The night air bit into my skin, the thin clothes I was dressed in doing little to keep the chill away. The ground beneath me was slick from the rain, sharp with sticks and jagged stones, but I didn't stop. Pain meant nothing if it meant getting away. I walked for hours, the darkness stretching endlessly around me. My body was weak, exhaustion dragging at my limbs, but I forced myself forward. When dawn finally painted the sky in soft hues of pink and orange, I was barely standing. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, my throat dry and aching. I needed water. Then, like a call I couldn't ignore, I heard it—the soft rush of a waterfall. Hope surged through me, pushing me forward. When I reached the lake, relief nearly brought me to my knees. The water was crystal clear, cascading into the pool below. I didn't hesitate. I tore off my dress and waded in, shivering as the water lapped at my skin. Then, I drank. The cool liquid filled my mouth, soothing my raw throat. But it wasn't just that—I could feel it, absorbing into me, a strange, almost supernatural sensation. For the first time since waking, I felt alive. After what felt like an eternity, I stumbled back onto the bank. My body was dry almost instantly, warmth lingering beneath my skin. What is happening to me? I put on my dress and sat against a tree, my body finally giving in to exhaustion. My eyes fluttered closed, and before I knew it—sleep took me.
Day 2, the berry bush.
A rustling sound jolted me awake. I shot up, heart hammering, only to find… a rabbit. It sniffed at me curiously, unfazed by my sudden movement. I let out a breath, reaching out to pat its soft fur. At least something in this world wasn't trying to kill me. But I couldn't stay here. With a sigh, I stood, brushing myself off. The forest stretched endlessly, but I kept moving. Hours passed, my hunger grew unbearable, my body weak, but I was somehow always able to find water. My stomach twisted uncomfortably, either from the stagnant water I drank or the ever-gnawing hunger. As I walked, I stumbled upon a berry bush. My stomach did joyful flips at the sight. What was that saying my dad always told me? If the birds eat it, it's okay for me to… right? Is that what he said? I wish I had paid more attention when I was out hunting with him. Oh well, it won't kill me, right? My stomach answered that question for me. It didn't care. I just needed food. I picked the reddish-purple berries and carefully put one in my mouth. It tasted really bitter. I wanted to spit it out, but I needed to know. Minutes passed after eating the berry, and I felt fine. I grabbed handful after handful, stuffing them in my mouth. Red juice dripped from my mouth, staining my face and clothes. Tears welled in my eyes as I fought past the bitter flavor. My stomach growled for more, but I had picked the bush clean. I licked my fingers clean and sat down, leaning against a tree. I stared out at the blue sky above and watched the clouds roll overhead. My eyes drooped from exhaustion, and I let them. I lay down, letting sleep overtake me.
I awoke just a few hours later, sweat dripping down my forehead, soaking into my clothes. My stomach lurched and twisted painfully. A loud groan escaped me as I clutched my abdomen, curling in on myself. I tried to go back to sleep, but a wave of nausea slammed into me. I barely had time to uncurl before a bright red, chunky liquid spewed from my mouth. My body convulsed with dry heaves, over and over, until another round of poisoned berries came up, burning my throat. Shivering from the cold, I hugged myself, my sweat-drenched clothes clinging uncomfortably to my skin. I retched again, but this time, nothing came except bile. A whimper slipped from my lips as I collapsed onto the ground. The nausea didn't fade—it crashed over me like a massive tidal wave, dragging me under. Hours passed, and I slowly felt up to walking again. I needed water. I stumbled around looking for my next source of water.
Day 3, Relentless Rain
The night sky shone slightly as the sun cast its first light upon the forest. I still hadn't found water. My mouth was dry, my throat ached from the acid. Nausea, however tame, still lingered in the pit of my stomach. I walked slow. My feet had gone numb from the cold. They left behind a trail of blood as I walked. I shivered slightly, my sweat-soaked body being hit with the frigid wind. Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the soft sprinkle of rain feathered down onto me. As the rain picked up, my whole body became more numb. The wind whipped the fabric of my dress around my knees. My hair, a tangled, matted mess, clung to my face as I searched for shelter. I pushed through the wind and finally stumbled on a large fallen tree. I curled up against the rotting trunk. At least it would keep the wind off of me. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the rain would cease. I sat up and cupped my hands together, forming a bowl. I let the rain pound into my hands until there was a small puddle. I smiled slightly, bringing my hands to my lips. I tipped my head back, and the water rushed into my mouth, soothing the burning ache. But it wasn't enough. I needed more. Just like at the lake, my body felt alive—like it was soaking in the rain, absorbing into my very being. It was refreshing; however, the cold air still nipped at my skin. I hunched closer to the tree, and after many minutes, the rain let up slightly. I pressed on, pushing myself off the tree. The day gave way into night. I curled up, closing my eyes and allowing sleep to take me, the hunger in my stomach making it near impossible to do so.
Day 4, a small victory.
My eyes fluttered open, the daylight filtering in from the trees. I sat up and stretched out my sore back. My chest ached, a slow pulsing throb. I ignored it and stood up, attempting to look for food once more. Finally, I walked into a lake. The silver shimmer of fish scales gleamed from the morning sun under the surface. I smiled sadly. It must be done. I searched around for a stick and a jagged stone. Finally finding the items, I hacked away at the stick, forming the end into a sharp point. I smiled wickedly. This would do nicely. I dug around in the dirt until, finally, my fingers grasped a small worm. I stabbed it onto the end of my stick and waded out thigh-deep in the water. I sat still, perfectly unmoving. Waiting. Watching. Until I saw it—the glittery shine of a fish. It hovered around my stick worm, debating whether it was safe. It came up slowly and poked its mouth against my bait. That's it. Come to me, my precious. It put itself under the sharp point, and I lunged. The fish darted away, and I ended up empty-handed. I reattached the worm and positioned myself again. The sun beat down on me, warming me against the chill that clung to the air. Sweat dripped down my face, the salty droplets pooling near my mouth. That's it! Another, larger fish swam near my worm, eyeing it. It swam closer, and ever so slowly, I positioned the stick. I thrust my makeshift spear into the fish. It hit in the middle of its body, and I brought it out of the water victoriously. It thrashed around on the stick, but I had mercy. I set the fish down on the bank and grabbed my rock. I'm sorry, fishy. I need this. I turned away as I brought the sharp edge of the rock down onto the fish's head. I winced at the slight crack. I peeked over and saw it had stopped moving. I fought back my disgust and ran the rock along its neck, successfully severing its head. It's a good thing I fished a lot with my dad growing up. Kai and I both. Who knew it would actually come in handy? I split the fish down the center, opening it up. I cleaned out the guts and set it aside in the grass while I looked for nearby sticks. Once I had gathered some, I headed back to the bank and set up a fire. I twisted a stick on some dried moss; the sparks ignited into a small fire. I smiled in triumph, but my victory was short-lived. A strong gust of wind quickly snuffed it out. I frowned, eyeing my uncooked fish. My stomach rumbled, and I patted it slightly. Soon. I just needed this fire. I sighed, standing, swaying slightly from nausea. My head felt light. I knew this feeling would go away if I could just eat. I stumbled over to the water and looked for three flat-ish rocks. I scanned the shallow water, my vision blurring slightly, and came back victoriously. I smiled softly as I built a wind barrier around the fire, leaving a hole at the top for the heat and smoke to escape. I tried again. I twisted the stick again, the friction rubbing my skin raw. A small tendril of smoke curled from it. The wet stone dripped, extinguishing my flame. I sat back on my heels, frustration enveloping me. The hunger grew more intense as I sat and dried the stones off as best I could on my clothes. Okay, this is it. It has to be. I gathered another clump of moss and rapidly spun the stick between my aching fingers. Come on. Please. Small sparks of fire flew out, and soon it caught. I layered small dried sticks on top, and soon my fire was strong. Yes! I celebrated by setting the fish atop the stones, allowing some of the smoke to escape onto it. As the fish cooked, the smell wafted through the air. It made my mouth water, the hunger in my stomach growing greater with each passing moment. Finally, I felt the meat. When it gave little spring back, I knew it was done. If it wasn't, I was in for another horrible night. I barely waited for it to cool down before digging in. I gnawed into the meat like a rabid animal. It lasted a mere minute. I licked my fingers and lay down. My exhaustion claimed me. My eyes closed, and I fell into a deep slumber, the warmth from the fire keeping me cozy all through the night.
Day 5, civilization.
The soft chirp of the morning birds jostled me out of sleep. I looked around numbly, my body shivering slightly. Despite the long amount of sleep I got, I still felt exhausted. I pulled myself up and continued walking. My feet dragged slightly in the mud. Gray clouds loomed overhead. Oh God, not again. I scrambled around, looking frantically for a shelter. Nothing. I picked up my pace, the trees ahead thinning slightly. The first droplet kissed my nose, then my cheek. Sprinkling harder and harder until the wind whipped the trees violently. Rain pelted down relentlessly, soaking me in an instant. I ran, trying to find some form of shelter. Then I saw it—the familiar guard rail of a highway. Relief crashed over me like a wave. Civilization. I hurriedly followed the highway from the tree line, unsure of where it led but trusting my instincts. They pulled me south. Somewhere, deep in my bones, I knew I was being drawn to something. The rain eventually let up, and I stumbled upon a town. I smiled, waiting for night. When the blue sky turned night, I scavenged for food in dumpsters behind small-town diners. It was degrading, but survival didn't care about pride. Eventually, I came across a gas station. Hunger gnawed at my insides, exhaustion made my head swim, but I needed answers. I approached the counter, clearing my throat. "Excuse me, ma'am… can you tell me where I am? And… what day it is?" The clerk's eyes flicked over me—tangled hair, thin gown, bare feet. Concern flashed across her face. "Are you okay, honey? Do you need me to call the police?" Her fingers hovered over the phone. Panic flared in my chest. "Please—just tell me the date." She hesitated. "It's August 28th." Shock rippled through me. During my time in captivity, no one bothered to mention the date. Since I was taken in late May, it meant that I had been gone for nearly three months. My parents must be worried out of their minds. I have to get back to them. "And your name?" she pressed, her words snapping me out of my thoughts. I hesitated, but lying felt pointless. "Audra." She gave me a sad smile. "Well, Audra, how about some hot food?" she offered. My stomach ached at the thought. My brain was telling me to run, but hunger eventually won. "I—I don't have money," I said. "It's okay, sweetie," she said softly. I hesitated once more, but hunger consumed my thoughts. I sat down, devouring the food she offered. For the first time in days, warmth settled in my stomach. But then, I heard it, "Hello? Yes, I found that missing girl from a few towns over. She's in rough shape. I'll keep her here until you arrive." Ice shot through my veins. I shot up from my seat. No. No, no, no. I grabbed what I could and ran. The clerk shouted after me, but I didn't stop. My bare feet slapped against the pavement as I sprinted for the tree line—and then—headlights. A car screeched, trying to swerve, but I was too fast. I threw my hands up on instinct, bracing for the impact—but it never came. I felt a cool rush of power surge beneath my skin. Suddenly, a wall of water surged in front of me, stopping the car in its tracks. It gently bounced against the wall and rolled back, neither of us being hurt. I gasped, staring at the shimmering barrier, droplets suspended in the air. The driver stared too—terrified. I didn't wait to question it. I turned and disappeared into the forest, sirens wailing in the distance. That's the last time I ask for help.