The Rush

Chapter 11- Forest

When I heard Dylan's voice I snapped out of it and focused even more on running. Patuloy lang kami sa pagtakbo sa masukal na kagubatan. The sound of the dead leaves and twigs, and our breaths are the only ones we could hear.

Ilang saglit pa ay saka ko lamang napansing wala na ang mga kapatid ko sa harapan namin. Maging si Christine ay hindi ko na makita. Ako, si Dylan, at Chelsea nalang ang tumatakbo sa kagubatan.

When Dylan noticed that too, his pace started slowing down. Sabay kaming napahinto ni Chelsea nang huminto si Dylan sa pagtakbo. We simultaneously looked around. The surroundings are so dark, but we can still make out some trees that seemed to be dancing because of the wind. Our eyes seemed to adjust to the darkness.

"Asan na sila?" I asked, crying. Natatakot ako. Ayokong pati sila mawala sa akin. Ayoko na ulit mawalan pa. I don't know where they are! "Aki! Anne! Aris-"

"Shh! Shh! Let's just go and find them. Don't shout." Dylan stopped me, whispering and holding my hand tighter.

I was still crying while looking around. Where are they? What happened to them? Okay lang ba sila? May nangyari ba? Nasaktan ba sila? Nagkahiwalay din ba sila? What if-

Dylan stopped my pessimistic thoughts. "Hey, hey. Look at me. Aika, look at me. Ayi!" I finally glanced at him when he called me by my nickname. His left hand is holding my chin up, forcing me to look him in the eyes. His other hand was busy wiping my tears, but they kept on flowing so he sighed. Nakatayo lamang sa gilid niya si Chelsea at nakahawak sa dulo ng damit niya habang nag-aalalang nakatingin sa akin.

"We will find them, okay? We'll go find them. Just stay with me. I got you, okay?" I was just staring at his eyes while he was talking. Parang kinukumbinsi niya akong paniwalaan siya, and for some reason, I believed him. I believe in him. I trust him. I nodded and tried so hard to stop crying.

Right. Dylan's with me. I shouldn't be afraid. We all lived together in that bunker for about a month, and I know that I can trust him. I know he would keep us safe. At alam ko ring gagawin niya ang lahat makita lang namin ulit ang mga kasamahan namin.

We continued wandering through the forest, walking now. I was holding his right hand with my left hand, my other hand is holding one karambit. I lost the other one while we were running. On his left hand, he's holding Chelsea, who was still sniffling. I forced myself to stop crying so Chelsea would stop crying as well. I want her to think that everything will soon be all right.

We stopped in our tracks when we heard something. It sounded like someone stepped on dead leaves and twigs. The three of us glanced at each other when we started hearing groans and realized that it was coming from the foxes.

"Shh, dito," Dylan hushed us. I felt and heard his voice tremble. I know that he's scared too, but he's trying his best not to show it. He's trying to be strong for me and Chelsea.

Dylan immediately pulled me and Chelsea towards a huge tree. Mabuti na lamang ay may isang sanga itong abot ko naman. I immediately climb it, my adrenaline rush taking over my system. Malalaki at mukhang matitibay ang mga sanga kung kaya't hindi ako natakot na akyatin ito. When I climb the first branch, I immediately reach my hand out to get Chelsea.

She was still trembling when she grabbed my hand and climb up. She immediately hugged me, afraid of falling. I can only imagine the trauma that this disaster could bring to a kid like her. I suddenly remembered my little brother. Kung natatakot ako, ano pa kayang nararamdaman ngayon ng bunso namin? I embraced Chelsea tightly when I started crying again upon remembering my family.

I looked down at Dylan and reach my hand out to help him climb up, but he just shook his head. I cried even more while shaking my head when I understood what that meant.