You know when’s a perfect time to go under the radar?
When everyone else has their full attention on something else.
Something like a festival…
October 3rd, that’s the night they said he should go.
Since all residents will be occupied with their fun yearly tradition.
Nobody would and could stop him.
Everyone except Mr.
Reygan.
Mr.
Reygan: [What’re you doing here?
Shouldn’t you be at the festival with Dylan?]
Rhys stands there with a blank expression.
Feeling like those 2 months of bliss were gone in an instant.
His fist clenches in instinct, so wanting to tell Mr.
Reygan what he was about to do; but “nobody should know” apparently.
Rhys: [The Elders said I needed to do something around the forest.
Right now.]
Mr.
Reygan: [The Elders?!]
His face was shocked, then twisted into a pitiful expression.
Almost as if he were going to cry.
Nothing came out of it, though.
Mr.
Reygan: [Whatever, man.
Just stay safe and come back soon.]
He drags the lever downward, letting the gate open quietly.
As soon as Rhys could fit through the opening, he squeezed his way through the gap and out onto the meadows beyond.
Mr.
Raygan: [Hey!]
Rhys looks back.
Mr.
Reygan: [Don’t die out there!
Please…]
Rhys gives out a forced grin.
Practice inventively so no one suspects a thing.
Rhys: [Hopefully I won’t!]
He says one final time before turning around for good.
And leaving Mr.
Reygan alone again.
In retrospect, he should’ve stayed a little longer.
The air leading up to the densely packed trees kept getting thicker and thicker.
Every bone in his body screamed for him to turn back, to not sacrifice himself for such a cause.
If only the Elders weren’t paranoid, and if only he didn’t get so attached.
Maybe life would’ve been easier.
The walk was flooded with memories of getting to know every single person in Haethir.
He remembered making many wacky meals with Dylan and the twins.
Getting the trust of Mr.
Starless and everyone else here, and changing his habits for the better.
He remembered the little things, like how friendly Dylan was with everyone, no matter whether he hated them.
How the twins were always so energetic, and didn’t seem to give a shit about his appearance.
How Mr.
Starless slowly opened up to him and felt like an actual father figure.
The forest inside was a lot darker than he remembered.
No more were the critters and small animals running around all over the place. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
No more of the colourful mushrooms to hypnotize him.
No more ambiance.
Just, silence.
Eerie silence.
Silence you feel when something just isn’t right.
Silence that would make anybody’s skin crawl.
Rhys: Jesus Christ!
These guys could’ve given me a flashlight or something!
I can barely see!
The sound of sticks snapping under his feet was amplified heavily.
Scaring the shit out of him every time.
Rhys: I wonder where the pond is again…
*CREEEEEAAAK…
A loud sound of trees moving came from his left.
He immediately stops in his tracks.
Rhys: That’s probably it, right?
He reluctantly and slowly stepped his way closer, trying to make as little noise as possible.
Every ambient noise that lingered on before seemed to have suddenly vanished, every step.
Holding his breath, worried that even breathing could alert whatever’s big enough to move trees.
*CRACK!!
A large log comes down right in Rhys’s way.
He luckily dodged it and watched as it loudly smashed into the dirt.
He then looks back at his front and sees two large beams of light scanning from left to right.
He darts out of the way and hides behind a rock just as the lights pass him.
Feeling the tension building in his muscles, he started hyperventilating.
Rhys: Oh my god!
Oh my god!
Oh my god!
What the fuck!!
What the fuck!!
While holding his mouth shut, he takes a peek above the rock and watches as what looked like two skinny tree trunks move and push things out of the way.
Rhys: Holy shit!
I want to go home!
Why’d they make me do this!!
*STOMP!!
*STOMP!
*Stomp!
*Stomp.
The surrounding ground rumbled and shook to the rhythm.
Rhys held on to the rock near him for dear life, feeling as if tears were going to come out.
Rhys: Why!!
Goddammit, Why!!!!
He felt the cracks inside himself expand and deepen, falling deeper and deeper back.
Just like every other time, he couldn’t give up.
He had to make sure this life didn’t go the same way.
He wanted to come home and see everyone else again.
He had to stay strong.
He had to keep.
Moving.
Forward.
Every rumble in the ground was like a radar, showing exactly where this creature was.
Rhys followed around 2 metres behind, being as sneaky as possible.
No more mistakes.
Rhys, focused on the task, accidentally bumped into something squishy. This story is hosted at g.com.
His whole body shivered whilst looking down, only to see that it was a beautiful mushroom.
His touch made it glow faintly.
Rhys: Huh… wait, hold up!
He remembered that mushroom, as those months before.
It still looked just as beautiful as when he first came here.
Which means…
Rhys: The pond should be up ahead!
He slowly crept forward, keeping the same steady motions, the same steady breathing, and the same attentiveness just in case.
All the way to the mini-hill.
Rhys ducks underneath the mini-hull fully, feeling its eyes beaming in his direction.
After the light slowly moved away from the trees behind him, he slowly gathered the courage to take a peek at the thing he would be killing.
Slowly and surely, Rhys’s head raised upward, keeping his eyes so just in case it was too scary.
Rhys: C’mon Rhys!
We’re already here!
Just pick up your nuts off the ground and look!
He presses his eyelids and forcibly opens them, even with his body, screaming at him not to look.
His eyes twitched open to see a wonderful sight.
Its legs were hairy and pale, shooting up like bamboo stems.
Claws dug into the muddy surface, with veins covering most of the front area of its feet.
Around the waist was nothing.
No genitals, no hole, just nothing.
The stomach at least had a belly button.
The only problem with that was the pus leaking out of it.
Scars covered the rest of the torso, up to its neck.
The arms also seemed to be much longer than the torso, reaching down to its knees.
Claws also protruded from each finger.
The head was probably the most wonderful.
With strode lights for eyes, and no lips to be found.
Only crooked, sharp jaws that could tear something or someone apart.
Rhys: HOLY SHIT!!!
He covered his mouth and almost hurled out of disgust.
The thing was horrifying for such a creature as Rhys.
Keep it together.
Whatever that thing is, it seemed to be focused on something on the muddy floor.
It picked the thing up and threw it into its mouth.
Not even bothering to chew it.
Rhys saw it clearly just as it was getting eaten, thanks to the night sky.
He remembered the shape and colour of the thing.
That was the runaway dog.
He remembered how sad the kid was when he lost it.
Crying his eyes out in Elya’s arms.
Rhys remembered seeing that unfold, and to see what actually happened now was heartbreaking.
*SNAP!
Rhys ducked down in an instant.
Hoping to God that it did not see him.
The light shone beyond the mini-hill and onto the trees and bushes beyond it.
Rhys was trying his hardest to keep his heart rate low.
???: [R-Rhys…?]
He looked up after hearing that, to see someone very familiar being shone to the world.
A giant growl came from behind him, and he knew exactly what had happened.
Rhys: Goddammit Dylan!!!