The hunt had been successful, the fallen deer a testament to Adrian's shot. Or at least, that's what he believed. As he approached the headless deer on the ground, a flicker of unease tugged at him.
"Wow," I let out a grunt while kneeling beside it, and my fingers tracing the smooth fur. "It's... bigger than I expected."
Anita chuckled. "Don't worry," she said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.
"That's gonna be our dinner for tonight. I'll show you how to skin it and cook it back at the cabin. Come on, pick it up and stay right behind me.", she says while looking away from me.
I swear I could see a grin spreading across her face as she turned around.
"I know the way back."
-
Grunting hard, I almost stumbled upon myself, as I brought the deer up to my chest. Despite being so small, it sure did weigh a lot. Killing a pure soul just for food is gonna be etched into my mind forever. Although...it did feel thrilling.
Anyway, I just pray that the meal is going to be delicious.
-
I get it, Anita. I can feel your stare even in the dark. If she somehow had eyes that could shoot out lethal lasers, I'd be burnt to a crisp right now. It's almost as if...she's waiting for me to prove my manhood. Prick.
After catching my breath momentarily, I let out a grunt and finally hoisted the deer over my left shoulder. Anita's grin laced with satisfaction revealed her shiny teeth as she turned around and led the way.
The deer weighed almost 50 kilograms (110 pounds), judging by just how my shoulders were doing their job. That was nowhere close to the usual weight I lift in my Over Head Press, but nevertheless. It was a dead soul. It felt heavier, with the burden of killing an innocent animal weighing heavier than anything I had lifted.
Carefully treading over broken branches, I followed her. Nighttime had seemed to creep in, with my vision being completely dark. There were only the sounds of our feet treading forest grounds as we beelined our way to the cabin.
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With growing weariness and tired of staring at the back of her shoes, I grunted,
"How long is this going to take?!"
"Not too far away from the cabin, Adrian.", she replied.
"Or are you getting too tired, hm?", a tinge of teasing behind her voice.
I respond with an annoyed grunt to which she picks her pace up, prompting me to walk even faster. She was my only ticket out of this forest. If I had to guess, there was not a single person in this area for at least 16 kilometers (10 miles). Add to that, the whole area could be her private property for all I know. Wait-
I stop dead in my tracks.
"Y-you aren't taking us back to the cabin are you?", I scoff at her.
Anita giggles while stopping and turning back,
"Why would you think something like that, hm?"
She sighed and shook her head with both of her hands resting on her hips before resuming.
"It's a shortcut. I've seen bears around here all the time, so this is a safer path. It's a bit patchy, so watch your step. We're almooost there."
But 'there' never came. After what felt like 10 more minutes, I finally told her what was on my mind.
"Anita," I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper. "I think we're lost."
The playful glint in her eyes didn't falter.
"Lost?" she said, her voice devoid of its usual warmth.
"Perhaps."
"I don't recognize coming this way. I-I have a good memory you know?! I can't be just played like that!!", I shot back at her.
Anita went silent and her posture straightened as I could feel an invisible frown etch upon her face.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU TAKING US?!?", I yell out in frustration.
The playful glint in her eyes and the smug smile illuminated by the night sky vanished from her face as she revealed with a dark tone.
"You're so fucking naive, Adrian. Following me into the deep and unknown forest.", her hand crept into her pockets and a metal blade screeching as it unsheathed made an ear-bleeding noise.
"It's just you and me here. All alone~", she growled with her tone now turned menacing.
This creepy sight of hers hit me like a truck, reigniting all the bad memories of her in the back of my head. I tip-toed backward realizing the gravity of the situation carefully, but the noise of leaves crunching under my boot gave away my intentions.
"Why are you afraid, honeybee? Come on,", she taunted while licking her blade, her tongue slithering across it.
"I won't bite."
My heart hammered against my ribs. I finally understood her motives, but the innate fear of being lost and alone with a psycho was overwhelming my mind.
With a surge of adrenaline, I dropped the deer, its thud barely registering in my mind overwhelmed with the need to escape. I dashed backward with my cap falling out and ignoring her surprised yelp. I blindly ran through the darkness, the forest acting like a maze. Hearing her chilling laughter behind me only served as fuel for me to run even faster.
"Oh, you poor thing. When I catch you, you're done for!!~"