Adrift

Chapter 3: Cold Memories

Earth, The Past

The roaring blaze of a fire crackled within the woods, dying branches tossed into the fire before tumbling below into ashes. An orange glow emitted from the flames, casting itself over Leo's face, who sat on a log next to it. His expression remained unreadable, staring at the burning fire as he shifted it with a stick in his hand. Beyond the fire was a void of darkness surrounding the forest, along with the faint glow of the stars resting above.

He's been on the road for nearly five hours, until he decided to stop and set-up camp. The main road isn't too far from where he's sitting and the car is parked just by the side of the road. His mind has been... blank for the duration of the trip, unsure whether this was truly a good decision anymore. He didn't even know how long he'd plan to stay away for. And for what? To find himself on this journey?

He stares deeply into the fire, the burning embers reflecting in his eyes. "What I'm I even doing..." Leo questions himself.

That's the question of the day isn't it? One he wished he had the answer for, but instead he's decided to come all the way out here. Dad's probably searching around town for him, if he even read his note. Leo wonders how he's doing... hopefully he understands. Despite not knowing the exact reason why he's out here himself, he guess he just doesn't feel like he belongs back there anymore.

Leo's expression tightens at the thought. "Is that really it... or are you just running away too?" He mutters, accusing his own reasons.

Was he trying to convince himself he had good intentions for this trip? To think he can find himself or to really just find some sort of escape. Maybe it's what he deserves, he caused all this didn't he?

Perhaps... it's best for everyone if he just disappears.

He tosses the stick in his hand into the fire, listening to it snapping, before turning his gaze towards the night sky, glistening with stars and watches.

Strangely he remembers an old story his Dad once told him about the stars. That each one lighting the void represented a soul that is longer connected to the soil of the Earth, but instead is now connected to the sky. If he recalls correctly he wasn't all that interested in the story back then. But now... he wonders if Mum is one of those stars now, watching him from up above, judging him.

He casts his gaze back down to the fire, letting the faint heat caress his face. "I'd judge me too." He murmurs.

He feels the tiredness dragging his eyelids down as he lets out a yawn. He stretches his arms far out wide, bones faintly popping from within. He pulls his hood up and lies down on the log, focusing back on the night sky. It's not the most comfortable bed he'll tell you and it's certainly not safe to sleep out in the open like this, but a part of him just doesn't care.

He folds his arms behind his head. "Yep, nothing better than this. Sleeping out in the woods, all by your lonesome self, we're anyone can rob or kill you... or maybe both." He sarcastically muses quietly to himself.

God he's tired. He's been tired for so long, he just needs some sleep and he'll be back on the road first thing tomorrow. He still needs to figure out where he's heading and probably fill the car up along the way, but he'll worry about it later. He just wants to forget everything just for tonight, feel like nothings wrong in the world, nothing wrong with him. And let the shimmering stars keep him company tonight.

Leo's eyes widen slightly as he squints puzzledly at the sky. "Shimmering?"

At first he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but taking a closer look he notices a wavy movement swirling above the tree lines. The air felt tense, barely any sound other than the fire made themselves known, not even an animal or insect. He could only stare in confusion as he trailed the edges of the shimmering sky that seemed to outline... something.