...Layla...

...****************...

I turn to the window the light coming in, or the lack there of, tells me it’s about 5:30 in the morning. I’m wide awake. I sigh as I uncover myself and rise out of bed. I put on my running shoes and raincoat, getting ready for my morning jog. On my way to the kitchen to get water and my travel pack I notice Nick leaning over the radio passed out. Looks like there’s still no reply. I grab the water out of the fridge and pack from the wall by the door then head out.

I start stretching before the jog to get hyped up when Rox comes out to join me. Her silver hair is in a messy bun and you can tell she just jumped out of bed. Despite our situation she still looks like the definition of bright eyed and bushy tailed.

“Good morning Layla!” She says as she starts stretching with me. Her blue eyes somehow shining in the darkness. “Going for your morning jog?” She asked flashing a toothy grin.

“Good morning Rox. Is there a better way to spend my morning?” I ask smiling back at her.

She shakes her head. “Definitely more productive than waiting by that quiet radio all morning.” She begins doing toe touches. “Are we going to the stream this morning?”

“No I think we’ll take a trip to the south radio tower. I want to see if it’s still receiving an outside signal” The south tower is the tower we use when sending messages to and from Rainburg port, it’s about 2 hours away.

“If we’re quick we’ll get back before Nick wakes up” she giggles

I laugh “Even if we’re slow we’ll be back before he wakes up” Nick has been staying up until 3 in the morning for the past week. We don’t blame him he’s just worried, all of us are. Hiking through this forest is no joke, not with the bears, wolves, and the rough terrain. Not to mention the constant rain paired with the long journey. “Maybe we should fish while we’re out” I say out loud letting Rox know what I’m thinking.

She nods, her smile fading. “We have enough provisions to last a week but it looks like we’ll be needing more if we’re going to hike to port.”

She must be more home sick than I am. We’re in this large cabin somewhere in the Bomtass rain forest, the only emergency radio this deep into the forest. I’ve been waiting here for weeks, three weeks to be exact. The people helping me have been waiting for their coworkers to respond over the radio for two months. I’m no expert but it doesn’t usually take this long to receive a reply. Nick is a Flight Paramedic and Rox is a Flight Nurse, they’re here for work, in case of emergencies like a wounded hiker. The big helicopter pad in the back is where I was dropped off and was told to return, seeing as how the area to and from port are where the wolves hunt.

I came out here for a relaxing year long trip away from my father’s control. He’s going to be pissed when I he realizes I’m late back. Not that he would know what I’m back from, as soon as I graduated high school I left a note and ran for the hills. He was starting to go crazy talking about asteroids and bio weapons. I would have stayed until I started college but I was scared I might actually kill him if he didn’t back off, telling me I had to work at the lab on base. I’m not one for scientist nor do I plan to be one. That’s why I’ve been putting my survival skills to the test with a year long hiking trip. It’s been tough but I feel refreshed and more capable than when I was in school.

The run to the tower felt really quick despite the sweat running down Rox and my faces. When we get the tower the first thing I noticed is the lights aren’t flashing.

“The lights aren’t flashing” she says in tune with my own thoughts. She looks at me worried. “The antennas are usually spinning. Maybe there’s a power outage. It’s a good thing we made the trip up here, now we can tell Nick to get some rest tonight before we set out.”

I nod, despite deciding to check out the tower I wasn’t expecting to actually find it not working. “Should we fish before we get back?” I ask changing the subject.

“Yeah I’m sure Nick will be hungry when he wakes up” she replies.

...Deion...

...****************...

“It’s about time to go” I say out loud as I start packing up camp. My watch says 4:00am, if I go now I’ll make it to the heli pad by 9:00am. I roll up my sleeping bag, pack my provisions, and strap on my bag. “Got to make sure my camera is charged, in case I come up onto anything film worthy.” I whisper to myself quietly, then set out.

As I start coming up onto the cabin I pull out my camera to get a good angle on it and the heli pad. I get the over head shot of it then pause my recording, now 10 feet from it I do a tour around the outside to the door. Knock knock… no answer, I knock again. “Hello, is there anyone here?” I hear a gasp then footsteps approaching the door. It cracks open.

“Hello” a man says through the crack. “What can I do for ya.”

“Hey, names Deion! I’m a velogger and was wondering if I could do a tour of the cabin before calling in a chopper to take me back to port.” It’s been six months since I’ve talked to anyone but myself, it feels a little strange but I continue. “If not it’s alright, I can do it outside!” I said making sure to put some pep into my speech.

The man opens the door fully. His hair’s blond, he’s got tan skin and brown eyes. “I don’t mind if you do the video…” He pauses visibly upset then says. “ I won’t be able to call a helicopter though.” He sighs, “come in.”

He introduced himself as Nick and briefed me on the situation. “That’s why we’ll be hiking our way to port. You can join us if you’d like but do know it won’t be a cake walk.” Nick looks at me for my answer.

“I would like to join you guys.” I breathe out. “I’m experienced with wolves and hunting so I don’t believe I’ll be a nuisance.” I have to get home as soon as possible, to edit and post my footage. Plus my mom is probably waiting for me to come home. “When are we heading out?” I ask readying myself for a long journey.

“I’m waiting for my partner and the hiker we’ve been housing to get back.” He shakes his head utterly defeated. “You’d think they’d leave a note or wake me before heading out, but no they just disappear first thing in the morning every morning.”

I laugh, “They do this often?”

“Only ever since Layla got here.” He says flabbergasted. “At least Roxy used to tell me she was going out, and where to.”

I laugh harder. “How adventurous!” I quiet my laughter. “If you don’t mind I’m going to tour the cabin real quick.”

“Go on ahead,” he says quickly, as he rubs his head in his hands. “I’ve gotta catch up on some sleep anyhow.” Nick pushes his self up and heads down the hallway right before the kitchen.

After I get my camera ready across the couch I press record and sit down. “Hey crew, it’s been a crazy six months for me and it’s about to get a whole lot crazier!” I smile then prop my elbows up on my knees. “No one’s responding through the radio, which means… drum roll please!” I tap the coffee table with my fingers. “I’ll be hiking through wolf territory!” I make a surprise gesture with my hands. “But first, we’ll be touring the outpost cabin. Let’s go!”

I grab my camera and start at the front door. “Here’s the living room ladies and gents!” I show the fire place and couch in one shot then move to the deer antlers and other trophies the wall, then move my way down to the taxidermy wolf in the corner. “Hey that’s pretty cool!” I get closer to get the teeth into the shot. Then move the camera to aim toward the floor where the bear skin rug was under the coffee table. “I don’t think I’ve seen a black bear skin rug before.” I say interested, then move on. “To the kitchen!” I say like I’m looking for lost treasure. Suddenly the door swing’s open and I spin around like I got caught playing with dolls.

“Hey stranger!” Says the silver haired blue eyed woman, she greeted me with a big smile, then pauses. “Who are you?” She looks as equally puzzled as she was excited seconds ago.

I laugh then my pause the recording. “Hello, I’m Deion I got here around an hour ago looking to call a helicopter, only to be told comms are down”

“Oh, hello I’m Roxy you can call me Rox… where’s Nick?” She scanned the living room and kitchen as she stepped into the living room.

“He went down that hallway saying he needed to sleep” I pointed down the hallway.

“Ah of course.” She hurried down the hallway.

I go back to my bag and put away my camera and tripod all of a sudden hungry and out of the mood for recording. The door opens again and this time a green haired woman with golden tented eyes walks in. She nods at me then continues to the kitchen with a line of 6 salmon in hand.

“Hello.” She says as she starts prepping the fish. “Hungry?” She looks at me with a questioning gaze.

I nod, “Very.”

...Layla...

...****************...

After lunch the man who arrived this morning continues his tour with his camera. I listen as he inspects the kitchen making commentary on the kitchen utility’s. Rox and Nick went back to their room, finally. I’ve been needing to grab my map before I leave, they’ve been staying near, always asking questions. The man starts walking down the hallway, I get out of my chair and follow.

He peeks inside the first door on the left. “Oh an exercise room.” He says it naturally as if it was supposed to be there. I wait outside as he tours the inside, talking to his camera. He notices me on his way out. “Hello again,” he says in a friendly tone. “are you going in to exercise?” He asks.

“No,” I shake my head, “I was wondering if I could join you for your tour seeing as how you’re without a guide. I’ve coming here for a year so I’m well aquatinted with it now.” Now I’ll have an excuse for being in the map room.

“Sure!” He says excitedly, then continues through the hallway. “My names Deion, what’s yours?”

I’m starting to wonder if his voice is going to be a problem for me. “I’m Layla, nice to meet you Deion.” We visit every room on the bottom floor before reaching the stairs. “Since all the rooms we’ve toured so far are for everyone I’m guessing the guest rooms are up stairs?”

I nod, “It’d be a good time to pick a room.” The shift in his stance tells me he’s nervous despite his smile. “Don’t worry I’ll tell you the occupied rooms, so you don’t feel like you’re invading anyone’s privacy.” He still seems hesitant. I shrug “It’s a public house for hikers, there’s even a map room upstairs.” That seems to convince him as he starts up the stairs. On our way up he comments the pictures on the wall, the wood used for the cabin, and the lighting from the window. Even though he’s talking to himself I feel like he’s leaving room for someone to enter the conversation, must be a Velogger trait.

He stops talking as we reach the top of the stairs. I point Deion to Nick and Roxy’s room at the foot of the stairs, then to my room the third door down the hallway. “They’re probably sleeping,” I whisper, “they tend to stay up until morning.” I look over the hallway then point to the door at the very end. “That’s the map room.” If my guess is right I have 15 more minutes until Rox comes out to see what we’re up to.

We go into the room and he pulls his camera out, “This is the map room,” I wave my hand around to the old and new maps on the wall in frames then to the smaller copies on the table. “The smaller ones are free to take the bigger one are from moments of discovery through history you can see the landscape change through history.”

“Thank you” he turns to the map closest to the door, I go straight to the drawer under the table and pull out my map of the island. I continue where I left off, last time I was here, marking the places to avoid and safer routes back to port. I’ve visited this cabin every season to mark the more hazardous paths to the less known trails, and ones the mountain man asked me to check out. I don’t know where he went, but when I came back three weeks ago he wasn’t here. I’ve never met Rox or Nick until now.

“….olds….map…” I hear Deion’s voice getting closer.

He has a nice voice. It’s calm and confident… maybe he’s a serial killer. I always thought golden voices were exaggerated, now I understand why people would walk towards the stranger-

“Hey, Layla.”

I jump, my eyes following the direction of his voice to meet his eyes. “Yes, Deion”

It’s scary how handsome he is when paired with a voice like that. His hair’s a light ash brown complemented by dark grey eyes.

“What are you looking at?”

I quickly look down at my map then back up at Deion.

“A map” Of course Layla the map, snap out of it. “My map” I fold the map, tuck it into my pant line, and cover it with my shirt. “Just thought I’d pick it up while we’re in here.”

“Did you make all those trail marks?” He sounds playful now.

“I did” I need out of this conversation, before he asks me anything else. “Are you done with your cabin tour?”

He smirks, “I am, it’s a really nice cabin”

“Then let’s go pick you out a room”

...Deion...

...****************...

Layla is an odd person. She’s been showing me around the cabin for about 20 minutes, but not once has she tried to spark up a conversation. I thought she offered to show me around so we could get to know each other. But she’s been very on task with showing me around, introduce me to the room, explain what they’re used for, let me peruse and ask questions, on to the next room. Maybe my social skills are rusty, I tried talking to her in the hallway but I don’t think she noticed.

She was excited to go to the map room, as soon as was done with the introduction she went straight to a drawer and pulled out a map. I inspect the maps and walk around glancing at her marking the map she fished out. “Hey, how old’s this map over here…” no response. I finish talking about the last map on the wall, put the camera in my bag, and walk over to see what she’s so focused on. I lean down to see a crudely marked map with yellow, and green lines, and some red triangles. “Hey, Layla.” She jumps and looks up at me surprised.

“Yes, Deion.”

I’m trying really hard not to laugh, she looks like a deer caught in headlights, what was she thinking about? “What are you looking at?” She looks down then back up at me.

“A map.” she blushes “My map.”

It’s getting really hard not to laugh now. “Did you make all the marks yourself?”

“I did.” She looks flustered. “Are you done with your cabin tour?”

How cute changing subjects, “I am, it’s a really nice cabin”

“Then let’s go pick you out a room” She breaks eye contact with a side step and turn.

I follow her to the door. “Are the rooms all different?”

“It’s an old cabin every room has a theme and lighting.” she reaches for the doorknob, then stops as she hears a door open. Rox and Nick are in the hallway talking. “Wha-“ She turns and covers my mouth.

“Please just wait until they go downstairs.” She whispers desperately.

I nod and she removes her hand and turns to the door. Their footsteps disappear down the stairs. She turns back to look at me.

“Eagle, bear, or moose? Deer and wolf are taken.” she’s whispering again.

“Moose.” she nods and grabs my hand.

“Close the door quietly.” She opens the door and leads me to the second closest door to the map room.

I hear Nick and Rox start their way up the stairs, apparently she does too because she shoves me through the door and follows me in to shut the door behind her. We wait as Nick and Rox open the door next to us then the map room on the other side.

“Where do you think they went?” Nick asks worried.

“She might have showed him to the berry bushes, she’s been making jam recently.” Rox answers with annoyance.

“What should we do Rox?” Their voices are fading.

“We’ll go hunt, I’d rather die than have fish…” her voice fades downstairs.

Layla sighs and slides down the door to sit on the floor. The front door opens and shuts. “What was that?” She picks her head up to look at me. She looks tired.

“They haven’t stopped following me around in three weeks.” She rubs her eyes with her right hand, and lays back again. “I’m no people person but three weeks of following a person around is just exhausting…” She closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them and gets up. “This is the moose room… welcome.” she turns to open the door.

“Wait,” I just want to talk for a little longer. What’s going on? Why are you so uncomfortable with them? Are you going to leave on your own? I have too many questions, nothing’s coming out.

“I’m just going to pick berries so they don’t ask me too many questions later.” She smiles slyly and tilts her head to glance at me. The afternoon light from the windows hits her eyes revealing beautiful golden halos. “Maybe I’ll stop by the stream and catch some fish, Rox sounds hungry.” She giggles then turns back to open the door and walks into the hallway closing the door behind her.

...Deion...

...****************...

Now that I’m looking at the room it is very moose themed. The walls have moose art and shelves of sculptures. There’s a picture frame of a man holding a moose head by the antlers and an antler mount right above the picture belonging to the moose. I saw the same guy in pictures lining the hallway and going up the stairs. I should ask Nick… no I should ask Layla. Nick and Rox are obviously hiding something and I’m not one to poke a bear. That and I like talking to Layla, she’s honest and easy to read.

Even though I should really tour the room I’m too happy to see a bed. It’s the first bed I’ve seen in 6 months and it’ll probably be the last bed I see for another month. I plop onto the bed with my arm stretched out. “Ahhh I miss this feeling.” I like the outdoors but I think a 6 month survival video might have been too much.

Before I know it I’m wake up to the evening light beaming through the window. I roll onto my back and look at my watch. “It’s 4:59 in the evening.” Now that I’m looking at the ceiling I see a skylight window directly over the bed. I think I picked a good room. I hop out of bed and stretch my sore muscles before making my way downstairs.

“Good evening sleeping beauty.” Rox says from the couch. “Did you enjoy your beauty rest?”

“I did, the beds are really comfy.” I scan the room for Nick and Layla. “Where’s everyone else?” I’m pretty sure she went for berries more than 5 hours ago.

“Oh, Nick and I begged Layla to not feed us fish anymore so she’s gone out to hunt, Nicks joining her for learning reasons.” Her smile is so genuine, it’s almost hard to believe she was just complaining about Layla.

“So how long have you guys been here?” Nick told me 2 months but I just want the she how she replies.

The smile she’s been maintaining fades and she crafts it in a sorrowful look, a pouty frown and sad blue eyes. “We’ve been here for two months now, waiting for our pilot to answer.”

“Your pilot?” The person on the other end of the radio should be one of the emergency team members not the pilot specifically.

“Yeah Nick is a flight paramedic, I’m a nurse. We were dropped off here in case of emergencies.” Her voice sounds panicked as she avoids my question.

“So they left first responders in a cabin for experienced hikers with no experience?” Now that really isn’t making sense, wouldn’t the pilot and chopper need to stay too ‘In case of emergency’.

From all my hiking experience they’ve never left flight personnel in the middle of nowhere. Usually the keepers of the cabin are first aid trained but not actually learned in the field.

“Well…” she draws out, “me and Nick are supposed to be temporary.” She leans forward and crosses her arms. “The person stationed wanted to visit family and a position opened up.” She smiles, “We were wanting to experience cabin life so we excepted the position” She’s lying, I know now.

I don’t know what they’re really doing out here. There’s only one Flight team at port, they wouldn’t just leave their doctor and nurse in the middle of the forest. Plus there are much better options for a little cabin life, this area is for people who are looking to get away from something. It’s not exactly popular to be this far into the woods there are much better options on the outskirts of the forest.

I smile back. “Well that makes sense, this is such a lovely cabin. I myself came out here for the scenery.” I came out here for danger and adventure, not a pleasant experience. “Have you guys figured out when we’ll start heading to port?”

“No.” She looks away. “We’re not ready yet, Layla said we don’t know what we’re doing.” She grits her teeth. “We’re so worried, we’ll get hurt out there. We think we should stay.” The nervousness in her voice makes me want to believe her, but I know better, she’s not nervous she’s avoiding going back and wants us to stay too because they don’t know how to survive. No wonder Layla’s hiding a map.

“You guys are right, there’s no point wondering into the unknown.” I chuckle lightly. “When do you think they’ll get back, I’m getting hungry.” I need to leave as soon as possible.

“They should be back soon, they’ve been out for two hours now.” She gets up and head to the door, “I’ll go check on them.” She shuts the door behind her.

They don’t send search parties for hikers unless it’s reported. My my mom won’t report me missing for three months. I can’t be stuck here with these people until then.

I pick the cleanest of my clothes in my bag and head to the shower room. It’s been a while since I’ve actually cleaned myself. The shower room is between the trophy room and the staircase. There’s one shower a sink a toilet and a cabinet full of towels. Inside the shower there’s already a Shampoo bodywash combo. I turn the water on hot, I need to wash 6 months of adventure off, a stream just doesn’t clean like a shower does.

When I exit the shower room I’m greeted by Nick covered in blood.

“Excuse me.” He runs past me into the shower room shutting the door behind him.

...Layla...

...****************...

After I did all the tracking and shooting he thought I’d carry the damn thing back too? That’s ridiculous! I spot Roxy on my way back to the cabin.

“Where’s Nick?” She asks

“I left him in the woods covered in blood.”

“There are wolves and bears in these woods!” She yells.

“You better go get him then.” I side step as she runs into the forest. Knowing she’ll be in the woods for 10 minutes tops I sprint back to the cabin. After the door closes I run upstairs and go into their room. There’s no medical equipment or books just food in piles. I go to the closet where the old man kept his guns, more food. I grab the Winchester Rifle and Colt Pistol from the hidden cupboard and both boxes of bullets, I notice a box with my name on it and take that too. I hear the door downstairs slam open, too soon. I close the closet door and run to my room with the gun and ammo. I hear Rox stomping up the stairs.

“Layla!” She’s pissed.

I shove the loot under my bed and pull out my pistol and aim at the door.

“Layla, what in the world is wrong with you!” The door slams open. “How could you just leave Nick in the middle-“ Her eyes widen finally noticing the gun. “Layla what are you doing.”

“First of all, watch your tone.” I pull back the safety. “Second, back out of my room.“

“Oh-okay, you can put the gun down Layla.” Terrified she back steps into the hallway.

“I’m tired so I suggest you clean the deer yourself.” I nod towards the stairs. “Go.” She turn and runs down the stairs. I must be crazy because if she so much as stepped towards me I was ready to shoot her.

Now that I have everything packed and ready to go I open the box with my name on it,

Dear Layla, it’s been two weeks since we last spoke.

That was around the time Nick and Roxy would have shown up.

I know you will be back soon but things aren’t looking good right now so I’m going to write this letter before I call in the helicopter. Apparently a lab blew up in the state of Geortion, people have been going crazy ever since. I’m going to go to port for a few weeks to see what’s going on, I should be back before you. If I’m not you should know what’s going on. Apparently they’ve been quarantining states one after another. The sickness going around is contagious, through contact, not skin to skin, but through contact through the wounds they infect. I know you’ll need the gun if worse comes to worse and you have to travel by trails to port. Good luck youngin, I hope you don’t need this letter

Sincerely yours, Old man

Ps. I left you a gift in the box it might help when crossing.

So he really did leave… they’ve known there’s something happening on mainland no wonder they keep stopping me from leaving. I lift the letter from that box to uncover bear spray. I set the box and letter aside and put the spray in my bag.

I hear someone walk up stairs and then to the room beside me. I get up and peek my head out. “Deion.”

I think I startled him he looks a little taken aback. “Come in here.” He walks towards me and I open the door for him.

“What’s up Layla?” He smells good, he must’ve taken a shower.

“Did you know?”

He looks at me confused “Know what?” Then he looks like he came to a realization. “Is it because Rox and Nick aren’t who they said they are?” He says like it’s some huge secret.

I can’t help but smile. “No not that. I don’t really care who they are. I’m talking about what’s happening on mainland.” He looks even more confused. “How long have you been out here?”

“Six months, how long have you been out here?” The way Deion talks makes me want too tell him everything.

“One year.”

His dark grey eyes was widen in surprise. “One year? One year straight? Do you have another cabin out here?” He looks too surprised.

“I told you earlier today I’ve been coming here for a year.”

“I thought you meant four or five weeks throughout the year, not a whole year in the forest.”

“Why would I wait my time going back and forth when I could just stay.”

“Well, besides that what happening on mainland?” He tilts his head to look at my pack full and ready to go. “Are you fixing to leave?”

I nod, then grab the note sitting on the bed. “The old man left this for me. It appears a lab in my home state blew up I, have to see if my dads okay.”

“Okay, when are you going?” He scratches at his head like it’s covered in ants.

“As soon as Roxy and Nick pass out.” Maybe I should go now I did just burn those bridges. “Actually I think I I’ll go right now.”

“Why now?”

“I got tired of taking care of picky children.” I shrug. “I have a low tolerance for fake niceties.”

He laughs a deep laugh. “Are you the reason Nicks covered in blood!?” Still laughing Deion clutches his stomach.

Bewildered I answer. “They asked for the deer, I tracked it shot it tracked it and shot it again. And he still expects me to do the rest.” I throw my hands up. “I like fish, the only reason I make them fish too is to be nice! I’m no their mother!” I cross my arms. “You’d think they’d at least at thank me but no!” Finally done I’m left huffing.

At this point Deion is crying. “I’m glad- you didn’t take it laying down.” He breathes his laughter out. “Hoo, sorry I thought he’d killed you or something he seemed so solemn.”

“I just made him gut a deer and carry it back… I did point a gun at Roxy though. So I really should leave right now.”

Hes done laughing. “Why’d you have to do that?”

“She busted into my room angry, I’m pretty territorial.” I say matter of factly. It’s not the fist time I’d threatened her. When I first came back I threw a knife at the door when she barged in. I didn’t even think it just landed by her head.

“If you’re leaving right now I’m guessing you have everything you need.”

I nod

He smiles “I was going to leave too, give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready.”