"I guess we better set up camp." Derrick sighed.

He placed the brown messenger bag down on the ground and opened the flap. He looked like he was unpacking his sleeping bag on a camping trip.

"Whats's that?" I asked curiously

"Its a tent...obviously...we have to sleep somehow." He replied tiredly

"Can I at least have a flashlight? I want to make a fire...aren't you cold without a shirt on?"

He looked down at himself and smiled.

"I guess I'm too sexy for my shirt."

He winked at me and my face was hot. I grabbed the flashlight that he held out for me and stormed off.

"Don't go too far, we don't know how big this forest is."

"Who are you? My girl scout leader? I'll be right back."

"At least mark the trees with this."

He gave me a big roll of bright yellow string to mark the trees that I pass. At least I wont die from losing my way in a forest.

"Thanks. What do you not have in there?"

"My skateboard..." he sighed gloomily

I turned on the flashlight and started walking away from camp. The flashlight was like shined like a tiny star in the sky compared to the darkness of the night. But at least I could see where I was going.

The first tree that I passed had a thin trunk so it was easy to wrap the string around it. Every couple of minutes, I turned around to make sure that the yellow string was still trailing behind me. I've seen too many movies where the girl gets lost in a forest and gets either killed or cut into pieces.

As I continued to look, all the logs were either too big or too small. I mostly saw lots of trees lying around like they were sleeping. Whats up with all the dead trees!?! Its like a journey...Christina Marie, venturing into the depths of the dead forest. It would make a great TV show....just kidding, I hate the outdoors.

About 20 minutes later, I find the right logs that were at least decent for fire wood.

"I thought I was going to have to haul a whole tree back to camp."

I picked up about five logs, all different shapes and sizes, but were decent for firewood. Now its time to mosey on back to camp. It was very quiet for a forest...I only heard a couple crickets. The wind was quiet too...almost like it was scared...but thats silly.

Crunch! I whipped my head around, someone was here...I can feel it. I bolted back to camp, following the yellow string. My legs ran like a wolf running for its prey...except I'm running towards the safety of camp where a sexy shirtless teen boy awaits for my return.

The number of dead trees increase as I climb over fallen branches and dead roots. I jump over a big tree then I duck under a tree that fell at an angle. Whatever is chasing me, isn't giving up. I heard it breathing heavily as it dashed closer to me. I stared to think that it was over for me but then I saw a light.

"Derrick must have found some wood and made a fire! That rascal! ...I came out here for nothing!"

The warmth of the fire called me towards it as I kept running.

Soon after, I was back at camp...safe in the arms of a shirtless teen...seriously? He still doesn't have a shirt on? Does he not have a shirt in that bag of wonders?

I placed the logs a safe distance from the fire and waited, the thing that was chasing me seemed to be afraid of fire.

"Why were you running like the devil was chasing you?" Derrick questioned.

"Something was chasing me, it was really fast and it sounded hungry..."

My voice cracked as I told Derrick my tale, at least I made it out alive. He held me and squeezed me tightly, I felt even warmer in his arms. He must be used to the cold, he's not even shivering...not one bit.

We both sat down on the log and placed our hands in front of the fire. The silence of the forest was somewhat pleasing and scary, you never know what could jump out at you.

"So Christina, tell me about yourself. How did you end up getting kidnapped? Out in the open? In your room?" Derrick questioned.

"What kind of person asks that?!?" I yelled. Derrick looked hesitant.

"Sorry, I've had rough couple of days... I really wish I knew what happened to Joseph..." I said quietly.

"Who's Joseph? Is he your boyfriend?"

"No...he's my little brother, he's all that I have left for family right now. My parents disappeared after they had a fight...and my grandma...well...she may not still be alive..." Tears slowly slid down my face as I explained what happened to derrick.

"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked you if you weren't comfortable."

Derrick leaned over and wrapped his arms around me. He made me feel a lot better, but I couldn't stop crying. Then he reached down in the bag beside him and pulled out a white t-shirt. He put it on and tapped my shoulder.

"If it mades you feel any better, I finally put a shirt on."

I looked at him and smiled. A little laugh escaped my mouth and then I couldn't hold it in anymore until I was crying and laughing. Derrick hugged me tightly and smiled. He felt so warm and welcoming, I didn't want to let go.

"How about you tell me about your little brother? Can you tell me that?" Derrick asked as he looked at me with a loving smile.

"Yeah I can." I answered as I dried my tears.

My memories about Joseph were a bit childish but Derrick listen to every word I said. He held my hand when I was about to cry and he hugged me when I did. Then I finally told Derrick my last memory of Joseph.

"...I was a bit unconscious after that guy wacked me with the frying pan. I think he picked me up over his shoulder when I heard something. Joseph was calling my name...he was yelling like a scared child. Then the guy turned around a pulled out a shot gun...next thing I knew, I heard gun shots...and then Joseph was silent."

Derrick looked sad to hear my story, it's true though, it wasn't tough to admit that I loved my brother. He's all that I have left...or had left.

"I guess its my turn to talk about myself." Derrick sighed as the fire cracked and sizzled.

"Lets see here...I live with my mom and my little sister Sophie. She's about five years old, we're twelve years apart as you can tell. One night, after I tucked her into her little princess bed, I went back to my room to get some rest. But then I heard most terrifying thing...she was screaming in horror.

When I ran into her room, I saw a man dressed in black, holding Sophie by her neck with tears running down her face. As my mom ran into the room, the man put a gun to Sophie's head and said, 'Come with me derrick or your little sister gets to live with the ponies and unicorns.'

My mom looked at me and was crying. Then I slowly walked towards Sophie and said "It's going to be alright, just look at me Sophie." Sophie stopped crying and then the man let her go. I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead, she knew that I was leaving her. Before I left with the man she gave me this."

Derrick pulled out a small baby blue teddy bear from the messenger bag. I noticed that he was tearing up a little, he must of really loved his little sister.

"Is it bad to love your little sister like your own child?" He questioned as he wiped the tears from his face.

"No its okay, my little brother cares for me as if I was his child, even though he's younger than me. Hey Derrick... your little sister, Sophie will be fine. She knows that her big brother is doing something for her. Don't be sad okay?"

He wiped his tears and turned away from me, I guess under all that toughness was a loving and caring big brother. All he wanted was to get back to his sister just like all I want is to get back to Joseph.

A little while after we stopped being sad for ourselves, Derrick started to put up the tent.

"Only one tent?!" I asked shockingly.

"I didn't have time to find a second one, at least its big enough for both of us. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything to you while you sleep..." He said with a creepy smile.

"Derrick!"

"Ha ha, trust me! I'm not a pervert."

As he finished setting up the tent, I grabbed a granola bar and started to eat it. The night sky was midnight black, I can't see city lights or a house anywhere. All I wanted was to know why this happened to me...

"Hey Christina? Can u hand me the bag?" Derrick asked as I was deep in thought.

"Oh-uh sure!"

"You seem distracted, what's on your mind?"

"I've been wondering something all this time...I know that the guy wanted me because it was like a mission from his boss. But why did he want you too?"

"...I'm not exactly sure..."

That thought stayed in our heads as we climbed into the tent and drifted off to sleep.