บท 8: Foreboding Forest
Back on the island, Jackson and his classmates arrived at the ghastly forest. They gazed at the imposing sight that lay before them.
The forest was shrouded in an impenetrable darkness. The forest lets off a scent that allures guests into stepping into its land.
Trees the size of skyscrapers towered over them. Its branches extended beyond the point of sight. Its density made it an impregnable fortress.
The trees twisted and turned. Their barks were rough and withered. Their silhouette loomed menacingly over the entrance.
As the two students stood frozen at the sight, a line started to form right in front of them. The line was sheltered from the sun by the dense canopy of the forest.
When they glanced inside, the ground they saw was filled with undergrowth of tangled vegetation along with ferns.
Accompanied by the vegetation was the damp forest floor. Moss was everywhere on the ground. The air coming from the forest smelled as earthy as they expected.
The bushes rustled with every breeze. Along with owls hooting in the background, it added to the already eerie surroundings.
When they stopped gazing at the forest, Jackson noticed the line was getting longer. Afraid of missing out, he invited his classmate to go with him.
As they got closer to the front of the line, he noticed a familiar sight. His gym teacher, who was noticeable by his sweatshirt, was collecting phones right by the entrance of the forest.
"There's too many kids. I can't do this alone," whispered the gym teacher.
Fortunately, after chasing down the runners around the island, the pigtails teacher gave up on chasing. When she stopped, she noticed the tired-looking gym teacher.
"I'll help," said the pigtails teacher with a smile.
"You're a lifesaver!" exclaimed the gym teacher with a smile so big, it covered his entire face.
"Why are we doing this, anyway?" asked the pigtail teacher.
"It's to let the students fully enjoy the creepy ambiance of the forest," answered the gym teacher.
"How interesting," chuckled the pigtail teacher.
Meanwhile, Jackson still didn't know why they were collecting students' devices. Before he formed a thought, he found himself close to the front of the line.
As he waited for his turn, he couldn't help but take another look at the forest. Then when he looked behind, he noticed a couple of his schoolmates trembling.
Right before his turn, a crew of friends assembled right in front of him. They were usually a crew of three. They were tall, middle, and short. Jackson knew who they were, so he let them be.
However, there was one person with them. Unlike the others, who were brimming with excitement, a wide-eyed boy named Jake was trembling in fear.
"Why do I have to come along?" Jake asked in fear.
"The fun is multiplied when you're with others. Right, Jackson?" the tall one turned his head toward Jackson.
"Sure," Jackson said with a deadpan expression.
"You're coming along, Jackson?" asked the middle one.
"Not this time," Jackson refused, and he put his hand up.
"That's unfortunate," commented the short one.
"Anyhow, it's fine, Jake. You've been hanging out with us. You know how we roll," said the tall one as he wrapped his arm around Jake.
"But it's just a forest," said Jake.
"A creepy, mystical, and mysterious forest. It's not just ANY forest, Jake," said the middle one.
"Mystical? Wouldn't we be able to see more of his kind?" Jackson said as he pointed at the short one.
"Hey!" the short one made his way to Jackson and grabbed his collar.
"Wouldn't the forest be dangerous then?" asked Jake, his eyes widened even more.
"If it was, then this island would have a hospital," commented the tall one.
"If push comes to shove, we'll take care of you," the middle one said with his heart out.
Jackson was behind them, listening to their compelling points. The forest provided them with the perfect spot for brand-new entertainment.
However, when they were asked to hand over their devices, the tall one started a countdown with the two others.
"Three," said the tall one.
"Two," said the middle one.
"Three!" shouted the short one.
"One, you idiot!" the tall one smacked the short one's head.
With synchronization, the three mischievous students ran into the forest. Following behind them was the wide-eyed boy, Jake.
Perplexed by what just happened, the gym teacher blocked Jackson's way. He saw Jackson interact with them, and he assumed he would dash along with them.
"Relax," said Jackson as he handed in his phone.
However, not all the students were like Jackson. When Jackson handed in his phone, the other students ran past the teacher.
The mischief crew faces the frantic pursuit of others. With nothing else to lose, the gym teacher scratched his hair in frustration and let Jackson go.
The oxygen inside the forest was as fresh as it could be. As he looked around, the dense forest felt like a replication of fairy tales.
As Jackson dove deeper into the forest, he encountered the group in front of him. He walked towards the group.
"Why's everyone here?" Jackson thought to himself.
"Oh, Jackson. A six-legged monkey is dangling on that tree," a girl pointed at a nearby tree.
"That's… a capuchin? But why's their hind legs split?" Jackson was perplexed at his discovery.
"I know, right," commented the girl.
Jackson walked closer to the monkey to get a closer look. The monkey ran away. When he turned around, he found the role of a leader latched on to him.
Emotions arose. Excitement, curiosity, and even apprehension as he took on that role. When he had only observed from the back, he never expected the role.
As the group walked deeper into the forest, the more bioluminescent fungi illuminated the trees. Their light pulsated, making it seem alive.
Jackson's classmates trailed him. Their expressions were a mix of fear and wonder. Further at the back were the two teachers.
They were still perplexed by what had just transpired. To keep the students in order, they were there to present authoritative roles.
Meanwhile, the three, now four, troublemakers that started it all were no longer visible. It was assumed they darted into an even part of the forest.
The three troublemakers who had started this daring adventure were no longer visible, having darted deeper into the mountain.
The group's chatter echoed throughout the passages. Jackson's heart races as he attempts to navigate the group.
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