Chapter 9 We Need To Leave Merna's heart was pounding as she filled in the hole that she had dug. The next thing she was planning on doing was collecting their items, and getting ready to head back to the truck. The immediate danger was heading their way, the longer she was at the location, the more her anxiety built. Merna was getting ready to take down the tent when Pierre and Steve were speed walking, “Merna?” Pierre yelled as he directed his path toward her. Merna raised herself from the crouched position, “what is it?” Markous stomped in the direction of where Merna was. “Where is the food?” Steve started to rub his face with both hands, knowing that Markous would lose his shit. “We have a situation that is going on!” Pierre stepped in to finish what Steve would say, “remember when I said at the first sign of danger we were going to leave?” He directed his words towards Merna. Merna forced a mocking smile on her face, “Yes, but that ship sailed a long time ago.” She said with sarcasm. "We all need to leave like this time yesterday!" Markous yelled, “Once again where is the food?” Pierre decided to match Markous attitude and multiplied it by two, “listen here you paper pushing pencil neck prick we are leaving!” Merna could hear the hint of dread in Pierre’s tone. If she had not known him all these years, she would have taken it as his temper showing itself. “Pierre, you need to calm down! Nothing ever got done by freaking out!” Markous glared at Pierre, then towards Steve, “where is the food?” Merna placed her hands on her hip and gave Markous her best death glare, “Markous … shut up!” Markous began, “where …” Merna glared at Markous, “One more word and I will throat punch you!” She warned him. Markous did not listen, “where …” With no hesitation, Merna does a quick jab to Markous’s throat, rendering him to the ground and holding his throat while coughing. Steve could not suppress a chuckle, “good shot Merna!” Enjoying his brother’s pain.Merna took a couple of deep breaths before continuing, “Pierre, you need to calmly tell me what happened?” Though in the back of her mind, she had a feeling she already knew what he would say, she just wanted to hear him say it. Pierre steadied his tone, so there were no signs of fear. “Everything about this place is off! You remember the ribbons I tied to the trees?” Merna only nodded her head. Steve added his voice to the conversation, “they’re gone!” Pierre continued, “I can’t count how many times I got lost in the woods, we were lost for almost two hours.” Merna wrinkled her nose, “you were not gone that long, not even an hour!” Steve exhaled, “add time lost to the strange things that are going on here.” Merna crossed her arms before her chest, “this is what I feared!” Pierre appeared upset and angry, “what do you mean?” Steve’s voice showed a hint of fear: “we need to get out of here!” Markous raised his voice so that all eyes were on him, “we are not leaving until Camile agrees to convince her dad to be an investment partner!” “Are you bloody mad?” Merna began, “that would be a very bad idea. The land is very specific about what is allowed here and what is not!” Markous stands up and motions himself to stand in front of Merna threateningly. “You listen to me …” He began to bellow with rage. Merna warned him, “very bad things are about to happen. So it is you that needs to listen … “ She took one step closer to Markous and pointed a finger at him. “This land is not yours to do with as you please. People will lose their lives if they or you do not listen. The land is very much a live and who or whatever protects the land, will not tolerate your blatant disrespect! It will kill you without a second thought!” Steve began, “Markous maybe …” Markous brought his attention briefly to his brother, “shut your fucking mouth Steve! If I wanted your opinion I would ask mother!” Steve took a few steps towards his brother, "you were not there!" He began, "Roots moved out of the ground and the kids laughing!" Steve was starting to show signs of freaking out. "It was like invisible children were running around us making fun of us!"Emma stepped near Markous, “Markous you need to back off now!” Markous pointed a finger towards Emma, “Emma go back to the tent and make yourself presentable. That is all you are good for!” Camile stepped in to aid Emma, “Markous, you are starting to get out of control.” She said calmly, trying to de-escalate the situation. Markous snorted once, “you are only here to agree to my terms and do as told. You know what will happen if you do not do as you are told right?” "EH, Bro!" Steve shot, "Why do you have to be a dick like dad?" Pierre steps behind Merna, allowing her to do her thing. Merna squared off her shoulders, preparing for a fight that Markous wasn’t prepared for. “This is what is going to happen …” Merna started. Markous gave Merna an evil glare, “I am not going to listen to a fraud that claims she is a witch and can speak to the dead.” The wind started to blow as Merna closed her eyes to listen to what the unseen had to say. Visions entered Merna’s mind as she searched for the biggest secret that Markous had hidden from everyone. Finally, something that only he would know is true. Merna forced a grin on her face, “You paid Oliva Lawrence to have an abortion, she did not! Instead, she moved back to the States; now, her son is five years old. Matthew, I do believe his name is! Cute little man who looks like Oliva’s father. You are paying her one grand a month to keep her mouth shut! Except last month you decided to get moody and not give her the money! Oliva not only called your phone but also called you at the office. One of those calls Emma picked up your phone and answered it. You got so pissed off you pushed Emma into the wall and told her never to answer your phone ever again or she would regret it. The implication of a beating was there! The fact of the matter is that you are losing more money than you are gaining, so you are buying this land to turn it into a money-making resort … which by the way … the land will not allow it to happen.” Markous was pale; his mouth was open and closing as he tried to digest everything. Merna displayed her victory grin, “that is what I thought! The only fraud here is you!” Pierre raised his voice to show his command of the situation, “we need to pack up and get out of here now!” Merna added her thoughts to the conversation, “we have wasted enough time talking … with any luck, we haven’t been marked for the hunt!” Pierre glared at Merna, “What do you mean?” He whispered in her ear.Merna tapped the side of her head, “the minute people set up the tents that is when the hunt begins. The master of the land doesn’t like trespassers. The land told me that human borns are allowed to walk the land but they are not allowed to stay. Though something is different this time, the rules have changed, I just don’t know what it is!” Camile started to rub her hands up and down her arms, “how will you know if you have been marked?” Merna shrugged her shoulders, “any unusual marking on your body? Unfortunately, I was not told what the marks would look like.” Steve used his sense of logic, “if we had been marked, would we not feel it?” Merna again shrugged her shoulders, “maybe but not always!” Markous laughed, “I can’t believe you are listening to her!” He directed his comment to everyone. Pierre started to head towards his tent, “I should have listened the first time Merna said there was something wrong with this place. She felt the change and yet still came.” Merna slowly followed Pierre, “I had too, who else would keep you alive to get out of this place.” Pierre smiled at Merna, “you have always had my six!” Merna patted Pierre on his back, “what do you think best friends are for!” Stubbornly Markous yelled, “I am not leaving!” Merna disregarded Markous’s words and yelled, “where is Bronks?” Pierre surveyed the location looking for movement, “Bronks! Where are you boy?” “I saw him run after you, I thought for sure he would have caught up with you!” Merna sounded more concerned than she had this whole time. Markous dug his foot into the ground, “one tiny little thing and you all get spooked.” Steve stood before his brother, “bro, are you not listening? We didn’t get to the trucks to get the food! The phones aren’t working, and now it looks like were are fucked! What else must happen before you come to your senses?” Merna glared at Pierre, “Pierre, where is your protective amulet I gave you?” Pierre placed his hand on his neck, “I must have lost it in the woods while we were wandering around. I fell … I know it was there …” Merna nodded, “then it looks like it has done its job; I will make you a new one while everyone gets their gear packed.”