Souls by the wayside

Chapter 1(Braver than you🧡)

I remember dreaming about fighting something. It was vivid and it felt like more like playing than fighting. I remember who ever I was fighting had a distinct laugh. There voice is one that boomed and echoed over the world I firmly believed that in my heart if they screamed any louder he would burst my ear drums. It was cold and I was hurt. I had sunk below half of my health and the guy decided it was enough. He picked me up and put me in a cage with bars large enough for me to escape. So of course I escape but as I storm out my throat clenches up and I feel like I'm about to break my neck. Someone terrifying grabbed me by my bandanna and pulled me back. Their grip was like weights were placed around my throat and I tried to free myself but I was briefly met with a smack and my mind was blank. When I woke up my vision showed a silhouette of a robust man with a crown on. My head is spinning I feel like I got on the worlds craziest roller coaster. "Proceed" and my screams were all I heard before waking up in a panicky cold sweat.

I sit up in bed and look to my phone. "3:40 am. Damn of course" it's the same dream every single day and every single night. It's gotten to the point where I've memorized three of them. I tell my friends about it and Dr.G categorized them perfectly. The pacifist route. The route where I kill no one but I die in return. The genocide route where I kill a lot of people but get away. The neutral route where I kill one person and leave. These all seem like cool options and stuff but the best option isn't the best option because even in the neutral run I remember that someone put a bullet in my back right when I killed the scary dude. It was a yellow buttercup that promised me each time that I could use him to save and it worked until the bitter end...

I looked at the time and it was 3:50. I remember look at a night light that was in my room. When I was new here I used it for comfort and refuge. Now looking at it it's glow taunted me and tortured me. I got up and ripped it from the wall to observe it's beauty up close it's a Brown woman holding a baby her curly hair was used to shield the baby from harm as the baby slept peacefully. I imagined that when I was younger I was the baby but now I envision that I am more like the mother. I mean I even had hair similar to her. I wonder if she had any relation to me in my past or maybe she is someone I used to know. The detailed marks of age placed on her face gave a strong sense of familiarity and homesickness for somewhere I've never been.

I place the lighting fixture in my pocket.No way am I throwing it away it would feel like throwing away a piece of home. I slide down the ledge of the stairs and onto the ground. The entire house is completely dark and the only thing that is on is a single lantern on the dinner table and G's clicking pen as he continues researching. My intention is to scare him as I move closer to him ,But he turns around stares me dead in the face and says"Boo.." "Damnit how'd you know I was here!?" "The buttons on your back pants pocket rubs against the ledge every time you slide down. You aren't exactly the greatest at stealth. Come sit down with James I want to ask something of you two."

Weird.G never has us sit at the table unless we're doing something wrong. I gently sit down at the table next to James. "What's da issue Doc?" James asks in his strong southern tone. His voice was light and seemingly when talking to adults motionless with emotion. "I'm glad you asked. You see I have had a bit of hunch about a specific things that pertain to exploring. I remember waking up one morning and over the forest I saw a rainbow that shot straight down at the ground and light piercing the sky down. This is a phenomenon I've never seen in my life and I am curious but unable to go." "Why can't you go Dude? I'm not about to risk my ass for something that sounds like a outlandish dream" I said crossing my arms and already saying fuck no to a situation of uncertain origin.

James tilts his hat to me and nods. G sighs a long sigh and continues speaking "I believe that there is something there of some sort of used to you. Its only a hunch and if anything happens you'll have this." He hands each of us a camera. "this camera live streams everything that happens back to my laptop. And if you get hurt I can just teleport to you in an instant. I promise I will also give you far better weapons to accompany you. I know what you specialize in." He says finally sitting back and I notice something. A broken leg in a tied off cast "Well I reckon I'll go if he comes with me." James says. "well I ain't no bitch. So I'll go. But I'll go under two conditions. First I need metal gauntlets" " already done" "Second I wanna know why you can't come with us. I'm dumb but I ain't stupid." I say and I see G move his leg under the table hiding it in plain sight. It's clear to see that James has caught on to and we're both on board same goal in mind.

"Fine I'll admit it. I went by my self and fell down almost 75 feet. I'm lucky to have suffered a broken leg. But I'll admit I was very scared and shaken up Percy and Patton had to assist me inside and told me I'm not allowed to leave until I've healed fully." G says and me and James can't help but laugh. G is usually stoic as hell but it's so impossible to believe that he is scared. After we had a good laugh we fucked off and packed our hiking shit and went behind the house to G's lab and I equipped a pair of metal gauntlets on top of my tough gloves.

Dax equipped The Tough gauntlets.

James Equipped The Heavy rifle.

James methodically messed with the rifle. Unloading and reloading the gun. Looking and gazing through the scope. "You ever used a gun like that Chief?" "Only a couple times. But let's just say you ain't got a thang to worry about while I have this and my revolver." He says gently patting his holster that's attached to his side."Oh and by the way. I ain't a chief yet." James says picking up his bag and starting to walk. G made the cameras that live stream us in something we would wear. He gave James a a badge star with his name engraved on it and mine is sewn into my bandanna.

Me and James walked a long while after saying goodbye to G. The walk was long and when we left the sun had only just began to peak over the far of horizon. Now the morning sun taunts us with bitter heat and we're only half a mile towards where we need to be. We hit the forest lining and slowly pushing through we found some blueberries, wild grapes, and strawberries. We decided to take a small break snack out and keep going. While we're sitting down we hear a small sound. As though being followed or watched.