I snapped awake. Finding myself on the floor next to the sofa. Oh. My. God. The realization hit me like a brick. I just disobeyed every rule.
The few rules this cabin had. All disobeyed on night one. I pushed myself up, my body aching from having slept on the floor all night. I really had been more exhausted than I expected to be.
I sighed as I got up. Looking around cautiously. Everything seemed to be the same. Either way rules are just for extra safety, I'll be fine. At least that's what I always told myself.
The morning light was shining through the windows like a wake up call. The day had begun.
I stood up, still a bit wobbly as I just woke up. Strangely I didn't feel the nausea I usually woke up with. I barely noticed that it was gone. Quickly deciding I wouldn't think too much of it as I didn't want to trigger it now.
I went to the bathroom. Stripping off my dirty travel clothes as I set the water on. Almost immediately finding the perfect temperature. I stepped in, letting the water stream all over me. Closing my eyes as the heat enveloped me like a warm hug. Washing myself with the soap the cabin had seemingly gifted. I felt my muscles fully relax for the first time in months.
After the shower I went into the bedroom, trying to choose what to wear. I ended up with some bootcut jeans, a chain belt, a singlet with a tight long sleeved shirt with open cleavage over it. Going for a 2000s style, with my own Bella swan twist. I checked myself in the mirror. Feeling pleased with how I looked.
I went off to the kitchen. Making some coffee and pouring it into my thermos flask. I had a special pouch on my leg where the flask fitted perfectly.
I grabbed my boots, getting them on quickly, almost as if I was in a hurry to get out. My weapons were still on the table. I didn't want to take them with me. However my friends words haunted my mind more than I would like to admit. I decided to take them with me anyway.
Grabbing my extra leg strap, hesitating as I strapped it on. Stuffing both a dagger and my gun in quickly. "Safety matters I guess" I murmured to myself.
I checked the table once more, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything. My phone was still there, in airplane mode. I debated checking it, my friend had probably gone crazy with how long I have been ignoring her now.
After a moment of debating I decided to let it be. I'd rather go for my walk now and deal with people later. She was probably just going to be complaining anyway.
After a moment I walked out, closing the door behind me. I hadn't bothered taking my phone with me. I didn't need it to walk.
The moment I stepped outside the scent of pine trees and nature hit me. I never imagined it to smell this good. Freeing in a way.
I just began to walk. I didn't have a map with me, or a specific place I wanted to see. I just wanted to take a walk. Trusting my instinct to bring me back to the cabin safely.
Time went by. I knew that because I saw the sun shift its position in the sky, showing it was already midday. I found a nice spot by a river. Drinking my coffee as I watched the water splash in front of me.
My surroundings had been awfully quiet, but not completely silent. I had heard a few birds here and there and some ruffling from possibly squirrels or some other small animal. Which was normal, but not as much as I had expected. It didn't bother me much though. I appreciated the silence.
I finished half of my coffee before closing the lid and getting up. Maybe it was stupid, but I wanted to cross the river. I wasn't sure why, but I felt like there was something interesting on the other side. Just one of those instinctive feelings. Like a gut feeling.
I went and searched for a way over. The water wasn't deep, but I wasn't looking for wet socks either. After a minute of inspecting I found the perfect path to help me get over it.
Jumping from rock to rock. Laughing as I almost fell in. Once on the other side I began to walk forward immediately. The sounds of my surroundings had gotten overly quiet now.
I couldn't spot any birds till I got further, seeing the birds higher up in trees. I hummed "funny" as I looked around me. Normally birds didn't sit that high unless needed. Or maybe they did and I simply never knew.
I kept on walking, not thinking too much of it. I kept on walking further. My surroundings were calm and peaceful. A bit too calm and peaceful.
At some point I went to sit by a tree, finishing my coffee. I felt something was off. As if I wasn't alone. Duh of course I wasn't. There were animals, but I kept getting this nagging feeling as if something was nearby watching me. No lurking.
I shook my head. I tried to shrug it off as night paranoia. It was getting late anyway.
I went back to the cabin. Moving faster than before. As if my body and mind knew something I didn't.
It took me an hour, but I got back to the cabin. Checking all the windows, closing them and the curtains. I wasn't going to break any more rules tonight.