FEAR OF FEAR: A Psychological Thriller by PJ Nakfoor

Author:PJ Nakfoor [Nakfoor, PJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-24T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

2020

I was petrified. The canoe carrying our water, food and phones was gone and the current had pushed it quickly out of sight. It was midday and I knew had to find help before dark. I was afraid of falling apart, becoming paralyzed with fear, and dying alone before anybody found me. There was no one to calm me down—no Carl, no Faith and no Dr. Buhari. Just me, without a Valium. Or at the least, a brown paper bag.

* * *

In dripping wet clothes and shoes, I began to walk, watching my footing as I trampled over brambles and through slimy dirt. Fortunately, the temperature was still warm, but I knew that after sundown that could change dramatically. A community of hungry mosquitos decided to keep me company. Any bug spray I had applied this morning was most likely long gone. I slapped and scratched at my neck, arms and legs as ugly red welts developed. Although I hated the annoying fuckers, they at least distracted me from my fear and grief.

Every five or ten minutes, I called out, “Help! I need help!” but I wasn’t optimistic that it was coming anytime soon. I kept putting one foot in front of the other, telling myself I could do this. The first complication of my journey was evident when I found I could no longer follow the river’s edge. There was a dense thicket of birch trees and brush encroaching along the bank ahead of me. I had no choice but to turn inland without knowing how long or deep the dense growth was. I needed to be extra diligent at keeping my ears alert to the sound of the rippling stream in order to stay oriented.

Each step I took further from the water made me nervous. I didn’t think the thicket would have taken me such a distance from the river, and I began to wonder if it would have been better to walk around the front of it, wading in the water. But I had no idea how far that would be, and I certainly couldn’t swim endlessly if the stream was deep in places. As I made my way further inland, the mosquitos became bored and gave me some respite. Without the cover of trees, the hot sun beat down on my face and shoulders, and I could feel my skin turning pink. I walked on, determined to be intentional about my plan, but at one point I became disoriented and lost, and panic started to gnaw at me. I needed to stay ahead of the fear. What would Dr. Buhari suggest right now? The panic spiraled. As my heart rate escalated and I began to hyperventilate, I crumpled to the ground. I cried and screamed, shaking my fist in the air, demanding help from God.

“You’re supposed to take care of me, watch over me! I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me! Where are you?” I yelled until my already ragged voice became a whisper, and then I continued to yell silently.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.