Chapter 1: The Dark Forest
"Location: Richmond, Virginia, August 17th 2110"
The howling winds filled the night sky of the forests surrounding Richmond. The branches moved with the winds, emitting the sounds of leaves rustling and branches brushing against each other. It was a rather fun night for the Sugar Rush racers, Cinndon, Candace, Toxika, Damon, Crepe, and the upgrade characters, since they had attended a celebration of a festival being led by Candi and Gloyd in Richmond. Seasons in The Confederacy were labeled by names. Summer was called the Summer of Wolves, Autumn was called the Autumn of Fawns, Winter was called the Winter of Owls, and Spring was called the Spring of Rabbits. There had been a festival celebrating the Summer of Wolves, and Sugar Rush and co. had attended. Once the festival was over, everyone left. Candlehead and Kandle had decided to take a walk, and told the others they would catch up later.
The Birthday Cake themed girl and boy linked their arms together as they walked. The couple walked among the thick forest, stepping over broken branches and leaves being crushed under their shoes. The only things they could hear were the crickets chirping and the wind howling, just like always. However, it was incredibly dark as they walked.
"Whoa. It sure is dark here!" Candlehead said.
"It's okay, Candles. Just be careful where you step." Kandle said.
However, it got even darker as they continued on. Kandle noticed something ahead of the trail.
"Hey, I think I see something." Kandle said.
He ran up and noticed it was a sign, with a map of the forest stamped on. He studied it and then ran back to Candlehead.
"There's a shortcut leading through the forest heading back to the city." Kandle announced.
"Well, let's take it." Candlehead said.
Kandle nodded and led the green haired girl towards the path. But little did the couple know, they passed a sign indicating the proximity of dangerous activity, due to the mass of peat moss covering it from sight, so the two Sugar Rush characters moved along the path unknowingly. Numerous skulls and bones were scattered in different places of the deep woods, such as small skulls and bones being hung from the thick branches of the trees. Candlehead nervously looked around and held Kandle close to her.
"K-Kandle... this place is strange. Why are there so many remains here? I think we should get out of here before we see something worse." Candlehead said.
"Stop worrying, Candlehead! I'm sure we'll be fine. We're probably just crossing a small graveyard or something. I mean, there wouldn't be any other reason there would be bones here, right?" Kandle asked. Suddenly, a bone cracked under his boot, and he asked "Ouch! That's a hard bone. How many are there here?".
Candlehead suddenly froze and looked around.
"Candlehead?" Kandle asked in confusion.
"I have a feeling someone is watching us." Candlehead replied.
Kandle waited for a few moments.
"Strange. I feel that too. But I'm sure it's..." Kandle started to say.
The two turned around and were taken by surprised by a figure, which scared Candlehead and startled Kandle by it's appearance. The figure stood at nearly eight foot tall, and it wore a tattered brown long coat, black slack pants, and a pair of boots. Kandle narrowed his eyes and saw the figure's face. It had no skin around it's mouth and he could see fangs, giving the creature a permanent glasgow smile. The bald creature appeared to be eyeless, since the skin had cover his eye sockets, and it had no nose, only two slit holes, but what made it stand out was that it's head was littered with scars. The creature just stared at Candlehead and Kandle, while two Sugar Rush characters stared right back. Candlehead eventually calmed down and thought it wasn't scary, along with Kandle.
"Okay then." Kandle muttered.
He and Candlehead started walking away, with the creature watching them as they left. But after a few more moments of walking, the two spotted the creature again ahead of them, standing in the tree line.
"Huh? Stop following us!" Candlehead shouted.
He and Candlehead went ahead, but then stopped when they felt the creature following them.
"He's... still behind us, isn't he?" Kandle asked.
Candlehead turned around.
"Hey! Stop following us! Just please go away! What do you want?" Candlehead asked.
Instead of speaking, the creature just let out a grunt and started turning around. Candlehead and Kandle calmed down.
"O-Oh no! Don't be sad! We didn't mean to upset you! Do you have a place to stay, fella?" Candlehead asked.
The creature shook it's head.
"Well, why didn't you say so? Come on, you can stay at our place!" Kandle said.
The creature gave them a soft roar. Candlehead had her portal key open a portal to Sugar Rush, and she and Kandle ran through. The creature waited a few moments before following them in.