Cole's P.O.V.
Getting through Dusk Forest was harder than it looked. For one thing, I couldn't see a thing, and for another, it wasn't the kind of forest where there was a path from people traveling over the course of several years, it was just forest.
I looked behind me to see if I could travel with Jessica, but she had already taken off. I sighed and blushed slightly as I thought about her. She wasn't like most girls, who were giggly and peppy and weird. Jessica was headstrong, tough, and could beat the crap out of someone if they threatened her. I really liked her, but she was so distant.
Casting aside the thought for a moment, I pressed on when I heard a scream. I whipped around, my scythe out, but nothing seemed wrong. Regardless, I was careful for the rest of the way.
I heard footsteps behind, and when I turned around, there was my mother. I paled; she had died years ago! What was she doing here?
"Mom? What's wrong?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"You were such a disappointment, Cole. Do you know why I died?" She asked, with her voice soft and ominous.
"Dad told me you died of cancer." I said uneasily.
"I didn't die because of that." She walked over, and gently stroked my cheek the way she had done all those years ago.
"Then why?" I asked, not wanting to know the answer.
"Because of you." She answered softly, whispering in my ear. "I knew you ran away. I was so sad, Cole. I died of grief and sorrow, caused by you." She blinked and tears ran down her cheeks.
"No, it couldn't have been! Dad didn't know I ran away!" I shouted, my heart pounding.
"I didn't tell him because I was so ashamed to have given birth to someone who would turn away from what their parents wanted. And now, Cole, it is time to face the consequences." My mother took her hand and forced it inside my chest. I gasped, and felt her hand squeeze my heart. My vision became blurry, and I passed out to the sound of soft laughter.
Zane's P.O.V.
This was certainly harder than it looked. The forest was difficult to navigate and the limited light made travel worse, even with my android sight.
Finally, I came to a lake where I rested. It was deep blue, and so dark you couldn't see after the first few feet. But I could detect an animal below the surface, swimming around. I wondered if I should be concerned, but after a few minutes when nothing happened, I decided the chances that it would come out now were unlikely, so I turned to leave.
I heard a large splash and when I turned around, a large serpent had risen from the water, its scales dripping from the water. It hissed with its forked tongue, so I brought out my shurikens. I threw the first while I hacked at the body with the second. The serpent screamed and its mouth opened, water blasting out. I coughed as the water ran into my circuitry, heavily damaging my systems. The serpent hissed again and coiled itself around me, entrapping me in its grasp.
"Let go, you vile creature!" I cried out, but the serpent hissed again and dove underwater. At first, I thought I would be fine, but the fish-creatures of the deep ripped open my panel, and I gasped as water flowed in, disabling everything. I blacked out as my systems failed.