Chapter Text
" it's felt like centuries since we've eaten and our supply is running low ! when do we get to eat ?! " Owen whined, stomach grumbling at the mention of satisfying the uncomfortable emptiness in his stomach.
" shut it you ! we barely have any food left due your greed, pig. all of us are going to die from starvation ! " Heather exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air for a more dramatic effect.
" im sorry.. " Owen murmured, rolling his nearly tear glazed eyes whilst clenching his fists. you could practically see the hatred radiating off his eyes if you squinted, why did heather have to be so bitchy ? even after all the nasty murders that occurred, does she have no heart ?
-
that was the small argument that caused us to search for any sort of item that could satisfy our hunger.
everyone had agreed to split into two groups that consisted of eight people. we went over the rules once again, handing each other torches as a light source before venturing out into the forest, a chill washed over me as I shivered.
they had searched everywhere, every nook and cranny. they had found a few supplies, like fruits and berries. the best that they could find, at least it was still edible.
after what felt like days, the wind had begun to pick up as the skies grew darker, complaints thrown about how chilly it was. Duncan, who assigned himself group leader, decided we head back to the camp to gather with the rest that are in the other group. bags of collected supplies were picked up as we begun our trip back to camp, darkness slowly surrounding the forest every step we took.
-
" we've been walking for hours now, we're basically walking in circles ! " came a whine from Courtney, holding her aching head.
" and how would you know, princess ? " Duncan asked in his usual cheesy self, an eyebrow raised as if he was interested.
" those were the exact same peonies we saw at least an hour ago. and do not call me princess, emo punk " Courtney shot back with flushed cheeks, arms crossed in annoyance as she huffed.
" take a chill pill, gosh. we'll be there in no time cause im here ! " Duncan replied as he did some sort of confident pose, flexing and kissing his existent but non-existent muscles.
" no she's right, emo brainiac. you've been leading us to the so called ' camp ' but all you've been doing is leading us in circles. " i muttered out, looking up from my book as i said that, rolling my eyes in annoyance as i continued indulging into my book.
Duncan gave me a glare. honestly, i had no idea what i did wrong. all i did was spit out the truth. Courtney had done the exact same thing yet Duncan got mad at me instead of her. it was unfair and childish of Duncan.
-
( nobody's POV )
honestly, the whole argument was pointless. why did Noah even bother? their all just brainless idiots that follow the superior ones command. this is stupid, this is all stupid. stupid island, stupid Chris, stupid everything. Noah knew he was right, the path he was taking back to camp was correct. right ? all of them would come running to Noah, begging for forgiveness like lost puppies as they admit their stupidity and wrongs.
his heart pounded ferociously in his chest, shivers running down his spine as he continued walking down a path. Noah clutched onto the book he brought along as if it held his life, it's not like you can really defend yourself with a book. but, nothing would happen to him. ( because he is Noah )
his hair stood on its ends, as his body would shiver every time he took a step. he didn't want to die. he refused to. unlike Duncan, he still hasn't fulfilled his aspirations, goals. everything in his future was already mapped out. he was set, he scored perfectly in examinations, he's always at the top. he actually had a future and he was dedicated into not dying. he refused to die from a stupid reality show set in a far island with a psychopathic killer.
he thought he'd be able to deal with it if he died, that he would accept it but he just, can’t. he was petrified, feeling like he might just vomit out all his lunch, which is funny because he haven’t eaten in who knows how long.
he wanted so desperately to just go back to the group, accept that he had lost the argument and prevent being a possible victim of that psycho, but he knew Duncan wouldn't let him back in. he knew darn well that he'd have to be extremely lucky to survive, not be found by the hands of that monster. his eyes stung, small droplets forming as some began spilling out. realizing he was crying, he almost immediately wiped away his tears, embarrassingly shaky.
-
( back to Noah's POV bae )
distracted from wiping the tears threatening to pour out, my vision was basically obscured due to the tears glazing my eyes, i heard a crack behind me. fuck. i turned around in a swift motion, holding my breath as if it would make whoever, or whatever, was behind me go away. of course, it did not as i heard a crunch of leaves behind me. right behind me. whatever it was, let out huffs. i could feel their breath on my neck as more chills ran down my spine.
almost immediately, i froze in fear. i tried to move but i really couldn't. it felt as if my feet was branched into the ground. my breath hitched as i realized this was it. i was going to die. tears ran down my cheek almost immediately, there was no escape. i was stuck in a dark forest with no light sources, no knowledge of where i could even run off too without it leading to my death. but, i couldn't die here. i have actual goals in life to fulfill, i don't want to die just yet.
i forced my body to run off to god knows where, i ran as quick as i could. for some reason, i was still clenching onto the book i brought as if it was some sort of comfort, like it would guide me out of this horrid place. of course, i would get caught. i wasn't an athletic person, sports just wasn't my thing.
i leaned against a tree, tears still streaming down my face like a harsh waterfall. i clutched on my book even tighter then before, digging my fingernails into it harshy that there were definitely marks on it. " i don't want to die, please... i-i dont want to die... pleasepleasePLEASEPLEASE IDONTWANTODIE ! " i cried out, as if that psycho even had any empathy in their heart to listen to my cries. it probably made that bitch more excited to murder me. my vision was getting even more blurry, my life flashing before my eyes.
" please... i don't want to di- "
before i could even continue my plea, a knife was stabbed into my shoulder as something tightened around my neck at the same time. i finally dropped my book after what felt like centuries, trying to tug whatever it was away, a rope, that's what was strangling me. i could feel myself slowly losing my consciousness due to blood loss and suffocation, eyes rolling back into my head.
" stop... p-please.. " i choked out.
my hands burned from the friction and so did my neck, of course. the killer pulled even tighter. the last thing i heard was that psycho's laughter before my vision completely blackened. why did this happen to me ?
-
the groups had eventually found each other on the way back, tracking back to the camp for a light source due to the darkness surrounding them. as they all sat down the bags of supplies, Cody almost immediately noticed Noah wasn't with the other group. he would have preferred sharing the same group as him but Courtney had to decide the groups since she was the most ' responsible ' , and he knew it would be a bad idea to go against her idea.
"..where's Noah..? " he questioned timidly, as if it wasn't obvious enough the rest of his groupmates also wanted to ask. a sudden wave of guilt washed upon the other group's faces, and nobody said anything for awhile.
" that bitch left. " Duncan bluntly answered. " fucking fag ". the last part was like a soft whisper, but the brunette could tell almost everyone could hear what he said anyway. Cody's heart dropped at the statement. if it wasn't obvious enough from the past six murders, splitting up was a horrible idea !
he clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning red from how harsh it was. " and you just.. let him leave ?! you left him alone in the dark, chilly woods all alone where that psychotic killer could still be lurking around in, he could be dead by now you idiot ! " he snarled, gritting his teeth.
" whatever ! he deserved it, he should have just kept his pretty mouth shut and maybe he would still be right here, and not kicked out of the group " Duncan replied almost immediately in a defensive manner. of course, that statement alone erupted a heavy argument between the two teenagers.
Courtney stepped in and shooed Cody away so he could find Noah. that move just made Duncan even angrier as he bickered with Courtney instead.
-
Cody slipped off into the forest, running as fast as his feet could take him as he prayed that Noah would still be alive. he stupidly hoped that since it was the morning by now, no deaths happen during sunrise, basic horror movie rules. he was on edge, of who was out there, of what he could find, of what he couldn’t find.
suddenly, the brunette tripped on something hard. landing face first really hurts. he turned to check what he tripped on and noticed something. a book. not just any book, it was Noah's book. it had dents on the front along with a dash of red splattered on a page. his eyes widened in realization. Cody knew Noah would never just leave his book alone like this, in the wild, on the dirty ground.
he quickly got up, running off somewhere whilst shouting out Noah's name like a chant. the forest seem to get bigger, harder to navigate through, when Cody seemed to realize the situation. he ran off somewhere unknown, as if he was not in control of his own body. his body ran off by itself. he gasped in a huge puff of air once he reached the lake, starting to hyperventilate.
although, what he saw there was even worse.
Noah's lifeless body floated on the water, eyes glossed over, a knife stabbed in his left shoulder. the previously clear water of the lake was a murky red, spreading from the stab wound of the corpse. breath hitched, Cody observed further and noticed a clear mark on Noah's neck. from what? Cody wasn't too sure. it didn't matter anyway.
Cody refused to believe Noah had died. he was silent only for a moment. backing away slowly, his eyes twitching in horror. why did this have to happen to Noah? why him. why didn't the killer just take Cody. he was a wimp anyways, Noah had much more potential then Cody himself. tears formed in the brunette boy's eyes as they slowly trickled down his cheeks.
just as Cody was about to get up and leave after sobbing like a baby, a certain spot in the lake began to boil ? Cody wasn't too sure.
a ghastly figure slowly appeared out of the boiling spot, it's back turned against him. Cody pinched himself on the arm to ensure if he was dreaming or not, this was so unreal. Noah's lifeless body was clearly drifting off to his side, yet Noah is in the water ? was this a dream ? apparently not, ' Noah's ' hair and clothing was drenched, yet no water seemed to drip from him.
Cody stared in disbelief and horror, were ghosts real after all ? were all the campers murdered turned into vengeful spirits ? were those stupid paranormal books read to him at night really true ? he wanted to run, he wanted to go back to the group. but he couldn't, it was as if two heavy dumb bells were dropped onto his feet.
the figure slowly turned around, it was indeed Noah. however, his eyes held no pupils. it was a pure white. blood dripped out slowly from his parted mouth.
" co..dy.. ? " apparently Noah questioned, his voice raspy due to the strangling before he died. that thing was Noah ? yes. Cody just knew.
just as Cody tried to speak, he couldn't. it felt as if there was a huge lump in his throat. right before his eyes was Noah, except he was transparent.
" you found me ? "
" im sorry.. i was too.... weak to defend myself. i was so stupid, i should have just kept my mouth shut and stay with the group. " Noah coughed out in between words with his raspy yet soothing voice.
" survive for me. get off this island for me. please. " Noah mumbled, glazing up at Cody. despite how Noah looked blind with his glazed over eyes, Cody knew Noah was staring at him with some sort of determination, sadness ? in his eyes. as the two stared at each other in a trance, Noah began slowly sinking back into the waters.
" w-wait..! d-don't leave yet ! " Cody exclaimed, almost desperate. tears flowed even harsher down from Cody's eyes.
when only Noah's head remained above the water, he spoke again. bubbles forming around his head as blood flowed out his mouth even faster then before.
" when you get off this island, let them know. let everyone know what happened on this island, what wrong's the host has done. tell Duncan to never show his face or even step a foot near this lake unless he does not want to see the light of the day every again. and please, tell my family what happened and apologize on my behalf.." Noah whispered out in a seemingly soothing voice that boomed in Cody's head. for some reason, the tone gave Cody an unseasonable chill on his neck.
a small, barely noticeable wave was given before he finally descended back into the waters.