The group had deemed they were going to stay at yet another campsite (mainly because they were short on cash for hotels). The camping spot they picked overlooked a small town at the bottom of a valley. It felt surreal to Amber to think that a few days ago she was expecting a normal summer in New Jersey. Now she was out in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, trying to solve why this White Reaper was stalking them and find a man she had presumed dead. Along with a demon that was reluctantly following them for help and kept buying Reeses, resulting in them having no cash for a hotel. Or good food
So now the group had sat around a fire pit in plastic chairs, eating Chef Borardie straight from the can while chatting around the fire. No one seemed upset at the circumstance which Amber liked. They needed hope right now. Well, other than Habit was there just calmly watching and not saying anything as the group continued to chat. Amber tried to see his face under his hat, but it was covered in the shadow of a firelight. Though Amber felt a growing sense of tension in the air, despite the asthenosphere. Eventually, Stick in the Mud came up in conversation.
"So how long have you guys had him, ya know," Amber asked while stirring around the contents of her ravioli. Jeff shook his head.
"A while," Jeff replied
A long while," Vinny finished, taking a bite of his food. "He has been stalking us for who knows how long. Hard to remember a time when he wasn't stalking us. Even if you can't see him you can…feel him."
"Like a looming sense of dread?" Amber asked.
"Weird, usually we are the only ones who can sense it. He must be getting to you too." Vinny swore softly under his breath as some of the ravioli sauce landed on his clean shirt. He reached beside him and began to clean it up. Habit laughed and leaned forward, showing his face in the firelight.
"Don't worry your panties," Habit muttered, taking off his hat and twirling it in his hands. "You're safe with me. Stick in the Mud can't even touch you guys while I'm here." He smirked the last part and sniffed his untouched can of ravioli. He leaned forward and smelled it. It reminded Amber of a picky toddler "This is shit."
"Well, it is all we can afford. "Vinny passive-aggressively stated. Habit huffed.
"I don't even need food." Habit remarked. "I have gone months without eating.
"Well, Larisa does. She thrived off it in high school SATs. Heck, she probably loves having this again."
"No, she doesn't," Habit stated, pausing briefly. "Shut up!" Habit shouted pointing at his head. Vinny laughed and continued to eat his food. A brief while later, after they all finished their food and were now talking.
"Did you know I hit him with a baseball bat?" Evan asked out of context. Vinny groaned and so did Jeff.
"Evan, don't say that out of context." Vinny pushed his glasses up.
"It sounds like you murdered someone," Jeff muttered as he reached into his backpack and pulled out a water bottle.
"Who did you hit with a baseball bat?" Amber asked, praying Evan didn't murder anyone. Evan laughed.
"Stick in the Mud, or Slendy as we call him," Evan stated. Amber leaned forward.
"You hit him with a baseball bat?" Amber asked, leaning close. Habit scoffed and tilted down his head, seeming to tune out the conversation.
"Okay, so we were going out, doing what teens do exploring and shit," Evan got up. "When I turn around," Evan looks behind him, pointing at the treeline like he saw something then turning back shocked. "There he is, staring at me the tall fucker!" Evan mimes lifting his baseball bat and taking a large swing. "So I hit him with a baseball bat-"
"Why did you have a baseball bat?" Evan looks back and gestures it off.
"Doesn't matter- so I hit him with all I had and-" Evan fakes falling over. Habit looks up briefly and smiles, but frowns when Evan gets to his feet. " He knocks me over with some sort of psych block like in Pokemon and teleports off! He was so scared," Amber smirked and continued to help but chuckle. Evan was exaggerating again. And Amber was all here for it.
"Or just decided you weren't worth the time. Think about it: A teenager with a baseball bat is not worth the time of an ethereal entity like that fucker." Evan looks back and glares.
"He was scared of me," Evan scoffs and rolls his eyes.
"No, he wasn't." Habit states pausing and tapping to her head. "Even Larisa agrees and she doesn't know shit about you guys," The group laughs at Habit's statement and Evan turns red.
"She's lying," Evan mutters, sitting down. The sense of dread was now long done, replaced with joy and happiness. Amber decides Evan has had enough embarrassment. She decides to talk about the time Larisa hit the principal's car back when she was in Junior Softball in middle school. Amber could swear when she told the story, she saw Habit looking embarrassed. Though it was hard to tell in the firelight.
—-
Amber turned over in the back of the truck, looking up at the stars. The sound of crickets was the only noise she had. That would have been soothing, enough to put her to sleep. But tonight it wasn't. Amber hadn't a clue why she couldn't sleep. Today went well, and habit didn't kill anyone (which Vinny was shocked by), and seeing Corenthal would hopefully bring her answers.
So why couldn't she sleep?
"Come on, haven't I had enough for one day?" Amber muttered (to herself? God? Stick in the mud? She didn't know)."Why can't you let me sleep?"
"I don't know, have you tried green tea? It is very relaxing for me." Mr. S suggested. Amber leaned up and looked around trying to find the voice. The sense of dread returned but dulled.
"Ugh, haven't you done enough, almost giving you a concussion?" Amber groaned. Mr. S nervously chuckled.
"I got carried away" He sighed. "I would like to make an apologise for my irrational behavior. It is just that little...pest tends to get my nerves in a twist."
"I guess," Amber said. "He can be annoying at times."
"Exactly, it is a miracle he hasn't killed you already." Amber grabbed her sweatshirt and hopped out of the truck and grabbed a flashlight. "Where are you going?"
"On a walk," Amber said, flicking on the flashlight. Can't sleep so I thought this might help." The voice hummed.
"Is it alright if I join?" Amber nodded. It was not like she could say no. Plus, he was being nice for a change."Don't see why not. Just don't do the head static or anything."
"I promise, no more head trauma." With that, she set off into the dark forest along one of the trail paths. She had hiked plenty of times in the past so she could navigate the woods easily. The woods were surprisingly noisy and full of life. She made out the sound of something rattling in the bushes nearby and turned to see the feet of a rabbit scurrying into the underbrush. A wild rabbit. Amber smiled and turned to continue down the trail.
"Are you a person?"
"Pardon?" Mr. S asked.
"Are you a person? Like a physical person creature, whatever you are. Or are you like Habit; a spirit of some kind? That can possess people? Is that why I can hear you but no one else can? Are you possessing me?"
"Haha," He almost sounded like he was genuinely confused. "No, no. I am a physical person. I am using telepathy to communicate with you."
"Can you not talk to me in person?"
"It's complicated, I can but I also can't. It would be inconvenient for both of us."
"Why is that?"
"Because it is,"
"Why won't you explain to me why?"
"Why do you ask so many questions?" The man sighed. "Look, if I show you something…unique…. Will you promise to stop asking so many questions?"
"Will this something get me killed?"
"No, that will not happen. Unless you fall on your face." Mr. S laughed at the last sentence and Amber rolled her eyes. Mr. S began to guide Amber off trail, through the twisting dirt path that hadn't been used in ages. Amber was right about the only thing beginning to be dangerous was falling flat on your face. There were many rocks on this trail and many of them were sharp and pointy. Amber almost fell twice while walking along the trail. Amber could swear she felt something following her down the trail. The only confirmation was the shadowy outline of a human ducking into the underbrush every time she turned around. After the second time, she began to walk faster until she saw a clearing in the trees. In front of her was a tall grassy field, and occasional small lights appeared that Amber believed were fireflies.
"Well, we're here." Mr. S said as Amber stepped out into the field and gasped when she looked skyward. "What do you think?" The sky was clear with the moon being new. It looked normal. Except, for the fact there seemed to be more stars. There was less space and everything was brighter. Amber hadn't seen anything like it.
So when Amber was trying to figure out words to describe what she was seeing all she could think of was "Wow, it's beautiful."
"Ha," Mr. S beamed with pride. "I knew you would like it. Quite the marvel, isn't it?" Amber was about to turn around and head back when: "Hey, where are you going? You know I have no shame in sharing this marvel with you."
"Oh," Amber said turning ground. She was going to head back before the group but the sky was beautiful. "Okay, I guess I can stay awhile." Amber sat down, leaning against one of the trees, and stared at the sky, trying to make fictional constellations. She managed to make a vague impression of an octopus within the stars when she began to nod off.
Of course, now she has begun to fall asleep. But before she could get up and try heading back to camp, the realm of sleep enticed her, and she was out.
When Amber woke up, she saw she was being carried out through the trail. It was being illuminated by a headlamp on someone's head. Amber looked up to see Habit who just noticed she was awake.
"Ah, now you're awake. Was wondering where you went. Saw you walk off into the woods and followed. Found you out cold in a field." Habit muttered as he stepped over a large log
"I-" Amber started, looking back to where the trail led into the field. All she could see was forest and no trail at all. Amber moved Habit's hand away.
"No need to explain. You can tell me all about it in the morning. Just got me worried, that is all." Habit's eyes widen. "Tell anyone that and I will gut you like a fish!"
"Okay," Amber muttered, too tired to be scared. She mentally saved the quote for later.
"No point in staying awake. Get some sleep. I'll keep you safe," Though, she didn't trust what Habit said, she was indeed exhausted. And with that thought, Amber faded back into sleep to the sound of Habit humming a familiar song she couldn't name and crickets singing to no one.