The Figure: A Rhett and Link Horror Story

In The Doorway

QUICK AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the last chapter! It's been a joy writing this story for everyone.

Monday, March 19, 2018, 7:00 p.m.
   The Neals and the McLaughlins had decided to have a get-together that night at Link's house (they rarely held get-togethers at Rhett's). Everyone wanted to talk about where Rhett and Link were... and if they were ever coming back.

   "I miss daddy", Lando timidly said. Everyone let out an "awwww" in response. "We do too, Lando", Jessie said to him. "I don't think that they're coming back", Lincoln looked around the living room at everyone. "They definitely wouldn't run away... you said that Rhett's phone was still at your house when he was gone?", Lily looked at Jessie. Jessie nodded. "Well, I kinda have the idea that they got... taken", Locke commented. "That's what we're thinking, also", Christy replied.

   "What if they don't come back?", Shepard asked. No one said anything. Jade started whining, almost like she understood Shepard's question. They all sat in silence for the next ten minutes. No one knew what to say, and a few sniffles could be heard. "Well, for the time being, let's not focus on that. Let's focus on how great they were. Weren't they great?" Christy looked around at everyone. She got a bunch of head nods in response.

"Remember that time when Mom, Locke, Dad and I went camping, and Dad let me have his sleeping bag because we forgot to bring an extra one?", Shepard's head was filling up with memories. "Or that time when Link let me sit up in the front seat with him, because he said that the front seat was only where the manliest of men sat... we were going in the car to your birthday party", Shepard pointed at Lincoln. Lincoln smiled in response."Man, I miss 'em all over again", Lincoln said. Lily looked at everybody with something different in her eyes. Love and happiness.

   "Actually... they're coming back. I know they are. You know when you can feel something even though you don't know that it's true? That's how I feel about this. They're definitely coming back", Lily said with such confidence in her voice.

   They talked for a while, and thought of all the crazy memories that Rhett and Link had been a part of. It was now 8:12. In exactly four minutes, everything would change. "It's been on the news that they've been gone... actually, it's been on the news for a while", Jessie said. It was now 8:13. "The news interviewed me and Shep.... and mom. About Dad and Link. It was pretty cool to be on TV, I'll have to admit", Locke raised his eyebrows up and down, proud of his on-screen accomplishment. He got a few chuckles.

8:15. In one minute, everything would change. "Mommy, I gotta use the bathroom", Lando said in his little voice. "Alright, honey. Go ahead.", Christy told him. Lando left the room. The clock hit 8:16. "I wonder what they're gonna do about Good Mythical Mor-" Jessie got cut off by two hard knocks on the front door. Christy stood up and went over to the door. "If you're here to ask about Rhett or Link, they're still gone", Christy said to whoever was on the other side of the door. There was brief silence.

   "Actually, they're not still gone. They just got here", a voice said on the other side of the door. It was familiar to everyone who was in the living room. It was Link's voice. Christy looked back at everyone sitting down. Her eyes welled up with tears, and so did Jessie's. All the kids slowly stood up with their mouths gaped open. Christy quickly turned back to the door, unlocked it, and yanked it open. In the doorway stood two men. One was slightly taller than the other, and the other one had glasses. Both of them were dirty and cut up... but both of them had huge smiles that lit up the whole house.

   They both stepped inside, and everyone rushed towards them. "Dad! Is it really you? You're not dead! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...", Lincoln trailed off. He ran up to Link and buried his face into Link's chest. Lincoln started sobbing. Link gave him the biggest hug. Next Lily ran up and hugged his neck. "I... I love you so, so much dad", Lily said with such joy. She cried, also. Christy didn't have words. She was speechless. She kissed him on the cheek. "I l-love you, honey", she whispered into his ear. "I love you guys so, so awfully much. More than anything on this whole planet. We didn't think we'd make it back", Link squeezed the three of them so tightly. He starting crying, too.

   While this was happening, Rhett's family went crazy, too. "DAD!!!!!" Shepard ran up to Rhett. Rhett picked him up and swung him around. After Shepard was set down, he hugged his dad's legs. Rhett returned the hug. "I missed you! Love you, Shep!", Rhett exclaimed. "I love you, dad! Thought you were dead!" Locke high fived Rhett, and hugged him tight. "Ya know, we never did finish watching Lord of the Rings, did we?" Jessie walked towards him. She hugged him, also, and placed a kiss on his forehead. "I love you with all my heart, Jess", Rhett whispered. "And I love you two, also. Wouldn't trade y'all for anything." Rhett said. He started shedding tears of joy. So did Jessie and the kids.

   Now, there were two big group hugs. Tears were falling, and "I love you"s were being exchanged. Finally, the hugs stopped. Everyone heard footsteps coming from down the hall, and they turned their heads to see Lando coming into the living room. When Lando saw Link, he stopped walking and stared with pure amazement in his eyes. "Daddy!" He tore towards Link. Link kneeled with his arms out. Lando ran right into Link's arms. Link embraced his youngest son in a much-needed hug. "Love you, bud!", Link said to Lando. "Love you too, daddy", Lando replied.

   The Neals hugged Rhett, and the McLaughlins hugged Link. "Missed y'all. Love all of you, too", Link said to Jessie, Locke, and Shepard. "Can't believe I'm seeing all of you again. Love y'all", Rhett said to Christy, Lily, Lincoln, and Lando

   The next hour was spent at Link's house. Everyone, now including Rhett and Link, was sitting in chairs and on the couch. Jade sat in Link's lap. Rhett and Link explained to their families what had happened. They explained how they'd been taken by the Figure, why they were so bruised and cut, what they had gone through, and so much more.

   "Y'all need food! You haven't eaten in what... two weeks? We had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches tonight. I'll go make y'all a couple", Christy ran into the kitchen and started cooking. All the kids were a little scared, but they thought it was cool when Rhett had told them how he had killed the Figure; and about how Link survived his head injury. Christy brought sandwiches into the living room, and gave Rhett and Link the food that they needed. They scarfed it down, and thanked Christy for everything. "Thank the Lord y'all are back", Jessie sighed and smiled. "Y'all need showers!", Christy laughed.

                                     * * *

   After a few months of hard work, the GMM channel was back up to thirteen million subscribers, and everything was going smooth. When the crew first saw Rhett and Link, they all cheered, each of them hugged their bosses, and they had a party at work the next day.

   Rhett's broken wrist and knuckle healed in about a month, but it took Link's head about three months to fully get back to normal. After a month of physical therapy every weekday, Link's shoulder was as good as new.

   The mythical beasts were happy, too. Social media blew up with positive and heartwarming comments from the supporting fans. Life was back to normal, although both Rhett and Link would jump if they heard a sudden noise, or would turn a phone flashlight on if they saw a scary-looking shadow.

   Everything was mythical again, and joy was in the atmosphere. Love and happiness.

The End