Storms and Rains: Ryland Storms

Page 16

We heard talking somewhere and looked around, but there was no one.

"That's fucking creepy," Angel said and he held onto Ryland. We heard a scream from the trees and Ryland suddenly jumped onto my back.

"Please fucking save me!" He begged and I held him. "I'm too young to die." I laughed and Thomas filmed us. We kept walking and finally saw other people.

"Chase, go talk to them," I said.

"Hi! Is this place really haunted?" He yelled and they turned to us. None of them said a word, but just tilted their heads and watched us.

"Thanks!" I yelled. There was another scream and we looked into the trees to see nothing. We looked back at the people on the hill, but they were gone.

"Oh, shit!" Calvin yelled.

"I'll walk alone to the car," Mia said. "I swear to God!"

"I'll go with her," Kouvr looked ready to cry. But they both still came with us while we walked.

"Um... Is that a demonic circle?" Michael looked at something red on the ground.

"Yeah..." Paper said. "Fuck, I'm scared, too."

"Maybe we should head back," Alex said.

"Yeah!" Ryland said. "I'm not dying today."

"You're not gonna die," I rolled my eyes.

"Easy for you to say. You're in all black and blend in with a cult!"

"Let's go back, then," Thomas agreed. Everyone stopped filming and we started walking back. Ryland got off me and they grouped up to talk. I looked around and saw something.

"Hey, guys? Do you remember if we came straight or from the right?" I asked.

"From the right," Alex said.

"No, no. From straight. We agreed not to make turns," Calvin said.

"I'm pretty sure it was straight," Ryland said.

"No. I agree with Alex, it was right," Angel said.

"Because if we go right, it goes into trees. And if we go straight, it goes to those cult people walking towards us," I said.

"What?" Thomas asked and everyone came over.

"They're walking to us!" Charli panicked.

"I want to go home," Dixie said.

"Just go right," Chase said. "Go right. They're speeding up." We all ran and heard screams behind us. We slowed down and there was a rustle in the bushes.

"Oh, my God!" Kouvr screamed.

"It's just the wind, baby," Alex tried to calm her.

"Dead end. The path ends. We have to go back," Angel said.

"Back," someone said and I screamed when I came face to face with someone in all black that looked like they were from the group of people. Ryland grabbed me and we all ran for it. We ran through the path and past the group of people. They blocked our way and Thomas really wasn't having it.

"Alright, enough of the games. This is scaring the shit out of the girls," he said and they just tilted their heads at him.

"Thomas," Mia said and pulled him back.

"I don't like this, Ry," I said.

"Let go!" Dixie suddenly screamed and one of the people had grabbed her wrist. She pulled it away and I gripped Ryland.

"It's okay. I know. We'll get home," he held me. There was a man screaming and we all turned around. When we looked forward, the people were gone.

"Just fucking go!" I screamed and we all ran to the cars. I got in Thomas' car and Ryland got in first. I sat on his lap and immediately started crying like Mia.

"Shh, shh," Ryland hugged me. Thomas started driving and I silently cried.

"Fuck you, Thomas," I said. "Fuck you and your stupid ideas." Ryland squeezed my side and held me.

"I won't be able to fucking sleep," Ryland said.

"You? I was more scared than you," I said. "I'm the one whose crying!"

"Okay, okay. Sorry. You can stay over and I'll protect you." I nodded and we drove back to the Hype House. I went with Ryland to his room and he shut the blinds. I took one of his hoodies and changed into it. "Come give me a hug," he said and I did. "I want you to know that I will never let anything harm you, hurt you, or touch you. You're safe with me and I'll keep you safe. Trust me. Because I love you. Okay?"

"Okay," I muttered and he squeezed me, kissing the top of my head.

"As long as you're with me, you're safe. And nothing's going to get to you because I'd put my ass on the line for you. I'd sacrifice myself for you because you mean a lot to me." I hummed and he sighed. He let go and we laid down. "Spoons?" He asked.

"No. Just hold me," I said. We were facing each other and I rested my forehead against his chest as he wrapped his arm around me. "Thanks, Ry. I love you."

"I love you too, babe."

We slept and I slept okay, but only because Ryland was there and I trusted him to protect me. We went down and everyone looked tired.

"How did you sleep?" Calvin asked me.

"Because Ryland calmed me down," I shrugged.

"Damn. I'mma have to try sliding into his bed."

"Back off, Lionel," Ryland said and everyone laughed.

"Okay. I'm gonna head home," I said.

"I'll come with you," Ryland said.

"I have work. I can't entertain you."

"Her brother has the best video games," Ryland said.

"I'm coming," Patty, Chase, and Paper said. We all went to my place and they played video games as I did a few things. I had to look through some pictures and accept a few to be sent to magazines. It didn't take me long and I called my manager and stuff to tell him I sent the pictures back. I went down and to the game room and the boys were screaming at each other.

"I'm getting lunch. What do you guys want?" I asked.

"In-N-Out," they all gave me their orders and I got it for them. They came to the kitchen and ate, talking about how bad the others were at playing.