Trapped
"Is it true ? Is it allowed ?" Soledad asked hesitantly to accept it.
"Yes, take it quickly!"
"Thank you," Soledad happily accepted the chocolate that Nicky gave her.
He slowly opened the wet chocolate wrapper to reveal a bar of dark chocolate that looked very delicious.
"That's milk chocolate, it tastes really good!" said Nicky.
Soledad started to open her mouth and was ready to eat the chocolate that was in front of her eyes. But he stopped and did not continue.
"Why ? you don't like it?" Nicky asked.
"It's not like that, it's just that I don't know how long we'll be in this place. How about we stay here until tomorrow?"
"Keep going ?" asked Nicky not understanding. Soledad cut the chocolate into two pieces and gave half to Nicky.
"You should eat too!" Soledad said.
"Okay."
Nicky and Soledad ate the milk chocolate from England in the dark, only the occasional flash of lightning could help them see in the eerie darkness. The two boys remained in the cave for 40 minutes until the rain finally stopped. However, even though the rain has stopped doesn't mean things are safe.
“The rain has stopped, looks like we can go home now!” Soledad said.
"Yeah, you're right,"
“Soledad helped Nicky walk by supporting him. However, because their steps were so slow, Soledad became impatient, while Nicky broke out in cold sweat from the pain in his legs.
"I can't take it anymore, my legs hurt so much!"
"Don't give up, you want to go home and meet your family, right?"
"But I can't stand it, you just go home alone, just leave me!"
"How can I go home alone, you idiot!"
"Why can not ? Didn't you just say that you would leave me alone if there was danger?"
"How could it be like that, especially since you gave me really delicious chocolate. "Just like this, I'll carry you and when we get home, give me chocolate in return, how about that?"
"Can you carry me?"
“Of course, I am strong. Come on, get on my back?" said Soledad while squatting in front of Nicky who couldn't stop thinking about this girl.
“Is that okay? What if I fall?"
"No, then you give me two chocolates, okay?"
"Okay, it's up to you, just watch out if I fall!" Nicky started to climb onto Soledad's back.
Soledad, who is used to carrying her sister, probably doesn't feel that much different. However, when he started to walk, he began to realize that Nicky was much heavier than his younger brother, Rudi.
"Y...it turns out you're heavy too, huh?"
"I told you earlier, do you want to give up?"
"No, for the sake of the chocolate that I will give Rudi, I also want him to taste that very delicious chocolate,"
"Well that's that then !" Nicky looked at Soledad from behind, there were many things he wanted to ask, one of which was about how Soledad was able to face various kinds of difficulties and remain calm like she was doing now. Even though he doesn't want to admit it, Nicky feels very impressed with Soledad.
“Woof…woof…!” I heard the sound of a dog barking from a distance. Soledad and Nicky felt hope that soon they would be home.
"Did you hear that?" Soledad asked.
"Yeah, that was the sound of a dog barking, it must be Dalton!"
"Are you sure ?"
"Of course I'm sure, I really know the sound!"
“How can you memorize it? Doesn't the dog barking sound the same?"
"Never mind if you don't understand, let's hurry and keep going!"
"Why are you the one ordering me?" Soledad asked, not accepting it.
"Forgive me,"
Soledad continued her steps, she was starting to get tired of carrying Nicky. Plus, this darkness made it difficult to see the direction of the road. The atmosphere became increasingly tense every time they heard the sound of owls, the faint howling of wolves and bats that suddenly flew over their heads.
"I'm scared, I want to go home!" whined Nicky, he cried again. At times like this, even though she was actually as scared as Nicky, Soledad tried to remain calm and tried to fight the fear, even though her legs trembled every time she took a step on the still wet ground.
"Woof...woof..." the sound of the dog barking was heard again, but this time it was closer.
“You...did you hear that? the sound is getting closer!” exclaimed Nicky, whose reactions included panic, joy and fear.
"Yeah...yes I know, but what if it's not your dog's voice?"
"What do you mean ?"
"I once heard from my brother that in this forest there was a murder by the army of several native youths who were suspected of being rebels. The bodies were left to rot and were eaten by wild animals. The villagers who were looking for the whereabouts of the missing young men only found their bones after six months," Soledad said with a suddenly serious expression. Nicky, who heard it, immediately swallowed hard.
***