Chapter 3: Jonas.

We continue walking deeper and deeper into the forest. Con and Boomer's conversations wash over me as I'm lost in thought.
Why were they here? I thought to myself, eyeing Con suspiciously. What possible reason could they have? To move into a house which is literally in the middle of no where!

But as I shake my head to get myself back to reality, I realise it's dark. Really dark.
I feel fear rise up in my chest and stomach as my brain takes in the darkness. I move my hand and start tugging on Boomer's sleeve. This is our way of communication. If I want something but I don't want to say so, I'll tug on his sleeve and he'll do the same. 

He realises me tugging on his sleeve and looks down at me. "What's up, Sweet?" He says with slight confusion.
"It's dark." I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady.
"What?" He says, leaning in closer, not catching what I said.
"I said -" suddenly I'm interrupted by something rustling behind me. My heart beat kicks into overdrive as I quickly glance behind me and see nothing but hear noise.

And this is where I lose it. I let go of Boomer and spring away from the noise, leading me deeper into the forest. Panic takes control of me I blindly run into the darkness, not looking where I'm going. The only thing I'm focusing on is the two thoughts screaming in my brain. Danger and run.

I begin to feel dizzy and I realise I'm not breathing properly. I stumble over a log but remain at full speed. And suddenly, my eyes locate light and I need to go there. I don't stop until I reach the light and even then I'm still running. Until I hit into something soft that exclaims and in a flash, I'm falling over and the ground isn't there anymore.
There's a loud splash as I fall into the river, now its dark, wet and nothing. It's freezing cold, all around me.

I feel myself sinking and the oxygen rapidly leaving my system. I kick with my legs but they're tired from running and my arms have gone numb. I try and push myself to the surface but I can't see the surface and I feel something touching my leg. Eventually I run out of energy and water is now flooding into my system since I couldn't hold my breath for any longer.
Oh, god, I'm going die. I remember thinking before something grips my hand and begins pulling me up. 

Before I know it I'm at the surface and choking up probably a litre of water. I get pulled up from the water and dropped on the bank.
"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" A male voice exclaims.
I shake my head because its the only thing I feel I can do right now apart from trying to breath.

There's light. At least there's light. I look around to see a torch lying on the ground and a boy kneeling beside me. He's soaking wet and wears the expression of worry. His brown hair is curly and wet and he has the deepest emerald eyes.
"Who are you?" We both say at the same time.

Since I don't reply straight away, he does. "J-Jonas. Do I need to get help?"
I shake my head again and pull myself up a little.
"You are?" He asks again.
"Sweet." I gasp, trying to focus.

"The girl from the farm?" He asks, slightly hopefully.
I nod. And there's a moment of silence.
"Are you Con's brother?" 
He nods quickly, "why?"
"He's looking for you."

He throws himself on the ground with an exasperated sigh. "Piano?"
"Yep." I feel much calmer now, besides from being with a stranger and completely soaked.
"Mom needs to stop bugging me to learn." He grumbles, "I ain't being this musician she wants me to be."
He realises something.

"You have a mom right? Is she going to be worried?" 
"Very. Very, very worried."
"We need to get you home. Uh...which is a problem - I-I'm kinda lost myself." He seems very awkward and looks away quickly.
"I know my way. Just gimme the torch to hold, alright?"
He doesn't ask why but he grabs it, jumps up and offers his hand to me. I take it and he pulls me up.
"Lead da way."

I make sure to flash the torch in every direction possible before we set off, and again for good measures. I do this a couple of times while we're walking.
"You sure you're okay?" He asks again.
I nod again, flashing the light up a tree because it looked menacing.
"How come we never see you then, Sweet?" He puts his hands in his pockets and glances at me.
"Uh...w-w-work..." I stutter, not exactly wanting to lie.
"Con says its because you're scared of him." 
"What?" I yelp. "I've hardly spoken to him, when I'd come up in the conversations?"
Jonas shrugs, "just did. Are you?"

I paused and thought about it. "He is quite tall." I finally say.
Jonas let's out a laugh that fills the whole forest and suddenly I don't feel that afraid of the dark anymore.
"Everyone says that. He scares the living daylights out of smaller kids so I ain't surprised." 
I chuckle quietly at this.
It feels like no time at all I'm out of the forest and Jonas seems quite relieved.
"Thanks for the torch." I say, handing it back to him.
"No problem. Hey, can we talk again?" 
"Yeah - if our parents don't kill us." I sigh, not looking forward to coming in the door.
He looks stricken for a moment, "uh, I don't think I'm going to make it out alive. My mom's gonna be MENTAL."

"Well, let's just hope we survive, yeah?"
"Yeah...see you later, Sweets."
"Bye." I wave shyly as he sprints back up to his house.