Back to Black

Again, it began to rain uncontrollably along with ferocious winds that shook the entire forest. The storm was even worse than the one this morning. Lord Kaiser and Atsuo hiked a long way up the mountain but ultimately stopped as soon as the downpour started. They managed to get away from the Dreig, at least for now.

They found a giant tree that served as their cover and started drying off their clothes over ‘the best’ Lord Kaiser could do of a fire pit.

“This rain just won’t let up. We need to find a better shelter, or we’ll freeze to death” Atsuo sighed.

“Not now. One slip and we’re back to where we started” Lord Kaiser said as he pointed down the cliff with his twig.

“Then when? Won’t the rain carry our scent down there?” Atsuo asked.

“Wouldn’t you rather it come to us, than we to it?” Lord Kaiser countered.

“Worst-case scenario we can just climb this tree” he added.

“What if it can climb trees too?” Atsuo asked.

“Then we’ll just have to somehow take care of it” Lord Kaiser said, showing signs of irritation.

As Atsuo quieted, an eerie thought crossed his mind. He was hesitant to ask, but it had to be addressed.

“Hey Kaiser—”

“Since when are we that close” said Lord Kaiser, as he shuffled the charcoal in the fire pit.

“Lord Kaiser,” Atsuo mocked. “We’ve been kind of assuming there’s only one Dreig. What if there are more of them out there?”

“There’s one right here” he laughed as he pointed his stick at Atsuo.

“Other students might be in danger” Atsuo said, pushing the stick to the side.

All of a sudden Lord Kaiser got serious. He remembered that Yuna was among those students.

“We’re leaving, let’s go” he said, standing up.

They put out the little fire that remained and got ready to head to their next destination.

After thinking it over, they agreed that climbing further up would be best. They had to see where they were relative to the forest entrance, and in which direction to head in to look for other students. They decided to act immediately, before fog began to form.

As they climbed the slippery terrain of the mountain, the rain was letting up, having completely stopped just as they neared the top. It was a scene to behold. They could see where the forest got its name from. There was no end in sight.

“Do you see anything?” Lord Kaiser asked, as they scoured the forest below them for any sign of an entrance.

“No” said Atsuo, “It seems we were pulled in way further than we thought.”

“Hmm…” uttered Lord Kaiser, “Well, we’re just wasting time here. We’ll have to take a gamble on this one.”

They gave the nearest twig a spin and went in that direction.

As they were walking Atsuo couldn’t help but wonder, “By the way, why did you come to the forest in the first place?”

Lord Kaiser stumbled after being caught off guard by such a random question out of nowhere.

“Our faction actually heard about some sort of courage test being done here–”

“But you came alone?” Atsuo interrupted.

Lord Kaiser started walking as stiff as a board. “Well… I was actually hoping to meet someone…” he said awkwardly.

“Hoh… Never knew his Highness could admire someone other than himself.”

Lord Kaiser stopped.

“What?” Atsuo said coming to a halt as well. “I was just kidding–”

“It’s not that… I can smell its scent again” Lord Kaiser said, looking alarmed.

“It might’ve tracked us by our footprints… It’s close. Quick, get on the tree” he ordered.

Atsuo didn’t question it. They climbed up and sat patiently.

“Don’t move. Hold your breath” he whispered.

The silence fell upon the mountain path, as Lord Kaiser and Atsuo waited out the Dreig following them. It was moving around quite quickly despite its appearance.

It suddenly came to a halt. They could hear each other’s heartbeats. They realized their footprints and scent ended here. Lord Kaiser quickly looked at Atsuo. Words didn’t need to be exchanged, it was enough.

They jumped down on the creature’s head, rendering it immobile, after which Lord Kaiser quickly snapped its neck. They sat near the Dreig’s corpse as they regained their breath.

“Are you sure it’s dead?” Atsuo asked.

“It’s not breathing” replied Lord Kaiser as he lowered his head towards the skull.

“Was it breathing before?” asked Atsuo in need of reassurance.

“It seems this thing was once human. It might be people whose lives have been claimed by this forest…” Lord Kaiser speculated.

“Then why would they come after us?” Atsuo wondered.

Lord Kaiser shrugged.

“Anyway, we have to get going” he said, as he stood up and brushed off his pants

He turned around to Atsuo, when he froze in shock. Atsuo could see him turn livid.

It was written all over his face.

“DREAMER BEHIND Y–”

*THWIK*

Lord Kaiser’s yell was cut short.

Atsuo could feel his shoulders becoming lighter.

‘Ah’ he realized… This is the end.

“HNGHHHHH” Atsuo sprung up from his chair breathing heavily, holding his neck.

“Atsuo?” someone called.

Atsuo was looking around frantically. He was in the classroom from this morning. The classroom where he got told off for not paying attention.

“Atsuo are you alright?” Professor Kousei asked worryingly.

Atsuo couldn’t stop his heavy breathing. Everything was black and white again. The teacher, the classroom, the concerned look on his classmates’ faces. Even the storm outside.

He felt weak and dizzy.

He passed out.