Welcome to Dreadville (On Hold)

Chapter Eight

A/N I added a few things in the last chapter. So if you haven't seen it yet give the chapter another read.
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My heart skipped a beat. I didn't want to believe him. What he was saying was impossible. I didn't want him to see that I was scared, though. So I laughed.

"How do you expect me to believe you?"

He looked at me confused. "I thought you read the book?"

My blood rushed to my face. I thought he forgot about it.

My reaction must have shown in my face because he asked, "Did you read it?"

I shook my head.

He looked very shocked. "I thought you read the book."

He turned away and started pacing. "You were supposed to read the book. It would've of told you everything you needed to know."

He went on and on about how much the book would have told me.

I had actually wanted to read it, but I kept forgetting with the homework I was given at school. I also had Hudson to look after.

"Of course. You don't read the book that is given to you by a stranger. I understand," he replies. Then he sighs.

"My sister will be worried if I don't get back to her," I tell him.

He shakes his head. "Your sister won't be home from work until eight thirty," he replies.

"How do you know?" I ask him. Then I say, "She texted me she would be back around 5:30."

"Yeah well I overheard her new boss telling her that."

"Why that late?"

"I don't know every answer to all your questions."

I sigh. "Well why am I here. Why did you bring me here?"

"I can't tell you now."

"Why not?"

"There are somethings that need to wait to be told," he said exasperatedly.

I stare at him. "Then what can you tell me?"

"Well... I can tell you that I'm supposed to take you to Terry."

"Terry? Who is he?"

"He's a friend."

"Well why are you taking me to him?"

"He needs you for something."

"Me? For what?"

"I don't know."

I sigh. Too many unanswered questions. Should I continue following Nick to see who this Terry is? Or should I run away from him and try to look for a way to escape? Great now I'm undecided.

"Just come on. Keep walking."

I had no choice. If I ran away from him he'd be able to catch me. If I did manage to get away from him, I would be lost. Maybe he'll show me a way out if I'm patient.

I followed him.

***

After walking for what seemed like hours, we arrived at a large tree with many different kinds of leaves. It had oak tree leaves, maple tree leaves, peach tree leaves, apple tree leaves, and leaves that no tree should have. It had the normal colors of fall and summer, green, yellow, red, brown, and orange. But it also had other colors like pink, blue, silver, gold, and black. It wasn't an ordinary tree, yet it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

I was about to ask Nick if there were more trees like that one when I saw the black cat running towards us. My words froze in my throat. My mouth became dry and my face felt hot.

"Ah, he's finally here," Nick says relievedly.

I furrow my eyebrows puzzled at what he said.

"Jade, meet Terry." He stretches his arm towards the cat.

In a different situation I would have fallen laughing until my sides hurt. But this hasn't been an ordinary day. I was really worried about what had been in the food I had eaten.

"Nick, did you somehow sneak something into my food that is now making hallucinate? Or am I just having a really crazy dream."

"You don't believe me do you. You're looking at it with your own eyes, yet you don't believe its real," he says looking really tired.

"You have to realize that this is all so abnormal. There just isn't some logical explanation for this. How do you know that this cat needs me for something?"

He sighs, but doesn't reply. He looks away towards the tree.

I lean down to pet the cat. I scratch him behind his ears and lift him up.

"He's so cute," I say.

"He doesn't like to be held," Nick replies.

"He doesn't seem to be fidgeting," I tell him.

"Really? He scratches me whenever I try to hold him," he tells me looking back towards me.

"Well, I guess he doesn't like you."

He laughs. "I feed him. In your world that is."

I put the cat back down. "Look, I'd like to see more of this place, but I also want to go home. This is all so weird. Maybe if I read the book I'd understand. But I really really want to go home." I think of Hudson and wonder where Susan left him.

"If you go back now...... You don't want to go back now."

I furrowed my eyebrows again. "I don't think I want anything more than I want that right now."

"You can't leave just yet. You..." He turns back around and looks towards the tree again. "Ugh, why don't you tell her, Terry," He yells at the cat in frustration.

"Nick! The cat is just a cat!"

I look down at the cat. Then all of a sudden it starts growing bigger. I stare in horror. What was going on?

Its legs and arms stretch out. Soon I see a human figure bending down. Then clear details begin to show. A boy with short dark hair wearing a black shirt and dirty jeans is on the ground. He gets up and shows me his bright green eyes. Its him.