Chapter 24

I had been searching these woods for over an hour. I still had not found any sign of Chris. As I headed back a knife came flying out of no where and only just missed my head. It stuck into a tree and I drew my bow and notched an arrow in the string. I aimed the direction the knife had come. I saw nothing move and I heard nothing. I slowly walked over to the knife and pulled it from the tree. It was a strange looking knife, I knew it was personalized by whoever owned it. I tucked it into my belt and kept going. I took out a few rabbits on the way and made it back to camp at sunset. Daryl came running to me. I was still a little upset with him. I gave him no smile as he approached.

"Prue will ya just listen!" He said.

I said nothing and kept walking. I should have known better. He grabbed me and turned me around so I was facing him. He scowled at me.

"Yer gonna listen to what I got to say!" He said angrily.

I waited for him to go on.

"I'ma let go if ya promise to listen."

"You have my word." I said.

He let go of me and I waited for him to continue.

"Look…What I said before ya left…"

I looked at him and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry. I ain't too good as saying it but there ye have it." He said.

I smiled small and put my hand on his arm. He looked up at me.

"It's alright. But I need you to understand…I had completely forgotten about those three. Knowing that two of them are alive and the third is still out there….I have to find him. Please understand Daryl." I said softly.

He nodded and I smiled and kissed him. I took his hand and then Anthony and Brandon came over to us followed by….Andrea?

"Did you find anything?" Anthony asked.

I took the knife from my belt.

"This came flying out of nowhere at my head. I did not find who threw it."

"No and you wouldn't. It belongs to Chris." Brandon said.

He looked at me.

"You're lucky. He never misses. He is still alive. Let's go."

I nodded and looked at Daryl. He jerked his head towards the woods.

"Go on. Ye best bring yer ass back here safe." He said.

Kissed him hard on the lips and then ran off into the woods.

"Split up. We shall cover more ground. If we do not find him in an hour we all head back. If something happens we whistle." I said.

They nodded and we went off in different directions. Chris proved very difficult to track. Eventually I did find his tracks. I looked around.

"Chris!?" I called out.

Nothing. I followed the tracks and came to what looked like a pitfall trap. I tossed a rock in and smiled when I saw I was right. I laughed aloud and shook my head.

"Chris if you are attempting to hide from me…..It shall not work. I always find what I am searching for. Do you not remember when we were children? I always found you." I said.

I kept following the tracks until I found a torn piece of clothing snagged on a thorn bush. I plucked it from the bush and examined it closely. There was blood on it. I looked up.

"Oh please no! Goddess Artemis protect him! Lend me your strength and help me find him." I whispered.

I went forward faster then before. It was getting dark and I knew it had been over an hour. I stood up and whistled as loud as I could. I took my hunting knife and stuck it in the ground and then kept going. I hoped that they would know I was on to something and that I was alive.