Stalker

Chapter 3:Real Life Settles In

* I was walking in the forest; the one I used to live in, the one I was raised in my whole life. The tall, billowing trees covered the dimming evening sky, creating a darkening glow across the treetops. I walked cautiously, trying to figure out where I was going and what I was supposed to be doing. 

I tried to call out to the empty forest in hopes that one stray person could hear my cry, but nothing would come out. Confused, I tried to yell out again, and just like the first time, my voice seemed like it was completely muted. I started to feel panic rise within me as I started to search around for anywhere to stay the night. 

Picking a random direction, I sprinted into the dimming forest hoping that I would come across some sort of path or traveling person that I could find safety with. Before I knew it, darkness swept over the land, engulfing me in its black embrace. I could barely make out anything except for things that were almost immediately in front of me. I ran, and ran, and ran, but no matter where I turned or how quickly I sped through the forest, there wasn't a soul in sight. I swallowed hard as I came to a rough stop by a group of  thick, tall redwoods, panting hard from running as fast as I could for what felt like the past little while. 

After a few minutes, I took in a few deep breaths to steady my growing nerves and straightened myself out. Attempting to call out one last time, my voice failed me a third time, filling me with a deepening mixture of disappointment, fear, and confusion. 

As I felt hot tears starting to prick the corners of my green eyes, I suddenly saw a light coming from the distance and it didn't seem too far. I smiled as widely as I could as relief flooded over me and fast walked over to the source being careful not to trip over unseen roots. As I drew closer, I prayed hard that the person at the light's source would help me figure out a way back home.

Approaching the light, my eyes adjusted to its brightness to reveal a simple campfire....one that I had seen before. With knitted eyebrows and a sense of curiosity and anxiety starting to pump through me, I walked around the small campfire slowly, analyzing its features and taking it all in. There was a large tree with a root sticking out of the ground almost as if it were acting like a seat. The campfire sat only a foot or two away from it as if the person was wanting to sit and rest close to the fire's warmth. It wasn't cold out, but it naturally was always colder at night than it was during the day. 

Wait a minute.... I thought to myself as I began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. This is where I was with-

"Hey, Blondie," a warm, familiar voice said from behind me, rattling every bone in my body. In that moment exactly, I swear I had forgotten how to breathe. 

Turning around cautiously and very slowly, my eyes met his inviting and mischievous hazel ones filling my heart with pain and overwhelming joy. 

Flynn...

There he stood on the other side of the campfire holding a big pile of branches just like the night we spent together in the forest when he lead me to the city of Corona to see the floating lights. It was as if I was revisiting that same night again... 

"I was wondering when you were going to show up," he said with a sad smile as he put the branches down in a neat pile on the ground by his boots. Tears immediately started to well up in my eyes as I ran at him, throwing my arms around his neck tightly and drawing him closer to me. 

I've missed you so much, Flynn! I've been so lonely, so miserable and trapped, without you here with me, I wanted to say. But alas, the words still fell short of coming out. The only source of sound between us was his unsteady breathing and the sound of the crackling fire.