Chapter 17

‘We have to find Emma,’ Eric said for the hundredth time in the cabin’s lodge. He checked his phone for reception, once again there was none. As Eric was jittering with worry, the rest of the students were lounging by the fireplace.

‘Dude, take a chill pill. She and Tom probably went somewhere to make out,’ said Jeremy

‘Or do…other things.’ His friend added. They laughed.

Eric gave them a look which made them stop laughing instantly.

 ‘Since they’re not sending out a search team until dawn I’m going to find her-them,’ said Eric. He draped on a scarf and left with his backpack and torch.

‘What’s up with him?’ Jeremy asked his friend after Eric had left into the wilderness.

‘That’s Eric being Eric. The kind of hero that would respond to a distress call of a cat in the middle of the night.’

‘I bet he just wants his cabin mate with him tonight so Miss Cam doesn’t sneak into his bed and ‘have her way’ with him.’

*

‘Itch,’ said Emma

‘Another one?’

‘Yeah, my arm.’ Tom and Emma had been waiting under the same tree for hours, rationing food and water from their backpacks between them. As Emma’s left arm was holding pressure onto her leg Tom was helping her with every itch and task she couldn’t reach or do one armed. It was dark in the bush now and the sound of crickets and unexplained noises were playing in the background.

‘Um, Tom? That’s not my arm you’re scratching.’

‘Oh right…sorry.’ Realising what he was actually touching, Tom shied away glad that it was too dark to see him blush.

‘They’re not going to find us tonight are they?’

‘Well if it comes to cannibalism, that leg’s ready to go,’ said Tom. Emma punched him with her available arm. Tom laughed and blanketed his jacket on her after feeling her shiver from the cold. He inched in closer to share some of his body heat knowing how easily Emma got cold.

‘I think I’m losing a lot of blood,’ she said to Tom. She could feel herself getting dizzy and her stomach making annoying somersaults. She looked up at Tom, to see him looking at her. A look that they had never in all their years of knowing each other had never shared before.

‘I found you! I was sure I heard talking. Oh God, Emma are you okay?’ Eric shone his flashlight into their faces. Emma and Tom broke their gaze and squinted their eyes at Eric who was still beaming his bright light into their eyes. Tom stood up and brushed the dirt off his shorts.

‘She’s getting weak. We better hurry.’

Eric pulled out his walkie talkie, okay more like the walkie talkie he ‘borrowed’ from the ranger’s office.

‘Get into my backpack for the first aid kit, I’ll take care of the help.’ Eric backed away to communicate with the ranger while Tom was sterilising Emma’s wound.

‘They’re sending out a helicopter,’ he said. Eric leaned over Emma who was halfway to passing out. Eric brushed her fringe away from her face.

‘Everything’s going to be okay now Emma, I’m here now.’

Tom turned away feeling an uneasiness at the pit of his stomach.