Chapter Nineteen
Archie
Archie heard no answer to his call. Just the footsteps. Heavy, deliberate. Not the soft crunch of a deer moving through the brush. Human.
He stood too fast, heart hammering, and took off toward the trees.
His breath came hard as branches whipped against his arms, snagging at his sleeves.
The footsteps followed, steady and unrelenting, crushing the undergrowth behind him.
He didn’t look back. Panic clouded logic, turning every shadow into something bigger than it was.
His boots skidded on loose dirt, nearly sending him to the ground.
He pushed harder, weaving through the dense trunks, breath burning in his chest. The woods were closing in, the dim shade from trees making everything uncertain.
He could see the shape of thick roots stretching across the ground, the faint outlines of boulders in the distance.
He caught the sound of frogs croaking from the lake, distant and mocking.
Then the footsteps fell away.
Archie didn’t stop immediately. He kept running until the forest was silent again, until he could breathe without feeling like someone else was stealing the air.
Finally, he braced a hand against the rough bark of a tree and slid down to sit, chest rising and falling in uneven bursts.
He pressed his forehead to his arm, willing his body to relax.
For a long time, nothing happened. The woods settled, the familiar hum of insects filling the void.
He stayed like that, resting against the tree, his hands curling into the damp earth beside him.
Fear ebbed, replaced by exhaustion. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he heard voices—familiar ones this time.
“Archie!”
Brogan’s voice broke through the thick trees. Archie lifted his head and exhaled in relief as movement pushed through the brush. Andrew was right behind Brogan, both of them looking frantic until their eyes landed on him.
“You’re okay,” Brogan said on a heavy breath, bending forward, hands on his knees. “What the hell, Arch? You scared the crap out of me.”
Archie swallowed, dragging his hand down his face. He couldn’t quite believe they were there, standing over him like this whole thing had been some surreal nightmare. “I…I heard something,” he admitted, voice hoarse. “Got freaked out. Started running.”
Andrew gave him a long look before shaking his head. “You’re officially banned from wandering off alone,” he said, offering a hand to pull Archie up.
“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Brogan asked.
“I forgot to charge it last night.”
“Don’t do that again. I didn’t know what happened to you,” Brogan said.
“When I started back, I got lost, so I returned to the lake and waited for you to find me, but that’s when I heard footsteps and weird sounds. I just ran away from them.”
Brogan managed a tight smile as Archie took Andrew’s hand. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go back.”
“You’re not in the city anymore. Keep that phone charged,” Andrew said.
“I will. I don’t understand how I could’ve gotten lost.”
“You don’t know the woods yet. We’ll get more practice. Of course, never alone again,” Brogan stated firmly.
They returned to the campsite; the fire was covered with dirt. Andrew didn’t stay long, saying his goodbyes before disappearing on the path to his car. Archie sat down, stretching his legs out in front of him, the adrenaline finally draining from his body. Brogan sat beside him, taking his hand.
Archie stared at Brogan, checking to see if he was angry with him. “I don’t know why I ran,” he admitted.
Brogan sighed. “You were scared. It happens.” He nudged Archie’s arm. “Maybe next time, start yelling so I can actually find you.”
Archie huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah. Good Plan.”
The air wasn’t so heavy anymore, with Brogan beside him.
“I cooked the steaks, but they’re cold.”
“I like cold steak. Anything you cook, I love,” Archie said.
Brogan got up, pulled the steaks from the foil, and put them on paper plates. He handed Archie a fork, knife, and napkin.
“I didn’t bring anything else except chips. Is that okay?”
“Love chips.”
Brogan grabbed the two small bags of chips from his backpack and handed one to Archie, then he sat beside him again.
“Are you sure you weren’t running from me?” Brogan asked.
“Why would I run away from you?”
“Because I was such a fuckup with Jade.”
“You have no idea how many fuckups I made in San Francisco without my father around.” Archie would never take off without saying something, especially in the woods, while Brogan was grilling the steaks and waiting for him.
“Are you going to tell me about any of them?”
“If you want me to.”
“Tell me about the most recent one.”
“I met this guy at a party, and we talked for fifteen minutes. Then he wanted to go to his place, and we went. I thought it would be a hookup, and I’d go home after it. But that’s not what happened.”
“What happened?” Brogan cut a piece of his steak.
“He locked the door and used a code, so I couldn’t run out if I needed to. He lived in a house. I already was freaking out with the lock.”
“Had you ever seen him around?”
“No. He told me to take off my clothes. I refused because the vibes were all wrong with him once he locked the door.”
“I can’t believe you just talked to him for fifteen minutes and went home with him. Tell me more.”
“He got pissed, and he shoved me against the wall and started calling me all kinds of homophobic names. I shoved him back, but he was too big. Then I let out a piercing scream and started kicking him. In the end, he beat me up, carried me to his car, and dumped me in front of the hospital. I had to stay there overnight. It was the biggest mistake ever.”
“Did you press charges?”
“No. I didn’t want my father to find out about it. It happened about six months ago. I’m okay now, but it was a painful lesson in hooking up with strangers.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you.”
“Me too.”
“The steak is so cold.”
“I don’t mind. It still tastes good.”