Chapter 31: Connecting the Dots

"Let me get this straight,” says Code. “The four of you and Sky found these trees with markings. You all think these markings might be a clue to something, but the problem is returning to wherever they are to see them again. You remember the way back, but we need to get there somehow and write down these markings safely in a way that will keep everybody alive. Inferred evidence has shown that those who see something they shouldn't have… end up being killed. Flora, Grace, maybe even Ace now. Ace said he was a victim, just like the rest, which suggests that they were all targeted. If this is why they were targeted, it will be difficult."

Stroking my jawline, I assess all the information we know.

Everything adds up. But as Code just said, the difficult part now is getting back to those markings. If this man that Ace mentioned does target those who noticed stuff like this about their surroundings, things they weren't supposed to see… we got very lucky that those five didn't end up being killed.

Conjuring an opinion of my own, I share my thoughts on the matter, "It should be our top priority that we get back there and see those markings, write them down, whatever we can do to acquire such. But we'll need a plan, a good one."

"If our theory is correct and this man targets those who may have also seen these markings, we need to somehow distract it," says Hunter.

Forest asks, "Distract it how?"

Hunter shrugs, "I don't know."

I interject, "It is just a theory. It may have all been a coincidence that this monster attacked and killed when it did. But I don't think Ace would lie about both of their final words. This means that those two things he mentioned are important. Crows and trees. Code cracked that riddle on the first day using the environment and clues around us. The numbers on the back of our shirts, the letters under the tents… were always there; we just had to connect them."

Falcon and Forest nod while Ember scratches her nose. I glance over toward the supplies.

"And that's not all. Regarding the supplies, there are some things we got that don’t make much sense."

Code's eyes brighten, "The ripped piece of paper and the wooden plank!"

I quickly walk over to the supplies and grab those two items to bring them back over. Handing the plank to Code, I hold on to the ripped piece of paper.

"Since we used that stone slab we found in one of the crates to figure out the first code, maybe we need to use these two items to find out the next code," I say.

Forest scratches the back of his neck, "Only one can remain… that's the phrase that we decoded just before Flora died."

Forest looks at me, "Scar, what you said, I don't think it was a coincidence. Only one can remain. At first, I thought that phrase was meant to scare us, but I don't think that's it."

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Code chimes in, "A message, right?"

Forest nods, "That's what I was thinking."

Hunter says, "I don't get it. I thought it was clear that it was a message for us. Why would we be able to decipher it if it wasn't?"

Forest says, "That's not exactly what I mean."

Code adds, "The answer to the riddle… it wasn't just a message to scare us, it was a message to warn us."

Forest agrees, "If we solved that riddle quicker, we might've been able to save Flora's life. That much is clear. Maybe that is what the code is trying to tell us. If we take too long to get moving, we'll continue to be killed off one by one. Remember what it said:

Running and running, gone with the wind;

Searching and hunting, the game begins;

Numbers and people, what's one to say;

That suffering and pain isn't the way."

Hunter queries, "I think I'm following, but didn't you just say that these deaths aren't a coincidence? If seeing those trees again will really put our lives in danger, how are we supposed to do this?"

Code shakes his head, "We're stuck between a rock and a hard place. If we think rashly and try to do things too fast, we'll get killed, but if we take too long trying to be methodical, we'll also get killed. We don't even know if we're safe right now."

Forest says, "Which means we need to get moving and devise a plan."

Her head tilted back, one eye closed, and a piece of grass fiddling in her mouth, Ember asks me, "Scar… these numbers, markings, whatever you want to call them, you believe they were here from the start right?"

"Yes."

Ember continues, "Using these letters, we got that phrase, 'only one can remain'. I didn't actually see the markings they have all been discussing, so I just want to confirm something…"

Ember jerked her chin up, "These markings, what were they like?"

Falcon shakes his head, "I never laid eyes on them, so I got nothing."

Hunter says, "As for me, I never stopped to get a good look at them. They were just there and obvious enough to stick out…"

Ember says, "You're overthinking it; just keep it simple."

Forest’s eyes narrow as he tries to remember the markings, "Well… they were small, and there were a lot of them. It wasn't just one per tree; there were multiple."

Hunter adds, "Yeah, that's right, close together too."

Forest says, "Oh, and the color…"

Forest snaps his fingers and then points at Ember, his finger waving back and forth, "They were the color…"

Ember cuts him off, "Black?"

Hunter utters, "How did you know that?"

Ember grins as she stands up and walks over to the nearest tent. She then kicks one of the stakes out of the ground, and the tent shifts out of the way.

Hunter urges in disapproval, "Hey, what are you doing? That's my tent!"

Ember begins scuffing her foot into the dirt. Hunter stands up to confront Ember, but I put my arm out to stop him, "Just give her a moment."

Ember says, "Would you look at that…"

The rest of the group all get up and walk over to where she is standing.

"Holy shit,” utters Code.

We all peer down at what Ember just revealed. The letter 'E' sat etched into the group with the tent and dirt out of the way. Our group gapes at it in silence, and everybody starts connecting the dots.

And that's because the letter 'E’… is colored black.