The Accident

There was a screech of tires, and a brief, sickening moment where everything seemed to stand still before the car containing three teens plummeted over the ravine. The three stared in wide-eyed horror as the ground rushed up to meet them. Mouths were twisted open in silent horror. It was as though somebody had turned the volume off as the car finally slammed into the ground. Metal was crushed, and bodies were pitched around, held safely in the vehicle only by a single lifeline- their seatbelts. Glass shattered around the group, sending occasional glints of incandescent light swirling around in dizzying circles as the car rolled. Finally, after what seemed like forever, they were still. The sounds of the night reached the groups ringing ears. One by one they managed to drag themselves out of the vehicle, staring at each other in a daze. “Haru, what happened?” A young woman with strawberry colored hair and gray eyes asked.

The oldest of the group, Haru, looked back at her with solemn brown eyes, as a habit he ran his fingers through his shoulder length black hair, “I had no time, that other driver must’ve been drunk or something- he swerved into our lane.”

“Don’t worry, Kana.” The girl’s older brother soothed, he had short, spiky blond hair and piercing blue eyes.

“Seiko-” The girl’s eyes filled with tears and she blinked them away furiously, “How are we going to get out of here?”

Haru glanced back towards the trail of destruction and realized that they had come a long way downhill, “We’ll have to walk.” He said, taking command of the situation. “First, however, we’ll need to find something to help protect us against wild animals. We will also have to check and dress wounds the best that we can, to avoid infection and bloodthirsty creatures that may catch our scent.”

Seiko made his way towards the trunk, and realized with dismay that it was dented far to badly for it to be opened normally. Haru yanked open the back door, and climbed onto the glass covered seat. Hurriedly he yanked on the cushion and it fell forward, revealing the black abyss of the trunk. Carefully Haru reached his hand in as far as it would go, and pulled out a crowbar and a bag of tools. He reached in farther still and his hand brushed against the smooth surface of a box. Haru grunted and grasped at the handle before leaving the car to join the others with his finds.

Seiko’s shoulder was bleeding profusely, and his eye was beginning to swell. Haru pulled out some gauze from the small medical kit, and wrapped it tightly around the bleeding shoulder. Seiko winced as Haru touched the swelling eye, and after a few more moments of close study, Haru declared that Seiko was very lucky not to have more than bruises from being knocked around the way that they had been.

Next, Haru kneeled beside Kana. She had long cuts up both arms and over her face and neck, quickly Haru wrapped these. There was a large lump on the side of her head, there was nothing he could do for that, so finally, he stood. “Now Haru, you have to allow us to help you.” Kana said, grasping his arm.

Sighing heavily Haru flopped back onto the ground and allowed the two of them to bandage his lacerated knee, and to wrap some gauze around his chest where blood still oozed from a wound just below his ribcage. “Done!” Seiko said softly.

Haru stood, and handed them the bag of tools, “Choose something.” He murmured, tightening his grip on the crowbar.

Seiko grabbed a large wrench, and Kana pulled out a hammer, testing its weight, before throwing the bag to the ground. The three started walking through the darkness, trusting voices and feet to guide them. The trees steadily grew closer together, blocking out all light.

Howls sounded around them, and almost immediately following, coyotes leapt out of the darkness at them. Haru swung violently with his crowbar, dragging each that attacked to the ground. Seiko brought his wrench across outstretched jaws, the beasts cried out in pain. Kana continuously brought her hammer down on the heads of the vicious beasts, she was sickened by the sound of cracking skulls, but didn’t relent. Eventually the remaining coyotes ran off into the trees, angered by their defeat.

Haru sat down and massaged his aching feet, he wanted nothing more than to give up at the moment, seeming to read his mind Kana spoke up, “Come on guys! We can’t give up yet, think of how far we’ve come!”

Seiko smiled wanly at his sister, “You are quite spirited.” He sighed heavily and sat near Haru. “She’s right though- we must continue on immediately, lest we become prey to another attack.”

Haru looked at his two friends slowly before standing stiffly, “Let’s go then.” He said, beginning to trek through the trees once more.

Kana shouted for joy and skipped after the two boys. Hours passed, yet no sunlight filtered into the darkness of the trees. They didn’t stop, nor did they slow, their pace was steady and unwavering as they moved, “How big is this place?” Seiko asked at last, mopping his forehead with a filthy hand.

“I don’t know.” Haru squinted in the darkness, and could see a hint of grey some distance away, “But look over there! We’re almost out of this dark patch, maybe then someone will see us.”

Kana peered at the area where he pointed, he shoulders sagged in relief, “It was getting kind of creepy in this darkness.” She said.

Kana ran ahead of the other two and it wasn’t long before the darkness finally gave way to light, she could finally see the sky, and was glad for it. The group trekked on for another odd bit of time, before finally stopping for a break in a small clearing. Haru plopped down in the lush green grass and gave a sigh of satisfaction. In the distance he could see a small line of smoke curling into the sky and sat up quickly, “Guys!” He cried, “over there, look! There’s smoke, which means people-”

“And that means that we’ll be rescued!” Kana exclaimed, standing up. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go!”

Haru stretched slowly, and once more led the group. As they walked, he kept his eye on the smoke, and eventually they came to a small cabin nestled in the trees. Seiko ran forward and knocked on the door. Several minutes later the door was opened by an elderly man with a shock of grey hair on top of his head. “Yes?” He asked, looking down at the bedraggled group.

“Sir,” Haru began, “we’ve walked a long way, can you tell us how close we are to exiting this forest?”

The man chuckled and pointed, “Why, it’s just a mile or so that way. By the way, would you happen to know anything about a car that went over the incline? I’ve had rangers searching that area for hours.”

The three looked at each other slowly, “That was our car.” Kana said.

The man looked impressed, “You most certainly have come a long way then- come in, I’ll call someone to come and get you.”

“How did you know that our car went over in the first place?” Haru asked.

“A man called, he was awfully upset, said that a car fell off the road when he fell asleep at the wheel.” The elderly man said, “He called directly after the incident.”

Haru sighed heavily and followed the man, Seiko and Kana were directly behind him. Gratefully the group accepted seats and cool drinks. Kana looked towards Haru, “You should feel proud,” She murmured. “Your quick thinking and leadership skills got us here.”

“Yeah, but in the end I nearly gave up on our plight- it seemed hopeless.” Haru said.

“But you didn’t,” Seiko said. “You saw the smoke and led us here- I say that we’ve most definitely reached an important goal.”

“Yeah,” Haru sighed, “we have, and all of us should be proud because we all helped out in some way or another.”

Kana grinned, sipping at her cool glass of water, “I hope to never have to do that again.” She said, and the others agreed quickly.