(WAXING CRESCENT)

Chapter Nineteen: Meeting Again

She immediately got on her feet, tucked her equipment with her, and looked around once more. There was literally no one around her, she was alone.

Mallory’s heart thumped wildly. The lapping of the water and the gentle whispers of the wind sound so distant. She looked at the horizon; there was still a lot of time before the sun dipped on the horizon.

Maybe they just went somewhere to rest. Mallory tried to think positively. She calmed her anxious heart and walked towards the bank where her companions were. She saw their traces trailing towards the forest.

Mallory looked and stared.

There were...