I changed out of my swimsuit and shoved it into my bags. Wiping my face again, I wedged my feet into my shoes. This was a stupid thing to cry about. It was a dumb mistake. I shouldn’t have let it happen. When I saw Titus next, I’d apologize, and we’d figure something out. There was nothing to be upset about.

Taking out my phone, I checked the time. My dad was going to be furious. I wasn’t going to beat him back.

Walking to the forest edge, I looked around. Titus was the one that led the way. I was such an idiot for sending him away like that. I rubbed my face. I hurt him so bad.

I took a deep breath. I could do by myself. It shouldn’t be that hard to find my way back.

I started along the trail that led to the hot spring. I stumbled over the rocks and fallen trees. Reaching the top, I looked around. I chose the path that looked the most familiar and made my way down it.

It didn’t take long before the trees started looking all the same. If I could locate the clearing or even the fence, I could find my way out of here. Taking out my phone, I saw that I had been wandering around for nearly an hour.

“Damn it.” I sat down on a log and clutched my knees. I never should have left the hot pool. Titus would have came back eventually. Now I was lost and no one knew where I was at. I had to find my way back to the spring.

***

I stumbled down an embankment and slow to a stop at the side of a river. Scanning the area, I felt my chest tighten. Nothing looked right. I didn’t even remember a river. I climbed onto a boulder to get a better view.

“Titus!” I yelled. “Titus!” I searched the trees. “Titus, I’m sorry! Titus!” I sat down and hung my head. “Titus, I’m lost.” The tears ran from my eyes and dripped off my chin. “I’m so lost.”

It was starting to get dark. My dad would have called me in as missing, but they’d never think to look this far. I was on private ground. I shouldn’t even be here.

Taking out my phone, I stood and held it up. If I could just find a signal, I could call them. No matter which way I turned, my phone showed no bars. My foot slipped, and I dropped to my knees before I fell. My phone slipped from my hand. It tumbled through the rocks and splashed into the river.

“No!”

I cursed and slid down the rock. I hurried in after it and grabbed it. It turned on just long enough for me to see one bar before the battery died, and it power down.

“Damn it!” I throw it at the boulder, and it shattered. Running my hands through my hair, I bit my lip. I didn’t want to die out here. My parents probably wouldn’t even find my body.

A low growl sounded from the bank.

Holding my breath, I slowly turned my head. “Oh my god.” I staggered back to the rocks.

The red monster bared its teeth and stepped into the water.

I panicked and started the desperate climb to the top of the boulder. Reaching the top, I looked back. All I saw was a blur of red as the animal launched itself from the riverbed. I was sent flying through the air and landed on a sand bank.

Pain ignited from my shoulder. I screamed, clutching my arm. My skin was burning from the claw marks. A fire had been sent racing through my veins. It hurt to even breath. I rolled on the ground, struggling for air. The animal stomped on my head, and I felt the claws press into my skin. Closing my eyes, I stopped moving and waited for the end.

It’s cold tongue ran across my skin. I gasped. The pain dulled, and the animal drew back. Curling into a ball, I hug my arm to my stomach.

My jacket was removed, and something warm fell over me. I heard a ripping sound as my sleeves was torn. I tried to roll over, but they held me in place. Something was placed over my face, and I was lifted off the ground.

We started to move. I peeked through a small opening in the thick blanket to see the trees flying by. It was dark now, and the formed morphed into animal running along with us. Closing my eyes, I just wanted to go home, to be with my parents.

My mind slipped for what felt like a just a moment before I was jolted awake. The person set me on the ground and removed the blanket. Rolled to my side, I slowly sat up. My head was throbbing, and I was all alone.

“Aden!”

My head snapped around. “Here,” I coughed. “I’m here.” My throat hurt. Using a nearby tree as a support, I rose to my feet. I stumbled along toward the voices. “Mom,” I yelled, though it came out barely above a whisper.

“Aden!”

“Dad.” I stumbled to the ground.

A light shined on my face, and I reached up to shade my eyes.

“We found him! Over here! Quint, we found him!”

Figures ran toward me and helped me stand.

“Aden.” A large man ran out me and hugged me tightly. “I was so worried. Why did you run off like that.”

“Dad,” I hid my face in his chest, “I want to go home.”

He rubbed my back and helped me back to where the search party had gathered.

My mother ran to me with tears still in her eyes. She hugged me tightly and kissed my face. “Thank god, Aden. You’re safe.”

A blanket was put around me, and I was taken to my father’s truck. The back door was open, and he helped me inside. My mother slipped into the front. I glanced out the window, while my father thanked the other forest rangers, and saw someone standing in the trees. I rubbed my eyes.

“Do you need something honey?”

I nodded. “My head hurts.”

She dug through her purse and took out a pill container. She handed me two with a water bottle and brushed back my hair as I took them.

“We were so worried.”

“I’m sorry.”

She cupped my cheek. “Never wandered off like that again, Aden. I’ve never been so scared.”

“I won’t.” I leaned forward and hugged her. “I promise.” I glanced back and saw the man still standing in the trees.

The truck door opened, and my father climbed inside. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired.”

Nodding, he reached back and grabbed the back of my neck. He pulled me to him and kissed my forehead. “Get some sleep.”

“‘kay.” I looked to the window one last time. The man was gone now. He might not have even been there to begin with. With all that had happened, I didn’t know what to consider real.

Bunching up a blanket in the backseat, I laid my head on it and closed my eyes. I just wanted this day to be over, and never see one of those demons again.