The moment I landed outside the cave and realized where I was, a wave of relief swept through me. I drew in a long breath of open air and let it carry out everything I had been holding inside. My legs felt unsteady, my chest tightening as if something invisible was squeezing the air from my lungs.
Inside, I hadn't had time to think. Now, the weight of it all came crashing down.
I dropped to my knees, my fingers sinking into the damp earth as I fought to steady my breathing. My hands shook until I clenched them into fists, the ring pressing heavy against my palm. I didn't want to look at it. I didn't want to face what I had done or what I had seen. The memories clung to me, the whispers in the dark, the feeling of unseen eyes watching, waiting. I had escaped the cave, but part of me remained trapped inside it.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will it all away. The fear clung to me like a second skin, damp and suffocating. Every breath felt shallow, unsteady, as if my lungs had forgotten how to draw air. My body still didn't feel like my own, each movement stiff and foreign, like a puppet tugged by invisible strings. The uncertainty gnawed at me, sharp and relentless. What had I just gone through? I didn't have the answers, only the sinking dread that I had crossed a line I could never step back from. Something inside me felt different, twisted in ways I couldn't name, and I didn't know if that change was a gift or a curse.
Voices echoed in the distance, sharp and frantic, rising and falling through the trees. My classmates were searching, their calls bouncing against the hills of the Blue Mountain. They were calling my name. Each shout carried a mix of panic and hope, but to me it sounded distant, muffled. I didn't want them to see me like this. If I broke down now, they would swarm me with questions I couldn't answer, questions that would only make me look insane. Steadying my breath, I pressed my palms into the ground and forced myself upright. My body still trembled, but at least I would be standing when they found me.
I tried to push toward the voices, but every movement felt like wading through water. My limbs were heavy, my thoughts slow, and with each step my head throbbed harder. Faces and voices blurred together, everything dissolving into a frantic mess.
"Yo, where did you disappear to?" Tafari asked, his voice sharp with confusion.
"He was gone all night! How's he just showing up now?" someone at the back blurted.
"Man, I don't know," Chevelle muttered, concern tightening her face. "But look at him... he looks like he's been through hell."
I barely registered the hands gripping my arms, steadying me before I could sink to the ground. Adrian held my right side, Javone my left, their touch firm as they balanced me on my feet. For a moment they did not move, just braced me, making sure I would not fold again. Then, step by step, they began guiding me toward the cabins. Amanda trailed close, her presence steadying even without a word. All around, the class was a blur of motion, figures weaving between tree trunks as sunlight broke through the branches in slanted beams. Whispers drifted on the cool morning air, sharp and uncertain, as more voices joined in. I could hear the thud of shoes pounding over roots and fallen leaves, the rush of classmates gathering, running toward us, their words overlapping until it became a rising wave of sound.
My legs buckled slightly, but Adrian and Javone tightened their grip.
"Almost there," Adrian muttered under his breath.
When we reached the cabin door, Javone shot a glare over his shoulder. "Everybody ease off, man! Give him some space." His words cut through the noise, but even so, classmates still pressed forward, trying to follow us into the cabin. The door creaked open, and in the scramble I was eased onto the empty bed. The moment my body hit the mattress, a shaky breath slipped from me. It felt like everything surged up to the crown of my head, then poured back down through me, receding all the way to my feet. By the time the breath left my lips, the weight I carried seemed to slip out with it, leaving me drained but lighter.
For a second, I thought I could finally rest.
But the questions... they did not stop.
"Jeremiah, where were you?" Someone pressed, leaning in close.
"Did something chase you?" another asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
"Was it a duppy?" Nia whispered, her voice trembling.
"Duppy? You serious?" someone scoffed. A few eyes rolled. Every face turned toward me, burning, waiting, demanding answers.I kept my mouth shut. I couldn't tell them the truth.
Would they even believe me if I did? If I told them I had spent hours fighting for my life in a place I still couldn't explain? That I had seen things no one should ever see, things that shouldn't exist in this world at all? No... they would never believe that.
I couldn't tell them that Kofi had sent me into the forest on what was basically a twisted treasure hunt in exchange for finally leaving me alone. I had been desperate enough to accept his offer, foolish enough to think it would end the torment. Something had happened out there, something I still couldn't explain, and now I was back, but I wasn't the same.
Something inside me felt steadier than before. The fear was still there, but it no longer sat alone. Even so, I tried to dismiss what I was seeing now, telling myself it was just my head swimming from exhaustion, just a trick of the morning light streaming through the trees.
I couldn't tell them that either. None of it. Not the part about Kofi. Not the truth of what I had seen. What would they think if I said it out loud? That I had gone crazy? That I was lying to cover up something worse? My throat tightened as I searched for words, any words that would make sense.
Then I saw him. Kofi, standing at the cabin door.
The weight in my chest sank deeper. What was I supposed to say now... and what was I supposed to do with him staring right at me?
Through my hazy vision I saw him, leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He wasn't saying anything. He didn't need to. His presence alone was enough to lock the truth inside my throat.
And for a second, I thought I saw something. A faint flicker around him, like heat in the air, pulsing just beneath his skin.
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry, my pulse loud in my ears.
"Jeremiah, you have to say something," Afreka urged, his brow furrowed. "People are freaking out, man."
I wanted to answer. I wanted to come up with something convincing, something that would make sense, but before I could, someone blurted out:
"Yo! Maybe he fought a bear!" Jahari exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement.
The whole group went dead silent.
From somewhere in the back, a sharp voice cut through the air, dripping with contempt.
"Eediot! There are no bears in Jamaica!" Shanice snapped, glaring at Jahari.
Jahari stammered, "I-I never said there were! I just meant he looks like he fought one!"
A weak chuckle slipped out of the crowd in spite of everything. But it didn't last. The silence that followed felt heavier than before, as if everyone was waiting on me again.
The tension snapped right back into place, the weight of everyone's eyes pressing down on me.
"So? Where did you go?" Tafari demanded, his arms crossed tight against his chest.
I opened my mouth, lips dry and cracked. My voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper.
"I... I went for a walk."
Even as the words left me, I knew how weak they sounded.
"A walk?" Kymani echoed, doubt thick in his voice.
I forced a nod. "Yeah. Just... needed some air. And then..."
The sentence collapsed before I could finish. What was I supposed to say? That I had stepped into another world? That I had been dragged into something impossible? That I had seen things no one should ever see?
My fists clenched in my lap. My breathing turned uneven, chest tight, as if something unseen pressed down on me, watching, waiting.
I risked a glance upward.
Kofi was still there. Still silent. His silence rang louder than all the murmurs around me.
I looked at them again, at the faces crowding me, and I saw it clearly. A faint glow shimmered around a few of my classmates, like a thin veil of light clinging to their skin. It wasn't sunlight. It wasn't normal.
Then Amanda moved, slipping past Javone and Adrian until she stood squarely in the middle of the crowd, claiming the space with a sharpness in her stance. "Back up," she ordered, her voice cutting clean through the noise. "Give him room."
A few kids shuffled, but most stayed rooted, eyes still fixed on me.
"A walk, Jeremiah?" Afreka pressed, his tone sharper now. "You were gone all night. That doesn't add up."
I shut my eyes for a moment. I couldn't do this. Not with all of them staring. Not with Kofi at the door.
My vision swam. Something about the room felt wrong, like the air had shifted. It clung to Amanda, to Afreka, to a few others. A strange light seeped from their skin, faint yet undeniable. My gut twisted. Why them? Why only them?
I clenched my jaw, forcing my breathing to steady.
"What were you really doing?" Irie pressed, suspicion narrowing her eyes.
"You're acting weird, bro," Zane added. "Just tell us."
The crowd, the questions, the weight of their stares, it all felt like it was crushing me, squeezing the air out of my chest.
I opened my mouth, my throat tight. The words knotted on my tongue, heavy and useless. Before I could try to force anything out, Adrian stepped forward.
"Ease up," he said, his tone sharp but steady. "Don't you see he's been through a lot? Your barrage of questions isn't helping the situation."
"We're just worried," Nia blurted, her voice trembling.
Amanda moved closer, her eyes locking on Nia. "Worried for him... or for yourself?"
Nia froze, blinking. "W-what you mean by that?"
Amanda didn't flinch. "Everybody knows how scared you are of duppies. You just want to make sure that isn't what chased him."
A shiver ran through Nia's shoulders. Her lips tightened, but no retort came. Maybe she wanted to argue, to defend herself, but Amanda's words had landed too close to the truth. She hadn't cared about me, not really. She had only wanted to be sure her own fears were eased. The realization stung, and Amanda's righteous tone made it worse.
Her eyes dropped, shame flickering across her face before hardening into frustration. Without another word, she turned away. Two of her friends quickly fell in step beside her, muttering under their breath, and together they slipped out of the cabin, leaving the air colder in their wake.
Adrian's gaze swept over the rest of the group. "Whatever it is, it can wait until later."
That was enough to make some of them step back. Not all, but enough.
Amanda moved forward, pressing a cup of water into my trembling hands. "Drink."
I obeyed. The water went down like it had somewhere else to be, but it did nothing to wash away the dryness clinging to my tongue.
Amanda's glare swept over the crowd. "Step back."
No one moved.
Some faltered, shuffling backward with uneasy glances. Others lingered, their faces still twisted with concern and questions they refused to release.
"You can interrogate him later," Amanda snapped. "Right now, he needs to breathe. Unless you plan on suffocating him before he even recovers?"
That did it. One by one, they backed off, though their eyes never left me. The voices thinned to whispers, yet the tension still hung heavy, humming like static.
"Don't act like you don't want answers too," Afreka said, stepping closer to her.
Amanda's gaze flicked to me, sharp and unreadable, before snapping back to the crowd. "Unlike the rest of you, I actually care if he gets some rest."
A few people had the decency to look ashamed.
I coughed, forcing my voice steady. "I got up... and I went for a walk. I didn't even realize how far I'd gone until it was too late. My flashlight battery died, so I couldn't see properly. Then the rain came. The ground turned slick, and before I knew it, I slipped. The mud carried me right over the edge, and I tumbled down the side of the mountain."
Gasps rippled through the crowd, but I kept going, piling detail on detail so they couldn't doubt me.
"I hit trees on the way down. Scraped against rocks. At one point I ended up clinging to a ledge, looking down at nothing but air beneath me. I thought that was it. But I fought, tooth and nail, to claw my way back up. Branch by branch, stone by stone, until I found a path again. And once I did, I walked until I saw the cabins through the trees."
Silence stretched across the room, heavy and absolute. Their wide eyes told me they were picturing it-every slip, every impact, every desperate pull to stay alive. Not one of them opened their mouth to question me.
"There you go," Amanda said firmly, cutting the silence. "You got your answer. Now leave him alone and let him rest."
One by one, they began to disperse. Some left quickly, others lingered at the door, but eventually the crowd thinned. The energy in the room did not vanish, though. It clung to the air, heavy and charged, as if their curiosity and unease had been left behind.
They weren't letting this go. Not really. But at least, for now, they had backed off.
Amanda lowered herself onto the edge of the bed, arms crossed tight. Adrian and Javone stayed too, standing like silent guards on either side of me.
"Thanks," I murmured.
Adrian shrugged. "You looked like you were about to pass out."
I sank into the pillow, my eyelids pulling down, but my mind refused to settle.
The glow. I could still see it, faint and pulsing, on Adrian and Amanda. But not on Javone. What did that mean?
I drew in a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in my chest. Kofi's silence haunted me. The way he had just stood there, watching, saying nothing, letting it all unfold... it unsettled me more than any of their questions.
I was back, but I was not the same.
My fists tightened around the blanket, my stomach twisting. I had to figure out what was happening to me.
The cabin was quiet now, just the four of us: Adrian, Javone, Amanda, and me. Kofi remained at the door, arms folded, his stare heavy and unblinking. He was waiting. He wasn't finished with me.
Javone sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "We need to find Mr. Johnson," he muttered. "We tried covering for you when we realized you were gone, but seeing the state you're in..." His words faded, but I already knew what he meant.
Amanda nodded, pushing herself up from the bed. "Yeah. We need to let him know something's wrong." She glanced between me and Adrian, then hesitated. "One of us should go. The others stay here."
"Fine. I'll go," Javone said with a sharp exhale. His eyes flicked toward Kofi, but he did not comment. He simply moved past him, and the door shut behind him.
A knock came almost immediately.
Amanda turned as the door creaked open, revealing Sasha standing outside. Arms folded, her expression was tense. "Amanda, we need to go. We have to start the project now if we want to finish before the midnight hike."
Amanda groaned softly, rubbing her temple. "Damn it. Do we really have to do it right this second?"
"Yes," Sasha snapped. "This is twenty percent of our grade, Amanda, and I am not losing even one percent because you want to play hero to a useless boy."
Her words cut sharp, and before Amanda could reply, Sasha spun on her heel and walked off down the path.
Amanda lingered, glancing back at me, regret etched across her face. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I can't afford to have my name be left off this project." With a final look toward Adrian, she slipped out, the door clicking shut behind her.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Adrian turned to me almost immediately. "Alright, man. Now that we're alone, what really happened?"
I sighed, forcing myself to sit up even though my muscles screamed in protest. "I went for a walk," I began, repeating word for word the same story I had told the others. "It started raining, the trail got slippery, and I fell down the side of the mountain. I spent the whole night trying to climb back up."
Adrian studied me, brows furrowed, like he was turning questions over in his head. How far did I really go? How had I known where to head in the pitch darkness? For someone who claimed to tumble down a mountain, why wasn't I broken?
I glanced down at myself, really seeing it this time. No bruises, no scars, just a tired expression and dirt staining my clothes. Was this another effect of the ruby apples and the spring water?
Eventually, Adrian exhaled and gave a slow nod. "Alright."
His tone carried no belief, only acceptance. He knew I was holding something back, but he also knew this was the only story that mattered right now. He gave me one last look before moving to sit at the edge of the bed. As soon as he lowered himself, he sprang back to his feet, a thought flashing across his face.
"Wait, Javone went to get Mr. Johnson, and you're stuck in bed... that means I'm the only one left to do our project. That's twenty percent of our final grade." Adrian let out a sharp exhale, then clapped his hands together. "Damn, I totally forgot. Sorry, man, but I need every point I can get."
I shifted under the sheets, pushing them aside to get out of bed, but before I could even swing my legs over the edge, Adrian's hand shot out.
"Man, you crazy?" he scoffed. "You're in no condition to be moving."
"But-" I started, only for him to shake his head.
"It's cool. I got this. Just worry about yourself."
I hesitated, then let out a long breath. "Alright. I get it."
Adrian gave a short nod, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment, something unspoken hanging between us. When he finally moved toward the door, he did not say a word to Kofi. He only leveled him with a sharp, deliberate look. A warning. Do not try anything.
The door clicked shut behind him.
The air shifted. It was only me and Kofi now.
Kofi pushed off the doorframe and stepped forward. The cocky smirk he usually wore had faded, replaced with something colder. Something I recognized: control. He still thought he had it. He still thought I was beneath him.
"So," he said, voice low. "Just you and me now."
I forced myself upright, meeting his stare without flinching. "Seems that way."
I kept my eyes locked on his. "I held up my end of the deal."
"So did I. You're still breathing, aren't you?" He tilted his head, eyes sharp, searching for any crack in my resolve.
"I could have told everyone exactly why I went into the woods last night. Could have let them rip you apart over it," I said.
He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "But you didn't."
"Because that was the deal."
Kofi studied me in silence, then exhaled through his nose. "I remember. You're off-limits for the rest of the year," he said, mocking the words as if they were a joke.
"Not just the year. Forever," I shot back. "I don't want to see you, hear you, deal with you. Nothing. You leave me alone for good."
His smirk twitched, amusement flickering across his face. Then he shrugged, slow and deliberate. "Sure. Whatever you say."
I drew a steady breath. "Then I'll tell you what really happened."
His smirk widened, hungry now. "Finally."
I repeated the same story I had told Adrian, steady and word for word at first. "I slipped down the mountain," I said. "The rain came, the ground turned slick, and I went over the edge. I spent the whole night clawing my way back up."
This time, I added what I had left out. "While I was down there, I saw something. A glow. At first I thought it was just some strange reflection, but it wasn't. It was steady, coming from a rock buried in the ground."
Kofi's face didn't move, but I could tell he was listening.
"And then... I saw it."
His brow lifted slightly. "Saw what?"
"A beast," I murmured, my throat dry. "It was massive. Wings like a bat. A face like a wolf. Eyes like fire. I watched it from a distance. The moment it touched the glowing rock, it disappeared. That was when I realized the rock wasn't just a rock. It was part of something bigger. Maybe a door."
I swallowed, my fists tightening on the blanket. "It looked like a demon to me. I dared not follow. I wasn't stupid enough to go after it."
Silence filled the room, heavy and sharp.
Kofi just stared at me. No grin. No smirk. Just watching.
Then, slowly, he let out a quiet laugh. "You expect me to believe that?"
I met his eyes. "I don't care if you believe it. That's what I saw. And if your father could believe he saw the ol' higue, then you should believe me."
His smirk flickered, something unreadable passing across his face. Before I could react, he grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me forward, forcing me off the bed and onto my feet.
"You're full of shit," he hissed.
His grip was strong, but not choking. I could breathe. I could push back. And this time, I did.
I shoved him off, forcing him to stumble back a step. My pulse hammered in my ears, but I held my ground, standing tall. "I told you what happened. That's it."
Kofi straightened slowly, rolling his shoulders. His lips twitched with irritation. "There's something you're not telling me."
A short, sharp laugh escaped me. "I just told you I saw a giant, fire-eyed monster, and you think I'm leaving something out? You serious?" For a second, the thought crossed my mind to hand him the ring, just to make him stop talking. But something deep inside me refused.
His jaw tightened.
He scoffed under his breath, rubbing at his chin. "You're a terrible liar."
I met his gaze without flinching. "And you're a terrible person. Guess we both have our flaws."
For the first time, he actually laughed. It was low and amused, like he couldn't believe I had the nerve to talk back to him. His eyes gleamed, almost as if he respected it.
"Not bad, Jeremiah. Not bad at all." His smirk slid back into place as he took a step toward the door. "Well... if you're telling the truth, thanks for making it back."
"What?" I stared at him, my jaw almost hitting the floor.
He chuckled, shaking his head like I was slow. "Come on, man. You think I want people pointing fingers at me if you had dropped dead out there? Last thing I need is everyone saying I set you up. Your sorry self surviving saves me the trouble."
He laughed again, softer this time, like the joke was his alone. Then he pulled the door open and slipped out. The door clicked shut behind him, and silence swallowed the cabin.
I exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to my forehead. The exhaustion finally hit, sinking into my bones. My body felt heavy, my mind fogged, but one thing was clear.
I didn't trust Kofi. Not for a second. But for the first time, fear wasn't the only thing I felt. My gaze dropped to my hand. The ring was still there, unmoving, heavier than it had any right to be.
I had no idea what I had brought back with me, and that scared me more than anything I'd seen down there.