Guess who hasn't updated in three weeks? Hahaha... Spoiler it's me.

I'm sorry. I'm going through a difficult time in my life right now, plus I have a lot of school work. I'll do the best that I can for you guys, but sometimes I just can't. Sorry. Enjoy this chapter, anyways!

On his walk back through the forest, Mitch spent his time thinking. That was always a dangerous pastime considering the thoughts his mind could conjure up. Still, he let his mind wander until he settled upon the subject of the note he has received a few days ago. It was safely tucked away in his back pocket for now, but he could still recite every word of it. The words had practically burned themselves into the back of his skull. He often let himself ponder their meaning during his sleepless nights, though that only led to more questions and less answers. What were these events the note spoke of? Would they occur chronologically? Was this even real? Mitch had no idea, but he decided that the best method would be to take everything with a grain of salt. He would assume this was real until proven otherwise considering disbelief usually led to stupid mistakes.

"So, how are we going to go about this?" Mitch said finally, his desperation for conversation trumping his nervousness over irritating Jerome.

Jerome shrugged. "They're your parents." His silence led Mitch to think he had annoyed him. That only spawned a thousand more worrisome voices inside his mind, all telling him he was becoming a nuisance. How far away was this tree village again? He wasn't sure he could stand more of this.

Within twenty minutes the network of floating homes was within the pair's view. Mitch rushed to the vines and looked up, suddenly becoming aware of how high it was. He looked back at Jerome for approval before he started climbing. The bacca nodded and he ascended, Jerome following behind him. Mitch of course took that moment to notice how unstable the vines were when the wind shook, which was all the more motivation to climb quickly. Finally he step foot on the wooden bridge and crouched quickly before anyone saw him. He couldn't exactly explained why that was his instinct, he just knew he needed time to plan out each phrase and possibility. There were too many ways he could mess this up; too many variables that could go wrong. Mitch motioned Jerome over to his spot outside the glass entrance and stood up ever so slightly.

When Mitch peered through the window, he couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable his family looked. His mother and father were sitting closely on a couch watching Ashley pace back and forth in front of them. She appeared to be telling some sort of story involving gigantic hand gestures that nearly hit Connor in the face when he brought refreshments in from the kitchen. Ryan was interjecting every so often while Jordan studied the interior design in awe.

Mitch looked at Jerome quizzically. "What do I do? Will they be mad at me?" He whispered in a hushed tone.

"Just go. They're your family." Jerome said. "What are they going to do, disown you?"

"But-"

"The worst that could happen is that they reject your apology and you go your separate ways. That's not so bad, is it?"

"I thought they were dead." Mitch said. "I can't just leave them again."

"And you won't. Go talk to them and bring them to Spawn City away from the bacca tribe. They'll be safe there." Jerome responded.

Mitch pondered this. If he brought them back, he could protect them and see them every day. "That's really smart, actually."

Jerome smirked. "I have good ideas sometimes. Now get inside."

"Wait, I can't go yet. I don't know what I'm going to say- Jerome!" Mitch protested as he was shoved through the doorway.

"And then we slashed open its throat- Mitch." Ashley stopped in the middle of her story, her hands still in the air from gesticulating. His parents, although they seemed grateful to be relieved of the tale, didn't look overly ecstatic to see their son.

"Um- hi." Mitch mumbled. "Uh..."

"Son? Didn't you go back to your home?" His father asked.

"No...uh, I..." Mitch stuttered. "I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?" His mother asked.

"Yes. Um..." Mitch took a deep breath and spat out what he want to say. "I'm sorry for running away, it's just... Seeing you alive is, well...amazing!" He stammered, still awestruck. "I guess I was just overcome by a lot of emotions at once. Can you forgive me?"

His parents stared at him emotionless for a moment, Connor looking down at his feet. "Sure, son..." His father muttered eventually. "But you really-"

"Thank you!" Mitch said and pulled them into a hug, his confidence returning from the positive response. "Now that we're together again, we can do all kinds of things! You'll come back to Spawn City, of course-"

"Come back to Spawn City?" His mother interjected. "Mitch, we can't just leave our lives behind."

"What?" Mitch asked. "But... You were gone for so long... And you just want to separate again?"

"No, no..." His father said. "It's not like that. It's just... We've spent the past couple years building up our home here. We're well-protected and safe."

"You're in a giant treehouse in the middle of the woods." Ashley reminded.

"A beautifully designed one." Jordan added.

Mitch's father sighed. "The point is, we can't go back. We can't have you here either, parading around loudly and giving away our existence."

"You aren't exactly hidden." Jerome said with a hint of anger.

"I think it'd be best if you left."

"Left?" Mitch's voice broke.

"Yes, unfortunately. It'd be best if we went our separate ways. Let's just pretend that you had never discovered we survived, perhaps that will ease the burden."

Mitch looked at his father with bloodshot watering eyes. Jerome's analysis of the worst possible outcome popped into his mind and he clenched his teeth together desperately, almost as if he believed that physical pain would save him from his emotions. Slowly, almost robotically, he turned to the rest of his family. "Mom? Connor?"

His mom smiled sympathetically. "I think he's right, dear. It is what's best for the both of us."

Connor showed little emotion as he spoke for the first time since Mitch had run away. "If Father thinks it is best, then it must be best."

Mitch felt a sudden wave of nausea as the scent of cooked beef overtook him. He staggered through the doorway and towards the vines, his vision blurred and his head reeling as the first tear grazed his cheek. Just as he was about to climb down, he felt a soft hand grasp his arm and steady him. He looked up and saw the blurry form of Ashley standing beside him.

"How dare they..." She muttered. "Are you alright? Anything I can get you?"

"I'm fine." Mitch choked out. He wouldn't do it. He wouldn't cry for a second time that day.

Her gaze softened and she sat down beside him. "Sucks, doesn't it? I remember when I was sixteen and my parents kicked me out. Granted, I didn't have to go through the trauma of them dying and then living and then rejecting me- ouch. Your life is like a poorly-written young adult novel."

"Tell me about it." Mitch groaned, his breathing finally under control.

"If you're truly the star of a novel, at least you have a million girls fawning over you. Right?" She nudged him and he smiled slightly. "Mitchell, you're so hot when you're having a midlife crisis, take your shirt off!"

He laughed absentmindedly. "I've got YouTube fans for that. Merome this, merome that."

"Hmm." She stared at the ground below them for a moment. "Are you going to be okay?"

He shrugged. "I don't know anymore. My life is such a mess."

"Tell me all about it." She looked at him attentively. "What's wrong? Pretend I'm your therapist."

Mitch frowned. "Why do you care?"

"Because I care about you." She answered simply. "Now speak."

He sighed. "It's just disappointing, knowing that the first time I saw my family in years resulted in them being all independent and stuff while I ran off to cry like a baby. Twice." He sighed halfheartedly again . "It's like they don't even need me. This is exactly what happened when Kyleigh left."

"Who cares about those guys anyways?" Ashley questioned. "You thought they were dead until today. This was just a sign to move on. Stop living in the past, Mitch. It's a lost cause. Pay attention to here and now."

"A lost cause?" Mitch echoed, the words familiar to him.

"Move on." She told him. "We'll go home soon and you can forget all about this." He looked at her questioningly. "Hey, you're going to be okay." She smiled sympathetically and pulled him into a side hug. "I promise. It can't get any worse than this, right?"

"So encouraging."

She chuckled. "It only goes up from here, Mitchell. It's a clear ride to the land of joy and smiles."

"We should probably go now." Ryan said urgently, the other three emerging from the building.

"Why?" Mitch asked. "What's wrong?"

"I have a feeling none of us are welcome here." Jordan said as he ushered Mitch down the vines.

"What did you do?" He asked as he lowered himself onto the ground.

"Nothing really-"

"Jerome convinced us to threaten your family." Ryan interrupted the bacca.

"What?" Mitch exclaimed.

"Not threaten!" Jerome assured. "We just made our opinions on parents who abandon their children very clear."

"We also may have told them not to come crying back to us when their house is discovered and they barely make it out alive." Jordan added sheepishly.

"Why would you do something so idiotic, so...so..." Mitch searched for the right word. "I can't believe you guys."

"Remember what I told you." Ashley said. "They're a lost cause. It's time to move on."

"I just...alright." Mitch agreed reluctantly. "Time to go then?"

"Back to the peaceful Spawn City it is!" Jordan said.

Mitch looked back at his family's home and sighed. "I can't believe you threatened my parents."

I'll be honest, I have no events planned for the next 2-4 chapters. This should be interesting :3 leave a review telling me what you'd like to see happen next chapter! I need inspiration please I'm helpless...

~Scarlett the author who had one job