July 10th, 2019

Senior year

"You can't run forever," the voice echoed in my ears as I hurried through the dense, moonlit forest. My breath came in ragged gasps as I desperately tried to escape.

***********

It was senior year, my last year of high school, and the senior campfire was the theme for this year's graduation. As someone who preferred the comfort of my own home, I felt pressured into attending.

"Come on, it's all about making memories," Ivy urged, trying to persuade me.

"We could make plenty of memories indoors," I countered, hoping to avoid going. "My parents will be out for the night. We could watch our favorite episode of Cow Barn Girls and order ridiculous items on eBay. I heard a new web novel, 'Blood Moon,' is being released tonight."

"No way! We're going," Pete chimed in. "Kelvin will be there. The Kelvin," he emphasized as if his name held some kind of mystical power.

"This is the start of my social life," Ivy reminded us.

"I thought your social life ended after Cole dumped you," Pete jeered, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

"Very funny, Pete. I'm over Cole, he's toxic. And right now, I don't need that kind of energy," Ivy defended herself, though we could see the doubt in her eyes.

"So we're going?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, baby girl, we are. Who knows, maybe tonight's the night you finally get lucky," Pete teased, his hand playfully tousling my curls.

"Jesus, Pete. My father would flip if he heard you talking like that. He's already questioning our friendship, so please don't make it worse," I pleaded, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Relax, babe. Even pastors get laid. How do you think you were born?" he joked, eliciting a disgusted reaction from Ivy.

"Ugh, Pete. No, just no," Ivy groaned.

"Fine, fine. You guys are such wimps," Pete conceded, though we could tell he was secretly looking forward to the adventure.

"Do you think we're going in the right direction?" Ivy questioned, her tone filled with doubt.

"For the tenth time, Ivy, I'm pretty sure this is the right way," he snapped back, his annoyance evident in his voice.

"Guys," I called out, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside Pete's cousin's car, which we had borrowed for the night.

"For heaven's sake, Keisha, what?" Pete groaned.

I pointed at the signpost ahead. "This is the third time we've passed this signpost," I replied.

"I told you we're lost," Ivy chimed in, pulling out her phone.

"What on earth are you doing?" Pete asked, glancing at Ivy through the rearview mirror.

"I'm calling Tracy," she stated, holding up her phone. "I don't plan on being stranded on this deserted road with you guys."

Pete and I rolled our eyes in unison as Ivy continued to complain. She had earned the nickname "drama queen" from Pete and her former drama crew in school, and it suited her perfectly.

"Tracy will be here in thirty minutes, so just stay calm, everyone," Ivy announced.

"No one is panicking, Ivy," I reminded her, my eyes briefly scanning my phone.

"Except for Miss Queen Bee over here," Pete teased. "Honestly, Ivy, I don't think you would survive a day in the woods."

"Duh, Campmoon Lite," Ivy retorted.

"Isn't that the summer camp you attended all summer?" I asked, trying to jog my memory.

"Yeah, Keisha, it was the summer camp where she had a fling with Justin," Pete reminded us.

"You never actually told us what happened," I curiously inquired.

"Oh, sweetheart, she came back with a black eye," Pete taunted, bursting into laughter.

"Thanks for the explicit details, Pete. Well, Keisha, it didn't go as planned, but at least I'm not a virgin," Ivy shot back, and we all fell into an uneasy silence.

"Seriously, that was a low blow, even for you, Ivy," Pete retorted, his gaze now on me.

The atmosphere in the car shifted, and we all settled back down, waiting patiently for Tracy. Growing up in a religious household had its ups and downs; constantly living up to my father's expectations and teachings had become a daily struggle.

I was expected to be perfect, to maintain my father's reputation and the reputation of our household. Sometimes, it was exhausting pretending to be someone I wasn't.

We were all fixated on the approaching car, and a surge of fear began to grip me.

"Hey, bitches!" Tracy's head popped out of the car, calling out to us.

"What took you guys so long?" Ivy asked, excitement evident on her face.

"I think we may have gotten a bit lost," Daniel answered from the driver's seat, his excitement contagious.

"Come on, let's go!" Tracy yelled impatiently.

"No way, I'm not leaving this truck out here. It's more important than my life," Pete declared.

"Fine," Tracy finally agreed. "Who's riding with us?"

"I am!" Ivy exclaimed, quickly leaving Pete's cousin's truck and heading toward Tracy's sleek car.

I could feel Tracy's gaze on me, but she quickly looked away.

"Let's go, Pete. You can follow behind," Tracy instructed as she drove off.

"Hey, are you okay?" Pete asked, his eyes fixed on Tracy's car ahead of us.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I replied.

"You know how Ivy can be. She tends to overreact and get jealous easily," he tried to reassure me.

"At least you're not a virgin," I muttered.

"Being a virgin doesn't suck. It just means you're waiting for the right one," he said, giving me a cheeky look. "What?"

"Coming from someone who got laid at the back of my house," I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, you got me. But trust me, it shouldn't be rushed," he quickly added.

"Sex is the last thing on my mind. I just want to survive tonight first," I said, giving him a warm smile as I stared out into the darkness.

Finally, we arrived at the site, which was packed with people. Tracy and Daniel yelled with excitement as they headed towards the crowd.

"Aren't you coming?" they yelled back to us.

"We'll be there," Ivy assured them, her gaze lingering on Pete.

Pete sensed where the conversation was heading and chimed in, "Stop being a pussy, Ivy, and apologize. We're missing out on the fun!"

"Am I forgiven?" she asked, stepping closer and holding my hand. She was my best friend, so of course, she was forgiven.

"Of course you are," I said, hugging her as Pete joined in. "I love you guys," Pete said sincerely.

I kept to my number one rule of abstaining from alcohol while sitting on a log around the bonfire. My eyes were fixed on Marcus, the hottest senior in school. I had a massive crush on him and always felt incredibly shy whenever he tried to make conversation.

I quickly averted my eyes to the bonfire when I realized he had caught me staring. I hoped that he hadn't noticed.

“Hey, Keisha.” I lifted my face to see Marcus standing in front of me. “Hey... Marcus,” I whispered back. “Mind if I join you?” he asked politely.

“Sure, why not? There's enough space,” I replied, adjusting for him to sit.

We sat there in silence, and the awkwardness was starting to suffocate me. I could feel the eyes of some students staring at us, making the situation even more uncomfortable.

“I thought you wouldn't make it,” he finally said.

“What? Why would you think that?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Your dad,” he explained.

“Oh,” I let out slowly. Sometimes, I forgot how much my dad's occupation as a pastor affected my social life. “Being a pastor's daughter sucks.”

“No, no, why say that? I think it makes you different,” he said, reaching out to hold my hand. My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn't believe this was happening. “How about we go somewhere quiet and away from all these eyes?” he suggested, leaning closer to whisper.

“Um, sure, why not?” I agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He held my hand, leading the way, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ivy staring at us.

As we walked, my eyes couldn't help but take in the dilapidated state of the abandoned house we were passing. It seemed like no one had lived there for a long time.

“Are you okay?” Marcus asked, taking notice of my distraction. His eyes focused on me as he smiled. “You're really pretty, Keisha. Has anyone ever told you that? I guess that must be the reason why your dad decided to join the ministry,” he teased, gently tucking a loose curl behind my ear.

“Maybe,” I said shyly, looking into his eyes. He was undeniably handsome. I guess tonight might be the night I lose my virginity. I couldn't help but think about how my father might react. But it was Marcus, the hottest guy in school. It was now or never.

Marcus leaned in closer, cupping my face with his hand as he placed a soft and slow kiss on my lips. It was my very first kiss, and it felt amazing. I responded to his touch, kissing him back, and my hand unconsciously grabbed the hem of his jacket.

Suddenly, our intimate moment was interrupted. Someone else was here. Marcus looked out towards the broken windows, urging me to stay put as he went to investigate.

The wait felt like an eternity as I stood there, calling out his name, but receiving no response.

“It's not funny, Marcus. I seriously don't like this,” I said, standing at the crumbling porch. My eyes scanned the darkness and the surrounding trees. Where the hell was I?

As I retraced my steps back to camp, frustration consumed me. "What was I expecting? Of course, he was a jerk, toying with me and leaving me stranded all alone. I'm going to be the laughing stock," I mumbled under my breath.

Suddenly, my leg slipped, causing me to stumble and lose consciousness.

When I eventually woke up, a wave of pain washed over me. Struggling, I reached for my phone lying beside me. I glanced at the screen and saw that it was already 9:30 pm. Panic set in as I noticed ten missed calls from Pete and Ivy. Desperate to reach them, I frantically dialed their numbers, but there was no signal to be found.

Panic started to set in as I looked around, realizing I was still lost.

Feeling a sharp throbbing in my leg, I assessed the situation. It was swollen and bruised, making it impossible to stand.

As I fixated on the pain in my leg, my attention was abruptly torn away by the sight of a dark figure standing in the shadows, staring directly at me. My voice quivered as I called out into the silence, desperately hoping for a response. But there was none.

With a surge of adrenaline, I pushed myself to stand, determined to find safety. I leaped forward, my heart pounding and my muscles aching. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in my ears, urging me to run faster. Every step caused a fresh wave of pain to shoot through my legs, and my breaths became shallow and labored. As I glanced over my shoulder, I caught a fleeting glimpse of my pursuer.

But when I turned back to face the darkness, there was nothing but empty woods before me. Was it all just a figment of my imagination? Could I be all alone out here?

Before I could dwell on these questions, a strong hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my scream. I fought with every ounce of strength I had left, but it was hopeless. Devastated and outmatched, I caved to the darkness that floated before my eyes.

As consciousness slipped away, the world became a blur.