Revamped!

[In regards to my beginning author's note from the last chapter, I lied about one thing. There will probably be 170 chapters instead of 160. I'm such trash for this story that I'm putting a bonus arc.] [2020: I think the story now, counting the bonus arc, will be around 250 chapters. Holy spades that's a lot.]

Beyond the Crescent Moon: Part Eight

Cress and Thorne bike around until they end up in a forest that was bordering a recreational park, both of which were empty since it was the middle of the night. Unless there were questionable activities happening in the shadows that they can't see. There was no wind at the moment, making it so much more silent and scarier than it was. Cress and Thorne are currently running on pure adrenaline, making them park their bikes and step off just to look at the adventure set before them. That explains why they haven't felt one swoop of fatigue yet.

"I want to go exploring in there," Cress says.

"For someone who has never had fun, you sure know how to have it," Thorne comments.

They leave their bikes by one of the bordering trees and start their walk inside. The path is narrow so Cress has to walk in front of Thorne, but he's so close behind that Cress can almost feel even Thorne's smallest movements like his breathing. Sometimes the front of his shoes hit the back of hers, but neither of them notices because they're both looking upwards at all the mystic that surrounds them.

A canopy of trees tower above thick ferns, vines trail down in tangles that act as a blanket for spiderwebs. There are endless menacing and twisted branches. Some are still alive and carry leaves and birds' nests or some are dead and decayed on the dry ground at their feet.

"This scenery is wonderful," Cress comments.

"There's nothing like Mother Nature to make you feel better."

"Earth is beautiful. Although it's big and scary and full of so many unknown possibilities, I'm ready for it, ready to see it all."

Thorne stops walking for a second just to watch Cress walk ahead. He admires that look of wonder that comes with her steps. Her head constantly moves, trying to get a good look at everything although it's not going anywhere. Before he loses sight of her, Thorne starts catching up. His footsteps follow the beat of his heart which will lead to her.

-o-

After losing track of time, Thorne and Cress decide to head back to their bikes. However, when they turn around, the narrow path they thought they were on disappeared (which is what they should've noticed the moment they started walking beside one another) and every tree looks the same. Thorne and Cress meet each other's eyes and know what's happening: they're lost in the middle of the dark forest.

"We're lost!" Cress exclaims, stepping away from Thorne just so she can panic. "You got us lost!"

"I did not!" Thorne replies. "You did!"

It was nobody's fault except both of theirs. Their gut reaction was telling them to blame one another since the human condition is not to admit fault when someone else could be blamed.

Cress shivers, crossing her arms just so she can rub them through her sweatshirt. Thorne paces, running a hand up and down the back of his neck as he thinks of a plan.

Nothing comes to mind.

The wind picks up and Cress almost falls over. She stands up straight and faces Thorne, shivering more.

"H-how long do you t-think we'll live for?" She asks, her jaw chattering.

"That depends," Thorne responds. "What's your will to survive?"

-o-

Their best solution was to stay close together and continue walking straight. The current plan at play was to find some form of civilization, even if they end up on the other side of town. From there, they can figure out how to get back home although they have no cell phone service or cash on them.

"What if a bear pops out?" Cress suddenly asks.

"We're in Commonwealth, Cress," Thorne replies, "there are no bears … the worst is coyotes."

Cress looks at him horrified. Thorne laughs a little, despite it not being funny although it was true. He only said it to lighten the mood in the darkness. Thorne looks down and sees something moving underneath a pile of tree branches.

"What is that?" Thorne asks, pointing right at it. "A snake?"

Cress screams without even looking at it.

"Get me out of this snake-infested forest!" She yells.

Cress sprints ahead. Thorne takes a second to laugh at his second joke of the night, but seeing as it might be a snake, he makes a run for it as well. Besides, they'd be dead if they lost each other. Once Thorne catches up to Cress, he sees her sitting down with her back against a tree and her head slumped between her knees. She looks defeated and Thorne can't bear to look at her feeling responsible. Yes, it was her idea to go on this specific adventure and into the woods but the concept of adventures, generally, started with him.

He doesn't want them to die in this forest. Thorne won't allow it even if Cress looks like she will willingly sacrifice herself to nature.

"We have to hunt for food," Thorne states.

Cress can't tell if he's being serious or not. She thinks the former since he picks up a stick and stabs it into the ground. Thorne looks up, exuding that primal survivor vibe which makes Cress's heart flutter.

"Hunting is inhumane," Cress points out.

"Are you vegan?"

She scoffs. "Of course not."

Cress then looks down, her head returns to the middle of her knees. She softly cries, wishing she had her safety blanket of long hair with her so she could cocoon herself in it for safety and hide her tears. Thorne lightly takes her arms and pulls her up.

"Don't cry, Cress," Thorne tells her, "it's dehydrating."

He holds her arm with one hand and holds his walking stick with the other. Thorne leads her through the forest.

His grip on his stick tightens for self-defence as he hears sounds that scarily resemble footsteps.

"Cress," Thorne whispers, "considering that we might die in this forest, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," she replies.

"Why do you have a crush on me?"

Cress feels her cheeks heating up. She shakes but not because she's cold. She never saw that question being asked coming. Was her crush on Thorne that obvious? Did he know the whole time? Did someone tell him? Now, she has more questions.

"The year I came to Commonwealth was the year your parents sent you away," Cress explains. "I only know that because everyone at school would talk about you. Oh my stars, Thorne, you sounded phenomenal. I wanted to hear all the good things and they made me happy like fairytales do. Then, you came back from military school and it put a face to this legend everyone spoke about. A handsome one, I'll add. I looked up to you and wanted to be with you."

Thorne smirks but it vanishes as quick as it came. "I'm no legend, though, Cress. My parents sent me away because they wanted me to be more mature but didn't want to teach me themselves. At my new school, I misbehaved so much that they kicked me out and sent me right back home. I'm no legend. I'm someone who wants attention from parents. Seeing them pick me up from the airport and reprimand me in front of customs was the highlight of my return."

Cress is speechless. Thorne loosens up and decides to change the topic. Her picture of Carswell Thorne that was always in her daydreams is shattered. But now, instead of a self-obsessed and charming boy, she sees someone who acknowledges his flaws and that just makes him more real to her, still charming, though.

"Where's your mom?" Thorne asks her.

Cress swallows the lump in her throat. "She left before my dad and I moved here. My mom felt like she was trapped in the married and parenthood lifestyle so she packed her bags. I think my dad let her since it may have been deteriorating her and he didn't want to see her implode and affect me. I felt like that too for a while, just trapped in my boring life. That is until you whisked me out of my bedroom that night."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. And Thorne, back to what I said about my feelings for you, you've had my attention before I even met you. I didn't even think you'd come back to town."

"I think that's all that matters."

They see fireflies and realize that the stars in the sky are not as intimidating. The wind whips over the treetops, turning Cress towards Thorne. He wraps his arms around her and embraces the deep fragrance of the forest. Before they know it, some strange, powerful force is drawing them together.

"Despite my ex-girlfriend, I've never been in love before but I'm starting to understand the emotion," Thorne whispers to her. "Every moment with you strengthens that."

Cress is speechless, which is good because that's when Thorne lifts her and presses her against a tree. Before she could question what's going on, Thorne kisses her. Cress tenses at the surprise but then softens her muscles and accepts it. She lets his lips part hers and indulges in their warmth. Thorne's free hand roams all over her side until it rests at her waist. Cress is taken to a whole new level of surprise and adrenaline. There's something handsome about his confidence. His ability to take charge, his dominating demeanour … and she loves it. With that one kiss, her ambivalence shifts to enthusiasm. Her mind is unable to process the pleasure so fast.

They barely part. Thorne can see Cress's eyes glowing in the darkness which matches her smile.

"That was my first kiss," Cress mutters.

Thorne smirks a little. "How about I give you a second?"

Cress nods, allowing Thorne to kiss her again. In the twilight, their fingers caress each other's skin as if they were afraid a heavier touch would break the magic. They became one, one mind with one goal and purpose, each utterly in love for the other. The rest of the world and the forest becomes an unimportant blur that is banished into the far recesses of their minds. The only thing that matters now to them is one another.

They part again and Cress's feet land on the ground again. Thorne takes her hand into his.

"I will get us out of here," Thorne states.

"Me too."

[Cresswell shippers, bow down! Jokes, jokes, I'll bow down to myself.

And as for the part about Thorne being sent away and his ex-girlfriend, that will all be explained in a later arc.]