Chapter 2: Where it All Began

The clock from the wall was ticking close to 2:46 p.m. Each student was looking at the clock hoping they could be free from what their prison is school. Ms. Johnson look at the students, knowing that they would rather be at their homes doing whatever they want instead of staying here for after school tutoring if they need help with their assignments.

Without warning, the bell rings and the stampede of student exit from the classroom and out they go. Lincoln and Clyde was one of the last of the kids the walk out of the school and start walking. They both display a happy tone due with their smile on their faces.

"Finally, we are free! Friday is still not over for us to buy that new issue of Ace Savvy that's in the comic book store right now," said Lincoln with so much enthusiasm.

"I know right. Ace and his sidekick One-Eye Jacks will finally stop the bad guy from committing his crime of chaos and destruction," agreed Clyde as they quickly jock around the block to reach to their destination.

Unfortunately for the two preteens, they were collided by a grown man who's back was in front of them.

"Hey watch where you going! We are waiting to get the new issue of Ace Savvy," inform the grown up. "If you guys want it, then you have to wait in the line."

"A line?" asked both confused kids as they both lean over to the side the see many people waiting to the comic book store with a poster mentioning the new comic book issue of the fictional superhero. "Oh no."

And there they were, waiting so long that seems to take hours. Each passing time, one customer enters for a few minutes before exiting with glee holding a bag what assume to be the comic book inside. The line was getting shorter as Lincoln and his nest friend was getting closer to the door. With another passing time, they saw the grown man they confronted with entering the store, and after a few minutes, he too exit with glee as he was holding the new issue high above his head.

"I got! I got! Woo!" the man excitedly cheer as he walk off with his price.

Finally, the two boys were ready to step in the comic book store when the store owner came and place something on the poster. Their eyes widen when they read 'Sold Out' on the poster.

"Sorry kids, I guess they beat you to it," mention the store owner before he enters back to the comic book store.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" shouted the sadden kids.

"I've been waiting for that new issue for weeks, and now they're gone!" panicked Clyde as he was on his knees.

"There, there, we still can get the new issue either online or tomorrow when they finally bring more to the store," Lincoln reassured as he pat his friend on the back.

"Thanks Lincoln."

Clyde got up and dust off his black pants when they felt a cold breeze. They shook to discover the sun was coming down. It surprise them that a line would actually take hours just to not get what they wanted.

"It seems we better head back home," announced Lincoln as he continues to see the sun slowly coming down.

"I'll agree with that," replied Clyde before the two friends begin to walk.

The walk seem like it was going to take a few minutes, but they realize they walk a long way to reach to the comic book store. They would usually have their parents drive them to their destination, but they were so caught up with their determination to get it soon ad posdible. With the sky was dark the moon was emerging, it seems they are really late to go home. They walk for a few minutes before seeing two pathway. The one on the left was the trail to neighborhood the two kids live, yet it was a long distance. The one on the right was a path to the woods, yet it seems the wood was close to their homes from the distance.

"Where should we go Lincoln? Should we go left or right?" asked Clyde, as he shivered from the cold breeze that past by once again from the wind.

"It would be best if we should left," answered Lincoln. We're just a couple of miles away and from there we are home."

"But Lincoln, the woods can get us there closer," added Clyde. "It just straight ahead. We can save time from already being late. We just need to hurry and walk through the woods."

"I don't know Clyde. In this time of hour?"

"Trust me Lincoln, would I ever let you down?"

"Well..."

"Okay, don't answer that," Clyde cut as he begin to walk to the left patheay.

Being a good friend, Lincoln follow as they both enter the woods. The two boys begin to feel bad vibes as the moonlight shine through the many trees to give an eerie surrounding. A wolf howl in the distance spook the kids as they look around. They feet continue to step the many twigs and dead leaves on the ground, as they hear their own foot steps.

"Man this place is actually scary. What worse can it get?" said Lincoln as Clyde slowly nodded.

Distracted by their fear of the woods, they heard a low groan. It cause the two boys to be scare, for it sounds strange to them. Ad they look around their surroundings, they notice two pale feet swinging back and forward from a tree branch. The two look at each other with fright, yet they walk close to the pale feet. By getting close, they noticed an old man around his 70's sitting on a tree branch with a noose tied to another tree branch and is wrap around his neck tightly.