It was a cold and wet night in Gloomsville. Not particularly uncommon for the region, in fact it was like this about once a week, especially during the colder months, until the rain would turn to snow at least, but even then the ice storms were just as commonplace. What was uncommon was what was unfolding that night in the old mansion overlooking the town. Ruby and her friends hardly ever got in fights with each other, and even when they did it was usually nothing more than an argument shortly followed by an apology. This was different however. Len and Misery were the "lucky" ones as they'd left for the town to pick up some snacks for a game night Ruby had been planning. Not long after they'd left was when it had kicked off. Ruby had taken notice of a shift in Frank's behavior a few days prior. He seemed more quiet than usual. She was used to him being just as loud and outgoing as his brother, but now he rarely seemed to match that energy his brother had. She initially brushed it off as everyone has their off days, however couldn't help but worry when the shift in his appetite also made itself known. This was when she intervened. After all, if there was one thing other than their music Frank and Len were known for, it was their appetites. She had approached him about it and he brushed it off. This was to be expected with Frank, even when he and Len were still attached he'd rarely ever admit when something was wrong with him. It was just his nature. This disregard for his own well-being was never something Ruby would just accept. She would always fight to get to the bottom of the situation so she could help her friend. That's all she wanted. She continued to try to get Frank to talk, but he would always answer with the same;
"it's fine, I'm fine" , "it's no big deal, don't worry about it" ,or even a "you don't have to worry about me. There are better things to worry about".
Ruby hated that last one, so when he'd used it that night she made her stand.
"Frank, you cannot sit there and tell me nothing is wrong when you're acting so weird. You barely touched your dinner tonight, and don't tell me you've already eaten because I've been in here all day." She crossed her arms. Frank seemed stunned. He slumped further into his seat.
"Frank please, it's obvious something is wrong. I hate having this fight with you every time. Why don't you just talk about it so we can help?" She softened her approach upon seeing him so defeated. He merely shrugged, refusing to make eye contact.
"It's complicated." He huffed. Ruby sighed.
"Is there at least something I can do?" She pressed. Just then Iris had bounded in.
"Ruby Ruby Ruby! I just finished teaching Squig that trick we've been working on the past month! Come see!" She bounced in place as she spoke.
"Maybe later Iris, I'm helping Frank with something right now."
Iris took a second to read the room before huffing and puffing.
"Ugh! He's doing this again? Stop being such a big baby Frank." She rolled her eye.
"Iris, that's not helping."
"And neither is he! Honestly Ruby why bother if he's not gonna respect you enough to give you a response?"
"I respect Ruby." Frank huffed, insulted she'd accuse him of such a thing.
"Really? You definitely don't act like it." She crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Iris it's not like that-" Ruby started but was cut off by Iris.
"You know what I think Frank? I think that you're selfish when you act like this."
Frank and Ruby were taken aback. Skull Boy had entered upon hearing the shouting. Frank looked absolutely crushed. Ruby was the first to notice the tears welling up in his eyes. Iris sighed.
"Look Frank, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it-" she didn't get to finish before Frank got up from his seat and made for the back door, slamming it shut behind him. Ruby chased after him.
"Frank wait!"
"Leave me alone…" he growled.
"Just hang on for a minute, let's talk about this."
"I don't want to talk about it, just leave me alone." His tone was becoming sharper.
"No, we need to talk about this, running off isn't going to help." Ruby desperately tried to reason with him, reaching out and placing her hand on his to try to stop him. This sent a visceral reaction through Frank who ripped his hand away and whipped around to face Ruby head on,
"GOD FUCKING DAMMIT I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!" He roared. His sudden reaction caused Ruby to stumble back and fall into the mud with a splat. Skull boy who had seen what happened was now rushing over but Frank didn't notice. His look of anger shifted into one of horror and guilt.
"Oh god… Ruby I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" he was promptly interrupted by a skeletal fist cracking him right in the nose which knocked him to the ground.
"How DARE you talk to her like that! After everything she's done for you?" Skull boy screamed in rage. Frank lay crumpled in a heap clutching his fucked up nose, blood pouring down his face and arm.
"Skull Boy stop it!" Ruby shouted, pulling him back.
"What the hell is wrong with you!? You've done nothing but mope around since you and Len separated! How fucking selfish are you!? Everyone's been doing everything they can to help you and all you do is push away! Do you even care!?"
He shouted. Those words clawed into him.
Ruby grabbed a hold of Skull boys shoulders and spun him around to face her.
"Knock it off! He's hurting! He can't help it!"
"He has no right treating you like that!"
As the two continued arguing Frank took that window to slunk off into the dense forest surrounding the mansion. He didn't get far before tripping over a rock and tumbling down and down and down the steep hill the mansion sat on. When he finally stopped rolling he was too dizzy and in pain to get up so he just lay there on the forest floor until the pain finally knocked him out.
When he woke up he was still in the same spot he'd passed out in. It had stopped raining and the sun was in the sky. Frank struggled to his feet. It felt like there was an anvil on his arm and chest. His face and head hurt and his eyes stung from the blood that had run from his hairline and seeped into his eyes while he lay unconscious. He must have hit a rock or tree or several of each. He tenderly reached up to feel where the blood had come from and immediately stuck his muddy hand into the wound on his head. He groaned and propped himself up on a tree and vomited up even more blood. It must have run down his throat from his nose, at least that's what he hoped. Perfect, just perfect. Frank wiped his mouth on his muddy sleeve and looked around at his surroundings. He had no idea where he was or how far he'd fallen, then it dawned on him. He was still in the woods, hours later, hell, possibly days. Okay not days but still. His friends hadn't come looking for him. He was completely alone. Of course the logical reasoning behind this was simply that they hadn't found him yet, but in his state of mind he took it as they didn't bother looking for him because they hate him now. This thought completely rattled him. His vision blurred and he fell back to his hands and knees. He gagged again but there was nothing left inside of him to be thrown up. He wheezed as the pain in his chest was making it extremely difficult to breathe properly. He fully believed he was going to die out there, alone, afraid, in pain… Frank felt tears roll down his cheeks. Perhaps this is what he deserved. He thought about what Skull Boy had said. He was right, he was selfish wasn't he? Suddenly something caught his eye. Laying under some leaves and dirt was his wallet, he hadn't left it back at the house. Then a thought hit him. He looked back up the hill he'd fallen down. It was way too steep for him to climb back up in his current state. Besides, going home didn't seem like an option anymore anyway. He sighed and pulled himself back up to his feet. Snow had started falling now and Frank realized how cold it was getting. He knew he wouldn't last another night out in the middle of the forest, not that he would be upset about dying now anyway. He weighed his options and ultimately made the decision to press on and maybe he'd make it to town where he could get cleaned up and stay in an inn for the night or something. The problem was he didn't know which direction the town was. He opted to just go in the opposite direction of the sharp incline and hope for the best. As he walked he assessed his arm, which still felt like someone was sitting on it. He figured maybe he'd pop into the doctor's office to get it looked at. It couldn't be that bad, could it? He stumbled through the thickest part of the woods, feeling exhausted as ever. He'd nearly given up hope when he suddenly saw a gap in the tree line. He picked up his pace and made his way to the opening. He could see the town from here. A sense of relief washed over him at the sight of it. Maybe an hour or so until he reached it. The cold had started setting in and trudging through the snow was progressively getting more and more difficult as it continued piling up. He'd lost feeling in his hands and feet but he couldn't give up this close. The freezing air ripped his lungs to pieces as he wheezed. His vision was going blurry again but he refused to give up. He wasn't going to die today, not like this. After another hour of walking his exhaustion was too much to bare and he collapsed into the snow that was now about two feet deep. He could have sworn he heard the sound of voices approaching his location but was just too tired to call out. Soon he'd succumb to the darkness that had been creeping into the sides of his vision.
Frank woke up in an unfamiliar place. He groaned and sat up to see he'd been left by a fireplace in what seemed to be a tavern or something.
"Well I'll be… you ARE alive." Came a gravely voice. Frank turned to look where the voice had come from. At the bar sat a large man in snow boots and a coat made from animal hides. "You're a lucky guy, people die in those woods all the time. Those parts are riddled with wolves and such. You have my dogs to thank for leading me to you." He stated, approaching where Frank was seated, taking a seat across from him. He handed him a glass with unknown liquid inside of it and Frank too afraid to come across as rude to the man who'd just saved him took it. "Drink that and it'll take the sting away" Frank took a swig and recognize it to be an ale of some kind. He'd never been much of a drinker. "How old are ya son?"
"22 sir" he meekly replied.
"You're awful young to be out in those woods alone… was there anyone else with you?" Frank shook his head.
"Just me sir."
The man scratched his beard. His attention then went to his arm which lay in his lap.
"Let me get a look at your arm there boy." He reached out and gently took it in his hands. Frank winced. "Hm, that's definitely broken. Lucky for you it doesn't look like it needs to be set however…"
"Um, could you tell me where I am sir?"
"You're in Gloom's town kid, where are you from?"
"Gloomsville…"
"You've come a long way lad, if you'd like I can give you a ride home."
The word home made him queasy.
"NO- I-I mean, no thank you sir, that's very kind of you though."
The man stared him down with a skeptical expression.
"You're running from something, aren't you boy?"
Frank fell quiet and looked down to avoid the man's gaze.
"What are you running from lad?"
"I… I don't really want to talk about it…"
"Hmm…" the man paused to lean back into his chair and puff on his pipe. "You know lad, I tell you what. I was planning on visiting the valley to attend to some personal business but I think you'd be better fit for the job. I'm an old man now, I get tired more easily than you. I believe you need this more than I do now." He said reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a train ticket and an envelope.
"Oh, thank you very much sir but I can't accept this."
"Nonsense, it'll just go to waste on me, the tavern needs me, business has been wonderful this month. You take that, escape, go find yourself. Don't hunker down or else you may find yourself trapped where you don't want to be."
Frank looked up at the man who smiled at him now.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive! Now let me wrap up that arm of yours and clean out that head wound. Your train doesn't leave until morning so you are more than welcome to stay the night here in the guest bed. I'll ride you to the station first thing in the morning."
After assessing his wounds he gave Frank a bowl of stew on the house. Frank, having not eaten in a while, scarfed it down and the man showed him to his room for the night. After washing himself in the bathroom Frank slept like a rock and come morning he grabbed what little he had and he, the man, and his dogs set out for the station.
"I've already sent a message to Lewis for your arrival, he will be waiting for you at the station and he'll guide you from there."
"This is all too kind sir,"
"Bah, I'm just giving you the chance I wish I had when I was a wee lad like you."
The sled came to a stop and Frank hopped off.
"Oh, dear boy, I just realized I never asked for your name."
"Frank, sir." Frank held out his hand and he shook it.
"Well Frank, this is where I leave you, best of luck to you." He smiled, "just tell em that old Grimm sent you."
"Thank you. For everything." Frank smiled before heading into the station.