Past the Threshold

I watched as the trees of the black as ash night passed by our car. Looking up, through the tops of them, I can see the emptiness of the sky. It's nerve-wracking, but I don't move my head. Every time I try to look over at mom she just glares at me till I get the point. I grab the straps of my bag tight. This sucks. This fucking sucks. If dad thinks I'm gonna be pleasant after dragging me out here he'll have another thing coming. Especially after being gone so long. Not that I know where this is. I'd long since lost any idea of the surrounding area, and mom was being incredibly quiet. Ever since I got in the car she hasn't said a word. I'm sort of scared she'll shoot me or something if I try and break the silence. How much longer till we're back on actual roads? Hell, what kind of place would dad have a reason for being that requires going through a place like this.

My question receives no answer, instead being replaced by more questions when mom stops the car in front of a small gap in the trees, the path forward hardly visible through the thick veil of dark. I stare out, but don't move. Did mom just forget what way to go?

"Get out." Her words are icy and threatening. I look back and see her glaring me down again. Wait, no, she's not being serious, right?

"Mom, there's nothing here. I don't even know what way to go."

"Get out."

"Could you please just tell me what's going on? You're starting to freak me ou-" She slams her hand on the horn, letting it ring out for a good long time. I cover my ears and wince, before I feel a strong hand grab the neck of my shirt and force me to stare straight into my mother's eyes. Only when she's sure I'm paying attention does she lay off the horn.

"Get out of my fucking car before I throw you out." She's not joking. There's absolutely nothing but ice and hate in her eyes. A contempt that feels more appropriate for a dictator than your own son. I could feel my hand shivering before opening the door and throwing my bag over my shoulder. Before I'm even all the way out, mom's stepped on the gas and bolting off down the road. The taillights fade in the distance, till she takes a turn and disappears completely from sight.

"What the fuck is going on with her?" The question has no point, she sure as hell can't answer it now. Perhaps it's just to add some noise to the void of silence around me. Besides my own voice, there's no sign of life, save for the occasional shivers of the leaves in the wind. Not that I can have a particularly noteworthy chat with them. Hahaha... I feel my skin getting bumpy. I force myself to take a breath, opening my bag to grab the flashlight I'd packed. Always knew it was worth having one of these on hand. Take that mom. I click the button and let the light flood the area. Even then, it doesn't do much. Outside of directly in front of me, the darkness remains undisturbed. Undesirable, but whatever, I need to get moving. The sooner I find dad the sooner I can feel a little alright. I begin moving, passing under the trees and entering their domain.

Right as I do, it's like the whole world gets colder. My teeth grit and near bite my tongue they're so quick to do so, as I follow the path deeper in, watching as the trees surrounding me on all sides start to look slightly different. Scratches. They look like they've been scratched and torn at by a desperate animal. It makes the fact I hear absolutely nothing even worse. I begin picking up the pace, but that cold seems to have effected the rest of me as well. Just moving is tinged with a subtle chilly pain. Worse than that, the path begins to twist about. The dirt this far in looks much less travelled upon. It feels softer under my shoes. Does that mean I'm getting closer?

"Stop overthinking you dumbass. Can't be much farther, can't be, can't be-"

Snap.

I freeze. What direction was that? I look around, trying to follow the soft echo. My light moves frantically, trying to land on the source. Please let it just be some shy ass fox or even a wolf. I can probably scare off a wolf. Maybe. I can't find anything though. Just trees and dirt and grass. Nothing, so then what the hell made that sound?! I already checked under my own feet and there was nothing, so what-

Snap!

-and I see it. A glimpse of it. A flash of... something, its awkward form crushing a fallen stick as it dives into a brush of green. I process, I freeze, and I run. The path tries to trip me up but I manage to keep on my feet as I follow it like a leading string. My overwhelmed state seems incapable of listening out for any more noise until I distinctly hear it close behind me. My instincts force me to turn, missing that I've completely moved off the path and end up tripping on something jutting out of the dirt. My body falls forward and slips into a roll. I act to cover my neck as my feet and legs snap against enough trees to leave them feeling bruised and pulsing. The descent, mercifully, isn't long. When I'm finally back on stable ground I raise my head, my vision blurry, and desperately grab for where my flashlight must be, the light of it shining off in some direction.

With it back in my hand, I shine up from where I rolled down from, and see nothing. Is it not gonna follow? I watch while I slowly attempt to catch my breath. What even was that? I couldn't get a good look at it. Dammit! Why am I even here?! Why the hell is dad in a place where something like that is roaming around? That sure as hell wasn't a wolf! There's just no way that's a normal animal. Or, or, it is and... I'm just that paranoid?

I... fuck, It doesn't matter. Not as much as finding wherever the hell I should be going now. I completely lost the path like a dumbass! I begin lighting around me, only to realize that it's far less dark now than it was on the road or under those trees. I turn off the light even, and the area is still finely lit by the sky above, now filled with the stars and a full moon. How the hell... this feels impossible. Wasn't the sky completely empty back out there? I shake my head, returning my focus to the area around me, and start to make out through the light dark the shapes of buildings. Homes. A town? It looks like it. That must be where dad is. Just... just focus on getting there. I turn back on the flashlight, make sure there's nothing in my way, and begin my trek over.