I breathe shallowly through my nostrils -- eyes focused straight ahead on the bend around the boulder. The sun has begun to peek above the horizon and so shadows from the trees now scatter along the edge of the brook. The lapping has stopped.
Whatever is on the other side of the boulder has yet to cross. The rising sun favours their direction. Their shadows -- should they approach, would fall behind them. Ours, should we stand, would fall towards them.
My right leg begins to cramp from the strain of my crouch, but I dare not adjust it. I wait. In silence. Seconds melt into larger chunks of time, and for a brief moment, I forget that Jim is behind me.
When the sun crowns the tops of the trees, Jim touches my shoulder but I dare not turn. The slightest sound from the shuffling pebbles underneath my feet could seal my fate.
I strain to hear any indication that the people or things on the other side of the boulder are our own -- but the air is silent.
And then -- a blood curdling scream -- like the one we heard earlier. Only this time, coming from just mere feet away.
A moment later a scurry of feet quickly gives way to some from our camp -- including Donna who immediately grabs my hand and runs as fast as she can, with the others, in the opposite direction.
"Wait!" I yell, and look to see if Jim is behind me. But he's not. He's still at the boulder.
"Jim!" I scream, as I struggle with Donna to free my arm from her.
"There's no time!" she tells me as she tightens her grip and yanks me deeper into the woods.
"Jim," I whisper. My voice is now gone.
With each step I am pulled further and further away. Away from the boulder, the scream, the brook, and Jim. Deeper, further into the woods -- towards the unknown.
"Jim," I cry. I can no longer hear the bubbling of the water.
I use all my will to muster up enough strength to yank my arm away from Donna. And as the others run ahead of us; I turn back -- towards Jim. Back through the forest and towards the sound of the brook.
I will not leave my friend -- not this time. No matter what the consequences.
