It was a fiery cold morning, the clouds danced across the sky as the trees rustled in the wind. Fallen leaves crunched under the feet of the children, consumed in their game; bitter cold wind scraped across their cheeks.
The twisted arms of the trees concealed a small boy. The woods turned silent. As his friends below him went to search in the other direction the boy sat motionless, struggling to keep in his laughter. Underneath the almost risen sun; a couple stood, hand in hand, gazing into each other's eyes. A swallow flew above them wheeling through the sky searching for food. A blood-curdling scream broke the silence.
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Meanwhile Luke thought he must have been waiting for hours by now. He started looking out for his friends; where were they? Jack should be here by now: he's great at seeking. Had they abandoned him? He climbed silently from his perch in the tree and stood on the path. They were nowhere to be seen. He crept off quietly, trying to find them.
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'This is it' Samantha thought; she had been waiting for Chris to kiss her all day, they'd been going out for weeks. He leant in slowly, building the tension, she closed her eyes. She inhaled his sweet scent. He leant closer. She thought about his gorgeous eyes. Closer. The discrete smile that she knew would be on his face. Closer. His silky, soft touch. Closer. Out of the blue a boy ran towards them.
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Luke scouted from trees, dived under bushes, calling his mates names. Silence. They were nowhere to be found! In his mind he played with the thought of going home, leaving his friends where they were, wherever that happened to be. Then a petrifying scream pierced his ear and as Luke turned the corner he finally found his friends, or what was left of them.
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Samantha could feel the tingling on her lips of Chris' rapid breathing; their lips were millimetres apart when she abruptly felt nothing but the sodden ground. Some boy had harshly shoved them apart, out of his way. He didn't even stop to say sorry, he just sprinted off.
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Luke tore the couple apart: he had no time for slushy stuff or explanations; no time to stop; he had to get to the police; or a phone; anyone.
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Samantha almost burst out screaming, she could kill that stupid little boy for ruining her perfect moment. Chris was grinning as if he were a drunk in a room of vintage wine.
"What's so funny?" she asked
"You're so cute when you're mad" he replied as he extended his hand to help her up. She smiled lovingly back at him as she pulled him down to the ground next to her.
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Luke now knew what had happened: where his friends were; why they never came back for him; what had caused that scream. He had to help. That man, he'd seen him before. They don't exist. What should he do? Maybe he was dreaming. Will he be hurt? He knew had to do something. No one would believe him though. Luke's mind was so muddled, so confused. All of a sudden his face hit the muddy ground as he felt his foot twist over a root. Nothingness consumed his mind.