Chapter 14: Another Side Of Carol

I came back to the fort grounds smiling when I was encountered by Carol. He looked angry, I've seen him happy, in pain, remorseful, and even prideful...but never angry and that face has been branded in the back of my mind.

"Carol, are you okay?" I asked a little frightened.

"Who knows? Maybe I know, maybe I won't tell...like you didn't tell me you were leaving, are you really going?"

I nodded in hysteria, he found out.

His face softened, "Don't."

"I have to."

"Why? Why are you going back to them?! the ones who treated you like...like...this!"

He picked up a handful of dirt and let it slide through his fingers.

"Did I do something wrong? Is this about Max?!"

I said nothing, I merely stepped backwards a few steps and Carol matched each stride.

"Answer me!" he yelled.

"No! I just-"

"Don't feel safe here, because of me, don't feel like hurting over me...what about all that about feeling wanted and loving it here, where did that go?"

"Carol, you're scaring me!"

"I'm scaring you? I'm scaring you?! Good! Then it'll make it more enjoyable when I prevent you from leaving for good!"

He's not saying what I think he's saying!

"I'll eat you up!"

Carol lunged and missed as I ran of into the woods screaming, "Somebody help!"

I darted through a dense thicket, too small for Carol. I then had a head start when someone pulled me off the path, I looked up and there was Alexander.

"Listen, keep going, I'll go get help okay?"

"Okay."

"Go!"

I bolted and he ran in the other direction. I ran until I felt like I could run no more, then I was bounced off of something like a trampoline, I landed on my back and saw KW.

"Come on," She said as she took my ankle and dragged me into the brush.

I could hear Carol storming through the forest like an angry giant and I was now scared out of my mind when KW said, "Here, get inside!"

I looked at her confused, "What?"

"Get in! Crawl inside my mouth, I'm gonna hide you!"

I looked at her like she was crazy, "Again, what?"

Carol was getting closer, I had no choice now. I put my foot in her mouth and stepped in.

"Watch the teeth! Watch the teeth!"

She then pushed me further in and I was dropped in a sack of slimy fuzz, I realized the only air I was getting was from when she breathed, "KW, do me a favor and breathe through your nose!"

"Got it."

Then Carol same through the thicket, "EMILY!"

I overheard their conversation as I hyperventilated.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know."

"Where is she?"

"I don't know!"

"I can smell her! Don't make me ask again!"

"You leave her alone Carol!"

"I wasn't really gonna eat her...I just..."

"What?"

"Overreacted!"

There was a slight pause, "Am I really that scary?"

"Carol, just go home."

"I just wanted a daughter."

I was pained inside as I heard Carol leave.

"Are you alright in there hun?"

"Well I'm being constricted and it doesn't exactly smell like a basket of roses in here."

I felt and heard her snort a laugh, "Here"

I was then pulled out and I fell asleep on her lap as she combed through my damp hair.