I screamed into the vast woods. My voice echoed back to me through the rustling of the leaves. I fell against a large tree and rubbed my sore aching head. It was hard to tell if the fog was real or in my imagination. Was any of this real? Was I already dead? “Elijah?” I yelled into the woods once more as tears welled up in my eyes and a thick lump formed in my throat. My family was okay. Olivie had told a vicious lie to my face without as much as batting an eyelash. My sadness and confusion turned to rage. I grabbed onto a fallen tree branch and snapped the end off. Not the regular wooden stakes they sell in stores, but it would do in a pinch. I picked away the bark and dead leaves, wrapping my fingers around it tightly until splinters bit into my flesh. I whipped around and scanned the forest. Only leaves and trees filled my view. I took off running full speed, desperate to find a clearing and my way back to Elijah.
