Lost

Lost

By: Haripriya

“Are you sure we are not lost?” I asked, looking panicked. 

 I was going to faint any second now.  

“No! You’re being silly, that’s all! Besides, just because we didn’t go to the cabins like we were supposed to doesn’t automatically make us lost!” Navya said, her voice trembling with fear.  

I knew that she was scared, but just trying to hide the fact that there was no hope. 

“Please, tell me the truth, we are lost, aren’t we? Don’t lie to me, it is not the time to look out for my feelings. You need to be straight up honest with me.” I told her in a firm voice. 

“Fine, I guess... that we are... kind of lost,” she admitted.  

“What do you mean kind of lost?” I asked her. 

“I mean that we aren’t fully lost,” she said. 

“Just admit the fact that we are lost. I promise that I won’t make a big scene.” I promised her. 

“Ok, yes, we are lost. I am sorry, we shouldn’t have wandered off into the woods to find my necklace. I am even more sorry for dragging you into this. Now we are both going to be a grizzly bear’s dinner because of me.” Navya spoke sadly. 

“Let’s try not to get ahead of ourselves. It wasn’t completely pointless that we got lost when looking for your necklace...” I told her, trying to comfort her. 

“Oh really? Then where is my necklace?” she asked me. 

“Well... if we look closer, then we can maybe...” I started speaking, but Navya interrupted me. 

“NO! We can’t find it. Again, I am so sorry. I feel like such a bad friend. We should have been sleeping in our old bunk beds, instead, we are in the woods in the middle of the night just because of a necklace.” Navya said. 

“Look, Navya, don’t be so harsh on yourself! I know that you never meant for any of this to happen. We can just stick together and try to get out of here before anyone realizes that we are missing.” I said. 

“How come I totally forgot?! I bet our camp counselors already know that we are missing! Then, they will let the entire camp know, meaning our reputation is ruined. Also, the camp counselors will notify our parents, and we can get in serious trouble. But that’s only if we reach home. If we don’t, then we are doomed.” Navya panicked. 

“It looks like you are more scared than I am.” I joked. 

But she had a slight chance of being right. There might be ways that everyone already knew about our disappearance. Also, we are lost in the woods! The worst place to be lost! I did learn a thing or two from our camp survival class. For example, if a bear comes towards you, then slowly move back without moving a sound. If it keeps coming towards you, then act like you are dead. When it goes away from you, slowly get back up. But I don’t know if this is going to be enough. 

Suddenly, Navya stumbled upon something. Something which sounded like two rocks colliding. 

“Oww!! What is that? Is that a snake? Is that a raccoon? Is that a bear cub?” Navya worried. 

“No Navya! How could it be an animal? It sounded more like a brick. Here, gather some flint stones and rub them together to create friction. We can create some fire to finally see everything.” I advised. 

“I guess you’re right. I’ll go find some rocks.” Navya replied. 

As we both found some rocks, I fell too. 

“You’re right! It hurts kind of like I just fell on top of a boulder or something.” I wailed.  

“I know, right? I hope you’re ok, I will just rub the stones and make the fire.” Navya said. 

I wanted to help her but was too weak to even get up. I tried, but I fell right like how I fell before. It was no use. 

Click! 

“There! Looks like that survival class back at camp was useful after all!” Navya replied.  

“Yeah, you’re...” I started talking but couldn’t believe what I just saw.  

“What happened Nia?” she asked me. 

“Gravestones! Look behind you Navya! We stumbled on gravestones! We’re in a... graveyard!!” I shrieked. 

“AAAHHHH! How did we get here?? Right when I was kind of feeling a little better about the fact that we were lost!” Navya shouted. 

“I know your petrified, and trust me, I am too. But we can’t shout. It will wake up all the ‘you know who’ and we will be in their tummies before we can even scream for help.” I whispered. 

“This is so unfair! I feel so confused, scared, kind of jumpy, and... confused! Wait, did I already say confused?” Navya whispered back. 

“Yes Navya!” I groaned. 

“I guess we have to spend the night here, in this graveyard,” I admitted. 

“I hate to admit this, but yeah. Where else can we go? We are already lost in the woods, and I don’t even remember which direction we went, right or left! Or was it behind? I don't know. You see! Spending the night here won’t be so bad I guess, because I am spending the night with you, my best friend. I won’t feel so scared.” Navya told me. 

“You really think so?” I asked. 

“Of course. If I am ever lost again, I would pray that I would be lost with you. Not that you also get lost, but... well you know what I mean.” Navya whispered. 

“Yes. I am so happy that I am with you. I guess this graveyard isn’t the worst place to be, because it is not where you are that matters, but who you are with. I am with my best friend, so I kind of feel like I am home, in a way.” I replied. 

“Oh look!! Did you see that shooting star! I am going to make a wish!” Navya told me. 

“I am too,” I said. 

I wish that Navya and I stay best friends forever. Also, I wish that we get out of this scary place because it is kind of getting a bit scary spending the night in this graveyard. 

~The End~