This was not how it was meant to be, not in the least. This was not their first time either, but they didn't have the faintest idea of the fate that awaited them.
The trio of friends hadn't all been together in months due to Allen's practice as a football agent. So, when Allen was forced to take a mandatory leave, Jason and Murphy were not going to let it all pass without one camping.
As they hiked towards the forest, Jason made a note of Murphy's overly stuffed bag. "What's with your bag?" Why is it so always full? He asked. He likes to be prepared for everything. I will bet he has in that bag, his tent, food, water, first aid medicines, and a satellite phone at the very least, Allen replied.
Better safe than sorry, Murphy said. There's nothing beautiful about camping if you do not get into all of the natural settings men. You have got to eat what the forest provides, dine on its juices and dessert on its nuts, Jason retorted. Soon enough, they were at the fringes of the forest. Allen drew a long breath and exclaimed, you smell that? That's the smell of pure unadulterated nature's design, he said. Let's do this, Murphy replied.
They had been walking through the twist and twines for over an hour when Jason first took note of the lighting of the forest. Is it me or does the forest canopy seem to be blocking out all the light? He asked. Look at the time, it's barely noon.
Image Source: www.unsplash.com
Maybe your ancestors have got plans for you today, Allen joked. With a seeming chorus, the crickets chirped and the birds went into a song frenzy. As the twigs and dry leaves rustle and break underneath their feet, they were intent on going further before making a camp. As they got in between the flurries of Acacia trees, Jason made out what must have been a silhouette of an aged woman for a second beyond the Acacia treeline. One microsecond it was there and the next, it was not.
For some weird reason, the birds, the crickets and the wolves in the whole forest were singing in harmonious unison. Murphy took note of it this time. Somehow, the atmosphere of the forest seems to have become eerie.
The leaves rustled just ahead and Allen pulled out his gun. Just as soon as he did, an antelope darted away. As he aimed to shoot, Jason rebuked him; we hunt after setting up camp, and that antelope is still a baby anyways. Save your hunting prowess for the big guys, he said. Here's good a spot as any, Murphy said. Soon enough, they were all set up. "I'm going to get some fruits first. You dicks can start getting ready for hunting" Allen said.
Allen had been gone over an hour, the forest was crawling with all kinds of reptiles, on the floor and the branches. It was not like him to take that long to get his fruits. A further hour and the other guys went to look for him. It's unlike him to lose his way, Murphy remarked. When he got no response, he turned around to find that Jason was not behind him, just a stag, standing there and staring right at him. He could have sworn he saw the outline of a wicked smile on that stag's face. Jason was panicking now.
With a rustle, Jason turns around to find Allen standing there with his back to him. Hey Allen, where the hell have you been? We have been looking for you. Allen began to walk towards him, but with his back. Why are you walking like that? Almost on cue, Allen's neck did a 180° turn and what Jason saw was a mangled face. He screamed and ran back the way he came. On getting to the camp, he entered a tent and zipped himself in, only to turn around and find a chopped Murphy.
He quickly search for his phone, but there was no service. He searched for Murphy's satellite phone, and by some mystery, the satellite phone failed. He got out of the tent and run for dear life. The forest was dark now, like an abandoned tunnel, but after running for over three hours and seemingly going in circles, he could see what was a light, which only meant civilization or other people at the least.
He redirected his run in that direction. Just as he was at the fringes of the forest, a force hit him and he went flying. He woke up later to find himself tied to a stick hung over what would soon be a fireplace, with Murphy and Allen standing with a host of other people. What he did see though in that position was that all these people were standing with their heads. Right there and then he knew, he was going to die right there.
