Chapter 3
Forest
"Dear Luna,
Why am I so scared to come back here? I mean, I know what happened years ago, but for crying out loud, I'm not a little kid anymore! I can drive now, and man, remember that letter when I went to my first lesson? It sucked, but I was able to conquer it, and that was far more intimidating than any of this could ever be. Hey, I know you're looking at me weird, but trust me, I didn't kill anybody on the road!
Still, I guess it's the fog or something. It's not like the fog back in the old house, or even the one you normally see drifting during the winter. This is far, far more stranger than that. It's like it shouldn't even be here, and I bet once I leave this place, it'll suddenly vanish in the blink of an eye. Is that weird? Am I weird for thinking that? Dang it, Lunes, how did you feel about it? I can't... I don't know, stop thinking about the stuff..."
PRESENT DAY
Lincoln carried the bag against his back, leaving the shoreline behind and allowing his sports shoes to hit directly old dirt and rock. Even if it's the same stuff that made up the planet, this dirt felt wrong. Almost to the point of being uninviting and deranged. It's crunch was different, and the smell of the grass brought forth a shiver that was born neither of fear or chill.
Above, the mighty red light of the tower glimmered against the heavy fog. Lincoln smirked at it, before watching disappear as his journey brought him to his first trial: an overgrowth of tree and brush. An old forest-like area that covered the western side of the island, one that paled in comparison to even the trails of Royal Woods Park, and yet felt far more dense than any area the boy had ever traversed.
Even when knowing the sun was drifting downwards, the trees plunged the world into an endless midnight, with not a single bird to keep him company. It was well past the time of migrating towards the south; the springtime winds should've brought nature back, and yet, Lincoln found himself alone moving down the makeshift dirt road. No chirp nor growl; not even the hum of a bug scratching their legs.
He was a solitary figure on that island, with only the eyes of the trees to know his movements.
To say he was a bit unnerved was an understatement. Sighing, the boy produced a map from his pocket. An old paper beyond all else, one he hastily drew up long ago with his musically-inclined sister. He had to admit, while his drawing skills were probably good, his cartography skills sadly never rocketed off into perfection. His eyes glared at the faint light; he really wished he invested in a flashlight for this.
"Okay... I think if I just keep heading right...," he mumbled, knowing full-well he had no idea where the path was, "... heh, maybe this is easier than I thought! Heh, Luna, what was so difficult about-"
Under his feet, a loose root crunched, but refused to yield. His shoelace found a hom against its small twig, bringing the boy back down to earth. His face smacked the dirt, with pain being replaced quickly by disgruntled anger. "Gah... yeah, forgot you warned me about that. Freaking twigs. I wish Dad was serious about making them extinct..."
But that was the island, and he knew it well. Nothing was remarkable about it, and yet for some reason, getting anywhere was close to impossible. How could he forget; he was here to mend those failures from long ago, after all. Shaking his head, he spat out a rock, dusting his jeans as quickly as possible.
"Okay, just a little roadblock. We didn't give up because one fall, right Luna? We just keep... going..."
Darkness covered his surroundings, and yet for the small blotches of openings towards the outside world, he saw perhaps a little too much. The darkening sky lent those little groves against the overhead branches a certain quality that truly froze him to the core. Some looked comedic, others demonic. Mischievous, cunning, a few filled with ill-intent...
"I'm not a kid... stop being scared of things that aren't there..."
Among the faces, the wind picked up. The shadows danced against the makeshift eyes. Against the wood, it felt as if that loneliness he felt was but a dream. He shriveled up in place, eyes darting to-and-fro as his mind swore he was seeing far more than reality. Figures in the distance, teeth bearing, claws ready to lunge out and strike without hesitation... they were all there, beating down upon him.
His body paler than the ghosts he feared, the young boy gripped the strap to his bag as hard as he could, feeling winded after only moving a few feet, if even that. Their feet were getting closer; the monsters found their prey, and that little prey of theirs was trapped in his own fears. His life was already ending against the heavy fog of the island with no name.
But while his mind and body raced, the heart within him refused to dim. In the distance, perhaps far behind him, he swore he heard a voice. "Keep moving... little bro...," he swore it said.
Lincoln closed his eyes, allowing the wind to return to only that: another gale against the planet. The eyes above glared, but their effects were falling apart. The figures danced away. The claws were rescinded.
When he opened his vision back, a newfound plan struck him dearly. "So... did I tell you about what happened to my old friends, Lunes? I don't think I wrote you a letter about that, right? Oh man, Clyde was right. I really need to get more organized!"
His feet began moving again. The wicked forest was no match for his own mind recounting a far different emotion. An emotion of nostalgia and peace that he longed to have. A peace that brought him back to a childlike innocence even he missed so dearly.
He hoped over another loose root, refusing to fall for the same mistake. "After we graduated High School, it was so weird. We managed to stick together all that time, but once we left the auditorium in those stupid looking gowns, we... I don't know... drifted? Is that the word? Man, where's Lisa when you need her?"
A figure was ready to strike, but it was too slow for the boy's quick movement through the trees. It sulked as Lincoln moved on with a smile on his face. "We tried hanging out that summer, but the moment Rusty of all people mentioned college, I think we all knew we were done. He was heading to California. We all tried to stick with him as long as we could, but the moment he finally afforded that car, he took the wheel, and man, you should've seen him. We waved goodbye while he sped off, and... heh, that was actually the last we ever heard from him. I hope he's doing okay."
Was an owl hovering above him? It's demonic eyes peered down on him, but he paid it no mind. He had places to be. "Zach... Man, I still don't get him. I still talk to him, but he just got weirder and weirder. Oh, I don't mean like how he was the last you saw of him. I mean... he's married, Lunes. He has kids. He owns a restaurant chain. I mean, he hasn't mentioned conspiracies or aliens in ages!"
The darkness was so pure, it became purple the further he walked. Almost as purple as the shirt Luna wore. He hoped it only held that characteristic, and not the skulls she for some reason was fascinated by. "Liam started falling in love with the city once we became sophomores. That, I guess, began his love for travelling the world. His mom keeps in touch with me every so often, making sure he's still the pure boy she wants him to be. Should I keep lying? He's... well, not pure anymore, that's all I'll say."
A clearing started to appear. It was never the biggest forest, so why did it feel like an eternity? Nevertheless, the sweat against his brow was no match for his dedication. "Remember Stella? Heh, she's always so special to me. I still talk with her frequently. Never knew she met up with Ronnie-Anne until well after school was done. I was kinda scared they wouldn't get along, but now they're becoming movie stars. It's amazing! Just glad they didn't forget about boring Lincoln, you know?"
It was faint, but the light was inviting. Behind him, the monsters screamed in terror. Their prey was getting away, and no matter what they threw at him, those memories protected him. Even as their fingers grazed his back, his gait never faltered. He won; all that was left was to finish the job.
"Clyde... after High School, we vowed to keep at least the two of us together. We succeeded for exactly one month." He stopped briefly. The monsters looked elated. A bad memory? Their ticket to a good meal has finally arrived. Lincoln shook his head and closed his eyes. "I still see his dads with those faces. They knew it would hurt me..."
Even closer the monsters approached. "They had to move. Leaving the whole country for Canada. I mean... no warning at all. Just pack up and go." Lincoln held his tears back. The monsters picked up the pace. "I hugged Clyde way too long, but I didn't care! He was leaving... just like Rusty... just like everyone..."
He felt them breathing against his neck. "Three years, Lunes. Took three years before I finally heard my phone ring. I never updated his photo in the contact list thing, so I still saw the same boy I was best friends with. I didn't pick up the first few times. Too scared, and I guess a little angry."
One move of the jaw, and he was gone. The monsters secured their prize, and now could sleep happily that night. But as their teeth hovered over his white hair, they froze. The boy's confidence grew back. "He didn't hold it against me. Just got busy with life, he said, and he knew I was too. He's running for office up there. Still young, but apparently he might win. He got heavy into games, and before somehow politics entered his life, he might've made a few. Still gotta ask him about those!"
They looked dejected. Lincoln moved towards the light, while they simmered in the shadows. The boy's face filled with happiness once more. "Maybe... Maybe after all this, I should call them all up, huh? They got friends and families now, you know? I... I just want to catch up. I just hope they're okay with me still being here in Royal Woods. I feel small in comparison, but maybe they'll like that!"
His body at last found the opening to the other side. The forest was gone, and before him, only the fog remained. What lurked on the other side, he couldn't recall nor tell. In the end, though, that wasn't what his mind focused on. Rather, he turned around, looking back at the trees from where he stood.
Long ago, that same small patch nearly defeated him. Now, he left it behind like it was nothing. Couldn't help but smile at that. "Heh, those memories got pretty hard to remember, huh? Well, Lunes, I guess sometimes thinking about the past can help!"
One more huff, and Lincoln walked forward, eyes falling once more on the glowing red light high above. Behind him, the monsters turned away, falling back into the darkness. Their disappointment was immeasurable, and yet, even they couldn't help but feel proud of the boy.
"Is it bad to be this obsessed over one place for over a decade? Was that how it was with music and you? Was I obsessed with stuff as a kid? Heh, who am I kidding? Of course I was! I had comics and magic every second of my life. Guess we all had our strange quirks that kept us going.
Just wished mine was a little healthier. Then again... I'm sorta happy I'm back..."
