The Path Less Traveled

Chapter: II

This couldn't be happening! I began to hyperventilate and I sat down. What could have possibly done this? I had to figure out how to get back. I began to pace the room and think. I had it, it must have been the path Eve an I took that sent me back. Oh no! I still have to find Eve! I knew that I had to find her soon. I ran out of the house and into the forest. The only problem was that the forest was only little trees right now. The paths were gone!

I needed to calm down. Already my muscles were begging me to stop. I took several deep breaths. One... Two... Three... Four... eventually my breathing was normal and I could think. Where could Eve be? Just then I remembered our favorite place to hang out. The tree house. I cautiously walked over to the immaculate tree. I was still adjusting to the fact of being invisible. I was extremely thankful for the tree already being there when my parents bought the house, long before I was born. It took almost all of the will power and strength I had to climb the old rope ladder. I knew that Eve hasn't been born yet, but if she came with me, she would most likely be in the tree. When I reached the top, I was relieved to find Eve, curled up in a ball.

"Ronny!" I heard Eve cry. I felt so bad. She was terrified.

"It's ok." I said as I comforted her. "I'm here." We sat in silence for what seemed like a lifetime. However, The quiet was broken by the loud cry of a crow. As the black bird passed, it dropped a note. The paper read MEET AT A JEWEL'S EYEWEAR.

"They must mean Ruby Glass!" I exclaimed. I wonder who could have possibly sent this note? Eve and I slowly descended from the tree house and walked towards the cornerstone. It was a fairly long walk, so we casually sauntered towards the bright red building.

When we arrived I was immediately thrown into shock. The quaint, and usually full store that I remembered, was now decrepit and run down. The windows were broken and boarded, while the roof was caved in. I couldn't believe the store had once looked like this. Eve and I roamed to parking lot before walking up to the broken door. The top hinge was broken, so it took a lot of force to lift the massive hulk of steel. Once we were in the store, the smell of mold, and dust grasped its hands around my neck and threatened to suffocate me.

It was strange now, realizing that I could interact with objects and animals, but just not people. I causually wandered around the store, quietly sneaking about and investigating the building. Suddenly I heard a noise. I spun around to see what it was. I coulldnt see anything. Eve let out a strangled scream, I turned to her and saw a strange man holding her by the throat.

"Let her go!" I yelled furiously.

The man gripped Eve tightly. Suddenly he let her go and fell to the ground with a loud 'thud'. He began dramatically seizing. Eve screamed out in fright and scurried to my side. The man lay twisting and whrithing. Suddenly he stopped, the man lay still and silent. I cautiously stepped closer to the man, gently nudged him with my foot.

Suddenly the man twitched. Then again. Then silence. After several seconds he let out an agonizing scream. A bright blue wisp slowly escaped the mans parted lips. The wisps started to form many shapes:a cat; a bear; a wolverine; and eventually it morphed into a human shape. The wisps let out a muttered sentence.

"What?" I asked cautiously.

"You have madet this far, but dont think that the rest will be this easy. You must take the path less traveled, that is, if you ever want to return to your family." The wisp earily stated.

He stayed their for what seemed llike a lifetime, and then vanished out of thin air. It was then that I noticed Eve was gone.

"Eve!" Yelled. "Get back here!"

I ran out the door, but Eve was no where to be seen.

"Eve!" I screamed desperatly. This was not good. I had to fìnd Eve right away. I needed to find the path less traveled. Maybe then I wouĺd be able to get back home and find Eve. I headed back to the old store to search for clues.