A Week Later
Theodore awakened to the gentle sound of rain pouring down on the forest. He had a slight urge to go back to sleep but his mind didn't let him. He felt like his eyes could barely open and that his body couldn't move. Was it because he was lazy? Or because of the fact that he was weak and exhausted? It was part of all these reasons. Then after he realized that silence over-filled the room it was quite peculiar for his taste. Waking up to mornings like this was never normal. Surprisingly, this was his first morning that turned out deadly silent. Still, he didn't bear to open his eyes or move his body.
He planned to go back to sleep but after trying to do so he heard a distant rustle of leaving running past the cave. It triggered him to wake up so he did. His eyes opened slightly and his eyelids hanged half-way. His eyes felt tired and sleep-deprived and he hesitated to fall back unconscious until he realized that the deadline has already approached. He arose from his sleeping spot and looked at his surroundings. An empty sleeping bag laid there, lifeless, with no evidence that it was touched whatsoever. Both his eyes widened completely and he stood up in fear. Without holding back, he ran out of the cave into the wet forest where it was raining harshly.
The man yelled for Lucas's name over and over until he ran out of breath. It was like a small child crying and yelling for their parents but instead of having a response there was just a continuous silence that overpowered his eardrums. The loud sound of rain pouring down on him and the ground....that was it...that was the response. He then held back tears and took a deep breath, helplessly yelling out his name again. After several tries he gave up, panting, dropping to his knees like a coward...that's what he thought he was. He was lonely after all and couldn't seek help even if he wanted to...he reminded himself that he was alone and that no one was there to help him in the end. But still, he shook his head and turned away from all of those cons that repeated themselves in the back of his head.
"There's no way he's here...he even said that today was the deadline...", He said aloud, running his fingers through his wet hair with a shade of frustration.
And in all honesty, he was correct. Lucas Hunter Anderson wasn't here. He was gone, he was taken, but instead of thinking that he was slaughtered he might've died in his sleep, getting taken over by the creature. He hoped to god that actually happened because he didn't want to have a dead body of his lying around the forest, nor did he wanted him to die in such an explicit manner. It could've and would've scarred him to death so he stuck to the first option and decided he peacefully died in his sleep, getting his body taken over. He clutched his sides and ran back into the cave to put his jacket and backpack on.
The human stormed out of the cave, running out into the open as he searched for the flower field. Every single day when it wasn't raining both him and Lucas had always visited the flower field ever so often since the first day Theodore has went. It was calming for both of them and they shared their life stories and jokes from time to time. They also tried to figure out ways to escape the place but there was no other option to go with because of how their surrounding areas were extremely big. The place was huge to be exact, it was like neither of them could run away. Some days were better than others and most of them were exactly the same but both the humans were happy to be with each other. Theodore was also thankful that he was able to spend these last few days with a human who was having their last days on Earth.
They were happy and relieved to have each other, but everything has to have it's end. And when the end comes it'll always have turn out to be fate. The hermit rushed to the flower field noticing that the seed he planted had already grown a couple of flowers. He ran up the top of the hill and stood at the verge. He could see the large expanded land he could know why he could never escape from. There were flowers blooming from down there and grass that poked out from every corner he caught his eyes on. The rain started to pour even harder and he didn't mind the wetness of the raindrops sinking into him.
"You were a good friend, but I knew you wouldn't have lasted longer.", He said, crouching down to pick a flower.
He stood back up and looked at the sky, feeling the droplets of rain hitting his face and glasses. He took his spectacles off and set them on the ground, right next to his backpack. He looked in front of him, seeing all the beatitude that was near even with the gray clouds that were floating above him. The flower he held was gripped pretty loosely and he held it in front of him. He was ready to drop it, just like the way he dropped the flower last week.
Condolences, that's what it was.
"There's always fate, but fate is never the end. All I know is that your new life has begun and I'm grateful to be the first human you've ever met in years. I'm thankful for everything you've brought into my life and without you, I would've died a long time ago yet, you were there to save me. Your presence is what supported me throughout and your smile and positivity is what kept me going. Thank you Lucas...thank you, Lucas Anderson. May you be blessed.", He bowed his head and dropped the flower without looking.
He wiped the droplets that were resting on his forehead with the palm of his head. His head tilted upwards and he looks at the sky as if pass the clouds were the only escape. Heaven, he thought, it was all his mind could simply ask and think of. Freedom, was what he reached for. But a goal in life? What was it? Was his story and experience just there to exist so he could be remembered as something to represent a moral or lesson? What really was the point in all this?
"What am I trying to reach for? The skies?", His croaky voice spoke aloud.
He looked at his dirty hands.
"What was the point in going through all this pain?"
