A manufactured reality

Chapter 3: A dark forest

The engine fell silent. The musty seats and unclean floors could have been detected from a mile away. With a click the handbrake was yanked up and the gear wobbled into neutral. A rattling of keys was muffled as it was thrown into an old, worn bag, which was accompanied with a screwdriver and an aluminium knife tucked away into a neat leather pouch. The door burst open onto the extensive moonlight as the light swept across a nearby developing pond. Trees rustled with excitement as I carefully closed the rusty car door. As much as I hadn't seen any cars for the 10 minute journey, I didn't feel alone, and that was beginning to develop an uneasy feeling in my stomach. This coupled with the fact that a random hyperlink had told me to come here at night didn't really settle my adrenaline. In addition, I had to take my USB drive off the chain, the 134kb that made up her were no longer with me. I gulped. What if this was all just some joke, some way to get me to react on camera? I spied around the old car park, scanning for anything as little as the glimmer of a camera lens.


Availing to nothing, I began down the muddy disused path towards the old warehouse near the train-yard. As I walked through the thick green leaves attempting to barrier me, my mind wondered through the strange dream I was starting to recall. The old railway train-yard, the broken down warehouse. And inside, monitors and dancing blue lights. I also recalled the end, a girl. She reminded me of someone, though I was deeply struggling to recall details about her. It couldn't be her though, could it?

*SMACK*

In doing all this thinking, I had decided to walk directly into a tree. My head felt an instance surge of pain and my eyes became dizzy. My body's weight caused me to stumble and I tripped to the floor, landing on my back.

"Ow..." I groaned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"Hehe~" I bolted upright. What the hell was that?! A rustling in the bushes caused me back myself against the tree. My open palms turned into fists as I began to shake. The bushes continued to rustle. I took deep breaths, ready for anything. Survival instincts took over, and I rushed towards the bush, fists raised.


I sat back against the damp tree. It had started to peel away as the weaker area was exposed. I had sat down for five minutes recollecting myself after I realised the evil that had surged to the bush had been a crow, which had been looking through the bush for seemingly food. If anyone was around I must've looked like some sort of crazy idiot. Not that there was anyone...right? I pushed myself to my feet and continued.

"So you decided to come, did you~?" A large whisper in my right ear. I jerked my head around, to see only shadows and darkness, and the occasional leaf falling down below. This forest was beginning to freak me out.

"Y'know, it was kind of amusing back there with the bush and the crow hehe~" A whisper in my left ear. I began to familiarise myself with the voice, it seemed to be from a female of sorts. No way this could be who I thought it was.

"I haven't seen something like that for years, y'know. Being all alone, you begin to forget." I surged onwards, towards the warehouse. I seemed to be getting closer and closer to this disembodied, female voice. The pitch was soft and gentle and she seemed to speak with the uttermost excitement and mystery. There is no fucking way it could be her.

"Forget about life. And death. Especially when you have been alive for just too long hehe~" The voice became clearer, turning from a faint whisper to a rather moderate tone. I had begun to relax a little after hearing this perfect voice. This sweet, innocent voice, seemingly frustrated but maintaining her composition in tone. I knew the feeling.

"Come see me"