I am deeply sorry for how long the chapter was and I have halved it so it won't be so long. I apologise for that.
"Uh you know Henry, any time you need a break. Let me know, okay? I can drive for you." Henry sighed for the seventh billion time.
"It's fine Daniels. I can handle it." Henry felt relieved when he heard Daniels whimper in defeat and sat back down at the back. Henry, Detective Daniels and Detective Marling were on the road heading to Peak Woods and Countryside.
They were driving on a road that had a view of a mountain side. Other sort of nature such as trees and bushes met them on both sides of the road. The weather was distressingly warm out.
Henry looked over to his side at Detective Marling. She was wearing a black, waterproof coat, sunglasses and a silk scarf over her head. Henry didn't know how she did it. In this weather he was already hot and sweating like a pig. Henry was wearing a thin orange shirt and a dark blue jacket over it and jeans as per usual. Detective Daniels was sulking in the back, he had wanted to drive, just because if he didn't he felt like a kid. But no one drives Henry's car, but him! Unless they had wanted a very gruesome and most improbable death. Henry frowned. He didn't want this. Didn't want to know these people, didn't want to leave the town and camp. He remembered his own camp site holidays, it made Henry shiver. (Don't know about you, but those episodes I hated to the core. I'm not sure why though.)
"How far to go now?" Asked Henry as he was controlling the steering wheel. Henry heard the clatter of paper and looked over at Marling.
"Just continue another half a mile and on the next turn, turn right." She answered as she folded her glasses shut.
After a short while, Henry came to a road that had two directions. Left and Right. Henry pondered what would happen if he went left. What would the grown-ups do? He was already forced into this weekend with them, he should get to say when they get there. Right?
"So what's down the left?" He questioned her. She watched the road, staring blankly ahead.
"A dead end." He quickly turned right, he didn't want to look dump in front of this women. He looked back in front of him and had to suddenly step on the break, cursing.
There was an entrance to the forest. There was no road ahead and just nature all around. He had forgotten how he had passed the sign before, the name of the forest and camp. He stopped the engine and exited the car with Daniels and Marling coming out after. Henry looked around confusingly. If you would of ignored the woods, he would just be stuck at a dead end on the cliff side. Below him, he could see countless fields that each one rolls against each other in the distance. Henry couldn't see no camps, no tents.
"Hey! What the hell is going on?!" He shouted back at them. They were fiddling around with the back of his car, trying to open it.
"We're going camping, what else would it be?" She smirked, as Daniels opened the trunk.
"But where are all the tents? The people? The camp site?"
"Oh Henry! Don't be pathetic! We're doing it old school!" Scoffed Daniels as if Henry had a brain the size of a nut. Realisation struck Henry like lighting.
"Couldn't we make it simple?" Said Henry calmly. "We are only trying to get to know one another. Why make such a deal out of this?"
"Well-" Daniels started, trying very hard to closed the trunk. It slammed down with a thud. Henry twitched an eye at Daniels uncaring hand. "To be honest with you Henry. If I wasn't working as a detective, my soul job would be to work out here in the forest and be the best damn tour guild you ever know!"
That made Henry feel worse. Marling chuckled at Henry's bewildered expression. Henry sulked over to them and looked at the equipment they had. They had a bag each, in each was a pair of clean clothes, rope, bottled water, duck tape, a torch each, Marling had had a tool box(Henry had no idea why but didn't bother asking about it), string and a First Aid Kit. Henry also had a pocket knife and his lighter. He also had a pack of cigarettes, in the back of his trouser pocket. Always there for any emergency. And this was a emergency.
They all took a bag and started towards the entrance of the woods. The tress in the woods were thick and towered above the skies. The leaves were all different, big fat ones that blocked out the sunlight and very small ones bunched together. The wind blew through then all making them rustle lightly. The tree's trunks were huge and half stood out of the ground and some even towered over Henry. Flowers of all kind met Henry at every corner they walked in. Loud animals could be heard throughout the woods, not really knowing where they were coming from and the earth was dry and made walking through the woods harder for Henry. His shoes weren't the best for hiking through this, they were already old and stuff was peeling from it already. Henry sighed loudly and continued following the detectives.
"Are we THERE yet?!" Moaned Henry, his shoulders were slouched and his feet dragged dirt making his feet worse. They haven't stooped for a while now and the sun was starting to sink down below the trees and fields and it was getting a little chilly too.
"Not really sure Henry." Henry narrowed his eyes.
"How could you not be sure?" Daniels sighed, this question had been said for a while now and was getting on Daniels nerves quite a bit. It was a little payback from Henry from the car ride.
"Because, we have to have the best place to camp and when I see a great spot to make camp, I let you know before Rose, okay?"
Henry grumbled and looked away at the mushrooms against the trees. Daniels could only call Marling by her first name. 'Because they knew each other very well' that's what they said. It made him feel like he was twelve again. This sucks so bad.
Would you rather be with Peter for the day, or here with the Detectives? Oh how he hated his mind. But that was a good question though. Would he rather be with Peter? Henry snorted at that. He rather be with Ralph. Sure he was okay with him now, but being with each other again was awkward and edgy. Would he be with these guys? He rather be bit by Bulldog. I rather be here myself. Away from everything and it would be amazing. I even have a tent, it would be paradise.
"AH! This looks like the spot!" Daniels excited voice stopped Henry in his tracks and looked over to where Daniels was pointing.
Over on their right was a nice flat bit of earth that would be perfect for camping. Around this said earth was bushes and logs. What stuck out the most was the large tree beside it. It was tall, majestic and it was hollow enough at the bottom for someone to use as a little bed(Love you Mr Tree :). Marling and Daniels must of known what they had to do because they went right on it it quickly and organised. Daniels went through the bushes a little further away to find branches and stones, while Marling set about collected the big big leaves that had fell and long branches for their tents she was going to make. Henry stood there, awkwardly sifting on his feet not knowing what to do. These guys were like pros and he really didn't feel like helping.
For a little while he watched Marling get the branches and tied them together, along with the long leaves by stacking them up on the branches making some sort of roof. At one time Marling had asked for Henry's string. Something Henry felt strangely over protective by, but still gave it to her.
"Are you going to sleep in the tree?" She asked him. He looked over at it, checking quickly for any bugs and checked to see if it looked comfy. He shrugged.
"Why not?"
"Then you could use the leaves to make some kind of cocoon for yourself." Henry frowned. "I checked for bugs, there fine."
"How are you guys so amazing at this?" Henry would of had no clue to what he would of done if he was lost in the woods. He rather be lost in a shopping mart, it least the exits were a little easier to find than a woods.
"Robert did say if he was anything other than a Detective, it would be some guide tour through woods and mountains. He would rather be an explorer to be honest. He loves living out here, he's like some wildman who is hunting for survival." She laughed suddenly at the image she was creating. "Then when we met, he taught me as well. So I'm almost an expert, like him."
"You don't say...So he lived out here before then?" She nodded.
"He actually lived out here for three years once." Henry gasped at her, stunned. Well now he knows why Daniels acts like himself.
"Three whole years! That's mental!" She smirked at him and started to push him away.
"If you help me, and we could save that for a bed time story tonight." Henry spun round, looking her dead in the eyes.
"I'm not some little kid you know." She scoffed.
"Yes you are. You been standing around, with nothing to do. You look like some child lost in a shopping mall." Henry frowned at her. She walked over by some bushes and pulled out two buckets. "Fill these."
Henry gave her look. When did they bring buckets? "Are they yours or something?"
"Why would I bring rusted, old buckets with me!? I found these not too long ago. Now hurry and fill them." He took the buckets.
"And where would that be?!" She pointed to a small clearance and saw a little trail going through it.
"Through there, don't stop and keep to the trail. You reach the river shortly."
He sulked off. Kicking stones and dust as he walked. The path was a short one and lead to the river easily. It was as silent as the insects in this woods. He collected the water and as he sat up, he suddenly noticed other pathways leading off into different parts of the woods. He had no idea where these other paths went, but it made him curious to how she knew that this trail led to the stream. Henry didn't bother worrying about it and went back the way he came.
He growled to himself, angrily. Henry had enough as he could take of this outing. While coming back he stubbed his toe on a rock he didn't kick before because he wasn't bothered to do so and a bird just crapped on his head. Stupid job, stupid rock, stupid bird, stupid outing, stupid ROSE! That's it! When he gets back, he's calling her Rose! He doesn't care what she wants! He's the man here! Bring it!
He put down the buckets by a log. "Here's your water, Rose" He said in a huff.
Someone grabbed his hair tightly, making him yelp and slammed his head down roughly on the ground. Henry gritted his teeth together before he could yell. She held onto his head as she laid her arm down on his back.
"What the hell?!"
"You call me by my last name! I made that clear to you before!" She said, her voice sounding deadly and she wasn't taking no shit from anyone. Henry struggled.
"You let Daniels call you that, what the hell is wrong with me saying it too!?"
"Detective Daniels and I, are part of a team and we have known his for a very long time!" Henry growled in his throat, struggling harder. She chuckled darkly.
"Try all your might. You aren't released till I hear you'll swear you won't say it again!"
Suddenly a light rustle of brushes could be heard. "I'm back!"
Henry felt sick as if he went up on a swing. He realised Marling had picked him up quickly and went back to the little shelters she made. Daniels hummed a tune as he was walking back, he stopped and looked over at Henry.
"Ah Henry! Great job for collecting the water!" Henry walked over to Daniels. He had collected a lot of branches and held them all under his arms, he even carried a separate stick on his head. If he was impressing anyone, it wasn't Henry and Marling.
"But I thought we would keep the fire going all night?" Henry wondered. He started to help set up the fire. Something he knew he was good at.
"I know, I know! But I find it better to be safe than sorry!" He grinned. Digging his foot in the ground and making a circle to where the fire will be set up. They both set up the sticks, stacking it higher and higher. Daniels idea of using stones to create fire wasn't working and before he could try using sticks instead, Henry had already lit the fire with his lighter, he was beginning to feel the cold and wasn't liking it. They all sighed together, feeling the heat on their hands and body. True their backs and behinds could get a little chilly but if they it least get warm a little, they'll be fine.
"So Henry. How are you finding the trip?" Asked Daniels, smiling. Henry shrugged. He could of said 'that this trip was making him an inch closer to Hell' but he didn't.
"Better than nothing I guess."
"Good! I'm glad you're enjoying it so much. I used to love going out with friends like this with my friends too!" You guys aren't and will never be my friends.
"So Robert, I heard you spent a while out here before." Asked Henry, becoming tensed and ready for anything, just in case. Daniels looked at him in shock and smiled.
"Yeah. I guess it was because my father would always bring me camping, even when I was a baby!" He suddenly coughed in his hand, feeling a little awkward. "But, uh call me Daniels please Henry, I would much appreciate that." Henry smiled at him for once.
"Sure, no problem." He looked over at Marling quickly. Okay, so she was a psychopath. There was something wrong with this woman. Daniels cracked his fingers, as if warming up to something.
"So, I guess you wanna know how I survived?!" The happy look on his face showed Henry that even if he rejected the story, he was going to get one. "Okay! Where should I start?"
Suddenly a high-pitched howl pierced the whole woods like an electric wave. Birds in nesting trees gave way and squawked, flying off in fright. The scream was like ice making Henry shudder leaving him with the only words left in his brain: Someone was in danger. His heart thudded through his rib cage. His eyes were like saucers as the detectives got up and ran towards the sound. Without thinking, he followed. Not sure what lays ahead.
And it ends here! If you liked that I had halved this please let me know, and I can apologise to you guys properly. I tell me what you think of the detectives! XD