So, my friend took me to a place. Yep. This wasn't just any place though. The thing is, this dude didn't even tell me where we were going. He just said it would be a surprise. I was really hesitant in trusting my best friend who's always had my back and kept his word as long as I've known him. But eventually, he convinced me to follow him along to this "place". And I prepared myself for whatever I was about to see or experience. Whatever unknown thing that is.
He told me the week prior that he wanted to take me on a trip with him to this place. With each day he told me about it, he seemed more and more excited. I was thinking it would be Great America or Disneyland or something since he wanted it to be a surprise. And honestly, I was getting pretty anxious too. I was curious of what cool and awesome place he would possibly take us. Maybe to another state? Maybe to space?...Nah. That would be cool though. Either way, I was just happy to hang out with the homie.
And then suddenly, a week goes by and Friday hits. We have the weekend and we're going to spend that free time by taking this spectacular trip. To a place my friend has been talking about for a minute. So, I pack my stuff, he picks me up by my house in his dope Lancer Evo, and we head to this location. Here I am, thinking we're going straight for the airport or something. Nah. Not even down a familiar freeway. I look at him for a moment with confusion as he's driving, his eyes on the road. I ask him,
"My guy, where are we headed?" And chuckle.
He turns down the fire Logic music we've been bumping before looking at me and responding,
"Huh?"
I ask again.
"Where are we headed? I don't even know where this freeway leads."
He smirks and chuckles while tapping the steering wheel in rhythm of the music.
"You'll see bro. It's finna be lit for real. Just wait a little bit."
He puts his fist out to me for a fist bump, and I show him I trust him by meeting his fist with mine.
"Alright. Ima chill." I say and lean back in my seat, watching as other cars pass by.
Time goes by. A couple of hours on the freeway. It started to get cloudy at around 3pm and started to sprinkle by 3:30pm. I honestly enjoy a little rain every now and then. It's relaxing. Just chillin' with my friend, cruisin' down the freeway, bumping our favorite songs, and talking about life is a trip enough for me. Nothing like this type of vibe. Even if there is no destination. It's kinda like a quick escape from regular everyday problems. Moments like this, I don't take for granite.
By around 4pm we finally get close to our destination, or what he said would be. I look outside the window and just see a forest of tall trees. I give him a look of confusion, raising my eyebrows slightly. He holds back a fit of laughter. I'm assuming he expected me to react like this. I begin to laugh at his reaction while asking,
"Bruh...Where are we? Are we taking a camping trip or something? Is there a cabin somewhere over here?." I say, pointing at the trees around us.
He laughs.
"No..What? You trippin'. If we would've been doing that, I would've brought different things like a tent or something. Nah, we doin' something way cooler bruh."
"But what out here though? Fishing?"
This caused us both to laugh.
"The hell?..Nah. Do you see a fishing pole in the car?" He asks me while pointing to the backseat.
"Maybe in the trunk?" I say, causing him to chuckle.
"Just hold up you'll see. Like I said earlier, it's finna be lit."
I shake my head and smile thinking, "This dude's crazy." I hear him turn the blinkers on and we take a right into a slightly hidden path that leads directly into the forest. "This looks lowkey sketchy." I think to myself. He drives slower down the path that happens to be just big enough for the car to fit. It's a little bumpy, but not too much.
"Where does this path lead?" I ask.
"There's an open area where we can park the whip."
"Gotcha" I respond, wondering where we would walk to when he parked the car.
A couple of minutes later, we find the area and it indeed does have enough space for the Lancer and a few other vehicles. But I guess right now, we're the only ones. He carefully parks into spot. We sit for a moment.
"So uhh..this is the "place" I'm guessing?" I ask him as I observe the wilderness around us.
"Well, this is the place to get to the "place" that we're actually going. So, we're almost there bro. C'mon, let's get our stuff so we can head over there." He says before opening the door and heading to the trunk.
I strug and follow him. I didn't pack much since this trip is only for the weekend, so all I retrieved from the trunk was my backpack and gym bag containing clothes.
"Where's the fishing poles?" I ask him half expectantly.
"I left them at the house." He plays along.
"C'mon dude." I swing my arms in the air in frustration.
"I know. My bad."
We both shake our heads and laugh.
I check the front and back seats for anything I might've left and once I confirm that I'm good, I shut the door.
"Alright, you ready?" He asks me.
"Yep. Is your uhh, car gonna be good over here?" I asked, concerned.
"Oh yeah f'sho. I never see anyone else come over here. So I think it's good."
I nod my head in understanding.
"Alright, cool. Lead the way."
He smiles and turns around toward a path leading somewhere else.
"Right this way."
We start walking. We walk down the path for around 5 to 10 minutes, talking about different things ranging from video games to cars to how creepy yet peaceful this forest is the deeper we go. Since by this point it's close to 5pm, it's visibly getting darker. And the trees make the environment seem darker than it is. Once again, that combined with how silent it is, is a little creepy. But, I choose to stay on the peaceful side and not give in to my wild imagination. I trust my friend at the end of the day.
I can feel light sprinkles of water come back signaling it might rain again. I kinda don't want to be out here when that happens either.
"Alright, through these branches and leaves and stuff." He says as he makes a right off the path, pushing his way through sticks and branches and leaves.
"Wait, for real?" I ask, looking at him with an unconvinced expression.
He turns back to me and chuckles.
"Yeah, c'mon for real. We're almost there. This the final stretch bruh."
I sigh.
"...Alright, final stretch then. If I get bit though, or some other crazy thing happens..." I put one foot in front of the other.
"Then we head back to the Lancer, as a second option. But where we're headed, I think you'll be good." He says as we walk past more wilderness.
I shake my head. "The hell is he talking about? This "place" must be amazing if he's this convinced. Watch it be a cave or something. I don't know. I just hope nothing crazy happens cause I trusted a friend too far." I think to myself.
We make it past all the natural commotion and end up at a small open field with a...door of some sort in the middle.
I observe this path. This gateway, door, portal thing. I can't fully process the anomaly I'm witnessing and just look back to my friend in shock and confusion. He chuckles and looks at me before looking back at the door.
"Yo, what the?...What is this?" I ask.
"It is the gateway to another world my friend. Some amazing sci-fi shit. In a random forest. I know, crazy as hell right?"
"Dang." I respond.
"But this ain't even the place yet homie. The "place" is on the other side. That's what we really came here for you feel me?"
"Uh..yeah..but like, how are we gonna get to the other side though?" I ask, half knowing the answer.
"Well, the only way that makes since. Right through this portal, meanin', we gotta come in contact with it."
I sigh.
"But, you won't feel nothin' though. It's really smooth and only takes some seconds." He explains.
I rub my face with my hand.
"Bruh, how many times have you done this?" I ask.
"Shoot, like a few. It's dope, trust me."
I look back toward the portal. It has a blue glow to it and seems to be spiraling very quickly.
"I don't know man." I hesitate.
"Aye, I'll go first and let you know how it goes."
"Are you sure bruh?"
"Yep, I'll go first. At this point ima professional now. Got this down." He explains with confidence.
He walks to the portal and sticks his hand through. "Dude...what am I seeing?" I think to myself. My nerves increasing by the second. I cringe slightly, hoping his hand wouldn't come off of something.
He pulls his hand out, and thankfully it's still intact.
I quietly exhale.
"See. We're good. And I don't feel a thing." He says, waving his hand.
"I don't know dude. You're hella brave." I say while watching his hand.
"Hold up though."
He then walks entirely through the portal, pushing my anxiety further.
"Yo..." I say under my breath, watching in disbelief as he disappears.
A few long seconds go by before a hand sticks out through the portal. I realize it's my friends hand and it beckons for me to walk through. I chuckle and shake my head, hesitating. But, I gather my courage and curiosity, and walk toward the portal. My heart begins to pound faster as I debate this current decision dating back to a week ago. The decision to hang out with my best friend. This? This is NOT what I expected though.
I get within a foot and close my eyes tightly, hoping for the best.
A/N: This story is the result of me finally gathering enough confidence to upload something. After reading other RATLD fics, I've gotten inspired and it's been really fun. So, I'm finally sharing my annual story lol. If anyone thinks it's cool so far, I'll continue and that will be when the characters arrive in this foreign world.