The Figure: A Rhett and Link Horror Story

An Image Of The Future

Friday, March 16, 2018
   Rhett had taken the last two days to explain to Link (since he woke up) what had happened while he was asleep. He told him about the silly things that he had told Rhett. Told him about what the Figure had done. Rhett told Link everything I've written about... but one thing. He told Link the story of how he, Rhett, ended up in this dark, dark room.

   "So, probably about a couple of months ago, Jessie, the kids, and I were having game night." Rhett started. The fact was that it had only been a couple of weeks since they'd had that game night. He had lost all track of time.

   "Oh, that's always fun", Link smiled.

   "Yeah, it is. Anyways, Jess sent the kids off to bed, and she and I stayed up and watched a movie. It was a one of the Lord of The Rings movies, so it was a good two and a half hours long. We said that we loved each other. It was nice. Haven't told her in a while. Haven't told the kids in a while, either. Not since that night." Rhett sniffled, and wiped away an astray tear with his thumb.

   Link cocked his head and looked at his friend through the dark. "Everything good? You think you can tell me the rest? It's okay if you can't." He patted Rhett on his back. A lump started to form in Link's throat, too. He was thinking about his own family.

   "Nah, I'm good. I just need a minute." Rhett sniffled again. They both sat in silence for the next few minutes, the only sounds being Rhett wiping his tears away, and Link sniffling a little. Finally, the silence was broken by Rhett. "Alright. I'm good", he said. "You sure?", Link asked. "Yeah", Rhett quickly nodded.

   He sighed and went on. "Jessie and I got ready for bed, and then we lay down beside each other. 'I love you', I said. 'I feel the same way about you', she said. She turned off the light and went to sleep.

   "I, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. Every time I would close my eyes, I would feel the need to open them again. I wasn't scared... just... disturbed. A picture would come into my mind every time my eyes closed. The exact same one every time.", Rhett went on. Link furrowed his brow. Chills ran down his back as he listened to Rhett talk. He cocked his head again, eager to hear the rest.

   "What picture came to your mind? What'd you see?", Link asked, leaning in. Rhett closed his eyes as he tried to remember what image projected onto his closed eyelids that Monday night.

   "Uh... I think it was you. Yeah, it was definitely you.", Rhett started. Link felt fear slowly creeping up from the depths of his stomach. "W-what was I doing?", he mumbled. Rhett tried to remember more. "You were... you were laying against a wall. You were breathing... but barely. You sure were bruised up, and your head was pouring out blood. You were grasping your shoulder like it would fall off if you let go of it.... wait, wait, wait. No... no it can't be.", Rhett started mumbling to himself. Link's eyes widened in peril. He had a splitting headache. "Wh-what is i-it?", he was shaking as he spoke.

   Rhett looked at Link with urgency. "What if that wasn't some sort of dream, or image? What if that image was the future? I mean, you nearly died because your head came in contact so hard with the cement floor. A-and your shoulder hurts pretty bad, right?", Rhett asked. "Man, it's killin' me. I think it's dislocated, or something like that. My head feels like it's going to explode", Link moaned.

   "That wasn't a dream, Link. That was the future. You were in a dark room, too... but I wasn't there. Why wasn't I there? I've gotta make sure you stay in this room. I'll do anything in my power to keep you right where you're sitting.", Rhett said with a determined twang in his voice. He narrowed his eyes.

   "Anyways, I finally went to sleep. I woke up here. But that thing with the image I saw in my mind before I went to sleep that night.... do you think that the figure put that image there? To-to show me something?", Rhett stared at Link through the darkness. Link nervously adjusted his glasses, which were still on his face somehow. They were covered in dry blood. Part of his hair was matted with blood, too. The top of his hair was holding up pretty well, though. Rhett's hair, on the other hand, was no longer defying gravity. It was going down.

   "I don't know, Rhett. I would have to guess that the figure showed you that image... o-of me. He showed it to you for a reason. I mean, everything that you said you saw has come true. The only thing that hasn't happened is me being in a room by myself. Oh gosh, Rhett. We have to stay together. We can't let that figure take me away from you. We won't have a chance... I won't have a chance. Just in case something happens to me, I just want to tell you that I love you. Just like a brother. I appreciate everything you do, and I'm so glad God gave you to me. Thanks", Link slightly smiled. Rhett smiled back. "I love you too, Li-"

   Rhett was cut off. All of a sudden, a familiar, horrifying voice started speaking behind them. And what it said made Rhett and Link shudder in disbelief.

   "Yes, Neal. What your friend saw was the future. And no, McLaughlin. Link won't be staying with you much longer... not much longer at all."

   The figure snapped his fingers, and all of a sudden Rhett felt chest pain again. But it was even worse than before. He gasped, trying to get any air in that he could. "S-save your-yourself, Link!", he stuttered. Too late to say that. The figure came up behind Link, grabbed him by the arm with his bad shoulder, and started pulling him towards the door. Link yelped in pain. His shoulder was hurting so bad. "R-RHETT! RHETT! HE'S GOT ME! HELP!", Link cried in terror. "LINK! N-NO! PLEASE DON'T TAKE HIM! PL-PLEASE!", Rhett pleaded to the Figure.

   Rhett looked at Link, tears stinging his eyes. Link's eyes weren't filled with tears, though. Through all of the pain and fear that Link had endured, Rhett could see the slightest glint of calm in his eyes. He looked right back at Rhett. That glint of calm in Link's eyes told Rhett everything that he needed to know: even if everything didn't come out as planned and something happened to Link, Rhett didn't need to worry. That glint of calm in Link's eyes told Rhett that everything was going to turn out okay.

   The door closed. All was silent and still. Rhett's horrible chest pain faded away. Link was gone. Rhett was left with nothing but a small piece of Link's shirt that was laying on the floor. He grabbed it, put it in his pocket, and sat against the wall. He hugged his knees close to him and cried. Link could still be in there if Rhett would've done something. He thought that it was all his fault.