Inside The Unknown

The Very End

Wirt's(?) P.O.V

Oh god, I've been walking for hours. Why did I even walk out on her, i'm such an idiot.

I'm fairly sure everyone is afraid of me anyway, even since i'd defeated The Beast I paid even more for it. Bark scales formed on my cheeks and my antlers grew at an accelerated rate.

Most people assumed I was a reincarnation of The Beast, and for Lorna, I don't know...

Was Lorna safe without me?

Oh no. Nononono, I don't want to lose someone I love again.
I can't be live like that again.

But I must stick to my decisions, running back and forth will never solve anything now will it?
The trees were turning dark, twisted, towering over any passerby who dared enter these parts of the wood.

I set the lantern down, it's light illuminating the otherwise black grove of ominous trees, and waited.

Not long had passed, but the wind stopped, bringing a cold mist that chilled flesh to the very bone, cold that stung like fire, hotter than any blazing sun could muster.

It was in this mist it had arrived.
My accomplice, the shadow that wasn't anymore than a figment from my mind
The Beast again.

"Greetings, my little monstrosity."

"What? That's out of- nevermind.
I came for a reason. I want to ask a few questions, okay?"
Up close he wasn't as scary, plus he could never do anything harmful, it's just a shadow.

"I'm listening."

"I've been pretty selfish of late, what's it actually like for Greg in there? To be in the lantern."

"It's a sort of alternate reality, essentially he's living in the Unknown with other people who've accumulated over the years. The woodsman's daughter is in there."

(read the comics, you'll get a better idea.)

"Is there anything I can do? At all to send him home? I know your not supposed to go back on deals but there has got to be something, anything!"

"Lend me control."
It raised higher threatingly.

"Greg."
I tapped the lantern impatiently.

"Fine."
It huffed and reached for the lantern before snapping it's fingers, resulting in the glass door to pry open and send the white flame skyward.

It flashed across the sky brilliantly as a comet, before exploding into a giant cloud of sparkling dust.

"Now watch."
The Beast placed the lantern next to a pool of almost frozen water the reflecting glowing softly, if you focused hard enough you could see the image of a boy clearing.

A young boy in a pristine white hospital bed. The boy looked up and expectantly to his side where another boy a few years older lay.
"We made it. Didn't we Wirt?

...

Wirt?"

I looked away from the reflection, I couldn't bear it.
His joyful smile, naïve words, he deserved so much better than me because of my cowardice he'll never have a brother.

"Thank you."
I smiled at The Beast.
"You don't realise how much this means to me."

"By chance, I tend to the lantern the same reason you do. I also have a sibling that was lost in these very woods.
In my own pursuit to escape with her, she died in my negligence.
By the time I found escape she was long gone.
Her body has withered and cannot go home so I preserve her soul instead."

"So that's why this lantern is so important to you, huh?"

"Precisely."

"Come with me. Let's go get some Adelwood together."

The oil was getting a little low and flickered slightly. It seemed a little brighter now that I knew what it was.

If you got past the killing people thing, my life isn't that bad, I'm content, peaceful.

Wandering aimlessly through a dreamlike wood, watching Greg cherish each moment of his life.

Hours spent lost in the marvelling beauty of whimsical landscapes of nature untouched, majestic, serene, calm.

Communication could also be established with my brother, it turns out we can see each other in his dreams, he tells me of his life and events and I tell him stories.
Each day I create stories for Greg and recite them to him at night.

Because seeing his face each night is what gives my life meaning.