Chapter 7: Silence

Wirt and Greg were walking home from Greg's school one cold day. The walk home was silent. Wirt had not spoken to Greg ever since he read him his poem. Greg was silent also, but he knew what was going on and he knew his brother loved him. He just couldn't show it right now.

Greg was still looking for a way to reverse the curse and free his brother so that he could finish his essay and maybe even show it to Wirt. He hadn't actually told Wirt that he was his hero. The older boy was aware that Greg looked up to him, but not in a hero sort of way. After all the times he ignored Greg, Wirt wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't the hero in Gregory's life.

The two boys walked on, until they eventually arrived at their front door. Wirt opened the door and the brothers entered the warm living room, only to see their parents sitting on the couch and watching T.V. They looked up to see the boys standing in front of the door. "Oh hello boys, how was school today?" Their mother asked. Greg finally spoke for the first time since the walk home. "It was okay I guess, but it was still school." Greg said in a neutral voice.

"Oh, and how about you Wirt?" The older boy nodded and gave a thumbs up. Their mother raised an eyebrow. "Not talking, huh?" Wirt shrugged. Greg silently walked upstairs to his room and Wirt followed. Wirt had arrived at his door, since it was closer to the stairs. The teenager watched as his younger brother silently walked to his door without a skip in his jump or a song in his heart.

The sight was depressing.

He watched as the young boy opened his door and entered his room. When his brother's bedroom door shut, Wirt let out a sigh that he was holding in forever. He opened his own door with thought of Gregory following him inside. He laid down flat on his back as he looked at the ceiling from his bed. The familiar voice returned.

"Well, I see you're home from school." The Beast said. Wirt was silent. He didn't even acknowledge the voice that had been tormenting him. "Oh, you're not talking to me?" Wirt didn't answer. "Be that way then, it only means that the plan is working." Wirt finally spoke.

"Are you going to punish me?" he asked. "What?" The Beast was surprised by this question. "Are you going to punish me?" He repeated "For writing my brother a poem. Telling him I love him. If you are, then go ahead. I really don't care anymore." The Beast was silent for a second, than spoke again. "I really should punish you for your actions" The Beast paused "But I won't"

"Wait, what?" The teenager was surprised by what The Beast had just said. "You won't?" "No, if I punish you now, than it would ruin everything." Wirt squinted his eyes as he continued to stare up at the ceiling. "Whatever" he muttered in a non-caring voice. The Beast continued. "I have done all I can for you. I will now leave you and let you figure things out for yourself. You will soon become the new Beast of the Unknown."

Wirt continued to stare at the ceiling, not saying a word. The Beast was about to leave, when Wirt stopped him. "Hey, wait a second" he said. The Beast growled. "What is it?" he asked. "I was wondering something?" "Make it quick!" The Beast snapped. "How did you become you? I'm pretty sure that would be one interesting story." The Beast snarled. "You'll never know my origins!" he hissed. "Alright, alright I was just asking, don't get all defensive."

The Beast left Wirt's mind in order for Wirt to figure things out on his own, whatever that meant. Wirt sighed. He had lately been wondering about the Beast's origins and how the dark monster came to be. That was the least of his problems right now.

Wait a second.

If The Beast was gone, then that meant that he could talk to and hug his brother without getting punished. He smiled for the first time since he woke up this morning. He excitedly ran over to his door and opened it without a care in the world. He ran down the hallway and stopped in front of his brother's bedroom door. He knocked as fast and as loud as he could.

Little Gregory opened the door to reveal his brother standing in front of the door with a huge smile. Greg didn't have time to react. Wirt immediately got down on his knees to Greg's height and pulled him into his arms. "Oh Greg, my dearest brother, oh how I love you so." Wirt planted multiple kisses on his brother's forehead and Greg giggled as this happened.

"Does that mean the curse is broken?" the little boy asked. "I just love you so…wait what?" Wirt looked up at his brother. It was silent for a second, until Wirt spoke. "You know about the curse, don't you?" "Well I, I, I just…" Greg didn't know what to say. It was silent for what seemed like hours. Wirt looked down at the ground as he spoke. "No Greg. The curse isn't gone. I've just been let off the hook for now."

"Oh" Greg said, obviously disappointed. Wirt looked back at his brother. "But that doesn't change the fact that I love you and I always will. He pulled Gregory into a tight embrace. "Don't worry, Wirt. I'll make everything okay, I promise. Wirt smiled. "I know you will, you always do." Wirt pulled his bother in and started giving him more kisses. "I love you Wirt." Greg said.

"I love you too Greg. I love you so much. And don't you forget it." Greg giggled and hugged his brother tight.


Later that night, Greg slept better than he had slept in a while. As he continued to dream about his times with Wirt, Jason was awake, reflecting on his thoughts. The frog had opened the window curtain to let the moonlight in.

Jason croaked as he looked at the beautiful full moon, hanging in the sky. He was watching over Gregory like a guardian angel, making sure that nothing happened to him while he slept. Jason croaked. Everybody thought he was just a simple frog who didn't retain much and just went with things, but he was a lot smarter than most people thought.

He had to keep his intelligence a secret for now. Wirt had already found out, so there was no trying to hide it from him. The frog looked back at the moon. It was always said that the full moon was good for predicting the future. The frog looked back down at the sleeping boy, than spoke.

"Oh Gregory, my boy, if only you knew what was going to happen next."

The frog sighed and looked back at the moon. Things were only going to get worse, and Jason knew it.