CHAPTER 2: INTO THE WILD
AFTERNOON – IN THE WOOD
Pacey was walking down the trail, taking pictures here and there at some plants and mushrooms, hoping that at least one of them was in Professor Peterson's list.
After a while, he noticed some noises coming from the right side of the wood and, thinking about some wild animals that he could photograph, he decided to leave the trail and go after it.
He slowly walked by some rocks and bushes, pushing away some branches and leaves while trying to be as quiet as possible in order not to scare the animal.
After a few more steps, he could finally see what he was chasing: a beautiful deer was eating some grass not so far from him. Instantly, he took the camera to try to seize the moment. To have an unobstructed view, he took a few steps backwards when he suddenly felt something under his foot. Before he could realize what he had just stepped on, an excruciating pain hit his right ankle. Immediately, he looked down through the high grass, just to see a little snake quickly hiding back under a rock.
"Damn it!", he cursed under his breath.
After a moment of confusion, he decided to start limping towards the trail. Barely, he managed to reach it but then the pain forced him to stop. Leaning against a tree with his back, he eventually checked his ankle, seeing two little holes on it, covered in blood. He looked at the trail in the direction of the parking lot, trying to think of what to do, then he picked up the radio. He stared at it for a few seconds, then, seeing no alternative, he decided to push the button.
In a different part of the wood, Dawson was filming some flowers when he heard the radio buzzing.
"Hey Dawson, can you hear me?", asked the scratchy voice in the radio.
Irritated, he stopped the camera and looked at his watch.
"What's up? It's not 5 yet."
"Yeah I know, it's just…I think we should go back to the car now."
"Why, have you already wandered throughout all the wood and photographed all the plants and animals of Massachusetts? Look, Pacey, I know that for you this is just a big waste of time since you'll probably be flunked in biology anyway, but if you don't mind, I care about my grades, so I'd like to finish filming in a proper way."
Pacey rolled his eyes.
"Dawson, we can come back here finishing the job another time, but now we really need to go."
"Another time? Are you kidding me, right? I won't come here another time just because you got bored or you want to go home and watch your favorite show. We'll finish today."
Pacey stayed in silence for a moment, then he began speaking in a very serious tone.
"I'm not kidding, Dawson."
Dawson remained disoriented for a second, then he started feeling that something was wrong.
"Hey, is everything ok?", he asked, confused.
Pacey looked down at his ankle, now more swollen than before.
"Actually…no."
"Why? Have you hurt yourself?"
"Uhm…sort of."
"What the hell does it mean sort of? Are you hurt or not?"
"A snake bit me, Dawson", Pacey eventually admitted with a monotone expression.
"What?! Why didn't you tell me before! – Dawson shook his head in disbelief – Nevermind, where are you now?"
"I'm…I'm about 10 minutes' walk along the north trail."
"Ok…don't move, I'm on my way."
"Ok. Thanks."
Dawson put the radio back in his pocket and began running towards the north trail. Pacey leant back on the tree and looked at his ankle again with a painful expression.
AFTERNOON – IN THE WOOD
Pacey was sitting below the same tree as before when Dawson's voice could be heard.
"Pacey!"
Pacey waved at him to be more visible. "Here!"
Dawson approached him and immediately noticed how he was already pale and sweaty.
"Where…"
Pacey pointed at his leg with his head and Dawson got down to observe the ankle that was now very swollen.
"What happened?"
"I was taking some pictures off the trail and I must have stepped on it…"
"What the hell were you thinking going off the trail? You know it's dangerous!"
Pacey ignored the preach, rolling his eyes. Realizing that it wasn't the proper moment to be mad, Dawson returned calmer.
"Anyway…- Dawson continued - Have you seen what kind of snake it was?"
Pacey made a half smile. "Dawson, my biology mark is E, I could not tell a cobra from a boa…"
"Ok, but you must have seen the size or the color…"
"I don't know, it was in the grass, it seemed brownish to me, like most of the snakes…"
"All right, it doesn't matter right now – Dawson gave up since they were going nowhere - We'll think about that later. Plus, we don't have to assume it was venomous."
"And what if it was? Are there venomous snakes around here?"
"Uhm…I don't know, maybe some pit vipers…"
Pacey stared at him for a moment. "So?", he asked, seeing that Dawson was evasive.
"So what?"
"How much is dangerous the venom?"
"You don't know?"
Pacey glared at him.
"Uhm…not much – Dawson continued - Maybe a little more than a bee sting."
Pacey stared at him again.
"You're such a terrible liar, Dawson. Is it lethal, right?"
Dawson felt completely taken off guard.
"Look – he started to explain - the dangerousness of a venom doesn't depend only on the type, but also on how much it was injected and where, the health of the person, how much time has passed…and with the antivenom they have today, no one still dies because of snake bites, ok? Plus, as I said, maybe it wasn't even venomous…"
"Ok…"
"Now we have to go, can you get up?"
"Yeah", Pacey replied trying to hide his discomfort.
Dawson watched him get on his feet, not sure if he should intervene to help him. After a couple of unstable steps, the answer became clear.
"Need a hand?"
Pacey finally nodded and leant his arm on Dawson's shoulder. Then they started walking away.
AFTERNOON – IN THE WOOD
Dawson was still walking along the trail, helping Pacey whose limping was becoming every minute worse.
"We're almost there – Dawson said – The car should be behind that turn, where the trees thin out."
"I need to stop", Pacey whispered with an aching tone, ignoring him.
"You can rest in a few minutes, but now it's best to continue."
"No, Dawson, I need to stop now."
At that point, Dawson stopped. Pacey made a couple of steps and then threw up behind a tree. Dawson stared at the whole scene petrified.
"Do you still think it wasn't venomous?", Pacey asked.
"I…I just know that we should reach the car as fast as we can."
"Yeah…give me a minute."
Then, he threw up again and sat on a rock nearby.
Dawson ran a hand through his hair, more worried and uncertain on what to do.
Noticing Dawson's expression, Pacey felt the urge to release the tension.
"I'm fine, I've only eaten some bad Chinese", he joked.
Dawson made half a smile.
"I see."
Then, he turned serious again.
"Listen, I know it's hard, but the sooner we get to the hospital, the sooner everything will be over."
Pacey stood still, searching for the strength to move.
"Do it for Joey, ok?", Dawson said impulsively.
Pacey glanced at him, surprised.
"If she was here – Dawson insisted – she would want you not to give up and to do everything possible to get out of this situation."
Pacey stood quiet, looking away.
Dawson continued: "If you don't want to do it for yourself, then just make an effort for her, ok? If I were in your place, I believe that this would be the only thing to keep me going and I think it's the same for you."
Pacey raised his eyes again and then extended his arm towards Dawson.
"Let's go."
Dawson helped him getting up and then they resumed walking to the exit.
LATE AFTERNOON – IN THE WOOD
Pacey and Dawson passed the last trees and exited to the parking lot where their car was.
"Hey, Pace, we're here."
"Good."
"Give me the key."
Pacey searched his pockets and then handed the car key to Dawson.
Dawson opened the passenger's door and made him get in.
"You ok?"
Pacey nodded.
"Thanks, Dawson."
Dawson closed the door, reached the other side and got in. He glanced at Pacey, who was staring outside the window, and then turned the key.
The engine made a suffocated noise, without turning on.
Pacey immediately turned to Dawson that, baffled, tried again to start the car. Same suffocated and terrifying noise.
Hearing that sound again, Pacey closed his eyes for a moment, realizing that this nightmare was far from over.