(Prologue)
I scramble under a bush, panting. My body shakes, and I curl up, praying he hasn't seen me.
Children are vulnerable in Onett City, that's what Mother said. The older men see them as commerce, things to buy and sell. I sit completely still, wondering if this is it. If I'll be sold, traded, or worse. For a second, there's quiet, and I dare to hope.
But Porky's laugh fills my ears. He's coming. There's nowhere to hide from him, nothing to do except run. Even in the forest, he found me. What does he want with a ten-year-old boy? Why the hell am I so special? I've given him everything, money, possessions... I've even stolen from Father so he wouldn't hurt Lucas.
Lucas is my dearest friend. Nobody touches him, no matter how much they hurt me. Lucas's safety is so important to me that it burns, so much so that I smuggle him home most days, just so Porky cannot get him. And he won't now, I think to myself, my expression hardening. Not when Lucas already has so little.
But Porky's a man, and I'm a boy. He approaches like a monster, stumpy legs moving fast in pursuit. Has he seen me? I think he's seen me — damn this — I tremble as he sneers, and I feel like I'm going to explode, something's happening, nervous energy overflowing as he gets closer and closer. His face moves into view, and he's grinning so nastily—
I scream as flames erupt around me. What has he done!? But he's still a few metres away, and I scramble out, the fire consuming the bush completely. I run. I run as fast as my legs can carry me, not looking behind me, not until I'm home.
It's only when I'm huddled under the covers that I register I'm unscathed. Completely unscathed.
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~~o00o~~
Chapter 7: Future History
(Ness)
~~o00o~~
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The night is colder than I'd expected, though the snow has finally melted, the crisp white giving way to dark browns and greens. Lucas shivers, of course — I wish he ate more, perhaps then he'd be warmer. However, Lucas, ever full of surprises, pulls blankets from his pack. He passes them around, and soon, we're warm.
We walk down the hill in spacious silence, aiming for the dark peaks of the forest. The moonlight silhouettes them like paintbrushes, and I imagine them painting the skyline itself, the cloudless sky, the glistening stars, our waypoints for the night. The air is crisp, and I inhale it deeply, drawing courage from its familiarity.
"What do you think's going on in school?" I ask with a skip.
"Nothing as exciting as this!" Toon Link beams, picking up a long stick. "Ah, I wonder what we'll find in there? Perhaps… gold! Or, some big, terrible monsters—"
"Gold and monsters?" Villager scoffs. "What are you, six?"
Lucas and I exchange a knowing glance, the Face on both of our minds.
"Ah, ye of little faith," Toon Link says. "We'll see."
Villager rolls his eyes, but Lucas gives a small smile. "Bowser's probably going mad, searching for me and Ness."
"And rightfully so," Red says, angrily confiscating Toon Link's stick and snapping it in half. "That was disrespectful, leaving in the middle of English."
"We left for good reason," I say.
"And what reason is that?" Red's expression remains hard.
"It's personal." Lucas cuts me off before I can answer.
Red chooses not to dispute further, and he instead kicks at a pile of pine needles as we make our way under the tall canopy of evergreen trees. The moonlight trickles in just enough to illuminate a track, possibly taken by deer in the past. It seems to lead enticingly deeper into the forest.
"Orchestra was supposed to be tonight," Lucas realises. We're both regular attendees, managed by the pretentious Professor Sebastian Tute.
"Ah, screw orchestra." Toon Link spins around, arms outstretched. "Just look at this place! There must be so much to discover!"
"Which way do we go?"
"Further up and further in!"
There's a rustle to the left, and Lucas tenses. Villager glances over.
"What was that?"
"Just a deer," I say. "A Roe deer, probably. They're common around here."
"Thank you, Ness," Toon Link says. "Good to know."
"I see you've recovered from being hit on the head?"
"Yes, indeed. I see you've recovered from your black eye?"
Ah, my black eye. I'd almost forgotten about that. Nobody has mentioned it since being on the train. At least it's faded now, and at least I wasn't asked too many questions about how I got it...
"How did you really get that black eye?" Villager asks.
Of course. I rub my arm, suddenly glad for the cover of darkness.
"As I said, I walked into a beam."
"There aren't any beams in your house," Lucas says.
"Fine. You got me," I sigh. "But I'd rather not talk about it, all right?"
"If you are sure." Lucas, for once, doesn't press.
Villager shifts. I'm sure he suspects — I'm sure they all do — but the subject is dropped. It's improper to talk about such things.
"Let's just… keep going, how about that?"
We continue to walk.
Slipping behind the others a little, I slide my hand into my pocket, once again finding the strange item I'd seen on Ryu's floor. I run my fingers over it, bringing it out. Illuminated in the moonlight, I'm fairly sure it's exactly what I suspected.
A painted wooden figurine of Lucas.
It's got his details down to the last button on his shirt. There's his hair, just how he wears it. There's his nose, his eyes, his mouth. It's Lucas. There's no denying this is Lucas.
But why would Ryu have it in his classroom? Where did he get it from, how was it made? It troubles me to no end. Under no circumstances can I let Lucas discover it. He'd be worried sick. I'm worried sick. What is Ryu doing with the figure? Perhaps it's some form of magic? My trust in the history professor starts to drop.
"Disappearances..."
What if it's Ryu? What if Ryu is causing the disappearances somehow — perhaps he's turning people into figurines? No, that's fanciful. Besides, Lucas is still here and not a figurine. But either way… it's suspicious. Very, very suspicious.
What if people disappear when they go into the forest?
I command the voice in my mind to shut up for once, but I'm interrupted by a yelp from Lucas. He's tripped over, falling flat on his face, and I hastily stuff the figurine into my pocket.
"What happened?" Toon Link asks, hurrying over.
"I don't know..." Lucas picks himself up with a groan, wiping mud from his face. "I tripped over this root or something, whatever it is." He gestures towards a protrusion in the forest floor, and I angrily brush the leaves off it. It seems to be some sort of rounded rock, sticking up at a deceptive angle from the ground.
"Are you all right?" Red asks.
"I think I am," Lucas says. "Sorry about that."
"I think it's a gravestone." Villager looks a little closer at the rock. "Old, though. Loads of moss. Cracks, too… and the name's a little faded, but…" He squints.
"Creepy," Toon Link laughs. "You good to keep walking, Lucas?"
"Yes," Lucas says, having wrapped the blanket back around himself. "I should be."
But suddenly, Villager sinks to the floor, short of breath. His eyes are wild, frenzied, as though he's seen some sort of ghost.
"What's the matter?" Toon Link asks. Villager merely points at the gravestone, trembling from head to foot.
"What does it say?" Lucas tries to scramble over.
There's a hollow silence that falls as Toon Link sweeps the moss, and the words become clear:
Here lies Ness, buried with his dearest friend and companion, Lucas.
A force of absolute horror courses through my body.
"W-What the hell?" I stammer. My name. My name. Perhaps it's another Ness, another Lucas from the past... but it's a terrible coincidence... 'Dearest friend' — I cannot imagine there are many friends with our names. It's us. It can only be us.
"Is there a date?" Lucas asks.
"Don't look at it!" Villager cries.
"Why not?"
"Do you really want to live in fear of one day?" His voice tremors. "One day in your future that you know you're going to die?"
"But." My hands shake as I comprehend his words. "But how can it be here, how would it have a date from the future? We're still alive, aren't we?"
"I don't know!" Villager backs away. "I don't understand any of this, we need to be safe—"
"Wouldn't it be better just to know?" I move towards the leaves covering the rest of the stone. "It could be import—"
"NO!" Villager flings my hand away. "Once you see the date, that's the date it'll be. It'll be set in stone!"
"That's impossible," Toon Link quakes. "This is utterly impossible."
"Its very existence is paradoxical," Red says.
"I'm - I—" Toon Link grabs a nearby tree for support. "But - but how the hell can this even be here? Who buries two people in the middle of the woods?"
"I don't know," Villager says, shaking with deep unease, and I find myself clinging tighter to Lucas's hand. "I have no idea. But we should leave this place, right now."
"Why?" Red asks.
Our friend eyes us grimly, the moonlight catching his pale cheeks. "Because if the gravestone is here, this might be where they die."
The implication is clear. Lucas hastily gathers his blanket, and we hurry away, my heart thumping. Only dead, empty silence rings out. There are no sounds of birds, animals or insects. The moon has been covered by a cloud, and goosebumps prickle through my skin. Something feels deeply, terribly wrong.
Rustle.
I jump about ten feet, huddling towards Lucas, throwing my arms around him. He's clammy, cold with fear, but he takes my hand again, shuddering. This isn't natural. Nothing here is natural. Perhaps we should go back, but thoughts of Bowser waiting with canes and whips and who knows what else deter me... perhaps he'll be our cause of death, I think, and the thought is so bizarre that I almost laugh.
"We should find a place to sit," Villager says, his voice still shaking. "Perhaps we can build a fire, or something."
There's a murmur of agreement. Lucas wraps his blanket around the both of us, and I squeeze his hand, hoping to communicate my terror in our silent language. Worse than the thought of my death is his; he is the most precious thing in my life. I try to push the thought from my mind, but the gravestone lingers, solid as stone. Perhaps we misread the name? Perhaps it's - perhaps it's not – but - perhaps...
Perhaps you die tonight.
No. I shouldn't think like that.
Any one of these people could kill you.
They're my friends. They would never.
Or a wild animal in the woods… it could come and get you.
No. No! I try to push away my paranoia, deep into the abyss.
But would anyone miss you if you died?
Of course they would. Toon Link, my friends, Mother, Tracy—
Nobody would know. Children go missing all the time.
But—
Who'd look for you?
I stagger with the force of the thought, and Lucas catches me. I breathe in, out. I look up, the clouds are shaped like the grave. I look across, the shadows are shaped like the grave — I cannot die, I will not die!
"Here!" Toon Link exclaims all too loudly, gesturing towards a reasonably sized clearing. It's bordered by rocks, and it seems to have some sort of firepit in the middle. It feels far removed from the grave, so I stumble onto a boulder. Lucas helps me down, and I grip his shoulder with thanks.
"Right then." Toon Link puts his hands together, but his expression reads only worry. "Given two of us are going to die tonight… let's make amends. Red, first of all, I'm sorry."
"Are you really, though?" Red picks at the moss on his rock.
"Yes. You have to understand, I—"
But Red interrupts. "This is very out of character for you."
"You don't like me when I'm in character, Red."
"I do, it's just..." He picks up a chunk of moss, throwing it into the fire pit. Toon Link watches it sail through the air.
"Just what?"
"Just... hard. You never make sense. You only insult me. You are ridiculous."
"Red..." Toon Link sighs. "You know I'm only joking when I'm like that… right?"
"Do I know? How am I supposed to know?"
"Because I'm your friend? I wouldn't want to hurt you."
"But why?" Red crosses his legs together, and Villager pats him on the shoulder. He stares at Toon Link's feet. "Why do you insult people you like?"
"It's, well..." Toon Link stammers, not meeting anyone's eyes. "I'm terrible with compliments, so instead I suppose I—"
"Perhaps you were just born cruel."
"Come on." Villager gives Red a reproachful look. "Give him a chance."
"This is why I wanted to talk, to have a deep conversation." Toon Link stands, walking towards the fire pit. "I feel guilty. I'm dreadful with behaving and being proper, all this social class stuff. It's easier to make jokes. I don't know why I'm like this, it's..."
"Your way of showing affection?" I ask quietly. He looks my way for a few seconds, his visage surprised, but then he nods.
"Yes. Look, I think a lot of you all! But Red, if you think I'm — well, you know... that makes me worry. Ness, Lucas, you knew me when I was shy. What happened?"
"You grew up," Lucas says. "You got more confident."
"I worry that people don't like me anymore." Toon Link stops still, digging his heel into the ground. "They don't like that I've changed." There's an edge of fear in his voice.
"You are being too negative," Red says flatly.
"I'm sorry." He wrings his hands. "I just, I did not like being shy! I taught myself to be loud. I read a lot of books in that summer before starting at Onett Boarding School. I practised speaking to people in the street. I'm sorry if you all hate what I've become." He looks down at the ground. "I'm a total fraud."
"Toon Link..." Villager says, and suddenly, he's pulling him into a close hug. "You're great, seriously. You're funny. Please don't say that. We like you a lot."
"Besides," I add. "You haven't changed that much. Right now, your sensitive side, your shy side, it's still here, isn't it? You are still you."
"Thank you, but..." Toon Link turns again. "Red, I'm sorry if I upset you. I'm really sorry. I never meant to be unkind."
The rest of us turn to Red, nervous. Red looks to be in deep thought.
"It's okay," he says after some time. "I understand."
"You don't have to forgive—"
"Too bad," Red cuts him off. "You are one of the few people on my side, here at school. I'm forgiving you. And the rest of you, too."
"Now hug!" Villager cheers. We all stare at him. He smiles apologetically. "Too much?"
"Nah, c'mere." Toon Link grins, yanking an alarmed Red into a hug. Red makes a small squeaking noise, but he eventually hugs back. Lucas turns to me, a look of happiness in his eyes. I get the impression that's a big weight off of his shoulders.
"Now we're all friends again," Villager says, sitting back down. "I reckon we should try to light a fire."
"Good idea," Toon Link says. "Does anyone know how?"
I think. "Well, we need some dry wood and some dry leaves. How about Lucas and I find the leaves, and you three others get the wood? We can meet back here in a few minutes?"
There's a general murmur of assent, so we do exactly that.
Lucas comes up alongside me. We suddenly have a lot to discuss, and I nervously grip the figurine in my pocket.
"Lucas, I'm scared." The words rush out before I have a chance to process them.
"I know." Lucas takes my hand. "Ness, it's probably not us on that gravestone. We're still alive, right? So how could it be ours? It looked so old and cracked."
"I want to go and see it," I say, looking down. "I want to read the date."
"No," Lucas says sharply. "Did you not hear what Villager said? It's dangerous."
"I don't care. These are our lives we're talking about, aren't they? If we know what is gonna happen, perhaps we can find a way to prevent it."
"Ness." Lucas takes my other hand, looking severe. "I know you're scared, but—"
"Scared? I'm beyond scared—"
"But you cannot go and look at that stone!"
"Yes, I can!" I stamp my foot, shaking off Lucas's hands in a sudden burst of anger. "And you cannot stop me!"
I run.
"Ness! Wait!"
But I ignore him. Where was the stone? What was the way? I need to find it, fast! Lucas gives chase. Of course, can't he let me do what needs to be done? He doesn't understand. Bitter thoughts fill my mind. Since when did Lucas think he could tell me what to do? I'm independent, I can decide what to do with my life. It's not dangerous, and did he not contradict himself? Saying it's not our gravestone, then saying it's dangerous... he must be lying to me!
Again. He lied to you about his family.
But that's different, his family is different…
He only pretends to care about you. That's another lie.
He does care, doesn't he? Never mind, that is unhelpful, where is the gravestone, where has it gone? I cannot find it, cannot find it anywhere... I look back angrily, expecting to see Lucas behind me.
But he's not there. I'm completely alone.
I turn around, breathing heavily, but there are trees and only trees. I'm lost in the forest. The stars! I can use them to guide me… I look upwards. Clouds. No stars. It's dark — so dark, and I miss Lucas. No, I'm angry! But I miss him. But — oh, Lucas where are you? How could I have been angry at him? Why am I so terrible? I'm no better than Porky, I'll never be forgiven!
No. Porky's worse. I need to stop thinking like this. I need to find everyone. But I'm lost. I kick at a tree in frustration. Frustration with myself, for being such a coward, and for getting myself in such a state. Lucas is right, the grave doesn't matter. What would he do if he were here?
Abandon you to the forest.
And my breathing accelerates again as I spin around, staring at the masses of branches surrounding me. My chest constricts, my head overflowing with hopelessness. I'm lost, I'm never going to be found...
Think. Think. Dr Mario, he taught me how to deal with this hysteria, with, uh, what did he call it? The five-point grounding method. What can I smell? Not much. What can I taste? The air. What can I feel? Cold. What can I see? Trees, endless trees. What can I hear? I try to slow down my breathing to listen... and is that someone talking? Is that hope!?
"You are sure nobody will hear us out here?"
That's not any of my friends' voices. But then, who? It sounds like...
"I'm sure, sexy."
Oh heavens, is that Bayonetta? What is she doing, and who's she with?
"Wahaha… good… good."
No... it cannot be—?
"Oh, Professor Wario," Bayonetta laughs. "You are silly. Now, undress me, you fool!"
No. No.
"Just because you're doing this doesn't mean you can disrespect me! Don't call me a fool!"
I feel sick to my stomach. What the hell is this? Why are they—
I ended up courting some blokes for money, Bayonetta had said. So, what — Professor Wario?! I suppose he has a lot of money to pay, but oh dear. Poor Bayonetta...
They start getting louder, which is my cue to leave. I'm suddenly ill, afflicted with terrible visions. I think I'm going to vomit. Even the thought of Professor Wario — ugh, no, no, curse that thought, banish it from my head — where's Lucas — where's anyone — my mind is spinning…
Thump.
Oh, that's a tree… which hurts. My vision explodes... the pretty trees are dancing… haha… ha...
The darkness swallows me whole.
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When I come to, Lucas is leaning over me, a very cross expression on his face. He breathes out suddenly upon seeing me awake, pulling me into a frantic hold.
"Ness, you idiot!"
"Where am I?" I rub my head, slowly sitting up.
"I found you knocked out — I assumed the worst—"
My head throbs as I take in the scene. We're back in the clearing again. Guilt rises.
"I'm sorry."
"You should be!" But he sees my wounded expression, and he softens. "Ness, it's okay. It's terrifying, all of this... I'm just glad you are safe. And honestly, you're quite funny when you're angry."
"Funny?" I redden. "I'm not funny, I'm - I'm fearsome—"
"No, you're too much of a goof to be fearsome."
"I can be scary!"
"No, you cannot." Lucas gently laughs. "You've never scared me."
"I'm soft on you."
"You're just soft in general."
Lucas grins, and I pinch his cheeks. It's such a relief to be back with him. The worry slips away a bit, the gravestone can wait. Bayonetta will be all right, I hope.
"Did you get the dry leaves?" I ask.
"No," Lucas says reproachfully. "I was too busy looking for you, wasn't I?
"Sorry," I say again, gazing at the distant trees. "I'm just — all of this is terror is starting to control me, I think. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
"Ness, I understand."
Lucas and I sometimes fall out over stupid things. It's usually my fault, but the fallouts never last more than five minutes. Try as I might, I cannot stay angry at his stupid lovable face.
The others choose that moment to come back, arms piled high with wood.
"All right!" Toon Link cheers. "Have you both got the leaves?"
"No," I say meekly. Lucas rubs his neck.
"We were distracted."
"Distracted?" Villager throws down his wood. "You didn't look at the gravestone, did you?"
"I... attempted it," I admit. "But I could not find it."
"I told you not to!"
"I know, I know—"
"Ness, seriously, it's dangerous!"
"Villager, please," Lucas mutters.
But Villager carries on. "You could've been killed!"
"I know!" I exclaim, the pressure inside me escaping with force. "How would you feel if it was your gravestone?"
"I feel like I'd be clever enough to leave it be!"
"Are you calling me an idiot?"
"No—"
"I know I'm an idiot." A sick, guilty feeling smothers my insides. "But at least it's me who'll die, not you."
"Ness, you're not gonna—"
"I hope you're happy."
"Ness..."
I look up — oh no, his eyes are wet, Villager is tearful, what have I done?
"Look, I—" I lose my resolve, sitting back down on one of the rocks. "I'm sorry," I say, for what feels like the thousandth time today.
"You have to understand, Ness," Villager says weakly, wiping his eyes, "I worry about you. I worry about all of you, okay?"
"I know." I look down, the sinking feeling in my stomach deepening. "I shouldn't have gotten angry."
Villager sits beside me. "I know, I – I understand, of course you're curious about it, just..."
"I've destroyed everything," I say.
Lucas gently touches my back, his arm over my shoulder. "What do you mean?"
"I'm a state. I cannot behave properly, I keep snapping like some hysterical thing… I can barely control myself."
Villager puts his arm around my other shoulder. I feel like some pitiful child, vying for the attention of his mother. Toon Link sits in front of me, looking as though he doesn't know what to say. I wish I were alone.
"I'm so sorry," I murmur.
There's silence.
"Let's carry on," Villager suggests, after what feels like an eternity. "Let's not think about the gravestone. Let's remember why we came here tonight, and let's try to enjoy ourselves. But we should go somewhere else. I don't like this clearing much."
"All right," I say miserably. I feel like a dead weight, like some broken, abnormal creation. Without me, wouldn't everything be better? There's another quiet as we stand up, wrapping our blankets around ourselves, and Lucas takes my hand. Its familiar shape grounds me a little bit, and I breathe, trying not to panic at every turn, focusing on every individual step. I'm fine, I tell myself. Fine.
Luckily, I'm cheered up soon enough. After turning a few corners, a rushing noise fills our ears, and we're met with a beautiful, roaring river.
The moonlight is back, illuminating the long, stretching bank, coated with flowers and dew. The channel is deep, full of the last of the melting snow, but it's lazy, calm in the tranquil scene. Unfortunately, we're not as calm, and as we approach the waters, shouting and yelling, I feel myself slip, and then I'm tumbling in with an almighty splash.
"After him!" Toon Link bellows, and Lucas yelps as he's shoved in beside me. I laugh, grabbing onto Toon Link, and then he's coming too, Villager in tow.
"Cold!" Lucas exclaims, and I sling an arm around him, grinning like an idiot. The current is surprisingly powerful, icy, and likely to render me impotent, but I don't care. Lucas splashes me and I cackle, splashing him right back.
"Ness!" he yelps, and I grin.
"I dare you to put your head under."
"No way! I double dare you!"
"Same time?"
"But my hair—"
"How like a girl!"
"Fine," Lucas says, and I grin.
"All right. Three… Two… One... Go!"
I hesitate. Neither of us moves.
"No fair!" we exclaim simultaneously. There's a pause, and then I launch myself at him with a yell. I wrap my arms around his body, and he giggles as I start tickling him — I know all his weak spots — and he yelps, slipping. He wriggles around, but he knows my ticklish spots too, so we're soon immersed in a very wet tickle war, which predictably ends with a mighty splash... and both of us disappearing, laughing, beneath the surface.
We emerge, grinning and shivering. Red toes the bank nearby, looking nervous.
"Come on in!" I shout. Red stares at the water.
"It'll ruin our clothes," he complains. "We'll get in trouble."
"Well, Red," Toon Link says, coming to the bank.
"Yes?"
"You need to loosen up." Toon Link splashes him, and Red gasps. We all freeze; has Toon Link overstepped it?
"Not so fast!" Red shouts, pulling off his shirt and performing a perfect dive into the water.
We cheer, and Red swims after Toon Link; of course, he's secretly a skilled swimmer. I think he has swimming baths in his home. He's a rich only child, so he wouldn't have much to do except studying and sports. I'm suddenly glad we're here — despite the grave and Bayonetta, we're together. The night doesn't have to change anything.
"C'mon, we'll miss their fight!" Villager calls, and so we swim downstream to see Red and Toon Link having a sort of messy splash battle that, of course, we have to get involved in too, and it's pandemonium, but so good, and so disorderly, and honestly, that's how I seem to like things.
It must be at least an hour later that we clamber out of the water, panting, but thoroughly happy with ourselves.
"I could swear, it's got darker," Villager laughs, shaking the mud from his hair. "We've been out here for an age."
"Do you think anyone's looking for us?" Lucas asks, wringing out his shirt.
"No idea," Toon Link says. "Apart from our good lad Bowser, I don't reckon."
"We'll find out when we get back," Villager decides. "No good worrying about it now. We've got fun to have."
"Who cares, anyway?" I say. "It's been worth every second. Even if these clothes are ruined."
But Lucas suddenly groans. "I left my pack at the clearing."
"It's all right." Toon Link ruffles his hair. "Not like a grizzly bear would have stolen it."
"Are there bears here?" Lucas's voice quavers.
"Of course not, goof," I say. "Except me."
"You are a bear?"
"Roar," I say flatly, and we all burst out laughing because it's that time of night when everything is funny.
"All right," Lucas says. "I'll get the backpack. Wait here?"
"Do you know the way back?" I ask, just to be sure.
"Of course. I'll be five minutes or so."
"We won't go anywhere," Toon Link assures him. "Or will we…?"
"No, we won't," Red says, missing the joke. Toon Link sighs, and Lucas vanishes into the forest. I try not to worry. It's just going to be five minutes, right...?
I sit on the grass by the river, hoping I might start drying off. We've found a pleasant spot, it's flat, and there aren't too many trees. The moonlight perfectly catches the dew as I lie on my back, staring at the stars.
Surprisingly, Villager comes to lie next to me.
"Hullo, Ness."
"Hello."
"I was… wondering what you're thinking." He looks apologetic. "About what we saw."
"It's a fluke," I declare. "That gravestone is nothing to do with me and Lucas. It means nothing at all."
Villager smiles at that. "I'm glad."
"You should be furious at me… for earlier. Sorry again."
"I was." Villager folds himself onto his side. "But we're all fools at times, I s'pose, and you'd just seen your grave."
"Even so," I say. "It's hardly how we're taught to behave in the face of danger."
Villager shrugs, looking up at the moon. "If I cannot stick by you at your worst, I don't deserve you at your best. To an extent, of course," he adds. "If your worst was murder, then I'd probably be avoiding you."
I'm surprised by his sincerity tonight. Usually, Villager and I have an unspoken agreement to keep light, hiding things like feelings and thoughts. I've always assumed Villager's relied on Red for such things, while I turn to Lucas.
"This is getting serious," I say.
"Toon Link wanted a serious conversation, I suppose."
"What is happening at school?" I ask, clumsily changing the subject.
"Not much, I'd imagine," Villager says, picking up a leaf and turning it in his hand.
"Nice leaf?"
"Oh, not especially."
We lie in silence. I'm used to Villager being the friend I have a laugh with at the back of lessons, the friend I goof off with. I'm not so used to his sensitive side, but I don't mind it. He's a good friend, dependable, solid as they come. It's like Pit said, he's the mother of the group. He gets on well with every single one of us, and he knocks some sense into us, too. We're fortunate to have him.
I think back to the first day of boarding school.
When I came into the classroom, I was an uncomfortable mess, frightened at the prospect of fitting in among all these new people. History was my first lesson, and, I mean, I liked History, but this was nerve-wracking. Lucas wasn't in my class. I'd thought we'd stay together in all our classes, but this was a much bigger school than Onett Primary.
The professor smiled at everyone as they walked in, until he saw me. When his eyes raked my visage, he gave a start as if though he recognised it, but did not quite know how or why.
"Is everything okay, Professor?" I asked, already worried.
"Yes, of course..." He regained his composure. "Tell me, your father. Did he go to this school?"
"Yes," I said nervously.
"No wonder. You look just like him."
Curiosity got the better of me. "Did you know him?"
"We went to school together. I had no idea he'd had a son, surprising, considering... But enough on that, sit down, sit down!"
And so, I hastily scanned the room for somewhere to sit. Knowing my father could hardly be good news, I thought to myself. But there was a space next to a somewhat lonely-looking boy — perfect. I placed myself down.
"Hullo," the other boy said. "I ain't thought no-one would sit there."
"Oh, sorry," I said back. "I can move—"
"No, no, s'all right. The name's Villager, by the way."
"I'm Ness," I replied, cheered by his welcome.
"Nice to meetcha, Ness. D'you know anyone else? I don't."
"Well, nobody here..." I looked around. "But I know some people who aren't here. Toon Link, he's our shy friend, or he was, he seemed different this morning... and then there's others, Popo, Nana... and Lucas, he's amazing. You have to meet him."
"You talk lots," Villager said, laughing.
"Sorry," I said.
"No, no, s'all right, means I don't have to."
I laughed at that, and Villager got to talking throughout the lesson. The professor, who turned out to be called Ryu, was unusual, but I did not mind. Even if he looked at me as though I'd recently died...
.
.
.
.
.
I open my eyes again. It seems I drifted off.
"Has it been five minutes yet? Is Lucas back?" I ask. I feel hazy, all of a sudden, like some sort of fog has descended over my mind.
"Yes," Toon Link says. "It's been about an hour, actually."
"An hour?" I shoot up.
"Yes."
"So, where's Lucas?"
There's a pause.
"Uhm." Toon Link pushes himself up from the ground. "I'm not sure."
"What?" Villager stands. "Did we lose Lucas?"
"Yes!" I say frantically. "Don't you remember him going off to get the pack?"
"The pack is here," Red says.
"What?" I'm confused now. "Did Lucas return with it?"
"Yes," Toon Link says. "A good thirty minutes ago."
"Did I miss that?" I frown with bewilderment. "And where is he now?"
Something pokes me from behind.
"Hello."
It's Lucas.
"I did not know you were back," I say lamely.
"You were asleep," he says. "I didn't want to wake you."
"I don't remember falling asleep."
"You've been asleep for an hour," Red says, surveying me with uncertainty.
I think. I wrack my brains, staring around at the others, who look back at me with equal confusion. Are they playing some sort of joke? I don't remember waking up. I don't remember falling asleep. I was just thinking about that memory, and then…
I must be tired, heavens above. It makes sense. Only I could fall asleep and not remember it.
"All right," I say, shrugging.
"Ness," Lucas begins, his eyes bright.
"What?" I ask, beyond confused at this point. But Lucas only gives me a look, one that says Later. When we're alone.
So, something happened. But why don't I remember it? Was I really sleeping? I could have sworn I'd closed my eyes for just five minutes, thinking of that memory. It makes very little sense.
"Shall we - shall we play truth or dare?" I ask on a whim, keen not to think much more about it.
"Now that's a good idea!" Toon Link beams, pulling himself into the conversation.
"How do you play?" Red asks.
"Oh, you'll find out," Toon Link grins. "Watch and learn. Villager, you are victim number one."
"Oh, great—"
"Truth or dare?"
"Truth, I s'pose."
"All right." Toon Link cackles. "What is the truth about you and Zelda?"
"...I'd prefer a dare."
"Sure. I dare you to answer the truth."
"Fine, fine." Villager rolls his eyes. "Uhm, you may want to sit down."
I sit down, still dizzy, next to Lucas. Lucas throws an arm over my shoulder, almost as though he's worried something might happen to me — what happened in that hour? Instinctively, I thrust my hand into my pocket. The Lucas figurine is still there.
"So," Villager says, starting to redden. "All right, I'll admit it. I was fond of her. Back, uh, six years ago? First and second years of boarding school. I found her pretty, and nobody can deny that."
Lucas and I exchange the smallest of knowing glances. I suddenly want to hug him.
"But she was charmed by Link," Villager continues, fiddling with his thumbs. "And fair enough. I'm not exactly a looker."
"Nonsense," Toon Link says, but Villager looks doubtful. He's always been self-conscious about his height, even though none of us are much taller. Red is the biggest, and he's not even six feet.
"So, I moved on," Villager says. "I moved on years ago. And that was about it."
"Is that really it?" Toon Link asks.
"Yes." Villager averts his eyes.
"A clear lie," Toon Link scoffs, "But moving on… Red, your turn."
"Hm?" Red looks up from picking at his trousers. "Who do I choose?"
"Anyone you like."
"Oh. I like Villager. I'll pick him."
"C'mon, again?" Villager sighs, and I laugh at his misfortune.
"Do I say a dare?" Red asks.
"Or a truth," Villager says. "Preferably a truth."
"All right. What is your favourite colour?"
"That's an easy one." Villager breathes a sigh of relief. "Probably red."
"Ah, I understand," Red says. "It's a pun. I despise puns. They are the worst thing to happen to mankind."
"Yes, I know," Villager laughs. "All right, I'm choosing Toon Link next. Before anyone else can choose me."
"Dare," Toon Link grumbles. His shirt is still wet, I notice, and a water snail is creeping on his shoulder.
"How bad can we make them?" Villager asks, and Toon Link pales.
"As bad as you like. However, I'd rather not do anything that gets me killed."
"How about eating some grass?"
"Easy!" Toon Link stuffs a handful into his mouth before Villager can think of anything worse. "Lucas, your turn to ask someone."
Lucas grins evilly, staring me right in the face. I know exactly what is coming.
"How about you, Ness?"
"Why me?"
"Because you are goofy."
I laugh. It's not funny at all, but because it's late, everything's a lot more amusing. I wrap an arm around Lucas's shoulder. "I pick dare," I say. "And, be warned, I will dare you to do the same thing. So be nice!"
"Nice? I don't think so," Lucas says, laughing at my apparent foolishness. "I dare you to climb that tree, all the way to the top." He points to a tall one, but I'm an expert at climbing trees! What is he playing at?
"Yes!" I cheer, sure to rub it in Lucas's face that his dare is easy."And you have to climb it too, 'cause I'm gonna pick you on my turn, and. Yes." I think it sounds logical. I'm tired.
Lucas shrugs, smirking. "I have always been better at physical activity than you."
"So it's a race, then," Toon Link says.
"You are on!" I jump up to the tree, ready. Lucas stands alongside me. On no planet is he better at climbing trees than me. I'm suddenly energetic, how did that even happen?
"Isn't this dangerous?" Red asks.
"Of course it's slightly dangerous," Toon Link admits. "But it's fun—"
"They shouldn't be doing this!"
"Calm yourself, Reddy. They'll be fine. Probably."
Red makes to grab us. "Wait!"
But Toon Link calls "Go!" before Red can reach us.
We're off. I scramble upwards, allowing the friction of my hands on the bark to propel me — it doesn't matter if my hands are raw and red after. Lucas's shirt is covered in dirt already, I see, but unfortunately, that means he's parallel to me — in fact, he's really going for it! I can hear gasps for breath, though. He must be running out of strength...
I grin. I'm pulling ahead as I reach the first branch. I test it — that'll hold my weight. I stand on it and, sure enough, it doesn't crack, not even a little bit. It's a slight relief; I'm heavier than Lucas, his body has always been more appealing than mine. I look up, seeing that, sure enough, he's skinny as ever. A little too skinny for his health; he does need to eat more…
Wait a minute — I look up again — how did he get there? How is he above me!? I hear cheering from below, but I'm sure not to look down.
There's a sudden crack, and energy rushes through me. Quick! The branch I'm on trembles, and Lucas is within reaching distance. He'll lambast me to no end if he wins, so I cannot let that happen. I scramble up as the branch below me falls, but there's another crack — the branches are getting weaker up here, so I need to utilise the trunk more. That's all right, there are a few ledges and nooks still in it. And what height is this? I look to the side and, to my alarm, we're quite high above some of the other trees. This tree must be a big one. And somehow, I'm level with Lucas again.
"Hello!" I shout. He gives a start, but he keeps his balance well.
"Ness! Come back here!" Lucas cries, scrambling harder, but I'm pulling ahead. I don't think we can go much higher than this. Where does the race end? We continue, I'm ahead, I'm ahead! But the trunk is starting to sway. It's dangerous to go any further, which means…
"I win!" I shout.
Lucas arrives at my level about a second later, clinging onto the trunk, white as a sheet.
"I was calling you to stop — you kept going — I had to follow—"
He's completely out of breath. I frown. "Of course I wasn't gonna stop. It's a race." I grin suddenly. "And I beat you."
"Ness..." Lucas's shaky hands grasp the tree, his knuckles pale. "Haven't you looked down?"
I look down.
Oh.
We're high, really high, above most of the other trees. I nearly vomit.
"Ness!" Lucas shouts. "Your hands are slipping, be careful!"
"Right," I say, swallowing down the sudden terror. Of all the trees to pick… we must be, what, tens of feet in the air? Forget the race! The others are hardly visible! The trees in this forest are huge… but now we're high, so high...
A chill tears through me. My thoughts come back to the gravestone, what if this is how we…? No. I won't allow myself to think that. I focus on Lucas, his sweaty palms, his blue eyes. He's scared — he's so scared — I should've noticed that. I made him come up here, I made him do this with me... did I not hear him? He came up here for me. If only I'd stopped!
And suddenly, the trunk begins to sway. It's windy up here, so cold, a lot colder than down below. The wind blasts our faces, Lucas's hair flying out to the west like a flag, the bright blond matching the moonlight. The tree swings, blustered by the increase in mass. My heart pounds, and I realise that I don't know what on earth to do.
"Ness!" Lucas's feet nearly give way, and he clings to the tree like a child. "I want to go back down!"
He sounds terrified, young, and so, so afraid. I forgot about his fear of heights. Of course, I did not think this through. Of course, I overstepped my limit. But I got us into this situation, so I have to get us out.
"We can do this," I say bravely. "We shall get down."
"Ness!" Lucas cries. "How? I'm - I think I'm gonna fall!"
Tears drip down his face. I've frightened him to his wit's end. I try not to cry with despair, the night smells of fear, the air tastes of terror.
"Lucas." I scramble for a desperate idea to ground him. He'll never be able to get down in such a panic. "Look up, our constellation, amici optimi. Do you see it?"
He tips his head upwards slightly. "I - I see it. Yes."
"We're going to get down, I promise you," I say. "On my father's honour, I won't let you fall. Do you believe me?"
His body trembles, and he hesitates, but he nods. The wind howls in disagreement.
"You'll have to trust me," I say, holding tighter onto the swaying trunk. "Follow my instructions, and I swear I'll get you down safely."
"I - I trust you, Ness. What do I do?"
"All right." I breathe out. "So, first, take one hand off the tree. Make sure to keep the other around the trunk. Hold it. Tight."
Lucas looks at me, eyes wide, but he slowly unpeels one hand from the wood. I do the same, and I take his new, free hand.
"In case one of us falls," I say. "Now, there aren't any branches to stand on, so what we have to do is slide ourselves down. Use your other arm to grip, making sure you don't slide to the bottom. Understand?"
He gives a determined nod, his bony hand gripping mine like a vice. I loosen the hold of my feet on the trunk, releasing my arm slightly, just enough that I start to descend. Lucas follows my lead, slowly, steadily. It's too slow, though. We're hardly moving. Lucas watches me, our faces only separated by the wood, expressions fixed with concentration.
Despite the terror, despite the screaming wind, I smile. Just a little bit. And he smiles too. But the moment breaks — a mighty gust of wind swings the trunk to the right. I slam my feet against the tree, no doubt shredding my ankles. I cry out as a rogue branch scrapes my calves, almost certainly drawing blood. But I don't look down. Lucas holds on tight to my hand and the tree. The tree rocks, and I screw my eyes shut, hoping the trunk will thicken soon, that we might be sheltered from the wind, by branches we can stand on—
"NESS!" Lucas screams, and a sudden crack! penetrates the wind. I jolt to focus, suddenly aware of my hands slipping. But everything seems to be stable. Lucas looks at me expectantly.
"Let's keep going," I suggest. Lucas nods, and the shuffling down continues, agonisingly slow. There are more cracks and crunches, and I try to push down the rising panic. Lucas is here. We're together. That calms my nerves.
You could be getting him killed.
I silence the voice in my head. The bigger branches must be close, and I breathe an immense sigh of relief when my feet touch solid wood. I look up to the top, where we were, which must be twenty feet from where we are now, coated in nothing but spindly twigs. Lucas lands next to me, panting, still white-faced. The trunk doesn't seem to be swaying as much here—
Snap.
And the wood disappears from beneath our feet.
Tumbling, I grab hard at the trunk, desperately kicking my feet to get support, but the friction rides up my shirt, scraping my chest raw. The explosion of pain makes me let go.
"Ness!" Lucas's hand snatches mine, his fingertips brittle with terror. I cry out, looking up at his pale cheeks, his Athenian jaw. If he drops me, I'm dead. So, I kick, sure to grab a hold of the tree again, but it's agony, my arm, I swear it's getting ripped from its socket — I swing my legs, and finally, finally make contact, wrapping them tight around the trunk. Lucas rapidly slides down, breathing fast, shaking. I'm shaking so hard.
My fault.
Lucas doesn't release my hand, but his palms are sweating. I think our hands are stuck together. Why did I not stop? Why did I not see the danger?
Everything hurts. My arms, my hands, my ankles, my chest, raw from the savagery of nature. I don't know how Lucas is surviving… my eyes sting from the cold and the fear, the terror, the blind terror. Down, we keep shuffling down, meeting new wood, new leaves. I won't stand on it this time. Down, down, my heart plummets, it's so far, so far. Lucas slips, I slip, we catch each other, everything blending into a blur, a fearsome blur of pain and cold. Lucas. I have to keep going for Lucas. I will get him down.
"There they are!" cries a familiar voice. We're close, we must be close. The wind makes a last desperate scream. A big branch, the final branch before the ground, supports me. The trunk is too wide to keep shuffling down, so it'll be a jump. It'll be all right. It's all muddling into a haze. I launch myself, Lucas does too, our hands still intertwined. There's a blanket that we land on, held up by the others to break our fall — clever — ow…
I'm distantly aware of people speaking as I lie on the wonderfully solid ground. Lucas is unscathed, I think, but he's shaking like an orphan, lying next to me, arms wrapped tightly around my middle. I'm never climbing a tree again. I try to focus on the world around me, aware of Lucas's ice-cold hand in mine. I don't want to let go — he could fall! But no, we're on the ground... Toon Link leans over, worry all over his face...
.
.
.
.
.
It takes more than thirty minutes to recover from our fright and from our endeavour. It takes a lecture from Red for being "irresponsibly dangerous," and a questioning of what happened? for me to sit up against a tree with Lucas, still panting heavily from the ordeal. My wounds are awful, my ankles, my chest and my hands burn like fire, even after Villager washes them with cold river water.
"You are an idiot," Lucas says, collapsed against me.
"I know," I say miserably. I put his life in danger, and I know it.
"I don't mean it that way," he says, running a thumb over my palm.
I say nothing. I don't think I'll be forgiving myself any time soon. I don't think he should be so quick to forgive me, either.
"I don't fancy walking back to school," I say. "Can we not just sleep here?"
"Yes," Villager says softly. "Besides, the professors will be on patrol. We can't go back even if we wanted to."
"I brought pyjamas," Lucas says weakly. "I knew this might happen."
"You think of everything, don't you?"
"I like to plan ahead."
I wish I had that ability… but it's too late to be reflecting on negative thoughts. We get changed fast.
"Shall we do something that won't involve injuries?" Toon Link says. There's a general agreement. I'm exhausted, but I'm far from sleep — my heart is still pounding, and Lucas is still snug against my chest. Villager looks exhausted, and Red... is gone.
"He went to bed," Villager explains when I ask. "He was tired."
"How about we tell ghost stories?" Lucas, the last person I'd expect to suggest such a thing, suggests.
"Good idea," Toon Link says, trying and failing to sound energetic.
"Who's got one?"
"I do," Villager says.
We listen. Lucas rolls against my shoulder, both of us huddled under a blanket. I wonder vaguely who'll be the last to sleep.
"It's a true story," Villager says, whispering.
"Of course."
"Shush, don't wake Red." Villager leans his head against an arm. He looks tired, but he looks happy all the same. "It was a dark, scary night, in a forest like this one. There was a man who lived in a shed. His name was… Will. Will lived alone, and he was a lumberjack. He chopped wood by day and packaged it by night. Yet, one night he got a letter."
"What did it say?"
"The number four. That's all." Villager rubs his hands together. "The next day, another letter appeared, with the number three. Then two. By this point, Will had noticed the pattern, so he waited by the door with his axe. But that night, there was no letter. Nothing happened. He waited with his axe on the next night, and then again after that. Eventually, Will gave up, and instead, he started sleeping as normal. But on one such normal night, a letter came through the door."
We gasp.
"It read: One. That night, Will was found dead in his bed. What happened? Well, that's a mystery."
"What was the point of that?" Toon Link asks.
"You'll never know… but never get complacent."
"Wise," I say loosely.
Toon Link tells a dramatic story about an abandoned hospital, and Lucas brings out a story about the real reason that stairs creak. Unfortunately, I am not blessed with any ghost stories, so I pass, yawning.
"Ah, coward," Villager sighs. "Too bad... too sad… huh?"
"You know what I haven't done in a while?" Toon Link lazily stretches his arms. "I haven't hosted a gathering... you can all come. But who else do I invite?"
"Bowser," I say, and we burst out laughing, even though it's a stupid joke. It's at that stupid time where suddenly I love my friends a lot, especially Lucas, whom I want to cuddle to death.
"No," Toon Link moans. "He's an arse…"
"Why don't we discuss your gathering in the morning?" Villager suggests. "You should sleep."
"Never! I am victory - victoria - victorious!"
"You should definitely go to sleep."
"I'm not that tired," Toon Link mutters, lying on the grass. "I'm just..."
But what he is, we never find out. He tumbles into slumber, and we laugh, Villager covering him up with a blanket.
"I should fold as well," Villager yawns. "Sleeping under starlight… pretty, the stars are." He shakes his head, probably realising his own incoherence. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," I say.
When he's finally dropped off, I lean myself against a tree, Lucas huddled up by my side. He feels nice, warm, and altogether right, which I register is a strange thought to have about a boy.
"We've had a curious day," I say, and Lucas smiles.
"I was ill this morning, remember?"
"You'll catch a cold out here!"
"Shush, Ness, it's all right. I won't catch a cold."
"You sure?" I ask, staring at Lucas. "Did I ever teach you how to skip stones?"
"What?" Lucas laughs a little bit. "Where did that come from? No, you haven't."
"You are laughing at me," I observe. Lucas giggles.
"Perhaps I am."
"You are a goof."
"A goof? That makes me very sad," Lucas says, pouting. "Behold my misery. You have created it with your meanness."
I only manage to poke him in response. I'm swimming in sleepiness now, fuzziness surrounding me, closing like a lid. I take another blanket, rolling onto the grass.
"The stars are pretty. Let's watch them."
"They're very pretty." Lucas falls next to me, bundling close.
"You are very pretty," I say.
"No, you are," Lucas laughs, sounding a little bit giddy. "Can you see our constellation?"
"Yes," I say. "It's nice." Lucas curls up next to me, and I lie next to him, wrapping us up in the blanket. "Now we're like a sandwich."
"I like being a sandwich," Lucas says.
"What is that star called?" I ask, pointing at the brightest speck of light.
"That's the north star."
"North star." I nod, my eyes closing. "Good star."
"I agree. Are we going to sleep now?" Lucas asks.
"Sleepytime," I say.
Lucas snuggles up to me.
"Goodnight, Ness. Thank you for saving me from that tree."
"Thank you for saving me in the forest," I say. "Goodnight," I add.
Silence falls, and I look up at the sky.
"Lucas?" I grin, feeling a little stupid.
"Yes?"
"You are small."
He pokes me. "Thank you."
"Lucas?"
"What?"
"You are cute."
Lucas reddens.
"Goodnight, Ness."
I finally fall asleep.