Catherine

I had to find Josh before it was too late, before he disappeared into the forest forever. The mountain was steeper on this side descending into a cliff that jutted out in odd uncontrollable angles. I hung onto the trees to keep myself upright scanning the impenetrable darkness for any signs of movement. At one point

I thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye, but when I scrambled my way over to the shape, it was just another pile of fallen bricks, more remnants of what had been lost on this mountain. My legs felt numb and uncontrollable, and I was too disoriented to catch myself as one of my ankles twisted and I fell blindly.

I thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye, but when I scrambled my way over to the shape, it was just another pile of fallen bricks, more remnants of what had been lost on this mountain. My legs felt numb and uncontrollable, and I was too disoriented to catch myself as one of my ankles twisted and I fell blindly.

i could feel the impact of sharp rocks and branches as my body flipped and rolled down the side of the mountain stopping only when my leg snagged under a boulder and pulled my limp body to a halt with a jolt of excruciating pain i felt myself cry out with uncontrollable pain and rage i couldn't stop the pitiful sobs that racked my broken mangled body as i lay helpless in the dark deserted forest

i could feel the impact of sharp rocks and branches as my body flipped and rolled down the side of the mountain stopping only when my leg snagged under a boulder and pulled my limp body to a halt with a jolt of excruciating pain i felt myself cry out with uncontrollable pain and rage i couldn't stop the pitiful sobs that racked my broken mangled body as i lay helpless in the dark deserted forest

I stared up at the beautiful starry sky, and I blindly felt my way down to my wound. I was met with hot, wet blood, torn fabric, and something sharp. I know now that I was feeling my protruding bone, but back then, my brain refused to even consider this. I couldn't fathom it. I couldn't fathom any of it. Tears stung my eyes. I was stuck.

I stared up at the beautiful starry sky, and I blindly felt my way down to my wound. I was met with hot, wet blood, torn fabric, and something sharp. I know now that I was feeling my protruding bone, but back then, my brain refused to even consider this. I couldn't fathom it. I couldn't fathom any of it. Tears stung my eyes. I was stuck.

There was no way I could make it to safety, and everyone I had brought with me onto this cursed mountain was now gone. I cried and begged for help for what felt like eternity. I screamed with pitiful, high-pitched desperation until my words tangled in on each other and lost all meaning. I don't know how long I was there, alone on the side of the mountain.

There was no way I could make it to safety, and everyone I had brought with me onto this cursed mountain was now gone. I cried and begged for help for what felt like eternity. I screamed with pitiful, high-pitched desperation until my words tangled in on each other and lost all meaning. I don't know how long I was there, alone on the side of the mountain.

It was probably only an hour, but it felt like days. My wailing became subconscious, just something that happened with every haggard breath I took. I winced every time I heard the pitiful, inhuman cries for help, but I could not seem to bring myself to stop. All I could seem to do was listen as the strange, broken creature continued to cry.

It was probably only an hour, but it felt like days. My wailing became subconscious, just something that happened with every haggard breath I took. I winced every time I heard the pitiful, inhuman cries for help, but I could not seem to bring myself to stop. All I could seem to do was listen as the strange, broken creature continued to cry.

I didn't hear the sound of approaching feet until it was almost on top of me. Then, finally, a figure emerged from between the trees. I thought my broken mind might be playing tricks on me until the figure came closer and I could make out a face. It was Mikey. It was so odd, I barely even recognized him at first. He looked like a complete stranger or someone I had not set eyes on in several years.

I didn't hear the sound of approaching feet until it was almost on top of me. Then, finally, a figure emerged from between the trees. I thought my broken mind might be playing tricks on me until the figure came closer and I could make out a face. It was Mikey. It was so odd, I barely even recognized him at first. He looked like a complete stranger or someone I had not set eyes on in several years.

He just stood there for a moment, staring at me, and I wasn't even sure if he could see my face in the darkness. I heard screaming. He muttered so softly I could barely hear the words. Mikey. I finally managed to croak out into the empty air between us. It's me, Catherine.

He just stood there for a moment, staring at me, and I wasn't even sure if he could see my face in the darkness. I heard screaming. He muttered so softly I could barely hear the words. Mikey. I finally managed to croak out into the empty air between us. It's me, Catherine.

He looked at me so strangely, none of his usual mirth brightening his features, and for one horrible moment, I was certain he was going to open his mouth and ask, Who's Catherine?

He looked at me so strangely, none of his usual mirth brightening his features, and for one horrible moment, I was certain he was going to open his mouth and ask, Who's Catherine?

instead he scooped me up in his long arms and carried me back up the mountain we made it back to the campsite and i was certain i was imagining things when i saw autumn sylvia and josh emerge from their tents bleary-eyed and confused at the sounds of mikey's cries for help they had crowded around us asking a million questions

instead he scooped me up in his long arms and carried me back up the mountain we made it back to the campsite and i was certain i was imagining things when i saw autumn sylvia and josh emerge from their tents bleary-eyed and confused at the sounds of mikey's cries for help they had crowded around us asking a million questions

I was somewhat aware of Josh's hands on my face, Sylvia's shrill voice, but everything was muted behind the searing pain in my leg and the ringing in my ears. Everything was happening very fast. I was jostled into Josh's arms and taken back down to the van. We rode back to civilization, bringing only the bare essentials with us.