6. Miscalculation

A bone-chilling wind brushed against my body as I wrapped my hands around my legs while sitting on the massive branch. I glanced down to see those barely visible black trails snaking through the undergrowth and the moon shining through a lattice of leaves. Benjamin and Joon seemed to be sound asleep further away from me. However, my eyes couldn't shut down due to my tumbling anxiety. Every nerve of mine felt as if someone was watching me. 

I sprung my head behind, hearing a rustle to see Joon coming closer to me while saying, "Can't sleep?" 

"Ah! No...But weren't you sleeping just a while ago?" I said as I felt relieved seeing him awake. 

"I was trying to, but the 'ambush' matter kept bothering me. What's keeping you awake?" His firm shoulder brushed against mine as he sat beside me.

"I dunno...Flies?"

"You mean Shelps? I don't think they're in this area." His ash eyes wandered around the tree to make sure what he said was right.

Shelps, was it? It's a venomous species of flies. Its bite can kill a human within one week as its poison keeps spreading through veins that disables the immunity system, eradicating body cells rapidly. Of course, I know they were not in that area. But further away, there was a nest which may help us avoid getting killed in the ambush. I brought up the topic to avoid getting suspicious, "I have a clue. Do you happen to know where their nest could be? We can use it to debilitate the ogres in the ambush. It'll become easier to get rid of them then." 

"I...don't know if there is one around here, but won't it be risky?" He looked at me with a shake in his head and a confused gaze. 

"Not if we make a plan!" My lips curled into a smirk, feeling an agitation in the view of the fact that I knew where the ambush would take place. At the outset, I thought of avoiding going there, but Now that I thought about it, it would be better to confront them with a plan in mind. 

"What's the plan?" Joon questioned. His eyes wore a layer of curiosity. While Benjamin was busy sleeping, I took my time to convey the whole plan bit by bit. Before I could notice, the orange light of the sun hit my face. Joon and I looked behind to see the red sun peeking under the edge of the purple sky. Was it because I was talking, or did the night there pass by really quickly? I glanced and saw Benjamin snoring in his deep sleep. 

"He'll wake up soon," Joon picked up his sword to buckle it around his waist.

"I'll go search if there's any lavender, citronella or lemon around here." With the piece of bone from before, I jumped down the tree.

"Take this with you!" Saying this, Joon tossed a dagger with a sharp point in my hands, and with it, I quickened my pace until my steps became leaps. All I had to do was look for the citronella since the original story never mentioned lavender or lemons. Johan was the one who discovered it later when they faced these Shelps. 

I halted my feet right when the small violet flowers caught in sight of my eyes. As predicted, the leaves were five times bigger than the ones from my place. Without delay, I plucked out as much as I could carry to the point where my vision got blocked.

"Crap! I need help. That's why cellphone is needed. Tch!" I mumbled as I staggered through the whole way. The reason for my desperation was, I might've known where they'd ambush, but I didn't know when. 

"....You know, you could've gone back again instead of carrying this much in one go." I heard Joon's voice after the walk, which felt like hours to me. I glanced around, being able to see what was in front of me and noticed the woods Joon brought to light the fire. 

"Did you really take her ambush talk seriously?" Our 'prince' Benjamin, at last, woke up and started his morning 'no one gives a shit' vocal exercise.

"Better to be prepared beforehand." With Joon's response, he walked away, and I kept squashing citronella leaves to squeeze the oil out of them. It was a bit watery since I didn't have the time to dry them. 

____________

With our bodies covered in citronella oil head to toe and woods covered in carnosine, we waited at the spot where the ambush occurred in the original story. They were attacked within the following four days after the other's death. Which meant the time must be today. The whole day passed away while we kept waiting for nothing, and it led to misbelief. The oil dried out, along with the woods getting soaked and damp.

"We can't stay at one place this long. Are you certain there will be an ambush here?" Joon's voice got colder.

I gulped with frustration before answering, "Let's wait a bit and see..." 

After all, where did I calculate wrong? It was supposed to happen today since four days passed, and it was already the fifth day.

My frustration heightened when Benjamin asked, "If it's an ambush, how do you know when or where'll it happen?"

He has a point, but how am I supposed to explain that?

Seeing me silent, Benjamin stood up and stomped off after mumbling, "I knew she was a fraud. Needlessly Wasted my time to die." 

Joon sighed and grabbed the woods as he stood up on his feet. The darkness surrounding us felt heavy, oppressive, almost supernatural when he glared at me with his grey eyes.

"let's go back and rest in the place from earlier. We'll start moving when there's light," his voice was cold. 

I hesitated briefly and agreed with him as I kept following his trail from behind. My mind was restless, fearing the mistrust I'd created. They would get killed if I didn't stop the ambush and without their help, I would die without doubt. My thoughts got interrupted hearing the scream of Benjamin as he limped towards us. "W-what's wrong?" I said, seeing him clutching his wounded leg. His eyes darkened with fear, and his face turned blue with sweat sliding down as his quivering lips said, R-run! They're here!"   

A bullet of panic rose in my throat as I looked ahead, and the night felt darker than Vantablack.