearing it and Hense chuckled.” It’s the part of the forest that is inhabited by rogues.” Brooke explained, and suddenly, another terrifying growl wailed in the air, distracting the forest’s peace.
” I think it’s coming this way.” Amanda whispered, the four of us kept quiet as if confirming her words.’ They are coming.’ Eve said, and I felt bills rising in my throat.
They?
” We should just go,” Amanda said but none of us was moving a step. My body felt like it had frozen because I couldn’t find my feet like I wanted. ” Bella.” Hense grabbed my arm and I immediately returned to reality. ” We have to go.” He said, and I stared at Amanda, who was clenching onto Brooke in fear. ” Come on. Wade won’t let me off if something happens to you.” I heard him whisper as he pulled me with him.
The growl seemed to have stopped, but we were running in the woods with Amanda and Brooke behind us.
I didn’t know if I was scared or shocked; the D zone seemed to be a scary place, considering how scary the forest looked. How come I didn’t think about it?
Eve could have sensed them but she didn’t.’ I tried to tell you but you shut me up.’ Eve said and I shut my eyes. It was my fault.’ I’m sorry.’ I told her in regret. I wished I had never shut her up. Maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess.
I could hear Amanda screaming behind us. Her terrifying cry resounded in the forest.
I came to a sudden stop at the edge of a cliff.” Stop!” I yelled to get them to stop, I was a step away from falling over.
The clot didn’t seem like a joke.
” I think we missed the path.” I said and Amanda’s eyes widened.” No, no, no, this can’t be good.” She shook her head, her hand tightened around Brooke’s neck as if trying to choke him to death.
” Calm down, Amanda, and let’s figure out something,” I said as I ran my hands through my hair. ” There is no service,” Brooke said and Amanda let out a cry. ” We are going to die.”
” What?” I frowned. I understood rogues were dangerous creatures, but wasn’t it too early for her to accept defeat? ” We shouldn’t have run, ” I whispered; maybe we wouldn’t be in the deepest part of the forest if we hadn’t. ” I think we will be okay if we make it to the main road,” Hense said and I stared curiously at him.
” How do we do that?”
” We just have to take that path and make our way to the road. ” I turned my head in the direction of his gaze. ” No, we won’t make it, ” Amanda strongly objected, her eyes filled with tears.” Doesn’t that road lead to the highway?” I asked and Hense nodded. The highway was a few miles away from the Turners pack, so we could make it if we got out of the forest.
” It’s a lot of walk from there to the highway.” Brooke spoke calmly and I chewed the inside of my lips.’ Rogue’ Eve said.
” Rogue.” I murmured, and both Hense and Brook turned back only to find a stinking-looking rogue standing with its mouth opened and its teeth bearing us. Low growls pour out of its mouth. ” Don’t make a step back,” Hense warned as I was about to step back, forgetting I was standing at the edge of the cliff.
” It’s going to attack us.” Amanda cried out, her hand covering her mouth as she started to make a run, but I was fast to grab her arm.” It’s dangerous to be out there by yourself, ” I told her, and she nodded; her whole body was shaking as something was weighing on her.
” Brooke be careful!” Amanda yelled when the wild animal launched at Brooke, who was standing in front of me with Amanda by my side.
Brook immediately shifted into his gray wolf, leaving his clothes in shreds on the ground as I unconsciously pulled Amanda into my arms.
The two animals battled on the group for close to five minutes before we saw no movement between the two. Brooke was on the ground while the rogue was on top of him, ” Brooke.” Amanda’s terrifying voice broke the silence.” Brooke, are you okay?” She asked, making her way forward.” Brooke, are you okay?” She asked when a growl came from Brook’s wolf followed by movement.
The rogue fell off him, and Brookes’s wolf got up from the floor. His eyes shifted from me to Amanda; blood was gushing out of his arm, and I could tell he wasn’t feeling good.
Rogues were infected animals, Could he be infected?
‘ We can care for him,’ Eve said, and I asked her how because he seemed badly injured. ” We need to get him to a hospital; he is hurt,” Amanda pleaded as she turned to look at me, and I turned to look at Hens.
” Brooke please stay with me.” She knelt beside his wolf, which was currently lying on the cold groups.
A loud growl echoed in the air and I stared up at the shaking trees.” They are coming.” Amanda said, her eyes filled with tears and terror at the same time.
” I can heal him,” I said and both Amanda and Hens moved their gaze to me.