I changed out of my swimsuit and shoved it into my bags. Wiping my face again, I wedged my feet into my shoes. It was a stupid thing to cry about. It was a dumb mistake. I shouldn’t have let it happen. When I saw Titus next, I’d apologize, and we’d figure something out. There was nothing to be upset about.

Taking out my phone, I checked the time. My dad was going to be furious, and I wasn’t going to beat him back to the campground. Walking to the forest edge, I looked around. Titus was the one who led the way. I was such an idiot for yelling at him like that. I had hurt him so badly. 

I took a deep breath. I could do this by myself. It shouldn’t be that hard to find my way back. 

I walked along the trail that led to the hot spring. I stumbled over the usual rocks and fallen trees. Reaching the top, I looked around and chose the path that looked the most familiar. 

Some time passed, and the trees started looking all the same. If I could locate the clearing or even the fence, I could find my way back. Taking out my phone, I saw that I had been wandering around for over thirty minutes. 

“Damn it.” I sat down on a log and clutched my knees. 

I should have never left the hot pool. Titus would have come back eventually. Now, I was lost, and no one knew where I was. I had to find my way, at least back to the spring. 

***

I stumbled down an embankment and slowed to a stop at the side of a river. Scanning the area, I felt my chest tighten. Nothing looked right. I didn’t even remember a river. I climbed onto a boulder to get a better view.

“Titus!” I yelled. “Titus!” I searched the trees. “Titus, I’m sorry! Titus!” I sat down and hung my head. “Titus, I’m lost.” Tears ran from my eyes and dripped off my chin. “I’m so lost.”

It was starting to get dark. My dad would have called me in as missing by now, but they’d never look this far away from the campground. I was on private ground. I shouldn’t even be here. 

Taking out my phone, I stood and held it up. If I could find a signal, I could call them. No matter which way I turned, my phone showed no service. My foot slipped, and I dropped to my knees before I fell. My phone slipped from my hand. It tumbled through the rocks and splashed into the river. 

“No!”

I cursed and slid down the rock. I hurried and grabbed it. It turned on just long enough for me to see one bar before the battery died, and it powered down. 

“Damn it!” I threw the phone at the boulder, and it shattered. Running a hand through my hair, I shook my head. I didn’t want to die out here. My parents probably wouldn’t even find my body. 

A low growl sounded from the bank.

Holding my breath, I slowly turned my head. “Oh my god.” I staggered to the rocks. 

The red monster bared its teeth and stepped into the water. I panicked and started the desperate climb to the top of the boulder. Reaching the top, I glanced back. All I saw was a blur of red as the animal launched itself from the riverbed. I was sent flying through the air and landed on a sandbank.

Pain ignited from my shoulder. I screamed, clutching my arm. My skin was burning from the claw marks. A fire had been sent racing through my veins. It hurt to even breathe. I rolled on the ground, struggling for air. The animal stomped on my head, and I felt its claws press into my skin. Closing my eyes, I stopped moving and waited for the end. 

Its cold tongue ran across my skin. I gasped. The pain dulled, and the animal left. Curling into a ball, I hugged my arm to my stomach. 

My jacket was removed, and something warm fell over me. I heard a ripping sound as my sleeve was torn. I tried to roll over, but they held me in place. Fabric was placed over my head, and I was lifted off the ground. 

We started to move. I peeked through a small opening in the blanket I had been wrapped in to see the trees flying by. It was dark, and the forms morphed into animals running along with us. Closing my eyes, I wanted to go home and be with my parents. 

My mind slipped for what felt like only a moment before I was jolted awake. The person set me on the ground and removed the blanket. Rolled onto my side, I slowly sat up. My head was throbbing, and I was all alone. 

“Aden!” 

My head snapped around. “Here,” I coughed. “I’m here.” My throat hurt. Using a nearby tree as a support, I rose to my feet. I stumbled along toward the voices. “Mom,” I yelled, though it came out barely above a whisper.

“Aden!”

“Dad.” I stumbled to the ground. 

A light shone on my face, and I reached up to shade my eyes.

“We found him! Over here! Quint, we found him!”

Figures ran toward me and helped me stand. 

“Aden.” A large man ran to me and hugged me tightly. “I was so worried. Why did you run off like that?”

“Dad”—I hid my face in his chest—“I want to go home.”

He rubbed my back and helped me to where the search party had gathered. 

My mother ran to me, tears in her eyes. She hugged me tightly and kissed my face. “Thank god, Aden. You’re safe.”

A blanket was put around my shoulders, and I was taken to my father’s truck. The back door was opened, and I was helped inside. My mother slipped into the front seat. I gazed out the window while my father thanked the other forest rangers. I saw someone standing in the trees. I rubbed my eyes.

“Do you need something, honey?” my mom asked.

I nodded. “My head hurts.”

She dug through her purse and took out a pill container. She handed me two with a water bottle and brushed back my hair as I took them. 

“We were so worried.”

“I’m sorry.”

She cupped my cheek. “Never wandered off like that again. I’ve never been so scared.”

“I won’t.” I leaned forward and hugged her. “I promise.” I glanced outside and saw the man was still standing in the trees. 

The truck door opened, and my father climbed inside. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m tired.”

My dad clasped the back of my neck and pulled me to him. He kissed my forehead. “Get some sleep.”

“‘kay.” I peeked out the window one last time. 

The man was gone. He might not have even been there to begin with. With all that had happened, I didn’t know what to consider real. Bunching up a blanket, I lay my head on it and closed my eyes. I wanted this day to be over and never see one of those demons again.