Lost In The Woods

The End Of Everything {Part Two}

He wakes up in the morning to fight the same demons that left him so defeated the night before.

He wakes up in the morning terrified, because he'll never get used to the demons in this world.

He wakes up in the morning wanting love, though he's terrified to have it, because he's terrified to lose it.

He wakes up in the morning, though through all the blood and tears, still fights every demon out there.

And not for himself, but for the ones around him.

That, that's is bravery, that is strength.

So as we walk through the woods for the final day on our journey, I can only hope I'll be as brave as him when we reach the fight. I can only hope I will have the strength he has, to do what I must do.

“Hey Priya.” I feel a tug on my hand, as I turn around. “You okay?” Arden asked me. He clearly sees the worry on my face. But why shouldn't I be worried? The sky is black, the rivers are purple. This world that used to seem so magical, quickly turned into a dark dusk. The power of these weird crystals had we're destroying the world. And we were marching right towards the people who had them. So yeah I'm a little bit worried. And no I'm not okay.

“Ya, I'm fine.” I tell him as I try to lie not only to him but to myself.

“Ya, sure.”He smiles. “Priya I know this all seems, scary. I mean this last week couldn't be easy for.”

He's right this last week has been the strangest, most painful, and craziest week of my whole entire life. Wait scratch that, varsity Cheer Camp definitely was. But this week came to a close second. Though I couldn't imagine what Arden's going through. It has to be a thousand times worse for him. “I'm fine really.” I tell him. “Buy you're not, are you?”

“I don't know what you mean I'm great!” He tells me with a cheeky smile.

“Ya, sure.” I tell him, smiling. “But seriously Arden, the last time you were here you lost somebody. It must be terrifying going back.”

Arden tried his hardest not to show any concern. Though I saw right through him. “It's kind of like going back home for Thanksgiving, when your family is crazy, and wants to kill you and your friends.”

I don't know what's going on with him, he's treating everything like a joke. Maybe that's his way of coping with what happened. I wish I did know what happened, but he still won't give me much detail. All I know is the last time he was here Quinn died. The kid Arden watched over. The one he cared for as if he was a little brother. I also know that wasn't that long ago. I truly can't imagine what's going on with him, or how he's feeling.

_________Four Months Ago________

Arden woke up at 5:30 to the soft light that was creeping its way in from Arden's bedroom window. Arden got up and went into the kitchen to get something to eat. He grabbed an apple out of the wooden bowl that was on the counter, and sat down at the kitchen table to read a book. After a good ten minutes, Arden made his way outside. He went over to the the pull up bar and began his first fifty reps of one handed chin-ups, as use other hand to continue to read his book.

At 6:30, after Arden's morning workout was finished, he went inside to wake Quinn up. He grabbed another apple and shoved it into his mouth as he banged on Quinn's door. With no response, he took the Apple out of his mouth and yelled. “Rise and shine kid!” Normally Quinn would grown or wine or ask for a few more minutes of sleep, but this morning was different. Arden got no response from Quinn, nor did he hear any movement in his room. Arden opened the door to Quinn's bedroom. The Apple hit the old wooden floor and created a loud bang when Arden realized Quinn wasn't in his room.  Arden immediately knew something horrible happened. Arden ran over to the closet and ripped it open. He was hoping Quinn was playing some kind of trick on him, though when he opened the closet door he didn't see any boy. So what he did see was Quinn's backpack gone. Arden's heart dropped and his stomach did a million somersaults. He ran into his room and opened the closet, to see that lots of weapons were missing. “Damn it Quinn! What the hell are you thinking?”