Chapter 47 - Mountain Climbing

"You are welcome! Just tell me if you need help ah," she said. Even I was not looking at her, I knew that she was smiling. Kaede changed in a good way. We saw that she learned how to smile and talk to people around her often. Maybe those were because she finally felt that she was finally belonged in a group. Maybe that was what she really needed.

"Okay," I replied.

I never expected that she would tap my shoulder. It seemed that it was her way of telling me that she was just there for me. Then, she left me and went back to where Maybelle was. After few minutes, I finally had the face to look at her. Despite of what I did to her, she still cared for me. Kaede did nothing but to be herself and I did nothing but to hate her. I became ruthless to her even she did not deserve it. Deep inside me, I was really sorry. But I could not say it loudly. And it was because my pride was still fighting as it was trying to pull back my realizations. Should I raise a white flag or continue the war that I started?

We got up and continued walking when Lura finally said that she was done resting. Based on my estimation, we could reach the peak of the mountain after six hours of walking. But since there was no exact path through the forest, it became more difficult for us to reach our its peak. In fact, it was a dense and a virgin forest. There was no trace of illegal logging or any destruction. I heard people believed that demons went to live in Mt. Head that was why some were really afraid to climb it. But I did not believe what they believed in.

It was a good thing that we had boys with us. They were the ones who made sure that we could find a way to reach the peak of the mountain. I heard some sounds produced by crickets and birds along the way. But what crept me out was the owl croaking as it seemed to scream bad omen. However, I did not let my fears to be noticed by anyone. And to my disappointment, no one seemed to mind the creepy sounds that the owl was making. I knew that I did not have any right to express my opinions, so I kept quiet.

It was almost another thirty minutes when the light started scattering as the sun started showing up and rising. It gave me a relief knowing that it would be much easier for us to find a way. While walking, almost everyone was talking about different matters except me. Dego was talking to Lura, Zen to Marc, Maybelle to Kaede, and vice versa. I did not want to join any talk since I was just an extra in the scene.

Three hours passed and I could tell that we were almost in the middle of the forest and the trail was getting complicated. It was a lofty and perilous mountain after all. Some parts of the mountain were slimy that could make you slip and break your leg. The stones were sharp and there were times that we needed to hold on some hanging vines to walk safely above them. It was annoying when no one complained about how hard it was to reach the peak of Mt. Head and that we should go back instead. If I were to choose between continue or go back, I would rather choose going back. I would not get anything from climbing the mountain. Climbing it would just give me pains to my whole body. Zen said that it would be priceless and worth it when you finally saw the view of the whole town when you were at the peak. But it did not make any difference. I still did not want to climb Mt. Head if only I had a choice.

We were all gasping for air when Lura called for a short break again. But instead of sitting on the ground again, she told Zen and Kaede to accompany her because she needed to pee. While Zen told Maybelle to just stay with us because I would be alone with the boys if she would also come with them. It was a wrong idea when Maybelle agreed to Zen’s suggestion.

Minutes had passed but something was bothering me. I was not sure of what Zen and Lura would do with Kaede that was why I told Maybelle, Marc, and Dego that I also needed to pee even I really did not need to. Fortunately, they just nodded and let me go without any interrogation included. I walked casually towards where the three girls went. But I ran when I was sure that they could not see me anymore as I was far enough from them. I needed to find Zen, Lura, and Kaede. I did not know, but I suddenly had a bad feeling about them. Different thoughts disturbed my focus big time. I could not help it because I was panicking, and my hands were trembling so bad. I was convincing myself that it was so wrong to think that something bad happened, but what I felt was really different. I never felt that kind of feeling before. I got frightened to the point that I wanted to have wings to easily find and rescue them. Yes, I had an idea that they would mislead Kaede, but I could not explain why I felt too much tension. I was like an airhead. I came to the point that I did not even thought of myself. I did not care even I would get lost in the middle of the forest as long as I would be able to find them. There were times that I almost got stumbled and fell because of some stones on my way that I failed to notice. That was because I really made haste to get there on the place where they were. Every second counts.

I got tired of running that I automatically sat down on the ground behind a big tree with thick branches and leaves. And that was the moment when I heard two people talking to each other. I kept quiet and tried the best I could to hide myself.

"See, it's so easy to get rid of her HAHAHAHAHA!" It was Zen who was talking and laughing, I knew that dreadful laugh.

"Shhh. They might hear you," Lura uttered nervously. They were going back to where they left us.

"Tsss. Don't be so paranoid. We didn't kill her."