Bug Crawler

Chapter Eighteen: Hide and Seek (Part Two.)

     Jack and I have been walking nonstop for some time now. Not that we've been almost caught during the game, but because we don't like staying in one spot together for so long. Like a barrier or awkwardness is being placed as we speak. 

    I'd try to talk- no word formulate.

    When he turns to look at me- I gaze elsewhere. 

    I'm starting to call bullshit of it all. All of this is not useful if we are right now STUCK TOGETHER. 

   I sighed with impatience as I slyly peer at Eyeless Jack. 

   Just stupid, I thought. It's not like he'd remember anything before we went back to the cabin. Maybe bits before drinking, but that might be it-- nothing more than that I hope.  I was still calculating the solution in my head, analyzing. 

    "Uh, Rhene? Rhene." Jack asked, or what I think he'd asked this. I wasn't listening at the moment. I was staring blankly at the in front of me for a while, I only responded when he tapped my shoulder.

   "Oh, now you say something?" I mocked with a question. He huffed, turning around again through the brushes.

   "Maybe if you listen, I might use the time to talk." He countered, sitting the bush swiftly, waving his hand for me to follow. I did the same, ignore his comment to sit on the other end. I sighed, looking a different way where he wasn't in my view. 

    " What is it?" I finally asked, turning back to him when he grumbles something. 

    "Shh, look." He shushes, as I follow his gaze to see Jeff and Sally searching around.

     I shook my head, " They'll find us in here." I whispered, grasping the situation. How they didn't hear us before is a miracle to me, barely a few feet away from the bush. I duck a tad lower, my elbow planted on the dirt while I shifted to sit criss-cross. 

    "If we keep talking, then yeah, they will." He concludes, crossing his arms as he waited patiently for them to- hopefully- leave. I was the one to huff this time, using the chance to tighten the mask. 

Just when I tried to, I found how close we were in the bush. It wasn't a large bush I like thought earlier, both of us an inch away. It was not even an inch since my arm grazes his; Jack not minding the small space. 

I stiffen, however.

 I should've noticed when trying to get comfortable, I thought angrily. I couldn't move elsewhere either, Sally being the closest would only get us caught. Knowing her range it wouldn't be hard for her to notice, but who said I can't at least try?

" Jack," I whispered, even quieter than before, " Do you think we could move? Like, more at this moment?"

 I wasn't okay with this, not one bit. Either we move or we lose the dumb game. I care less with the other option, not wanting to win it in the first place. I just wanted to have my space right now.

"What? No, we'll get caught." He said, surprised at my question. I grumbled, glaring at him.

"It won't matter, we can run before they can see or tag us," I mumbled, sitting up fully. He quickly grabbed my shoulder, suspending any other action I was going to make. 

"What are you doing? you'll get caught." He whispered hastily, but I growled, doing a quick motion to slap his handoff.

Which made the bushes rustle. 

"Uh oh." I realized, both of us turning to where Sally stared directly at us. I panicked slightly when she slowly walked, her gaze turning dark and more bloody.