The next morning, the forest was alive with the symphony of birdsong and the earthy scent of damp soil. The sun, a soft apricot disc, filtered through the canopy, painting the path in dappled light. Mr. Davis, a compass swinging from his neck and a map clutched in his hand, led the group of students like a seasoned trailblazer.
I walked beside CJ and Kim, who were deep in conversation. Chelsea had been with us initially but left when Kim approached CJ. I also wanted to leave, but I was searching for an excuse to do so.
My sneakers crunched on fallen leaves, and the newfound confidence I had gained the previous night vanished after the nightmare I had. I knew it was just a dream, but my gut was telling me something else. I felt a growing unease about this camping trip and couldn't wait for it to be over.
"…somewhere in the woods," CJ was saying to Kim, who blushed so deeply that her face matched her hair. He leaned in to whisper something, causing her blush to deepen even further. "I don't know," she squeaked.
I watched as she fell for the charm of the lines CJ had used on so many other girls. Looking away, I tried to take in the sights around me.
Mr. Davis stopped the group at a small, gurgling creek. "This is a good spot for a break," he announced. "Everyone, take a minute to just listen. No phones, no talking. Just the sounds of the woods."
We all fell silent. The babble of the water, the rustle of leaves, and the distant call of a hawk filled the air. I closed my eyes, letting my mind quiet. It was nice.
As we resumed our hike, the trail began to incline. Liam and a few other students, full of boundless energy, raced ahead, but Mr. Davis called them back. "Remember, it's not a race! The view is at the top, and we'll all get there together."
The path grew rockier and steeper, and I found myself helping a classmate, Sarah, over a slippery patch of rocks. When we finally emerged from the treeline, a breathtaking vista unfolded before us. The valley stretched below, a patchwork of green and gold fields dotted with lush trees and a few lakes glimmering in the sunlight.
A collective gasp of awe went through the group. We stood in quiet reverence, the silence only broken by the gentle breeze. Mr. Davis, his smile warm and proud, watched his students.
My attention was caught by a flash of light in the sunlight. I turned to look and saw it again! Another one of the bizarre birds, and it wasn't alone. They perched on some trees a distance away, their blood-red eyes fixed on us.
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as we trudged back to the campsite, our legs sore but our spirits high from the hike. My classmates were laughing and chattering, reliving the moment they saw the breathtaking view from the top of the hill. Mr. Davis, standing by the campfire, began a quick head count. His smile faded as he went through the list. He counted again, his lips moving silently.
"Chloe isn't here," he said, his voice tense. "Has anyone seen her since we left the clearing?" A few students shook their heads. The air grew heavy with a quieter tension. Mr. Davis took a deep, steadying breath.
"Alright, everyone listen up," he said, his voice firm and serious. "I'm going back to look for her. It's a straight shot, so she can't have wandered far. I want all of you to stay here at the campsite. Do not leave under any circumstances. Set up the campfire, and I'll be back as soon as I can. Got it?"
A chorus of "Got it, Mr. Davis," echoed through the group. With one last worried look, he grabbed his flashlight and a whistle and hurried back down the trail.
With the teacher gone, the campsite felt different. The rules had been suspended, and a different kind of energy, one of freedom and rebellion, settled in. It wasn't long before Liam, a mischievous glint in his eye, turned to a small group of his friends.
"Alright, who's in?" he whispered, his gaze darting toward the edge of the woods. "A little midnight adventure. We'll be back before he knows it."
A few of the students, including Liam's girlfriend, quickly agreed. They grabbed their phones, their flashlights, and a bag of marshmallows. They began to sneak away, one by one, into the deepening shadows of the forest.
I watched them go, a knot of unease twisting in my stomach. Chelsea sat beside me on a fallen log. Her eyes were on CJ as he held Kim's slender hand and walked towards us.
"You're not coming with us?" He asked, a frown on his face. I glanced at Chelsea who said with a little more force than necessary, "No." I shook my head.
"Whatever, we're going to have some fun, aren't we Kim," CJ shrugged. Kim didn't answer as she glanced at me, sensing the tension between us, the stared at the ground.
"C'mon," CJ made his way into the forest with Kim in tow. A few other students decided to stay behind as well. Soon, the large group was split, with the majority of students huddled around the unlit campfire, and a small, rebellious crew disappearing into the woods for a private rendezvous.
I turned to Chelsea, "What happened between you two?" I finally asked.
"W-what? N-nothing happened," she stammered. I gave her a look that said I wasn't dumb. She sighed. "We hooked up a few times but he didn't want to get serious." She was heartbroken.
"Chelsea, you and I know better than anyone else what kind of guy CJ is," I chided. "I know. I just thought that maybe I'd be the one to change him. I thought maybe he'd love me back…" she trailed off.
I put my arm around her, drawing her head to my chest. I felt something hot and wet soak my shirt where her face was. I glanced into the sky, gazing at the moon, thankful that despite all I've been through, I'd never had my heart broken by anyone.
She was pressed against a tree, his hands all over her. CJ was out of breath, his mouth devouring hers. Kim was shy and unsure of what to do but he was here to teach her.
He ground his hips against hers and a sharp groan escaped from her lips. His fingers slipped under her shirt trying to unclasp her bra. CJ was so busy he didn't notice Kim going stiff.
She removed his hands from her shirt and pushed him away. "What?" CJ asked, wondering why she had stopped. Hope she doesn't want to chicken out now!
On Kim's face was a look of terror, her mouth opened in a silent scream. She pointed behind her, looking back CJ saw a flock of birds perched on the trees around them. Now he was getting annoyed. She stopped their make-out sesh because of some birds?
"What the hell is going on?" He almost screamed. "D-don't you recognize them? It's those birds from the news. The ones killing people," she explained, her voice shaking.
CJ looked back again, trying to merge the birds he was seeing now with the ones he saw on the news a few nights ago. They did look similar.
"So what? You don't believe those stories do you?" He looked at her like one would look at an idiot. "It was on the news, so it should be true! Quick, let's leave this place," she persuaded.
He looked back again, the birds doing nothing but staring at them. He felt unease but that was it. He wasn't scared of some overgrown chickens.
CJ looked back at Kim, and sighed, using his hands to pinch his head. "Maybe we can find another spot."
"No! Let's go back to camp," she grabbed his hand and tried pulling him back the way they came. "What? No! We can't go back now, we aren't done." He pulled his hand away, gesturing at his obvious boner.
Kim looked at him silently for a few seconds, her face falling. "Guess what they said about you is true. Well, I'm done," she said with disdain, turning back to leave.
"Kim…aargh!" CJ groaned. He threw a dirty look at the stupid birds who had caused him to end up with blue balls. He picked up a stone at threw it at one, it flew off, moving to another branch to dodge the stone. Its red eyes fixed on his face, bidding its time.