Lost and Found

by MadMoniMouse

A rookie agent is assigned to the X Files. Her first case to find two agents that vanished during an investigation of multiple disappearances in a small remote town. Why are people disappearing without a trace? What mysteries lie in the town? What happened to the missing agents? It's up to Agent Jackson to follow the clues to be find the missing agents and solve the case.

26. Chapter 26: Second Guessing

Chapter Twenty-Six: Second Guessing

Flashback: 3 Days Prior

After a long night, Mulder and Scully were back following the marks on the trees. Both being extremely exhausted, the agents weren't in the mood to talk. Still, they were determined to get out of the forest alive. Trying to follow the markings on the tree, the two were confident that they would be back at the cavern in no time. From there, they would figure out how to get out the forest, find the trail, and get away from all of this. "Scully, are you sure that we're going the right way?" "Yes, why do you even question me?" "Well, this area seems to be a blur. I have no recollection of you leaving marks on the trees." "There are marks. See?" Scully pointing to a tree and continued "I remember leaving that mark. We will be back to the cavern in no time." Scully headed to the next tree to see the mark that she had left. She was about to tell Mulder that he had no reason to doubt her when Scully took a closer examination of the tree and noticed that something was wrong. She knew that she had marked the tree, but decided to check quickly the other trees and saw there weren't any markings.

"Scully, is everything okay?" "Just double checking, Mulder. Don't worry!" After examining the nearby trees, Scully was stumped. "Mulder, I can't find a marking on any of these trees!" "What do you mean?" "I remember marking a tree, but these trees don't have any marks. It doesn't make sense." "Maybe you upset the woodland sprites?" "Mulder, I am in no mood to argue the existence of mythical spirits." "Well, how else would you explain these markings are missing? Unless, you forgot to leave them." Scully just glared at Mulder. "Mulder, you're not helping matters. What do you suggest?" "Just continue and hope that we are going in the right direction."

Agents Mulder and Scully continued their trek without following the marks that Scully supposedly left behind. "Admit Scully, we're further lost than we were before." "I admit to nothing." Again, between anger and being fatigued, the two were in no mood to argue or banter. Suddenly, Mulder felt he ran into a brick wall and collapsed. "Mulder!" Mulder laid unresponsive. Using her medical background, Scully did everything possibly to stabilize Mulder and set up camp. Noticing what few supplies were left, Scully did her best to make the best of it. Once camp was set up, Scully sat next to Mulder and began to pray for the first time in years.