The Artists Chapter 3

Appearance

I snapped back to reality, and I paused a listened to my surroundings. After a few moments I heard some unnatural ruffling sounds, proceeding with a fading laugh. My eyes snap open as I realize someone was in the forest. Since I've been in this forest for 10 years, I practically know every hide- out and pathway in the forest. I took off making the softest foot- steps and hid behind a tree. The sound of laughter and shuffling feet were drawing nearer. Based on the sounds I could tell the anonymous strangers were in the direction of 11' o clock and dangerously close to where I am. I took a small peek in their direction, and I saw Aric and another girl from the city.

Aric is the main face of our school, in other words the most popular person in our school. I loathe him. I must admit though, he is similar to the boy who I knew when I was young. Blue eyes, blonde hair, and similar face structure, just looking at him brings back some memories. Although his appearance is similar to those of the little boy, Aric's personality is like wax. It is perfect on the outside, but when hell breaks lose, the wax just melts away leaving scars and flaws. My nose crinkles just by the sight of him. The other girl next to him is beautiful as usual, bright green eyes and dirty blonde hair, the only problem is she imputed too much make- up and she has a dress whose skirt is too short, almost showing her butt cheeks. I immediately looked away and stayed in my hide- out, I decided to climb up the tall anchor tree, as I slowly climbed up, I made it in time before the couple stopped abruptly a few paces away from me. I hid behind two trees that blocked any sight of me being seen, I stood in a half crouch and half sitting position. I looked at the couples, feeling curious of what is going to happen, hoping it would be interesting.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about? I mean if you needed to tell me anything you could've just told me at school." Aric said casually.

The girl blushed and said slyly: "Well I didn't want other people around, you know, It's something personal"

Aric gave her a look, confused yet a knowing look. After a pause of silent the girl blurted out:

"I-I-I Like you!" The girl closed her eyes and her face swelled up as red as a tomato.

I sighed and thought to myself stupid confessions, as I was about to hop off the tree to break off the confession, something strange happened. The girl was suddenly on top of Aric, and even Aric the most athletic person in our school wasn't even able to push the girl off. Her eyes became black and vacuum, Aric stared at her horrified, the dark aura that radiated around the girl is familiar. The girl hissed:

"I want you… come to me, give me your soul, give me… everything"

That kind of aura was exactly the same aura that radiated when the tall dark figure killed the young boy I knew. Filled with furry instead of fear. I took out the knife that is hidden in my right pocket, and twirled it around. I calculated how far I was going to jump from the branch, and stood in a ready position. The girl was literally sucking out his energy, knowing that time was transient. I jumped, and before the girl could react, with a swift movement I stabbed the monster- like beauty in the heart from her back The girl looked at me crazy- eyed and said with a faint hiss:

"Libiti-i…." Before she could finish her last words, she fell and dissipated through the air. The breeze with the smell of blood mixed with rusted metal pass by and broke apart through the clean air.

I didn't understand what the monster's words meant, Libiti? Even though I didn't know what the word meant I could still feel an ominous feeling gnawing at the atmosphere making it hard for me to breathe, I couldn't move.

"Um…"

Once again I lost myself and after hearing Aric's trembling voice, I gradually re- call what happened and pulled myself back to reality. After collecting my thoughts I turned my head towards Aric and looked at him warily.

"Did you even know who that girl is?" I asked coldly

Aric shook his head violently

"No… she's just a girl in my class who came a few months ago" Aric replied shakily.

I wondered why he was afraid, and I realized I still had the dagger in my hand. I put it away neatly into my well-made belt, and looked at Aric again.

"You should be careful if you're coming to the forest this late" I responded

It was true, the sun was setting and there was only around an hour left before the sun set. I could feel something interesting is about to happen, but at the same time, something life- threatening. It was getting cold, and Aric only wore a t- shirt and a pair of jeans. While I wore my school uniform and a pair snuggly- fitted loafers, I rummaged through my pack and found a pair of sweater and t- shirt just in case I fell into one of the rivers in the forest or for some other emergency, and this was definitely a emergency. I extracted my sweater and t-shirt from by bag; and tossed the sweater and t- shirt at Aric's direction. Besides him being cold, I also noticed his arms are hurt because the monstrous girl we encountered, I believed the monster had claws and dug deep into his skin to prevent him from running away. The scar was fairly deep and needed stitches; the wound is already starting to pump out pulse, as I was thinking profoundly. Aric interrupted and said:

"Thank you for saving me, I don't know how to thank you more, but may I know your name?" Aric said faintly

"My name is not important"

I ripped off the bottom of my t- shirt, kneeled down next to Aric's bloody arm and tied his arm with my strip of t- shirt. I looked out toward the forest and machinated which way out is the fastest. After choosing my route, I said:

"We have to get going, the sun's about to set, and I don't have a flashlight or any food with me, if we don't get moving we won't survive"

Aric nodded in reply and quietly followed my footsteps. We walked in silence; I walked with light steps to hear if there was anything off nearby. I would've arrived 10 minutes earlier, but because of his arm; it might delay the usual trip for 10 minutes, which if you calculated it would be from a 20-minute trip to a 30-minute journey. I looked back to check Aric's wounds, it didn't look good, his arm was turning green, and the torn t-shirt is already soaking wet. My eyes narrowed, the monster injected poison in his arm. I slowed down and put his arm over my shoulders, Aric is sweating heavily and his face is turning purple. It was definitely a sign of venom poisoning. I looked up at the sky, as I saw the last ray of hope melt away.

As the sky became dark, I started to be afraid. Shouldn't they start looking for us by now? Of course that thought is illusory, we've only been gone for 2 hours I doubt anyone would think we're missing and even though if they did they wouldn't think about looking in the forest. As I thought about it more I was aware I have Aric here, his friends might know where he is.

"Hey Aric does your friends know you're here?"

Aric could barely talk and he's already starting to lose his strength, I gritted my teeth and started to search for his pocket to see if he brought a phone. Bingo! The phone was at his back pocket. I fished it out and checked its contact list, but as I thought, it didn't have the school's number. I decided to call Amity, my dorm mate and my best friend. I checked the signal and it was on 3 bars, well that makes sense since we're near the school, we just needed adults to heal him. As my thoughts raced, I knew time is running out, I immediately pressed in the numbers and waited for the phone to go through. Brrr…Brrr…Brrr… I was becoming more impatient and worried until I heard a Click

Um.. who's this?

"Amity its Paige, I'll explain everything later but call an ambulance right now or someone. Aric is poisoned and we're in the forest around the area called Pantha about 10 minutes away from the school gate." I said speedily

"ah mah gawd, okei gurl I'll get someone there in a few minutes"

"You better be quick he's about to pass out and it doesn't look like he's going to last very long"

"Got it" She replied and she clicks me off

I looked at Aric, he's getting worse by the minute, and the venom is already starting to spread through his legs. I knew walking wasn't going to get us anywhere, so I prop him against the tree and slapped him awake. In return a groan escaped his mouth. Thank god he's still responding I contemplated. I ripped another piece of clothing off and tied it extremely tight around his right leg to prevent the venom from going any further. I sat next to him and waited, I could feel my palm starting to sweat and wondered if he was going to survive. I could hear the ambulance from the distance, and I saw the adults coming. I took out his phone, and looked for the flashlight app I should've used this earlier I thought. I put his flashlight on and laid it next to him, and slowly climbed up to a nearby tree. The adults saw the flashlight and without even looking at his wounds, they knew his wounds were severe. They immediately brought him to the ambulance and they rode off into the cold night without bothering who propped him against the tree or turned on the flashlight. I sat on the tree for a moment, and I noticed the bloody smell, and sat for a little bit longer and was finally about to breath in the fresh clean air. I pondered and thought about what would happen and hoped that his wounds won't be as severe as to cut off any of his limbs, even though I feel distaste towards Aric. I sighed, hopped off the tree and headed back to the campus. I need to look for some information I thought, because this doesn't feel right at all.