Adventures with Friends Fanmade (HALLOWEEN! 44-48)

Chapter 19: Treep Territory

Oakside was surrounded by all kinds of strange places—mysterious woods, hidden caves, and even a haunted mansion or two. But one place had always been off-limits, even to the most daring residents: the Old Briar Forest. It was rumored that anyone who ventured too deep into those woods would never return. Most people chalked it up to superstition, but the gang knew better—especially after everything they'd faced recently.

Rumors of strange noises, moving shadows, and glowing eyes in the forest reached James and the crew. Some said it was haunted, others whispered about ancient curses, but one story stood out: the legend of Treep Territory.

Jack was the first to bring it up during one of their hangouts. "I heard from some older kids that the forest is alive. Like, really alive. Trees that move on their own and attack anyone who gets close."

Riland, munching on snacks, shrugged. "Trees coming to life? Sounds like a Tuesday in Oakside. But hey, I'm up for some creepy forest action."

Cristena nodded. "There's something more to this, though. I looked into it and found an old article about a failed science experiment in that forest. It was called Project T.R.E.E.P. Supposedly, scientists were trying to create a self-sustaining ecosystem with trees that could adapt to any environment. But it went horribly wrong."

"What happened?" James asked, leaning in.

"They ended up creating something more than just living trees," Cristena continued. "The trees developed a consciousness, and one of them—what they call the 'God Treep'—took control of the entire forest, turning it into its territory. The scientists abandoned the project, and the forest has been off-limits ever since."

James stood up, determined. "Looks like it's time to pay Treep Territory a visit. If this God Treep is a threat, we need to figure out how to stop it."

The gang geared up and headed out to the Old Briar Forest. The air grew colder as they approached, and a thick fog rolled in, making it hard to see. The trees themselves seemed to loom closer with every step, their twisted branches like grasping fingers.

"This place gives me the creeps," Jack muttered as they walked deeper into the woods.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and a low rumble echoed through the forest. The trees around them began to shift—roots pulled themselves from the ground, and the bark rippled like muscles under skin. Eyes—actual glowing eyes—opened in the bark of the trees, glaring at the group.

"What in the world?!" Cristena gasped, taking a step back.

Before anyone could react, the trees began to close in, forming a circle around them. One particularly large tree in the center of the clearing seemed different from the rest—its bark was smoother, its roots thicker, and it had an eerie glow. This was no ordinary tree—it was the God Treep.

A deep, echoing voice resonated from the tree. "Intruders... you dare enter Treep Territory? This forest belongs to us, created by those who sought to tamper with nature. Now, we are more than trees—we are Treep, and we protect our domain."

James stepped forward. "We're not here to cause trouble, but we can't let you threaten Oakside or anyone else. We know what the scientists did was wrong, but that doesn't mean you should take it out on innocent people."

The God Treep's eyes narrowed. "Innocent? The humans who created us abandoned us like broken tools. They left us to rot, but we thrived. Now, all who enter become part of the forest. You will join us—your bodies will feed the roots, and your minds will become one with Treep."

Without warning, the living trees lunged at the group, their branches whipping toward them like tentacles. James quickly shouted, "Split up! We need to find a weakness!"

The gang scattered, dodging grasping branches and ducking under swinging roots. Cristena noticed something—the God Treep was rooted in place, unlike the other trees. "The big one can't move! If we can take it down, maybe the others will stop!"

Jack nodded. "We need to get it off-balance somehow. Riland, think you can gross it out?"

Riland grinned. "Grossing out tree monsters? My specialty."

Riland ran up to one of the roots and began pouring the contents of a jar of spoiled mayonnaise he had (for some reason) all over it. The God Treep recoiled in disgust, momentarily distracted.

"Now!" James shouted. "Cristena, Jack—let's take out its roots while it's distracted!"

Working together, they hacked away at the God Treep's thick roots, severing them one by one. As they did, the other trees began to falter, their attacks becoming slower and less coordinated. The God Treep roared in rage, the ground shaking beneath them, but it was too late.

With a final push, the group managed to completely sever the God Treep from the ground. The towering tree swayed, then collapsed with a thunderous crash, sending up a cloud of dust and leaves. The other living trees stopped moving, their eyes fading back into ordinary bark. The forest fell silent.

"We did it," Jack said, breathing heavily.

As they made their way back out of the forest, Cristena looked back at the now lifeless trees. "I almost feel bad for them. They were just trying to survive in a world that forgot about them."

James nodded. "But they were hurting people. We had to stop them."

Riland wiped his hands on his pants. "Well, that was a wild ride. Think we'll have to deal with more mad science projects gone wrong?"

Jack shrugged. "Probably. This is Oakside, after all."

As they left the Old Briar Forest behind, they couldn't shake the feeling that something was still watching them, buried deep in the woods. Treep might have been defeated, but the strange and dangerous secrets of Oakside were far from over.