Jack's Diary - Paranoid Sensation - Day 57

     I've noticed that Julie has calmed down considerably since the operation. She may still be in shock over it. Doesn't take away from my happiness in not hearing curse words whenever she's around. The group decided not to finish the mission we were given. When I saw everyone agreeing, I decided to as well. Besides, I don't think the Valors would be happy to see their "package" without one of her hands and I just want to go back to our base. I have a few plans in store upon my return.

     The paranoia from last night has drifted away. Yet, the feeling lingered and the unknown circles me, I can't just relax and forget. I looked around the perimeter of our campsite looking for any tracks or objects left by any stalkers. Mike approached me and expressed a similar feeling of being watched. Two calm people both feeling paranoid at the same time for the same reason is no coincidence; there was definitely something watching us. I told him I planned to set up an old-fashion alarm around the perimeter to catch whoever it was. He told me to be careful and handed me a shotgun. It had been a while since I used one.

     I wasn't sure if I had enough rope, but setting the alarm wasn't my main concern. Anything that was watching us would probably approach me since I'm alone now. I began setting up the trap with one hand working and the other on my gun. I didn't hear any footsteps, and see any moving shadows, but I turned around when I felt a change in how the wind was hitting me. There was no one there. I really thought someone was nearby. 

     It turned out I didn't have enough rope (I even attempted to use my shoelaces to extend it, but to no avail. I figured I'd leave up what I had finished and come back tomorrow (maybe). Perhaps the alarm will be of use. I returned to camp and sat down near the fire. Maybe it's the lack of sleep that's making me feel watched. As much as I wanted to ignore it, the feeling stayed and nothing else could occupy my mind. If it weren't Julie amputated arm, we'd be heading back now. 

     I continued looking and thinking about who could be watching us until nightfall. I didn't feel like going to sleep, but I wanted the paranoia to stop, even if for only a moment in sleep. I didn't get much of chance because Ann went missing. Mike and I found her at the lake crying. I told Mike I'd talk to her. I approached her and asked, "What're you doing out here?"

     She cried a little more then looked up and said with a tearful tone, "Huh? I just felt like crying. That's all."

     "About what?"

     "I don't know. I just..."

     She started crying again. I sat beside her and hug her. She never told me what she was crying about. I even tried asking her a few more times and I got the same answer. Maybe it's her time of the month or maybe she's just one of those people who cry for no reason. It doesn't matter to me. No one died.

     We went back to camp and wrote this journal entry. I don't know why, but right now I don't feel so good. I don't feel sick; I feel a little sad now for some reason.

- Jack's Diary

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Mike's Diary Day 57 - I Told You Happiness Doesn't Last Forever.

          Happy? Yes, but happiness doesn't last long. Happy but not over-happy. I'm glad that Julie is fine, though I was doubting the success of the cruel operation done to her. She's tough, I can tell you that much. I was exhausted from that operation, slept, and Jack woke me up. I saw and woke Julie up, the joy and happiness. Everyone joined in and celebrate the temporary success. I asked everyone if they'd like to continue on the journey, but they said no. Including Jack surprisingly. Even though he's always be the one who wants to get this over with, this time he's the one who said no. Yes, he has his reason, we're all tired, and Julie isn't in the best condition. There's something odd about this place though, I don't know if it's just me or there's someone watching us, but I didn't really bother. I just thought that that was my paranoia kicking in. I woke up, untied Julie from the tree, and told her to sit beside the fire place for some breakfast. She did as what I told her to do, she sat along with Victor, Jess, and Ann, while Jack is standing behind our tents as if he was looking for something. I approached him
           "Jack."
           "Huh?"
           "There's something odd about this place don't you think?" I said quietly
           "Someone's watching us."
           "You feel that too?"
           "Yeah. I'm gonna set up a traditional alarm along the perimeter, you keep everybody in place."
           "Be careful." I said as I gave him my shotgun.
He headed north, and I went back to the group. I whispered to Victor to have his gun at all time, and the others to not stay away from each other, and they obeyed.
         
            It has been roughly one and a half hour since Jack's long gone. I was still on guard, the girls were in the tent, Victor watched the back of the tent, while I watched the front with our guns. I head some footsteps, and saw Jack walking towards the tent. I asked him what has he got, but he shook his head. He said that the rope wasn't long enough for him to connect each can-filled rocks to each other, so he left it there and decided to do it tomorrow (too tired I suppose). That afternoon, we decided to pull our tents together, side by side. No, more like back to back. My tent heads towards the North, Jack's towards West, Victor's towards South, Jess's and Julie's towards the East, and Ann's towards South-West. This will keep us close to each other, and will allow us to communicate with each other without going outside our tents. After we were done, we set the fireplace, and re-positioned it so that it's right in front of my tent. We sat there for hours, mostly busy doing some checking to our gears. I looked at Julie, who sat quietly, the blood went through, so we had to re-wrap the wound. I opened the cloth that was covering her chopped-off arm and it looked very nasty. I grabbed a t-shirt from my bag, ripped it into half, and re-wrapped her wound. She flinched and groaned here and there, but she said that she was feeling better.

             Night is approaching, we were in our own tents. We were chatting inside our own tents (We've set up our tents so we were able to do so), when somebody didn't respond. It was Ann. I asked Jack where she went, but he didn't answer. We rushed outside our tents, but didn't want to yell (that's suicide). I told Jack to come with me, and told him that my best bet is that Ann is near the lake. We rushed there with our guns ready, jumped through logs, scratched by branches, and there she was. She was on the side of the lake, sobbing, and crying. I didn't know what her problem was. When I was about to approach her, Jack held my hand and said that he'd go talk to Ann. I didn't know what the deal was, but as long as everybody is safe, I'm fine. After that, I decided to left those two, and went back to where the group is. I re-assured the group is safe, and told them where Ann went. I proceeded my way back into my tent, and decided to write. Write on this diary in which I will remember once we escape from this hell.

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Jack's Diary - A Run-in with Distrust - Day 54

     I don't think I say this too often about many people, but I have the strong urge to kill Evie. I tell her to do one thing for me and she can't even do that. I woke to Evie and Mike arguing and she flat out tells Mike he's stupid and that I thought so too. I never said he was stupid and I told her not to repeat what we talked about. Mike didn't seem too bothered by this information so I didn't see much point in defending myself.
     Mike seemed a lot better today so we headed out. While on our way, I gave Evie a piece of my mind.
     "The first time I trust you with something and you betray me," I told her.
     "What? You mean with telling Mike what said?
     "Yes and that wasn't what I said! You twisted my words around."
     "It's not that big of a deal."
     "It is for me! Why should I trust you if you can't even be trusted with something as small as this!"
     "That has nothing to do with trust. Someone had to tell him before he gets us killed."
     "So far, Mike's done a lot better than anything you've done."
     "So what? You'd just let him lead you blindly into danger without saying a word?" Evie stated.
     I didn't get a chance to respond. Mike stopped us and told us a horde was heading our way. I wouldn't have minded fight it, but safety comes first I suppose. Mike found a nearby lake and a canoe for us to take across. Mike, however, didn't have time to row across. So everyone except for Mike were on the other side of the lake.
     Shortly afterward, I began examining a nearby tree and I called over Evie. She put Sam down in the grass and approached me.
     "Do you think this tree is strong enough to support a tree fort?" I asked.
     She looked at me strangely and began saying, "Why would we try..." when I grabbed her hair on the back of her head and slammed her head against the tree twice before throwing her to the side. She didn't die, but she was rolling on the ground with a bloody dented forehead, as was the intended result. Sam began barking at me (sure. He acknowledges me now). I stepped back and watched her to see if she'd try and attack. She started to draw one of her knives when I grabbed my gun.
     "Hold it!" I shouted. She looked up at me and her hand ceased drawing the knife. She saw my hand on the gun. "Looks like that situation we talked about came up, hasn't it?" I told her.
     "Jack, what the hell is your problem?" yelled Julie.
     Everyone was alert and seemed ready to react to my next move.
     "Just exacting some payback," I responded without taking my eyes off Evie. "This is what happens when you cross me," I told Evie.
     "You did this just because I told Mike what you really thought?" Evie said angrily.
     "No. I did this because you betrayed my trust. I thought it was fitting; maybe it knocked some sense into your head."
     "Don't you think this is taking things too far?" asked Victor.
     "Considering I wanted to do far worse; no, this was mercy," I responded. I could see anger in her eyes as she slowly stood up. I also saw out of the corner of my eye that Ann was smiling (why in the world she was smiling, I don't know). "Had Mike kicked you out of the group, I wouldn't have hesitated to play out what I really wanted to do. However, since Mike seems to have faith in you, I'm willing to forgive."
     "If Mike were here, he'd never let you do this!" shouted Julie.
     "I still would have though he probably would've yelled at me just like you're doing right now. I don't intend on killing Evie," I said as I took my hand off the gun, "but I am going to give you a choice."
     "What choice?" Evie asked.
     "Mike's on the other side of the lake. Right now, we have no idea what his condition is though I expect he's alive and well. I want you find him and escort him back here."
     "What's the other choice?"
     "You take what you brought with you and leave us."
     She paused for a few seconds, looking down at the ground, probably considering her options.
     "I'm leaving," she answered.
     "Suit yourself. Jess, can you help her gather up her supplies? And Victor, you're in charge until I get back."
     "Where are you going?" Evie asked.
     "To get Mike."
     "Seriously, you must be joking. There's too much ground to cover. He could be anywhere."
     "Did you think I was kidding when I told you to look for him? Someone's going to and if you won't, I will."
     "And you really trusted me to bring your leader back?"
     "If Mike trusted you enough to keep you with us, I'm sure he'd trust you to help him now. are you reconsidering?"
     Evie stood in silence and seemed confused by the situation.
     "This just seems stupid to me," she said.
     "There's that word again. The fact is this is a test. You say you can handle yourself just fine. Here's your chance to prove it. If you don't return within a few hours, I'll come looking for both of you and believe me, I will succeed if you fail." Evie remained quiet as she thought.
     "The clock is ticking. Every moment you waste, nighttime draws closer."
     "Fine! I'll bring him back."
     "Alright. We'll keep an eye on Sam for you while you're gone. He'd just be a distraction."
     "Wait a second. I can't just..."
     "Trust me when I say no harm will come to your puppy," I answered.
     Evie walked off into the woods, beginning to go around the lake. After she left, Jess hit me over the head with a stick. It didn't hurt too much, but I don't like getting hit.
     "What are you? A psycho!?" Jess said angrily.
     "Would you mind elaborating on that," I responded.
     "You slam her head against a tree for "betraying your trust" (said sarcastically). Who made you judge and executioner?!"
     Julie came up to me and hit me with a stick as well. I yanked both of the sticks out of their hands and threw them into the lake.
     "Someone should slam your head against a tree! You had no right!"
     "Do you want someone around that might turn on you! You'll blindly accept anyone who greets you, won't you?" I asked them. "You don't look at someone and determine they are nice. That's a sure way to get yourself killed and we can't tolerate any lying and betrayal. It will lead to bad things, things that I want to avoid."
     "There has to be a better way then what you're doing," responded Jess.
     "I don't know. Maybe, but I don't know what it is."
     I walked off passed the bloody tree. I turned around to say, "Keep an eye on Sam. She'll kill us if anything happens to her." As I passed the tree, I saw Ann; she stared at me and had a disappointed look on her face. I began surveying the surrounding area when Victor caught up to me and gave me the same complaints as the girls did and I gave the same answers. I know what I did was extreme, but like I said, now is not a time for us to be sneaking around with secrets or spouting off words promised to be held sacred. Evie will probably always hate me. That's fine. As long as she helps out with the current cause and doesn't try and kill me, I don't care.
      After I was done surveying the area (no hordes around), I decided to try and catch some fish using some fishing line and a sharpened paperclip as the hook. The first thing I caught was one of the sticks I threw into the lake (irony). I managed to catch a few trout and that was our dinner.
     Night began approaching and all the tents were set up by now. I climbed the tree (you know. The bloody one) and tried to spot Evie and Mike. I didn't know if I should go out just yet so I decided to try and write this journal article. Then if they didn't show up by the time I finished, I would go out. About halfway through and they show up (it was already pretty late though). Evie greeted her puppy and Julie and the others greeted Mike. From the looks of things, it looked like Evie was staying. At least until morning.

- Jack's diary

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