Author's Note: This chapter has the preview tied into it. And ALOT of suspense!
Chapter 4: Caught
I woke up the next morning and stretched. I look at clock and saw it was ten-thirty. Yes! Ten-thirty! I love summer! I shook Valerie awake, she had spent the night last night. "Hm? What?" she asked. "Val! It's nearly eleven!" I laughed. She jumped instantly out of her sleep. She usually doesn't sleep in. "Oh. Sorry Denni." She said as she yawned. "I must have been really tired last night. I don't even remember going to bed!" "I came in and found you asleep on Justin's shoulder." I teased.
"WHAT?!" she asked as she turned bright red. "W-Why didn't he wake me up?!" I laughed, it wasn't often that Valerie blushed. "He was asleep too! Don't freak!" I said. She started to laugh too, "It's just embarrassing to be found sleeping next to a guy. I'm just glad it was you who found me, and not my dad!" I laughed at that too. Ever since Valerie's mom died, he's been really over-protective. We went and got dressed; I let her borrow some of my clothes. We brushed our hair, I put on my make-up while she washed her face, and then went to go eat breakfast.
"Look who finally woke up." Justin said as he saw us come in. "Who fell asleep first?" I asked. My question made both of them blush. Valerie and I poured a bowl of cereal and Justin went outside to finish his and my chores. He does this often.
"So what do you have planned today?" I asked Valerie. "Well my dad wants me to look into different colleges… He wants me to be a doctor…" she said. "So I'm gonna be online looking at millions of colleges. He's taking the day off so that he can be with me." "Oh." I said as I began to eat. After breakfast she went home, and I called Hailey to see if she wanted to go to the beach.
"Hello?" she asked. "Hey Hailey! I was wondering if you had any plans today!" I said. "Well…" she began. Uh oh. "My mom was going to show me how to make a really cute hand bag to go with my new dress she made for my date tonight with Taylor!" she said excitedly. "I hope that's okay…" "Oh! Yeah it's fine! I was going to do something with Justin today anyways… Well, see ya tomorrow!" I said. "Bye!" she said.
I hung up the phone and went to my closet. I pulled out hiking sneakers and went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. "Hey Justin!" I said as I saw him walk into the house. "Yeah?" he asked. "Wanna go exploring?" I asked as I grabbed his arm. "I guess I have no choice, now do I?" he joked.
***
"Come on Justin! It's just a bit further!" I said as I pushed the tall grass out of my way. "D-Danni!" he cried. "We aren't supposed to be back here! Mom's going to get mad!" He's such a goody-two-shoes! Doesn't he know being disobedient is all a part of being a teenager? Even though we're only a few minutes apart, we sure are different.
I ignored him and continued making my way through the thicket. "Danni!" he said, quickly changing into a whisper. "Remember what mom and dad said? This is the Komona territory! What if they catch us? And… sacrifice us or something to their cow gods!" I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I know they're dangerous. But come on Justin, get real. Their not going to 'sacrifice' us to any god of theirs! Now shut up and quit acting like a baby!" "Fine…" he mumbled.
Then there was a rustle of leaves. "What was that?! It was a Komona, wasn't it?!" Justin said, a little loudly. Gosh, for a fifteen-year-old boy, he sure was a scaredy cat. "It was probably just a squirrel. Now shush up!" I said. "No! You can go be a cow sacrifice all on your own! I'm going home!" he said. "Whatever." I said to myself. I turned around and began walking again.
There was another rustle in the leaves. Then, a twig snapped. A shiver ran up my spine. "Maybe it really is a Komona." I thought. No. I was just imagining it. There's nothing to be afraid of! I heard something run behind me. When I turned to see it, it ran behind me again. "WHAT WAS THAT?!" I thought nervously.
I began to walk quickly back to town. It began to follow me. I sped up, and so did it. Soon I found myself running with all my might. I was almost there… I think I can make it! But it was too late. The thing jumped on me and pinned me against a boulder. I looked up and saw a man with a spear pointed directly at me! What was I going to do now?!