Chapter 22
They plunged back into the woods fanning out to search for Sarah. The trees loomed above them, casting long, ominous shadows in the fading light. Jo's heart pounded in his chest, his anxiety escalating with every passing moment. "Sarah! Sarah, where are you?" he called out, his voice echoing through the forest.
The silence that followed was oppressive, punctuated only by the rustling of leaves and the distant hooting of an owl. Jo's fear for Sarah's safety grew.
After what felt like an eternity, the group couldn't find Sarah. Despite being familiar with the area,with thick trees and a popular hiking spot, jo realized Sarah's unfamiliarity had led her deeper into the woods as she tried to find her way back.
Jo's panic was palpable as he tried calling Sarah's number again, but it remained unreachable. The lack of signal in the area didn't help. One of the group members suggested calling the school authorities, and the others agreed it was the best course of action.
They made their way back to the main school, hoping that Sarah would turn up soon or that the authorities could help locate her. Jo's worry for Sarah's safety was evident on his face, and the group's usual camaraderie was replaced by a sense of concern and urgency. As they walked, jo couldn't shake off the feeling that they should have been more careful, more vigilant.
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The principal's chair creaked softly as she settled into it, her expression a mask of serious concern. Jo stood before her, his eyes fixed on the floor, while the rest of the group had scattered, some disappearing into the distance, others vanishing into the dormitories. The principal's eyebrow arched upwards, her brow furrowing in concern as Jo recounted the events.
"So, you're telling me that a student got lost in the woods?" she asked, her voice firm, yet laced with a hint of incredulity. Jo nodded, his eyes darting up to meet hers, before quickly looking away. The principal's eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing. "Who is the student?" she asked, her pen poised over her notebook, ready to scribble down every detail.
"Her name is sarah," Jo replied, his voice barely above a whisper. The principal's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes clouding over as she tried to place the name. And then, like a lightbulb switching on, her eyes widened in realization. "Oh, she's a new student," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and concern. "How did this happen?"
Jo explained the situation, his words tumbling out in a rush, as he described how they went to the mountains in groups, and had decided to play hide and seek in the woods. "I didn't think it would be a problem," he said, his voice laced with regret. "But she got lost."
The principal shook her head, her expression stern, her eyes flashing with a mixture of disappointment and worry. She picked up the phone, her fingers moving with a practiced ease, as she dialed a number. Her voice was urgent, her words tumbling out in a rapid-fire sequence, as she barked orders into the receiver. "Get some people to my office now. A student has gotten lost in the woods. We need to find her immediately."
After hanging up the phone, the principal turned back to Jo, her expression unyielding. "You can go," she said firmly. "We'll take care of finding Sarah. We'll let you know when we have news."
Jo looked worried, his eyes pleading, as he asked if he could join the search party. "I'm really worried about her," he said, his voice cracking with concern.
The principal's expression softened slightly, her eyes betraying a glimmer of understanding. But her tone remained firm, her words brooking no argument. "You need to go now. We'll handle the search. This shouldn't have happened, and I'll be speaking with you further about it later. Leave my office now."
With that, Jo turned and walked out of the principal's office, his shoulders slumped in defeat, his heart heavy with worry for Sarah's safety. The door creaked shut behind him.
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Sarah's pov
Despite the sun's presence, the air was growing chilly, casting a shiver down my spine. The sun seemed more like a cold orb than a warm comfort, a peculiarity I'd noticed about this place. But that was the least of my concerns right now. The real problem was that I was lost. Utterly, completely lost.
The woods behind the school was massive, and I'd had no idea they existed. Now, surrounded by towering trees that all looked eerily similar, I felt like I was trapped in a never-ending maze. Every corner I turned led to more of the same: trees, trees, and more trees. I'd tried calling for help, but my phone was as useless as a brick in this godforsaken place. No signal, no bars, no nothing. I was on my own.
Panic began to set in as I stood there, frozen in uncertainty. What was I supposed to do? Where was I supposed to go? My eyes drifted upwards, and I spotted a tree with a somewhat comfortable-looking base. I trudged over to it and collapsed onto the ground, my back against the trunk. The cool bark was a welcome respite from the chill in the air. I sat there, feeling helpless, as the trees seemed to close in around me. "Oh my God," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. I was truly alone, and I had no idea how to find my way back.
I sat there, frozen in uncertainty, unable to do much of anything. My phone was useless, a mere decoration in my pocket. I just sat, hoping that someone would come looking for me soon. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves or snapping of twigs.
Then, without warning, I heard a faint rustling above me. I looked up to see a snake dangling from a branch, its body swaying gently in the breeze. My heart skipped a beat as I let out a terrified scream, my voice echoing through the woods. I scrambled to my feet, moving away from the snake as fast as I could.
In my panic, I didn't notice the broken branch lying on the ground. My leg crashed into it, and I felt a searing pain as I tumbled to the ground. I cursed out loud, clutching at my knee, which was now throbbing in agony. As I looked down, I saw that I was bleeding, and my eyes began to well up with tears. I sniffled, trying to hold back my emotions, but it was no use. I was crying, and I couldn't help it. The pain, the fear, and the uncertainty all came crashing down on me, and I sobbed uncontrollably, my body shaking with each ragged breath.
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The search party dispersed into the woods, their voices echoing through the dense foliage as they called out Sarah's name. The principal stood at the edge of the woods, her eyes scanning the trees with a mixture of concern and determination. Hours ticked by at a glacial pace, the sun beating down relentlessly on the searchers as they scoured the woods with growing desperation.
The air was thick with tension, the only sound the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig. The principal's gaze never wavered, her eyes locked on the trees as she coordinated the effort with a quiet authority.
And then, suddenly, a shout pierced the air. "We've found her!" The words hung in the air like a promise, and the principal's face lit up with a radiant relief. The searchers emerged from the woods, carrying Sarah between them, her leg injured and her face pale with exhaustion.
The principal's expression softened as she took in Sarah's condition, her eyes filling with a deep concern. "Take her to the school clinic first," she instructed the searchers, her voice low and gentle. "Get her treated for that injury." The searchers nodded, their faces etched with worry, as they carefully carried Sarah to the clinic.