Nick

~Two months ago~

Derek and Nicholas quietly snuck out of the boys' hostel, sliding through the window with practiced ease. They landed softly on the ground, immediately heading down the empty path before anyone could spot them.

“Are you sure about this?” Nicholas asked, glancing nervously as they made their way toward the dense woods.

“Trust me, Nick. This project is going to be the best in the class,” Derek replied confidently. “You brought your camera, right?”

Nicholas nodded, raising the camera in his hand. “Got it.”

Derek grinned, clearly excited. “Then let’s go! Time for an adventure.”

Nicholas shot him a side-eye. “Why are you so excited to take pictures of a mountain lion eating people in the middle of the night? You are so not normal,” he muttered, brushing aside a branch as they walked.

“Nicholas, you’re missing the point,” Derek said with a laugh. “Everyone’s wondering what’s happening to all those missing tourists. If we can figure this out and get it on film, we won’t have to study to pass—or even graduate.”

“Oh my God, I seriously regret ever trusting you this much," Nicholas grumbled, stepping carefully around the underbrush. “Here I am, walking into a forest where a mountain lion might be waiting to eat us, all for the sake of your crazy idea.”

Derek laughed, waiting for Nicholas to catch up. When he did, Derek threw an arm around his neck, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“We’re in this together, man. Forever,” Derek whispered in his ear, making Nicholas roll his eyes.

“This is not the time for Best Friends Forever slogans, Derek,” Nicholas muttered. “We’re in the middle of a dangerous mission that you set up, remember?”

Derek chuckled, shaking his head. “Let’s just get this over with. You get your camera ready, and I’ll take care of the torchlight.” He flashed a goofy smile, clearly enjoying the thrill of it all.

They ventured deeper into the woods, the eerie sounds of the night surrounding them. Twigs snapped underfoot, and the distant hoot of an owl sent a shiver down Nicholas's spine.

“Did you hear that?” Nicholas whispered, his voice trembling.

“Relax, Nick,” Derek said with a grin. “It’s just birds and bugs. Don’t freak out.”

But Nicholas wasn’t convinced. “Derek, what if the mountain lion attacks us? We don’t even have weapons. This was a really stupid idea.”

Derek didn’t answer right away, his focus sharpening as he led the way further into the woods. Nicholas stayed close behind, trying to ignore the growing sense of unease creeping up his spine.

“Nick, calm down, alright? If we hear a growl or a roar, we’ll climb a tree. Mountain lions can’t climb trees... can they?” Derek asked, more to himself than to Nicholas, as they continued through the woods.

“Derek, let’s just turn back. We can study for the exams, attend the tutorials... do something normal!” Nicholas pleaded, suddenly stopping in his tracks, a hint of panic in his voice.

“No way, we’re almost there,” Derek said, not bothering to look back. But then his eyes caught something up ahead—something on the ground.

“Nick, I see something,” Derek called, breaking into a run toward the figure lying in the dirt.

Nicholas felt his heart race. He was about to move when suddenly, a low, eerie growl echoed through the trees, freezing him in his place.

“Derek...” he whispered, his voice barely audible, but Derek didn’t hear him. He was already focused on the body ahead.

The growl came again, this time louder and closer. Nicholas slowly turned his head toward the sound, his heart pounding in his chest.

“This has to be an animal. Someone must’ve killed the mountain lion,” Derek muttered, lost in his thoughts as he approached the body, forgetting Nicholas wasn’t beside him anymore.

“Derek!” Nicholas yelled louder, his fear escalating. This time, Derek snapped his head around, hearing his name.

“Nick!” Derek called back, seeing how far behind he was. “What are you doing back there? Come on, get over here! We need to take pictures!”

“There’s something in the woods!” Nicholas yelled, stepping back, his eyes scanning the darkness, growing more fearful by the second.

“There’s nothing, Nick. The mountain lion’s dead,” Derek said dismissively, though his voice trailed off as another growl filled the air. This time, it was much closer.

“Oh my God...” Derek muttered under his breath, a sudden wave of fear washing over him. “I think there’s something here! Nick, come on!”

Without another word, Nicholas started running towards Derek,, his feet pounding against the earth as adrenaline surged through him. Derek, startled by the urgency in his voice, quickly took to his heel too, though he didn’t have a clear destination in mind—he just knew he had to run.

Nick was fast, and within seconds, he had caught up to Derek, passing him with surprising speed.

“Are you this fast?” Derek shouted, pushing himself harder to keep up.

“I think so!” Nick shouted, his legs pumping faster as he pulled ahead of Derek.

Suddenly, the sounds of snapping branches and heavy breathing filled the air.

“What the hell? Are there more than one lion?” Derek shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

“I don’t know!” Nick called back, his voice distant as Derek lost sight of him.

Before Derek could process what was happening, his foot caught on a tree root, sending him sprawling to the ground with a painful thud.

“Ouch!” Derek groaned, clutching his leg in pain.

Nick, realizing Derek had fallen behind, stopped running and turned to retrace his steps.

“Derek!” Nick called, his voice filled with concern.

“I hurt my leg!” Derek yelled back, barely able to hear Nick over the growing sounds of the woods.

Nick rushed toward him, but suddenly, something slammed into him from the side, sending him tumbling to the ground. His scream echoed through the trees.

“Nick!” Derek cried out, panic filling his chest. He frantically scanned the area, but Nick had disappeared.

“Nick!” Derek mumbled to himself, tears beginning to well up in his eyes as he struggled to rise, only to be frozen in place by a low growl from behind him.

Spinning around, Derek grabbed a nearby stick, swinging it desperately at the creature that was creeping up on him. The stick splintered upon contact, but it did nothing to stop the animal.

Derek’s eyes went wide with fear. The creature wasn’t a mountain lion. It was a wolf, and its eyes gleamed an unnatural shade of red.

Before Derek could react, the wolf lunged at him, sinking its teeth deep into his arm.

“Ahhh!” Derek screamed in agony, flailing with his other hand and kicking at the animal, trying to pry it off.

With a growl, the wolf released its grip and scampered off into the darkness, leaving Derek bleeding and writhing in pain on the ground.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he clutched his torn arm, the pain almost unbearable. He needed to find Nick.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Derek dragged himself toward a nearby tree, using the trunk to pull himself to his feet. His vision blurred, but he didn’t care—he had to find Nick.

He pushed himself forward, stumbling toward where he had last seen his friend, praying that he hadn’t been hurt too badly.

“Nick!” Derek cried out, his voice trembling with fear. The sound of a faint cough reached his ears, and he turned desperately in the direction of the noise. His heart sank when he saw Nick on the ground, his clothes torn and blood soaking through them.

“Nick,” Derek whispered, his voice shaky as he rushed over to him. He collapsed beside his friend, gently cradling Nick’s head in his hands.

Nick coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips, but he managed to look up at Derek with a weak smile.

“Nick, I’m so sorry. I’ll get you home now,” Derek choked out, tears streaming down his face.

“No… it’s… it’s okay.” Nick’s voice was barely a whisper, his breath labored as he coughed again, blood staining his shirt.

“No, it’s not fine!” Derek cried, shaking his head. “I brought you here. I pushed you to come, and you warned me! I didn’t listen. It’s my fault.”

Nick struggled to lift his hand, gently touching Derek’s arm. “No, Derek. Don’t blame yourself. We did it… we found the lion. We… we did it.” He coughed again, his breath shallow. “Take my… my camera. Take the pictures and go back to the hostel before you get caught.”

Derek shook his head, tears falling faster. “No, Nick. I’m not going back without you. We found it together. Let’s get you back to the hostel. We’ll get through this.” He tried to stand, but Nick’s hand gripped his wrist, stopping him.

“Go.” Nick’s voice cracked, and Derek saw the pain in his friend’s eyes. “You can’t stay here. That wolf will come back for you too. Two best friends shouldn’t die on the same day. Go now, Derek!”

“No!” Derek yelled, his voice raw with desperation. He stood up, ignoring the sharp pain in his own body as he bent down to lift Nick into his arms. “I’m not leaving you here! We’re getting out of here together.”

With every ounce of strength he had left, Derek began to carry Nick, ignoring his own exhaustion, the searing pain in his leg, and the fear that gripped his chest. He moved toward the hostel, each step heavy with grief and determination.

“Hey, Derek,” Nick whispered weakly, his voice barely audible.

“Save your strength, Nick,” Derek replied, his voice breaking. “The hostel is right in front of us. We’re almost there.”

Nick gave a soft, labored smile. “I love you.” His voice was faint, but it still managed to reach Derek.

“I love you too, Nick. Please stay strong. Just a little longer, okay?” Derek’s voice trembled as he continued to move forward, but when he looked down, he saw Nick’s head drooping. He looked at his friend’s face, and his heart dropped when he saw Nick’s eyes were closed, unblinking.

“Nick!” Derek screamed, panic seizing his chest. He dropped to his knees, pulling Nick closer, hugging him tightly against himself.

“Nick!” he cried again, his sobs echoing through the night as he held onto his best friend, hoping, praying that Nick would open his eyes.

But Nick never responded.

Derek’s cries grew louder, desperate, as he clung to the lifeless body of the one person he had always relied on.