READY OR NOT - Landoscar

10 - I'm Here to Stay

As October wore on, the air grew crisp and cool, a stark contrast to the lazy warmth of early autumn. Lando found himself caught in a strange web of anticipation and dread as Halloween approached, a day usually filled with laughter, costumes, and the thrill of scares. But this year felt different; the familiar festivity was tainted by an unsettling sense of urgency, as if something momentous was waiting just beyond the horizon, ready to emerge from the shadows.

He spent his days drifting through classes, the topics of study fading into a blur of lectures and notes. But his thoughts constantly spiralled back to Oscar Jack Piastri, the figure he had read about in folklore and felt in the depths of his dreams. An inexplicable connection wove itself into the fabric of his being, a thread linking him to the tragic tale of the vampire who had lived on the fringes of humanity, condemned to the solitude of a forest. With each passing day, he felt the pull grow stronger, a magnetic draw that left him restless, as if the very essence of Oscar was reaching out to him from some hidden place, whispering truths he had yet to uncover.

The university campus, usually vibrant and buzzing with life, was now cloaked in a shroud of shadows. Decorations began to pop up everywhere—jack-o'-lanterns flickering ominously on doorsteps, cobwebs draping from lampposts, and skeletons hanging from trees, all combining to create a tapestry of eeriness that hung in the air. Yet, amidst the festive chaos, Lando felt isolated, as if he were watching the world move from behind a glass wall, unable to participate in the merriment around him.

The deeper he delved into his research about Oscar, the more he felt an uncanny sense of kinship with the boy from the past. Lando often found himself daydreaming in class, lost in thoughts of the forest where Oscar had sought refuge. He could almost visualise it—the gnarled trees standing sentinel over the secrets that lay buried within their roots, the full moon casting silvery light across the underbrush. The very idea of stepping into that ancient place sent a shiver down his spine, igniting a yearning deep within him that he couldn't quite articulate.

In the evenings, as dusk descended and shadows lengthened, Lando often wandered to the small park near his home. The trees here were dense and thick, their branches interlocking to form a natural archway that beckoned him closer. He would sit on a weathered bench, gazing into the heart of the forest, imagining what it would be like to lose himself among the trees, to walk where Oscar might have walked, to feel the weight of the history that lingered in the air. The quiet rustle of leaves became a soft murmur, a comforting backdrop to the storm brewing in his mind.

Tonight, with Halloween creeping closer, he felt an especially strong pull toward the park. The moon hung low in the sky, swollen and bright, its silver light spilling across the landscape like a soft blanket. Lando inhaled deeply, the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves mingling in the cool night air. He could almost hear the whispers of the past, the echoes of lost souls calling to him from the depths of the trees.

Lando's heart raced as he sat there, drawn by an inexplicable force, and he closed his eyes, allowing the sounds of the night to envelop him. As he breathed in the cool air, a sudden warmth enveloped him, a familiar sensation that stirred something deep within him—a sense of presence, of companionship. He opened his eyes, scanning the tree line, half-expecting to see the shadowy figure of Pia watching him from the darkness. But there was nothing, only the soft rustle of leaves and the distant call of an owl.

"Why do I feel so connected to you?" he whispered into the stillness, his voice barely breaking the silence. "What is it about you, Oscar?"

The night held its breath, and for a moment, Lando felt as if the world had stopped turning. As he sat there, he couldn't shake the feeling that Oscar was with him, that somehow he was not as alone as he believed. It was a sensation that flickered at the edges of his consciousness, a promise that they shared something deeper than mere legend—perhaps a bond forged by fate itself.

As the days slipped by and Halloween drew nearer, Lando's dreams intensified. He found himself standing in the heart of a dark forest, the moon a brilliant beacon overhead, illuminating a path that wound through the trees. Each night, he would wander this path, searching for Oscar, hoping to bridge the gap between their worlds. But each time, he awoke just before he could reach him, the dream fading like mist in the morning light.

With each passing day, the whispers of his friends grew louder—Max, Charles, George, and Alex urging him to join them in celebrating Halloween. "It'll be fun, Lando! Just let go for a night," Max had insisted, his excitement infectious. But the idea felt foreign, a distraction from the deeper current flowing through him.

Yet, as he considered their offers, Lando couldn't help but feel a flicker of longing for connection. He wanted to share this experience with someone, to feel the warmth of laughter and camaraderie, even if the shadows of his connection to Oscar loomed larger than ever.

He found himself at a crossroads: to indulge in the festive atmosphere of Halloween or to continue his search for the truth behind Oscar and Pia, to confront the shadows that called to him so insistently. Each option seemed to pulse with its own rhythm, tugging at his heart in equal measure.

And as he prepared for bed that night, the glow of the moon spilling through his window, Lando made a decision. He would embrace Halloween, not as an escape but as a way to honour the connection he felt with Oscar. Perhaps the festival held its own mysteries, a chance to weave together the threads of his life with the legend of the vampire. He would navigate the laughter and frivolity while keeping Oscar's spirit alive in his heart.

As he lay in bed, Lando could feel the electric hum of energy surrounding him, a promise of what was to come. The line between dreams and reality continued to blur, and with the approach of Halloween, he could sense that he was on the cusp of something extraordinary.

With that thought clinging to his mind, Lando surrendered to sleep, ready to greet whatever awaited him on the other side, knowing that he wasn't just searching for answers—he was inviting Oscar into his life, into his reality. I'm here to stay, he thought, as the darkness enveloped him, pulling him into the depths of dreams where Oscar waited, patient and enduring.