stay // eustass kid

12

PART 2/2

it'd been hours, since i first set foot into this giant dark forest. it'd been hours, since i've seen anyone; it worried me. although i thought i'd be okay alone, there was nothing i wanted more than for kid to come strolling around some corner to get me.

ahh.. i hope they didn't set sail without me.

even though it'd be my fault for sneaking off alone, i didn't want them to leave me behind. at first i thought i was thinking like this only because this island sucked, but it was deeper than that. i enjoyed being with the crew; they'd all became so dear to me, but that wasn't all. i wasn't ready to leave kid yet, not because of how fucked my feelings were at the moment, but because i didn't know if leaving kid was even an option anymore.

i stopped walking for a moment, running my fingers through my twisted locs with a sigh. being alone in the dark for so long really makes you think, i thought to myself silently. i dropped my hands from my hair and stared up at the blue floating masses. the glowing creatures were the only sense of comfort i had, provided that without them, the already dark murky air would be pitch black and completely swallow me whole.

i had to have been tens of miles in, or at least it felt like it, and the same weeping creature from before seemed to multiply. the more i walked, the more i would come into contact with them. although they couldn't hear or sense me, having such sinister auras walk around me was frightening.

my stomach grumbled lowly, making my knees shake. i'd been holding up my devil fruits abilities for hours, and i was completely depleted of any and all energy.

i should've packed some food or something, i sighed and walked towards the nearest tree, deeply carving my initial into it. i started feeling like leaving the marks was becoming useless, but why stop now?

i continued on my path for what seemed like another hour, until i finally found myself at what looked like ancient ruins. the rubble of crushed stones crunched under my feet, as i took in the view under the dim light.

the ruins looked like it used to be a small town, full of arts and riches. it looked practically untouched the way everything had crumbled, but it was strange. although i wasn't an archeologist, i could tell that the way the people left was not natural.

i slowed my pace when i reached a fork in my path. i could either go right, left, or up a tall flight of stairs. i wonder where these lead, i thought quietly, while taking my first few steps.

__

i stared down the tall staircase with a noiseless gasp. the path was long and made every muscle in my legs burn, but i was happy i'd made it. i sprawled out on the very top step just as my stomach growled ferociously. my energy loss from both the long walk and the tall flight did nothing to help my current dilemma; my strength was gradually fading, and i'd need to replenish myself soon.

as is, i probably wouldn't even be able to make it back to the edge of the large forest without passing out, much less cross the beach. the only hope i had, was that the crew was somewhere nearby.

of course i could stall the depletion of my energy, but to do that i'd need to stop focusing on hiding my presence; but even with the abilities of my devil fruit, i could feel the looming threat of something dangerous searching for me somewhere with a bad intent.

i sighed and sat up with effort, staring at my surroundings with wide eyes. turning from the stairs, i looked ahead to where the crumbled path would lead.

i stalked on and on, until i walked straight into a large wall. i caught my balance quickly and rushed a hand to apply pressure to my nose, "owww".