“What should we do now, sir?” asked Emily in a trembling voice, worry clearly reflected on her face. “Are we going to be stuck here again until the evening?”
“Calm down, Em,” Daniel exclaimed irritably.
Daniel pondered for a moment, trying to find a solution in this difficult situation. His gaze drifted towards the chair in the living room. In desperation, Daniel realized the chair might be a useful tool for opening the door.
Quickly, Daniel picked up the chair and carried it to the door.
“What are you going to do?” asked Emily curiously. But Daniel chose not to answer Emily’s question, so that he could stay focused on the task before him.
Carefully, Daniel tried to lift the chair with difficulty and brought it closer to the door. He positioned the chair in such a way as to facilitate his efforts to break down the door.
Daniel tried to push the chair with all the strength he had. He tried to use every bit of strength left in Emily’s body.
Clattering and hissing sounds echoed in the old room. After just one attempt, Daniel felt the exhaustion and weakness in Emily’s body that he was occupying. The physical limitations of being trapped in Emily’s body frustrated him.
“This will not work,” Daniel muttered under his breath.
“Excuse me, sir. Do you need my help? Maybe with your body, the door can open more easily?” Emily tried to offer help.
Daniel was silent for a moment, realizing that maybe Emily could contribute meaningfully to this situation, since she was currently in his body.
“Let’s do it together,” Daniel said.
Daniel led the way, using Emily’s body strength to push the chair more firmly. Emily eagerly gave all her strength to help with this endeavor. They collaborated with great cohesion and togetherness.
The clattering and hissing sounds grew louder, reflecting their increasingly intense efforts. Beads of sweat ran down their faces, but they did not give up. Finally, with a concerted effort, the door gave its final fight and opened with a thunderous sound. Daniel and Emily were relieved to see the door wide open in front of them.
“We did it, sir. We did it!” exclaimed Emily enthusiastically.
Emily felt happy and grateful for their success. She immediately hugged Daniel tightly without realizing what she was doing. Daniel, surprised, felt the warmth and tenderness in Emily’s embrace. In that moment, time seemed to stop spinning between the two of them, as if their souls had returned to their respective bodies. But the moment was short-lived, as Emily soon realized her actions.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Emily said in a slightly shaky voice. Embarrassed, she released her embrace and took a few steps back.
They both felt awkward, not knowing what to say after that moment.
However, then Daniel broke the silence, “Let’s get out of here,” he called out, which only got an affirmative nod from Emily.
The bright sunlight greeted them, giving off a golden touch that glowed behind the lush trees of the forest. However, the breathtaking beauty of nature could not hide the tension in Emily and Daniel’s hearts as they stepped out of the door of the old house.
Their steps halted for a moment. Emily looked around, searching for the whereabouts of their driver, who was supposed to be waiting outside. However, there was not a single trace of the driver.
“What about this, sir? It looks like the driver has left us both here.” Uncertainty crept into Emily’s heart, and panic set in. Tears fell slowly down her cheeks. Fear and anxiety filled her mind.
“Calm down, Em. We just have to focus on getting out of this forest. That’s the most important thing right now,” Daniel said while looking at Emily, who was trying to hold back her sobs.
Daniel used his fingers to massage his furrowed mid-brow. “Right now we both need to stay calm and there’s one thing you need to remember…” his words trailed off as he stared intently at his own tear-filled face.
“Please don’t show your weak side by using my face. Do you understand?” said Daniel in a sarcastic tone.
“I understand, sir,” Emily replied.
After hearing Emily’s answer, Daniel stepped away from Emily, who was still silent, unmoving.
Emily looked at Daniel with a look full of disappointment. “Why do I have to be trapped in his body right now? I’m so unlucky,” she muttered softly, holding back her tears that were about to come out again.
“Until when do you want to stand there?” a familiar voice broke Emily’s reverie, making Emily rush after Daniel.
With their minds still full of unanswered questions, they both stepped outside. Their steps continued to tread the mossy and rocky ground, searching for the exit they hoped for.
Daniel tried hard to remember every inch of the road they had traveled last night, hoping to find a clue that would lead them to safety.
“What’s going to happen to us, sir? Are we going to be trapped in this forest tonight?” Emily said in a weak voice, her gaze drifting around the forest that increasingly felt like an endless maze.
“We have to at least try to not give up, or we’ll die here,” Daniel said with determination, though he also doubted his heart.
However, their efforts to find a way out were always in vain. There were no signs of life around them, and they lost their cell phone signals without a trace. They couldn’t open a map or seek outside help.
The empty feeling in Emily and Daniel’s stomachs became more and more real with every step they took. They felt a thirst and hunger that grew to haunt them as time passed. Although they tried to ignore the feeling, their bodies grew weaker and more tired.
“Are you hungry?” Daniel asked Emily.
“Hungry, sir,” Emily replied in a weak voice, feeling the hunger pangs getting the better of her.
Daniel nodded, understanding the situation they were in. “Well, we’d better find something we can eat or drink first,” Daniel said.
They both searched carefully around them, looking for signs of food and water sources. After a while, Daniel’s lips etched into a smile as he found some fruits growing around the forest. He examined the fruits carefully, making sure that they were safe for consumption.
“We should rest first while filling our stomachs,” Daniel suggested.
Emily and Daniel finally sat down under the shade of the lush trees. The forest air was cool and humid, providing a bit of coolness amid their exhaustion. They enjoyed the fruits found by Daniel and ate them gratefully. The sweet and fresh taste of the fruits brought relief to their empty stomachs.
“At least for now, we can survive,” Daniel said in a weak voice after they finished eating.
“Come on, let’s continue our journey,” Daniel said. They both got up from their seats and continued their journey.
After walking for a while, Emily and Daniel found a river that flowed smoothly in the middle of a dense forest. The dim twilight reflected the beauty of the calmly flowing water.
“There’s a river there, sir. Oh my,” Emily said with excitement on her face. She squatted on the bank, letting her hands touch the fresh water. Her face etched into a smile as she felt the cool water touch her skin.
Daniel also joined Emily by the riverbank, feeling the delicacy of the water flowing through his palms. It felt so fresh, providing relief after the tiring journey.
“Oh, my gosh, it’s so fresh,” Emily said with admiration.
“Are we going to make it out of this forest, sir?” asked Emily, her voice filled with doubt and worry.
“Of course,” Daniel exclaimed firmly. “What are you thinking? We will not die here. Now stand up. We have to continue our journey back before it gets dark.”
Emily stood up hesitantly, her heart still filled with fear. However, without realizing it, she stepped too close to the slippery edge. Her foot slipped, and with a sudden shock, she fell into the river.
“Emily!!!”