/-/ Okay guys. I know, it's been a LONG time. And I apologize, really! I have complete intention to finish this story, honest. I've just been very, very busy for a long time. Since I'm a junior in high school, I recently took my ACT test, so there was prepping for that, and a whole bunch of other crazy whatnot. I didn't forget about you guys though, I promise. I had actually written about half this chapter a while back and ended up losing it /sad face. Yea. That upset me. But, updates should be more frequent again now. \-\

They were many. How they found him he may never know, but then again his wish to was not exactly the highest either. They flooded in, blocking every angle of vision like being submersed in water. Smiling faces, appreciative twinkles to their eyes. Yes, this was an atmosphere of opportunity, and he breathed it in like a rarity. The treat of fine wine, even. As his body was lifted up and offered to the skies of success and- his breath nearly caught short at the idea- perhaps a lifetime of happiness, his ears listened to their enthusiastic singing. His grin spread on for miles, reaching even past their immense sea of population. A brightness entered his eyes: youth, contentment, joy and most of all the most satisfying sensation of relief he had never thought of experiencing.

What had changed their minds he was entirely unsure of. It had crossed his mind that he may never know, but it did not strike him as a matter of importance either. His focus, mainly, was on the hands holding his weight above the ground as well as the excited way his fingers were twitching with adrenaline. Not to mention the way his jaw ached from smiling too wide for his face.

And then a thought crossed his mind.

How is he going to produce enough Thneeds to satisfy this wave of customers? It was a simple economic concept: the law of demand. If he could not supply, well, he might as well be a failure. There was only him, after all. He had no one. He knew no one.

No one except the last people on earth he wanted to see.

With a true lack of choice, he gripped the phone with trembling fingers and called.

Except his voice came out excited, not scared. The trembling in his digits was enthusiasm, not terror. Butterflies filled his stomach to the brim, but he was...okay.

They were coming, all of them. His worst nightmares. And he wanted to see them. Moreover, he anticipated their arrival so that he could show off his success. He did it. He was a businessman now. But what was most important was that they were wrong. They were all wrong, everyone. All along, he was right. He was not crazy. All that bitterness and hatred pent-up inside his body seemed to roll off like water.

They had returned him to the ground. He stood tall, over most of their heads even. They peered up at him with glistening, expecting eyes. He swallowed hard, his pallid lips cracking in to a nervous smile. A few people blinked. He tugged the collar of his shirt, tipped his hat and nodded.

"Well, I'm glad that you all have come to realize the greatness of the Thneed, really. But uh...if you all don't mind, I'll be a little busy for a while now. Er..." his blue eyes scanned the crowd, "a lot busy. So...run along," a hand movement gestured for them to shoo, "you'll all get yours soon. Just. Go home?"

They all seemed to nod, and the entirety of their mass shifted with it. As they dispersed, he was met with the glare of green eyes. "What? Aren't you happy? I did it! Nobody can say anything now! Not mom, not Bret or Chet. Not the townspeople. Not you, not anyone! I did it!"

The Lorax merely shook his head and turned to skulk away. He disappeared quickly, but Once-ler continued to stare in his direction. A feeling of emptiness took over. "You just...you don't understand. I did it. Didn't I? I got what I wanted."

Striking blue eyes lifted, a dark burning in their contrasting light color. They fell upon a figure. Dark, ominous. Distant, yet so close. Almost close enough to see him breathing. The valley was barren now except for this figure. A distinct smile ripped across his face. He tipped the rim of his hat and raised a gloved hand to wave.

Once-ler did not even bother to stick around for that part. He was already inside his cottage, back against the door, hatchet in his shaking vice grip, breath entering and leaving his lungs at a rapid pace.

Who was this guy exactly? What did he want? Why was here? Questions like these and a thousand more ran through Once-ler's mind at a speed quicker than his sporadic heart. His sporadic heart, which caught in his throat and nearly stopped when he heard a knock on the door behind him.

He is coming.