"MAKI!" John called out. "GRAB ME ANOTHER BEER."
The rest of group sat in the round table alongside him with the only exception being Nikos. Who had work to do away from the island. Everybody was drinking on Maki's restaurant, which was in town specifically across the fishing boats around the harbor, they had their backpacks all packed up and were eating hot steaks, ramen and burgers and drinking soft drinks and beers as cars drove by on this chilly winter afternoon. Maki came up with John's beer and handed it over to him. "Thank you." He said as he took a sip. "You know, if you move more you might lose some weight." Maki said while the others laughed. "First off rude."
"The fuck you mean rude my friend, I'm running a business here."
"I told you because you were nearby. Secondly, I went through enough labor and I deserve some treatment."
"Oh?" Ann smiled. "How come?"
He sighed. "Don't ask much, needed to harvest the remaining olive."
"Did you finish?" Piter asked.
"Of course. Today was the last day of harvesting. Now relaxation." He said laying back on his chair.
"By the way", Maki said, "what's with the backpaks? Having a sleepvoer?"
"OHH HELL NAH!" Mario and John objected. While the rest looked at them like they were crazy, which they were. "I don't know about the rest..." Mario continued. "I'd NEVER sleep next to Piter. He is a predator in the making."
Everybody laughed with John aggreging with him while Piter just got disgusted by the comment. "I'd never do such a thing to anyone."
"That's what Diddy said as well."
While the rest laughed Piter sighted. "Plus you two are unrapable." The rest tried to hold their laughter while John said: "YOU PROVED HIS POINT!"
"HOW?!!?"
"MALAKA, listen to yourself. 'unrapable'. IS THIS EVEN A WORD."
"YOU STARTED!" Piter looked at the others. "Come on guys a little help."
"You could have worded that a little better." George said while a small laughter escaped after each word.
"Glad you are entertained." He said in a sarcastic tone.
"What did you expect?"
"Alright enough screaming, you'll scare away the costumers. Especially you Pit." Maki said.
The group laughed again while Piter was pointing at himself. "WHAT DID I DO?" He was so confused he couldn't even speak up. After they cooled off George told him their plans.
"So, you know how we are dealing with our finals now?" He nodded. "Well, I recommended we go mount climbing. You know. To escape from the same routine we have been through since September."
"Basically camping?"
"Yeah, you could say so."
"Brilliant idea. Have fun kids, and be careful. You never know."
John, Ann and Mario sighed. "I need to say it, no? Just be careful and do not separate from one another."
"We have taken everything we will need."
"Even spears with-" Piter said with a child like smile before John covered his mouth. Maki laughed. "Have fun guys. When you look back on your past, these will be the memories that will be cherished."
"Well said." Emily said. He waved them goodbye. Some went for their bathroom break before leaving for the mountain. They got in and started riding in two cars driven by John, who got his car back from Helen in good condition (including money), and Ann respectfully. The boys rode with John, while the girls rode with Ann. There wasn't much traffic. They even started a race who will reach their destination first. Everybody was a having a thrill. Except Piter. Who was holding for his dear heart. They dropped their pace in fear of cops catching them though. Despite that, the ride was pretty peaceful. They called each other and started playing around while singing whatever they put on the radio. They got up the mountain's entrance, where they left their cars in the parking lot. Got their things and started moving on top off the mountain. They made it quite far up and decided to set up their base there. John went down the mountain to bring his car with firwoods. He threw them to the ground and sent the car back to the parking lot. They pitched their tents and started a fire as the sun settled below the horizon. They laid down, wearing their jackets and scarfs.
"This was a fantastic idea, Georgie." Ann said staring at the beutiful, dark sky which was lit up from the stars. Owls howling around the group. Crickets chirping. With a soft, yet chilly, wind coming from the woods and behind the trees that were around them. With the firewood crackling while the orange hot fire was growing and killing the darkness around it.
"For real." John said. "It is very relaxing."
"That's what I'm saying." George said with a smirk. "Listen to me and you will be ok."
They all laughed together. "Alright..." Piter said stretching. "What are we going to do now?"
They thought for a moment. "What time it is?" Asked Emily.
"8:30." Eva replied.
"It's too early to put the marshmallows, huh?" Asked John.
"That's where your mind stands fat guy." George joked causing the rest to laugh. John got up and reached out to George. Who also got up, took 2 steps back and saw what John was going to do. John took a step ahead, while George got 2 back. The rest were watching in amusement. John jumped. "Be careful man, we cannot afford an earthquake right now." As soon as George finished that sentence John grabbed him and picked him up the ground like he weighted as much as a feather. The rest were laughing. "What were you saying?" John asked.
"Dude, come on now." George pleaded. "Think of all our memories. Plus the fact I can barely feel my back."
"Really? I didn't see anything."
"I am sorry man." John looked at him close and carefully. He let him go. "Thank y-" John turned him into a Beyblade before giving a kick on his butt. Resulting in him to fall to the ground. The group laughed again.
"That's what you get for mentioning the bitch's name." Ann said smiling.
"You are all words no action." Piter said.
She turned to him with a serious look. "Come again?"
"Don't play tuff, friendo. She threw you away like you were litter. and you couldn't get up."
She laughed sarcastically. "Funny, I don't recall you doing something either."
"Hey…" He raised his hands. "I never said I could. You were all, 'Oh, bring her here and I'll show her.' Girl, you're the biggest fraud I've seen since prime Yuta."
"Who's that?"
"A fraud." Ann said going up to Piter, whom made mockingly scared sounds. Ann picked him up and punched him in his face sending him flying. She returned to her seat. "You didn't have to go that far." John said before Piter yelling. "HIT ME ALL YOU WANT! THE TRUTH DOESN'T CHANGE!!" Ann and Piter started playing mice and cat for about 30 minutes before returning. However Piter was lucky, didn't get a single scratch... Except one in the leg that is. They rounded up and started eating marshmallows, the fire hot the wind become softer and the animals continued to make noises.
"Who has a scary story story to tell?" Piter asked waiting for an answer.
"I have one, however I need to... Enhance it a little." George said.
"Yeah sure thing. Anybody else?"
Emily laughed. "Just go ahead Pit."
"Oh..." He got a little embarrassed. "I didn't have anything really. I mean nothing to fit the vibe. That's why I asked."
"Just say it man."
Piter took a deep breath. "Ready?" The rest starting closing in to listen to him clearly while the marshmallows started melt. "Here we go. Once upon a time there was a powerful man. Who had been raised to become his countries leader. When he got off age he helped overthrow his father who was that countries king. He become king overnight. His empire grew stronger, but his humanity slowly faded away. He made a strong relationship with two neighboring countries. They could have conquered the world, their ego didn't let them. He got eliminated, erased from history as if he was nothing more than a fairy tale. He got reincarnated. He couldn't figure why god made him live again. This time it was different after a month or so he forgot all about his past life. He grew up happy, from a child's perspective that is. He regained his memory when he met his best friend from his past life. Neither knew each other beforehand, in this life. He tried to avoid him. But it seemed like destiny, god or something else, had other plans. He reunited with his friends of his past. Although he knew all of their pasts, he always believed that maybe, maybe this time things would be different." He finished and drank a glass of water while taking a glance off George. "What did you think?"
George listened carefully and had a puzzling look on his face. The rest got shocked.
"That's it?" Ann said in a defeated tone.
"Come on there has to be more." Emily insisted. Piter looked a little afraid.
"I didn't thought things further."
"Come up with it now." John said trying to encourage Piter.
"Alright, alright. Give me a moment." Piter said thinking it through. "Right. He continued living a somewhat normal and happy life. However things got complicated very quickly. When one of his friends got in a conspiracy and dragged all of them in it."
"Kinda like Emily." Ann joked the rest chuckled, while Emily laughed akwardly knowing that they are more certain or not doomed. George's gaze fixated on the way she acted, but didn't give too much thought. Then he turned to Piter. "Continue broski." Piter nodded with a smile and continued.
"And they become some sort of cops. They did multiple jobs, however they still managed to live peaceful lives. Until, they got a job about missing children in a small town. There they found a terrible man who lured children in and ate them. The man felt anger for the first time he felt what his victims felt. He felt anger, helplessness, fear. He murdered him in cold blood in front of his friends. However he got hunted for breaking those cops' rules. He had to abandon society and everything he fought for to become a decent man. When he lost all hope, a woman gave birth to him again. Metaphorically. He fell in love with her and they were blessed with a daughter. For all the things the man did to help people even after being hunted redeemed him, now he could live a happy life. It didn't last long. When he was missing from a town a group of bandits killed his entire village. Depression opened the road so that he would never change. He fought again and again, but couldn't find something to live for. That's when he discovered his true fate. To fight demons, angels and even gods. He had to go through unimaginable pain so he could find the meaning in his suffering. And if he doesn't find it... He is doomed for eternity, to be a monster." He let out a sigh of relief for finishing it. He looked around to hear the others opinion. "What did you think?"
"Your imagination was exceptional once again my friend." George said. The rest agreed with him. "I don't know if I can compete." he said jokingly.
"It was too sad though." Emily said with tears having formed on her face.
"That was kind of the point." Piter laughed.
"How can you even come up with these stuff?" John asked.
"Life experiences, I guess."
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU LIVING MY DUDE??!!?" Mario screamed slowly losing it.
"Not literally you autistic monkey." Piter rubbed his eyes.
"Why did you go to economics department and not the Humanities track?" Emily questioned.
He got up, cleared his throat and started singing. "Money, Money, Money. Must be funny. In the rich man's world."
"Fair enough." She replied.
"And never sing again, please." George pleaded.
"It wasn't that bad." Eva said.
George just shook his head. "SOO. Shall I start?" The rest nodded while Piter sat back down. The animals and all the forest sounds had stopped. The only sound the group could hear was the chilly wind, which was getting progressively stronger. "This is a story that my mother and my grandfather went through, of course with a sprinkle of imagination." The rest nodded. "It was a frosty, snowy night. A day before the new year's eve 1998. December 30th 1998."
"Is the date important?" Eva asked.
"Not really, just to give a vibe you know. Also that my mother was 10 years old." She nodded. "Sorry for the interruption."
"No problem." He continued. "My aunts were helping my grandmother with preparations for tomorrow, while my mother, the youngest of the 4, was watching TV. They had ran out off firewood, so my grandfather went to chop some. He requested my mom to go with him, which she accepted. She got dressed well, put her scarf around her neck, wore her boots, and was ready to go. She was a little scared, after all she was still 10. She stayed near my grandfather holding his hand. They went into the woods were they were hearing the normal forest sounds, you know. While my grandad started putting the firewood on the firewood trolley. She looked around and thanks to the moonlight she noticed my granddad's shotgun which he had tied up on his back. She asked him why he took it with him. He said to protect themselves in case of a wolf attack, however we seem to be alright. My mum asked him why. He smiled and said "Because the forest was singing. That means the biggest predators are us.""
"The forest was singing as in the animals were making noises?" Mia asked. George affirmed. "Yes!"
"Funny..." Piter said. "I just noticed that the forest isn't making any noise."
The group got Uncomfortably quite and listened carefully. Nothing. Only the wind's whistles could be heard. They looked around getting a little anxious.
"George, you made us shit our pants without finishing the story." Mia said laughing anxiously.
"Yeah..." He got up, picked up his phone, opened his flashlight and pointed around them. John and Ann got close to him to help him spotting something.
"Maybe it's nothing." Piter said eating his nails. "Just our imagination." Emily agreed with him. "He's right, just sit down."
The three proceeded to look around just in case. As they were about to sit down they heard a wood breaking. Everybody froze. They started hearing an ugly breathing from their right. Were Piter, who had started to get worried covering his mouth , was laying. George slowly pointed his flashlight towards the heavy breathing. They saw a grotesque figure, small pupils with red eyes, it's right eye was smaller than it's left, bigger than a grown wolf with hard and red with brown fur. The red in his fur seemed like blood dripping down it's body and teeth, which were coming out off his nose and chin. Claws sharper than a blade. It stood still, making angry growls, it didn't move, it didn't blink, just stared menacingly. Everyone's chest felt like it was tied with chains. The three who were standing up started sweating. The thing continued to look at them, it looked as if it was calculating who to kill first. Nobody moved. Some prayed others weren't even thinking. "Guys..." George whispered between his breath. "Go grab your guns, slowly, so it doesn't launch on us." John and Ann took a step closer to their backpacks the thing growled louder. They walked slowly, slowly being watched by everybody. And the thing, the thing's eyes looked in on both of them, the right was following John and the left Ann. It's pupils grew bigger. John and Ann stopped. The thing started moving back, it kneeled close to the ground, it took 2 more steps behind it seemed like it would launch on them.
"DON'T THINK ABOUT IT!!" Emily screamed. "GO FOR IT!" They ran to their backpacks, the thing growled louder, John was the first to grab his shotgun, the thing jumped up to George which resulted in the thing to be on top off George trying to take a bite. He kicked and pushed, but to no avail. Everybody got up, just as the thing tried to take off a bite, Piter threw a rock in the thing's mouth, John managed to shot it in the head. It screamed as if a demon was singing. It send shivers down their backs and they started to tremble. It got off of George and jumped into the the trees. Growling. The group rounded up around the fire, their backs facing the fire while their faces faced the forest. Their breathing got heavier and heavier. "We should leave!" Emily said. "It's too risky", John said beneath his breath while Eva gave him water. "We don't know when or how it will attack. We better be careful." She started rubbing her hands in her knees. They looked around. It still was silent, very silent, even the wind stopped hissing. John was facing the north whereas Ann faced the south. As vigilant as they could possibly be. Mia looked where the creature was shot, she saw no blood, she pulled Piter's clothes to show him. He saw the place and asked "what about it?"
"That's where it was shot." She said whispering. Piter looked at her, back to the ground, then at the fire. "We don't have anything to lose anyways." He thought.
"Everybody..." He said in low tone. They looked at him. "Except Ann and John, grab a firewood on fire. Just in case." The rest hesitated, George grabbed 16 firewood and handed it over to each of them, without making a sadden move. They lighted them up and the remaining 6 they threw to keep the fire living. They waited patiently. They heard scratching sounds coming from northeast. John pointed his gun to that direction, he noticed Ann and the rest who were about to turn but he signaled them to turn, he looked back. Nothing could be heard no more. A bush shook in front of Ann. The thing jumped straight at her, it bit her shotgun, being pushed back a couple centimeters away from the fire, George hit it with his wood, the creature screamed again with Ann kicking it away, she pointed her gun at it pressed the trigger and it exploded as a firework. When the creature attacked her it opened holes in it. Fortunately she only got a scratch on her right cheek and no one around her got hurt. George, Piter and Emily stepped closer to hit swinging their firewood. It growled walking backwards. John came from behind. "DUCK!" They bent backwards. He shot and the thing's right eye fell out, being held by the optic nerve. It got angry and started scratching it's head with it's long sharp claws, resulting in it's blood spreading away on the ground. They stepped back, John aimed again ready to shoot. The thing grew bigger with thicker fur, it stood on 2 legs, which kept growing, while it started to gain more and more muscles. John took a deep breath and shot. The thing was pushed back, it put it's right eye on and started licking it's lips. Another creature jumped from the trees right in between John and The thing. It had a manlike body type, it was a goat man which was wearing a white suit alongside grey jeans with a black necktie. It took a fighting position. Looked back at them and it talked. "Take whatever your hands can hold and go. Don't look back!" The creature screamed it's lungs out and launched onto the goat man like a rocket launcher, who blocked his attack and threw him into a tree nearby before doing a backflip and hitting the thing with it's hoof. The group grabbed their backpacks and started running down the mountain. With Emily looking back to see those creatures confrontation.