Bill found himself back in the forest, hiding in the deepest, farthest spot from town. He chose a spot that was thick with old pines, untouched by the rest of the world, secluded in its own way. He was crying again, damn these human emotions, curled against the trunk of a tree and shaking as he sobbed.
And even though the transition to a human mind format was rough, with these incredibly powerful feelings, he couldn't bring himself to revert to his original form and return to the mindscape. Even though it was torture to endure this human suffering, he remained, for he felt that he deserved it.
He cried until his head hurt and his eye burned. His nose was running and his face was quite flustered, and he was sure that he looked like a mess, but it didn't matter. He was alone, no one could see him fall apart.
Or at least he thought.
"Why are you crying, young man?"
Bill was given the jump-scare of his life, and he sprang to his feet and whirled around, looking for who could have found him in the deepest part of the forest.
"What the hell?!" He shrieked, "who's there?!"
"Look up," the voice replied.
And as he did so, his eye met a face carved into the bark of the tree he'd been leaning against.
"Oh..." Bill said quietly.
The tree's face looked genuinely concerned. While Bill hurriedly tried to clean himself up, he asked, "are you alright?"
"I'm just swell," he answered, turning to leave in search for a new area of solitude.
"Don't lie. You're upset. What is it that's bothering you?" It questioned further.
"Look, tree-face, I didn't know this was an interrogation. Now if you don't mind I'll be on my way."
"Don't leave. There's obviously something causing you a great deal of trouble and you want to say it but you're scared. You're afraid of letting your guard down and letting others see your true self. And if you don't allow others to help you than you'll be stuck where you areforever. Now get back here."
Bill groaned in frustration and reluctantly turned around.
"Why do you care so much? What's it got to do with you?"
"Because that's what being kind is all about. Caring for others even if you aren't asked to."
Bill rolled his eye and plopped on the ground before him, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"Let's get this therapy session over with. I've got places to be."
"No you don't," another tree chimed in.
"Shut up, you," he snapped.
"Hush, hush!" The first tree interrupted. "I can tell this arrogant attitude is just a show. Now if you'll stop being an ass and act normally we can start. The sooner we start, the sooner you can leave."
"Ugh, fine," he whined.
"Now tell us what is making you cry so heavily."
"A boy," he said shortly, his face heating up immediately. He looked down to hide his shame.
"Oh? And what about him?"
"I- well," he began. And just like that, the feelings came back, and tears sprang up in his eyes.
He sniffled. "I did something really horrible to him, and I feel awful for doing it and I just don't know what to do. I want to apologize but it's not like he'll forgive me for something that terrible."
"What did you do to him?"
"I don't wanna say it."
"We can't help if we don't know what happened. Don't hide the truth, you'll only make things worse."
With this the dam that Bill had tried so hard to keep up burst, and he started crying uncontrollably, letting everything out.
"I took his virginity! And he said no but I still did it! He's too young and innocent but I just didn't listen! He was so pure, he would've aspired to do so many great things, but now he's lost his sanity and all that is gone! Because of me and my selfishness!"
Bill brought his knees to his chest and buried his face in his hands, sobbing,"oh fuck..."
"Hey! Careful with your language boy!" Another tree griped.
"I should bring an axe the next time I come here," Bill replied, trying to rebuild his snappy attitude but failed as he was still crying.
"Enough squabbling!" The first tree commanded, "now boy, I get a strange aura from you, that you aren't quite what you seem. Be honest with me now; are you actually human?"
Bill sniffed, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "No, I just took on this form a few days ago."
"Then what are you?"
Bill sighed. "I'm a dream demon. Probably the most pathetic one at that. Here I am, crying over a mortal boy and talking to trees. I'm pretty sure that's a new low."
A branch wacked him in the back of the head.
"Ow! Ok, Ok, you guys aren't that bad!" He whined, rubbing his head.
The original tree resumed the questioning.
"Is that all of the story?"
"Pretty much I guess..."
The tree didn't buy it. He knew he was still holding back something from him.
"No it's not. You're hiding something. Say it," he said sternly.
"It's not really important..." Bill trailed off, looking away.
"If it's part of a story like this then it must be. Now spit it out."
"Ugh, fine! All I was hiding was that I have a weird feeling about how I acted when this happened. It just...didn't feel like something I would do. It didn't seem like it was really me," he explained.
The tree listened thoughtfully.
"Well, maybe it wasn't."
Bill looked up. "What?"
"You're a demon. You've been around for quite a while, so you probably know yourself very well. And if you seemed off, even in the slightest bit, doesn't that tell you something?"
"I don't get what you're trying to say," Bill frowned.
"If you didn't feel like yourself, when you know yourself so well, something must be wrong. It may not have been you."
"Well who else would it be?" Bill scoffed. "Demons can't get possessed. It doesn't work like that."
The tree grinned.
"Or does it?"
A/N: Ok is no one interested in the one-shot request deal? I thought it was a pretty good idea, being that you could request almost anything at all and have it written on. I don't understand why no one has come to me with a request yet.
Well, if you are planning on giving one, I'd hurry if I were you! Seeing that this wasn't the best idea, I'm probably going to just shut it down in a few days.
I would take advantage of this guys! A story with any shipping and plot you want and all you have to do is follow me or write a review! That's a pretty good deal if you ask me!
Anyway, as always my tumblr is on my profile, so go check it out or whatever. And please review, whatever your opinions may be. It really kind of hurts when you write something for other's entertainment and no one gives you feedback. I'm not really asking much, I'd just like someone to tell me what they think of my writing.
Enjoy the rest of the winter break I guess.
~Unique Pines
