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The ancient elk trees of the forest loomed around the two escapees as Joey and Chris stumbled through the dark terrain. Gloomy shadows surrounded the landscape, shading the area in a swath of darkness. The only light came from the intense flicker of flashlights cutting through the trees, showing that the hunters were moving closer. Joey put on another burst of speed at the sight, urging Chris’ faltering body to push further. He had his arms wrapped across the weaker’s back and shoulders, trying his best to support his weight as they fled through the dense shrubbery. Chris was almost doubled over as he tried to keep up with Joey’s demands. Blood flowed from the gunshot wound in his waist, causing his right leg to fall behind and slow their escape. His eyes were clouded in a wash of pain, and his mind was vacantly only showing vague emotions.
Fear.
Pain.
Panic.
Joey felt Chris slide beneath his grasp. He couldn’t keep going for much longer.
The cacophony of angry voices echoed around the dense woodland, demanding and aggressive. He could hear them coming closer, their shouts growing louder as they gained on the two.
Joey risked a quick glance over his shoulder and saw the bright torch lights shifting through the trees and bushes. Another spark of despair shot inside of him and he pulled Chris’ body closer to him, urging the other to fight harder, to run faster.
He couldn’t leave him behind, not after all that they had been through. Even if he could escape by himself if he left the other behind, he knew he would never forgive himself. They were brothers, and they would live or die together.
Thinking fast, Joey quickly pulled to the right and dashed into a denser part of the forest. Shadows swallowed every corner, and deep green moss sprouted across the wood and stones. He pulled Chris alongside him, carefully dodging around interrupting bushes or trees as to try not to injure his partner any more. Hopefully, the hunting party would continue heading straight along the path they had previously been on. Hopefully, they wouldn’t come back to research the area. Hopefully, they will be free.
As they drifted further and further into the woods, Joey began to slow his pace. His legs and back burned, and his arms were aching from supporting Chris’ injured body. Breathing a sigh of exhaustion, he finally stopped running for what felt like years. Chris let out a groan beside him, vaguely raising his head to look up before dropping it down again. Joey guided him to a smaller oak tree with a bush brushing against the base and gently lowered his friend to the ground. Chris gasped with pain as he reached the floor, and Joey quickly crouched beside him, holding his shoulder with a shaky hand. It felt strange not to be moving after running for so long, and their hearts were still beating rapidly.
Joey sat beside his friend, leaning his back against the sturdy tree trunk, and let Chris collapse beside him. His face was twisted in pain, but he made no attempt to do anything about it. Joey reached an arm over and encouraged him to lay down, which he eagerly followed. Chris rested his head against Joey’s leg, lying out beside him, too exhausted to do anything else. Through the trees, small shafts of light flickered as the enemy traversed through the woods. Joey stiffened, grabbing Chris’ hand tightly as he silently watched the movement from their place. He could still hear their angry shouts, but they were further away now, and dissipating as the party headed towards the wrong direction. Once he was certain they were far enough away, he returned his gaze to Chris.
Blood was welling out of the gun wound in his torso, staining his clothes a deep crimson. Fear struck through Joey’s stomach as he saw the severity of the infliction. It was difficult to tell exactly in the dim lighting, but there was certainly enough blood to confirm it was serious. He immediately pulled his jacket off and placed it against the wound, ignoring the sting of the frigid air, desperate to slow the bleeding. As he pushed the fabric down, Chris released a pained cry which was silenced by Joey clamping a hand around his mouth. They couldn’t risk being found.
Chris looked at his friend with eyes filled with sorrow, but understood.
“I’m sorry, Chris,” Joey whispered. “But we can’t let them find us. I have to try and stop the bleeding.”
Chris sighed faintly and closed his eyes. Joey pressed down on the wound again, using his spare hand to hold onto Chris’. The touch was comforting.
Joey looked up around the forest, now with the time to examine it closer. The ground was sprinkled with nettles from the surrounding trees, and moss and ivy climbed along the wood. The air had a fresh, clean smell to it, and was biting with a chill, but gave a presence of serenity none the less. The shadows swirled in the depths of the woods, with smaller wisps trailing around the edges of the tree roots and on the dark sides of the leaves. Small bushes scattered around the area, giving a sense of friendliness among the darkness. Although, now that he wasn’t fleeing for his life, that darkness didn’t feel as intimidating. It was more of a comfort now, as he was hidden in its mysterious obscurity.
Looking up, Joey noticed the pale light of the half moon shining down through the branches. It bathed the woods in a gentle glow, yet still left the forest to be concealed in the shadowed gloom. Small stars littered the inky night sky, looking down on him, giving him a distant reassurance.
Chris moved faintly, which brought Joey’s attention back to him. He wrapped his fingers around Joey’s hand, intertwining them with his own. Joey smiled melancholically into the dark. Maybe it would be alright. Maybe Chris would feel better in the morning, and they would find some proper medical equipment. Maybe they would flee, starting new lives together somewhere that no one will find them.
Joey’s heart was about to lift at those thoughts, when he felt a warm liquid seep through the jacket. Blood had already run through the several layers of fabric and was starting to bleed into his hands. Any hope he had disappeared.
“No…” He sighed, and Chris must have heard him because his hand tightened faintly around his own.
Joey moved the jacket around, trying to give more fabric to slow the bleeding, but deep down he knew it was too late.
There was too much blood.
With the realisation, tears started to wet his eyes and silently slide down his cheek. He listened to the slight breathing of his friend, despair freezing his heart as he noticed the frailty of it. Amongst the woods, the small chirp of insects quietly echoed through the air. A lone owl called to the night, its hoot gentle and cooing.
Joey watched Chris, his body lit by the soft moonlight. He looked almost peaceful, but there was a prominent air of sorrow wreathing around him. He must know what was happening too.
The night stretched on. The moon slowly ascended through the midnight ink. The stars watched down on them. The shadows wrapped around them. The trees curved above them.
Joey didn’t dare close his eyes, no matter how tired they were. He couldn’t leave Chris. Not like this. They were brothers. They had to stay together. They had come this far. They couldn’t part now.
The thought of parting sent a new chasm of grief to split through his heart. They were the sun and the moon. The flame and the wave. The darkness and the light. How could one live on while the other didn’t?
Finally, a gentle breeze blew through the forest, only barely stirring the leaves around them. Joey looked down on Chris. His form seemed peaceful now. That sorrow had moved on, and now only serenity remained. His hand still clutched his own, desperate for their paths to stay together. But he knew that wasn’t possible now.
The moon seemed to shine a little brighter over Chris’ face.
His body gave a faint shudder, before falling still.