All That Remains

Day 2 Morning

I'm back in the forest. I take the time to look around this time. Nothing much is discernible from what I can see. Just a lot of trees. Well, that narrows it down to about every forest in the world. I sigh, both annoyed and relieved. Annoyed because I can't figure out where I am. Relieved because that thing isn't chasing me right now. Yay... I start walking in one direction, hoping to see some sort of landmark that I can use to help me whittle away some of my choices. Nothing. After walking for what feels like a half hour, I finally see something out of the ordinary. A clearing lies in my path. As I come up to it, I notice more and more strange things about it. One, the clearing is in an almost perfect circle of trees about 60 feet in diameter. I mean, it is so perfect, I could have sworn that someone made it like this. To add to that feeling, a ring of torches lines the circle, most of them hanging off of trees, but some seem to be floating. I can't figure out which is creepier, the fact that someone decided to take the time to put torches here, or that they seem to be fresh. No ash falls from them and only a small trickle of smoke is given off by them. As I continue to scan the clearing, a feeling of unease falls over me. Especially when I see an altar near one edge of the circle. I carefully approach it, wanting to get a closer look, but not wanting to be near it at the same time.

When I reach it, I see that it is made of some kind of dark stone. I can't tell what kind just by looking at it, but it looked sturdy and radiated power. There are numerous symbols carved into it, none of which I could interpret. I finally pull myself away from its allure and turn around. A figure in a long black cloak stands in front of me. I yelp, unable to help myself, and fall backwards. The figure slowly walks toward me until he is looming over me. He raises an arm at me, and all goes black...

I jolt up in bed and look at the clock. It reads 4:37. I'm almost tempted to yell at it to hurry up, but then one of my neighbors might try to get me kicked out. I try to go back to sleep, but I'm too restless for that. Sighing, I head to my living room to grab the book I'm reading. When I finally settle down, I feel sort of a tingling in the back of my neck. It almost feels like someone is watching me. I look around the room, but nothing is out of place. I shrug it off, thinking that it is probably just the dream I had coming back to haunt me.

Wait, why would some dream haunt me anyway? I mean, it couldn't be all that scary if I can't remember it. Oh well, time to go back to sleep. Hold on, there was something scary about that dream. But what was it? And why can't I remember anything about it except for some semi-familiar forest? Also, why did the forest seem even the slightest bit familiar? What is happening to me? I shake my head in confusion and get up out of my chair. I know there was a dream. Both last night and the night before. But what were they about? Some forest, and something else...

I finally give up trying to remember and glance at the clock again. The numbers 5:42 slice though the semi-darkness in the room. I try to recall the day and am relieved when I realize that it is Vansarday, the first day of the weekend. Since that means no school, I decide to go for a jog in the park near my house in order to clear my head. I quickly change into more comfortable clothes, grab a granola bar and a bottle of water, and head out. After the short bike ride to Glamra Park, I lock my bike to a tree nearby and begin jogging. I go my usual route along the trail until I come to the lightning struck tree and start down an old nature trail. It winds through the Alamorn Forest and passes near a beautiful river that ends in a magnificent waterfall into the "Valley of Mist," as the town dubs it. I love going near here because of the energy that the waterfall radiates. I sometimes come out here just to spend an hour or two near it.

When I finally reach the fall, I can tell that this was the best thing to do. Instantly, my mind clears up and I can think straight. Time to review the facts. The night before last, I had a dream about... about... about being chased through a forest. Okay, but what was chasing me? A shadow, I think. Arghh! Why are the details so hard to remember? Never mind, what about the other dream? The one from last night. There was something unusual in it. It was still in the forest, but what else was in it? Something in the forest itself... A clearing. That was it! I was in a clearing during the dream. Now, was there anything else, anything about the dream? Come Chase, think!

I finally decide to leave the Valley of Mist after I realized that I had been here for most of the morning. It was already 11:28 and I still hadn't eaten. I quickly run to where I parked my bike, unlock it, and ride home. I look at my phone as I fix myself some lunch and notice a message from Ellie. "You still able to make it tonight?"

I grin as I type, "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. I was just wondering."

"Alright. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Talk to you later, okay?"

After a minute or two, she texts back, "Yeah. That sounds great." I leave my phone to charge as I continue to make my lunch. After eating, I go to the living room. I look around, now able to see a little better in the light than earlier this morning. Nothing seemed out of place, but I still can't shake the feeling that someone was watching me... Knock, knock.

I jump at the sound of the someone knocking at the door. I go to open it only to see no one outside. "Okay Chase. Just calm down. It'll be okay. You're not going crazy or anything. Just your imagination acting up, that's all." I then notice the package on my doorstep. The postman! Of course. That explains it. I am the last one on his route, so he probably rushed off to get home. These should be the candles, since I didn't need to sign for them. Maybe I should send some to Philly...

I bring the box inside and set it on the counter. I notice that there are some strange markings on the outside, but think that they are probably just art from the seller. Looking at the clock, I realize that a considerable amount of time has passed since I got home and began my examination of the living room. "Should probably go get ready to meet Ellie," I mutter as I rush to my room, leaving the mysteriously marked box on the counter.