The Triple Date Disaster

Chapter 25: Returning to the Lodge

Aaron stormed out of the cave, knowing exactly what needed to be done.  He didn't bother waiting for Zane or Travis, he just stomped into the woods that at first were a mystery to them, but now he knew exactly where they were.  

"Aaron!  Slow down!  Where are you going?  We need to get to the girls!"  He heard Travis call as they struggled to keep up with him.  

"They aren't in there!"  Aaron called back, still not slowing down.

Zane spoke up, "What are you talking about?  Ash brought us to the cave!  They have to be in there!"

Aaron stopped abruptly, rushing to try and make them understand where they were.  "They aren't in there... it makes sense now!  Why in my dream I saw Aphmau in that cave!  We spend some time in that cave before!  We were meant to see the memories so we can free them!"

Zane and Travis looked at each other in confusion and had absolutely no clue what Aaron was talking about.  Ya okay there were pictures all over the cave of memories they shared in the past, but so what?  They were most likely pictures their parents took... weren't they?

Aaron looked around and seemed to be struggling to find the right words.  "We've been in these woods... there's a reason we can't get to Starlight from here!  Look around!"

Zane and Travis looked around at the unfamilia

r wood.  What were they suppose to be seeing?  It looked just like any other forest they've ever seen.

Travis just about gave up looking for whatever it was Aaron was trying to point out, but Zane was determined to see what Aaron was seeing.  Then all of a sudden he got a strange feeling in his stomach.  As the wood began to feel more familiar, he began to feel more alone.  Scared even.  He all of a sudden was very uncomfortable with being under all these tree, and would give anything to get out of this wood.

Somehow by the way Zane stared into the forest, Aaron knew Zane had figured it out.  He felt sad for him, he wasn't the only one who went through something terrible in this forest.  

Zane continued to look at this specific area of the forest.  He began to point out specific locations in his mind.  There was the road they drove on... there was the spot he saw Ein hit Aphmau... there in the distance is where Aphmau stabbed Aaron...  "We're at the lodge" he said solemnly.  It was almost a whisper, Travis almost couldn't hear what he was saying.

Travis, still confused, asked the others, "Lodge?  The place you guys went to fix up for Aaron's parents?  What's so bad about this place?"

Zane and Aaron looked at each other, both with a look of sorrow in their eyes.  They each now understood this sick plan of Ein's.  He wanted revenge.  He took them to the place where Aaron ripped away what he loved most, his being a werewolf, and is once again trying to take away what they love most in the same spot.  Again.  He wanted to finish what he started.

"Guys?" Travis said to them both, now looking concerned.  He wanted to know what about these woods made them so sad, so pained.  What did they have to fear about an old cottage that people now rented to vacation in?  

"If we're going to get them back, he needs to know..." Aaron said to Zane, who nodded his head in agreement.  "How?" Zane asked.  "Let's start by taking him to where it started."

Zane and Aaron lead Travis through the forest until finally they were standing face to face with the lodge.  This is why Ash wanted them in this specific wood, why Kawaii~Chan was held in these woods.  At first they thought it was because of the cave but it looks like it was because Ein is holding the girls here.

They walked in through the grand entrance and looked into the groups of guests chatting and enjoying themselves, completely unaware of what went on in these walls.

Or maybe they did know, just refused to think of about it.  Aaron looked by the main desk and saw a plaque with the title "The Legend of the Ultima".  He couldn't help himself, he read the whole thing:

"Many years ago there was a man, one who killed wolves for sport.  One day as the man in the moon mourned the loss of all the wolves, he turned the man into the ultima.  Forced to be what he was killing.  Part of the curse was that no one could look him in the eye, for if you looked into the eyes of the ultima, or were bit by one, you would change into one of his kind.  A creature of the night.  For many years he lived alone in the forest, until he was killed in these woods by hunters.  If you listen closely, you can still here the ultima howling at the moon, hoping to be brought back."

Well, they got it half right.  An interesting story to bring in some business.

They paid the man at the desk for one night, and brought Travis around.  They showed him the tapestries, the statues, all the Lycan family trinkets that were said to be created by modern day artists.  No one knew they were actually werewolf artifacts.  

They lead him to the room with the secret door, but were unable to re-open it.  They told themselves it was for the best anyway.

They showed him where they discovered ghost, the woods and all that happened in them. Because Aaron was part of the Lycan family, they were allowed in the back rooms, were they were able to show him where they played as kids and where the emeralds were.  

Travis seemed weighed down by what they were telling them.  "That's why everyone was so upset when you returned huh?"

Aaron and Zane didn't answer, just gave a silent nod.  Travis continued, "Look, I'm not gonna try to fully understand what happened.  I can tell you haven't told me everything, I'm sure some of it will stay between those who were actually here for our whole lives.  I don't think I'm even able to fully understand without experiencing it.  Just know I can tell what a toll it must of had and am really sorry."

"It's in the past" Aaron said flatly, wanting to move on.

"It was!" Zane interrupted, "Once we're becoming happy again and moving on, Ein brings us back here.  I can't believe it"

They lead Travis to the market, witch got a lot bigger.  It was run by a different owner now, and booming because of the lodge opening up just a little while away.  They bought some food and basic essentials for the room.  Once they returned they settled in their room, and thought about where they would be.

"We gotta find them soon, Katelyn's eyes were already blinking and we haven't seen her in a while." Travis added once he came back with, you guessed it.  Taco juice!

"Dude how did you get that?  They don't even sell it here!"

"The chef was generous enough to wip some up for me special.  Tell your mom to get him a raise Aaron."

Aaron nodded his head and looked out the window.  He brought his focus to a hooded figure in the wood, walking on the path.  Probably a guest.  But it didn't look like someone on a vacation.  

Travis coughed, nearly throwing up his taco juice.  Zane told him off, "Travis, I told you taco juice would kill you one day."  Zane proceeded to hit Travis's back, and Aaron continued focus on the figure. 

Travis kept on coughing and the figure put on a weird posture, almost as if he was listening.  Assuming it was a he.  

The figure looked up, and Aaron immediately knew who it was.  Tatiana!  Once Travis stopped dying, they went to the woods to talk with her.  Once they reached her, she flooded them with questions.      

"What are you guys doing here?  Are you okay?  What on Earth are you doing back?  You should't be here!"

"Calm down!"  Aaron began, "Ein took Katelyn, Aphmau, and Kawaii~Chan; we're here to get them back."

"What are you talking about?" 

"Ein.  He put forever potions on them."

Tatiana looked at them with a blank stare, "Ein's with me."