3
The Return
"How much longer?" Percy asked. He hated being still and doing nothing for too long, something his dad told him was a symptom of his ADHD.
"Just about there," John replied. "I know you are bored, but trust me, son, it will be worth the wait."
"All right, dad," Percy sighed, leaning against the nice and cool window.
It had been about two hours since they left their home, and it was now nine in the evening. The moon was shining brightly in the sky; it was almost like the sun had never left. This, of course, helped John, for he hated to drive at night. The lack of sight always bothered him, as he feared he might hit something. His fears subsided a bit, and the drive was not as bad as he fretted beforehand.
Still laying down, Percy took out the coin his father gave him earlier in the day and began to slide it between his fingers. "Wonder how much we could get for this silver coin," he pondered.
"Probably a decent amount, but it isn't for selling," John stated, keeping his eyes fixed on the road.
"Yeah yeah... Then what is it for?"
"You will see."
With this, Percy let out a frustrated sigh.
"It will be better than money. Trust me, "John smiled. He did not want to ruin the surprise, no matter how frustrated Percy got.
What could be better than money? Percy thought to himself, keeping quiet as he found no need to continue the conversation. It was pointless because his father would never answer any of his despised being in the dark; had his father simply forgotten about the whole mother thing? Regardless, he could do nothing but wait, so he continued to fiddle with the silver coin as another ten minutes went by.
"We are here," John said.
Getting up, Percy watched as his father pulled into an empty, dark parking lot.
"What is this? A park?" Percy asked, noticing tons of trees and grassy paths leading into what seemed like a forest.
"Yep," John replied, parking the car in the middle of the lot. He exhaled a sigh of relief and turned off the engine. Looking over at his confused son, he let out a small chuckle, "just make sure to bring the coin, and follow me."
"Yes, yes," Percy huffed.
Exiting the car, John stretched his legs as he waited for Percy to do the same. Once his son was out, he locked it, placing his keys in his right pocket. Satisfied, he took out a pocket flashlight from his opposite pocket before walking over to Percy. "Ready?"
Nodding his head, Percy followed behind his father as they ventured on into the forest, the flashlight illuminating everything in front of them.
"So where exactly are we now?" Percy asked, hoping he would get some sort of answer this time.
"This way," John answered.
"Really..." Percy grumbled, his patience running a bit thin.
"Oh relax, it is just a nice open spot where you can see ducks, past this huge bush," John said, noticing his son's frustration, which he knew was to be expected.
Once past the bush that John had stated, Percy was met with an open section surrounded by the forest. There was a small pond with a few ducks swimming within it, but what caught Percy's eye right away was not the ducks, or the owl flying above them, but the silver-looking bench sitting about five meters from the edge of the pond.
"A silver bench?"
"Fascinating, isn't it?" John smiled.
Looking over to his father, Percy said, "I mean, I guess so. It looks quite expensive."
"Let's go take a closer look then, shall we?" John chuckled as he motioned for Percy to follow him.
John turned off his flashlight, for the moonlight illuminated the place better than his, and walked with Percy over to the bench. The ambient sounds of crickets and frogs filled their ears as they did so.
Upon getting to the bench, Percy noticed right away that there seemed to be a circular piece missing from the back.
"Wonder what goes in the back," he remarked, running his finger along the hole's pocket that held the silver coin began to feel heavier. Noticing this, Percy fished the coin out. Looking down at it and back up at the bench, he said, "this can't be it, can it?"
"It is," John stated, walking over and crouching by his son. He continued, "the person who sent us that letter earlier today will be meeting us at this exact location, and the bench is the key to our communication, so hand it here, please."
Curious, Percy was about to ask who, but he knew what the answer would be, so instead, he just handed the coin over.
Putting the coin in the slot and standing up, John said, "Step back," as he put his arm in front of his son, pushing him back as he backed off himself.
Once they were both a couple meters back, John took his hand away.
"Watch the back of the bench," John said, pointing to where he had placed the silver coin.
Looking at the bench, Percy watched as the coin seemed to blend into the rest of it, making it seem as if there was never a hole there to begin with.
"I mean, that is cool, but was that it?" Percy asked after a few seconds.
Rolling his eyes, John said, "just keep watching. You will love the next part."
Keeping his eyes focused on the bench as he hoped something would happen, Percy waited patiently, but nothing came.
"Uh, Dad?"
"Just keep watching," John insisted.
Where the heck is she? John thought to himself. Maybe we were too early?
A few minutes went by, and nothing changed.
Bewildered, Percy asked, "was that it? I mean, that bench thing was cool, but that is it? What happened to this person showing up?"
Standing there perplexed, as his son, John, let out a depressed-sounding sigh. "If I am being honest, I really don't know. There was supposed to be mo…"
CRACK!
Before John could finish his sentence, a loud crack coming from the bench cut him off.
"What the?" Percy gasped, as both boys whipped around to face the bench, which was now split in two, right down the middle.
Wasting no time, both boys rushed over to the now broken bench.
Noticing something within the wreckage, John walked over and plucked a silver piece of paper from one of the cracks in the left side of the bench.
"What is it?" Percy asked.
"Another letter," John stated, quickly flipping it open.
"What does it say?"
Clearing his throat, John began, "eyes are watching. Meet me by the tree that the light can't touch."
"What does that even mean?" Percy asked as he peeked at the letter.
"Something important," John answered.
"Thanks... very helpful," Percy groaned. He was getting awfully tired of being in the dark.
Noticing Percy's frustration, John placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Don't worry, all our questions will be answered," John assured Percy, who just rolled his eyes. "It is our next location, and I know exactly where to go," he finished.
Pointing to a path that led deep into a thick section of the forest, John said, "there, and be quiet."
After a good five minutes of walking, Percy and his father made it to a section of the forest with an unusually giant tree. It blocked the little light that did break through the tops of the trees.
"Wow, that is huge!" Percy mused quietly.
"That's what she said," John whispered, letting out a quiet chuckle.
Rolling his eyes and smirking, Percy whispered back, "I am sure you have never been told that though."
John rolled his eyes at the sudden roast. "Whatever, you brat," he said, lightly slapping the back of Percy's head.
Snickering, Percy followed behind his father as they approached the giant tree. Once there, John gave the flashlight to Percy before placing his left hand on the trunk. "hello?" he whispered.
CRUNCH!
Just before Percy could ask something, the sound of leaves being stepped on surprised both him and his father. Moving behind his father, Percy quickly shinned the light in the direction of the sound, which came from behind a regular-looking tree a couple meters away from them.
"What was that?" Percy whispered, his heartbeat rising.
Placing a hand on his son's shoulder, John slowly began to walk in front of Percy just as a bunny hopped out from behind the tree.
"Oh, dear lord," John sighed with a smile.
"A bunny..." Percy said, as he too let out a sigh of relief, his heart beginning to settle.
As they both laughed their fear away, Percy and John were oblivious to something, or someone else lurking in the shadows.
However, Percy instantly got a feeling that something was not right.
Stopping his father, who was still chuckling, he said, "there is something else here."
Dropping his smile, John reached into his coat pocket, taking out what seemed to be a pistol.
Not being able to determine exactly what it was due to the lack of light, Percy simply asked, "is that a gun?"
"I do not know. Stay alert," John ordered, as he pushed Percy back behind him, taking the flashlight as he did so.
"A step closer, and I will not hesitate to pull this trigger," John announced as he scanned the forest.
After a few seconds of silence, a small, soft feminine voice from behind the giant tree spoke, "I knew you would be angry, but not to the point you would want to kill me."
Hearing this, John instantly lowered his gun, clicking the safety switch and placing it back into his pocket.
"Selene?" John said, slowly walking forward, his recovered heart now racing once again.
Just as John spoke, an attractive looking lady with what Percy could tell had black hair, cut to shoulder length, began to walk out from behind the giant tree. He felt like he knew her, but from where? He had this odd feeling that he should rush over there too, but why?
"It's me, John," the lady replied, tears streaming down her cheeks as she approached him.
Rushing and pulling her into a hug, "don't scare me like that," he laughed as the tears began to flow.
Percy stared confused at the scene in front of him for a few seconds before something clicked in his brain, and he knew right away who was currently hugging his father in a way he had never seen him do before.
"M-mother?" Percy gasped, standing still, multiple emotions now flowing throughout his mind. The curiosity he once had is now fogged over by happiness, sadness, and anger.
Stepping back from Percy's mother, John wiped his tears away as he watched her turn towards Percy.
"Percy," she smiled, tears still rolling down her cheeks as she slowly approached him.
Just before she reached him, Percy seemed to awaken from his sort of emotional trance. Dropping the flashlight, he rushed over and jumped into his mother's arms.
"Oh, my boy," Selene said as she rubbed his back.
"I thought I would never see you again," Percy sobbed. It had been so long since he had last seen her that he had forgotten how happy his mother's presence made him; how safe he felt in her arms.
Watching a beautiful scene unfold before him, John walked over and picked up the flashlight, shining it back on his son and Selene.
"I know, I know," she said, " and I am sorry."
Percy hung onto his mother for a bit longer as he enjoyed the warmth that he so desired. All that disappointment, year after year, seemed to diminish the longer he held on.
Once his tears began to slow, he stepped back to face his mother. "Why did you leave?" he sniffled. His eyes were now puffy and red.
Caressing her son's cheek, wiping away some of his tears, she smiled sadly at him, "I will explain everything, but for now we must go. We can talk once I know we are safe."
He wanted to embrace his mother once again and never let go, but Percy had some sense that it was best to wait. Nodding his head, Percy wiped the rest of the tears off his face as his mother grabbed a hold of his left hand.
"Come John, we will go to my place. I can feel someone closing in."
Nodding his head, John rushed over and tightly grasped Selene's right hand.
"Close your eyes," she said.
John did this without question.
Perplexed upon noticing his father's behaviour, Percy asked, "Why? are we not going to the car? And what do you mean, someone is closing in?"
"I will explain everything," Selene smiled as she squeezed his hand. "now just relax and close your eyes."
Shrugging his shoulders, Percy obeyed. Seconds later, Selene began to glow brightly. Within seconds, all three of them disappeared from the dark forest.
Just as they did so, a dark shadow lurked around their previous spot. The figure was kneeling and stabbing a dagger through the ground when it raised its head towards the treetops.
"You can't hide forever, little goddess," a deep, rough voice grumbled. "You will be mine, and my lord will be reborn."
I do apologize, my laptop charger died, and I had to wait until a new one came. I do hope you enjoyed it though! Until next time.
