Abigail turns to Evelyn.
"I have no idea where she is, Abby," Evelyn says, frowning.
"Impossible," Abigail insists, worry clouding her eyes. "Em was here a moment ago." She looks around cautiously, her eyes flitting around. "What if she gets lost? Or she's kidnapped? Evelyn, we're in a forest!" exclaims Abigail, "we might never be able to see Em again." Tears brim her eyes.
"She's probably gone looking for wood with Via. Anyway, Via isn't back yet either, so why are you only worried about Emma?" Evelyn crosses her arms, raises an eyebrow. Abigail frowned. Olivia is Emma's sister, and Emma is hers.
"Because she didn't tell us wherever she was going! She's not like that." Evelyn scowls at her.
"Let's go look for them, then," Abigail declares, and marches off towards the forest.
"No! Hey, wait, Abby-" Evelyn starts, but she cuts off suddenly. Abigail turns and looks at her curiously. "What?"
"Did you hear that?" Evelyn drops to a whisper- her eyes dart around and sweat on her forehead reflects light from the faint moonlight. Her face turns pale. Abigail's heartbeats thump in alarm.
"Hear what? Evelyn, speak up."
"A scream, Abby. Someone screamed."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd been behind them, pretending to sleep in the tent, but I had silently listened to their conversation.
I crawl out of the tent. Evelyn and Abigail are nowhere to be seen. They've gone to look for Emma and Via. And now I'm all alone.
I don't want to be all alone.
I'm scared.
A hundred possibilities flash across my mind. Abby, Eve, Via, Em- kidnapped? Murdered? Lost? That was more likely. Well, Abby had a compass. They'll be fine, I tell myself, over and over, over and over. But the feeling that something bad will happen still worms in my stomach.
I get up. It has just rained- the air is crisp and cool, fresh, clear. I shove my hands in the pockets of my jeans. A nice day indeed. A nice night, I mean. I try to stay positive, telling myself that it's okay, they'll be back, they're fine, they're fine, they're fine, they're fine-
I don't know how long I've stood there, trying to convince myself. Ten minutes? Twenty? It's no use wasting my energy convincing myself any longer. Via wouldn't let them stay out this long. They're gone. And whatever got them is probably coming for me.
My breath comes in short, sharp gasps. Panicking. Panic. Fear. It's the only thing that exists now, just fear and me. No, I can't do this. Can't stand this. Stumbling, I stagger and collapse onto the grassy ground, shaking, sobbing.
I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die-
Panic attack, I tell myself. Breathe in, breathe out. Calm down. Calm down.
Being the youngest of the five, I've always been the most timid- the most protected, sheltered. I feel exposed with the wind clawing at my face, threatening to blow me away- a storm is coming. The first word that registers in my mind is
Run
I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die I'm going to die-
Before I escape into the tent, I get a glimpse of a glint, a sliver of metal reflecting sunrise's first rays, and I'm afraid to look closer, because I already know what it is.
It's the compass.
