Where the Train Track Splits

Chapter 6: Dinner

I was at the hospital for about another week until they released me to go home. My mother still freaking out and wondering what happened and honestly I was too. I know my mom would probably never let me go back into the forest but I have to know what happened back there at the train tracks.

About a day later the neighbors came over to see how I was doing. That boy and his mother came over and apologized for what had happened but also in celebration of me coming back safe. His mother finally introduced herself and introduced her son, Onyx. Odd name but a rather interesting one. My mom invited them for dinner and naturally they agreed. They talked for hours, me and that Onyx were quiet. Our mothers then went into the kitchen to help each other with making dinner, I needed fresh air so I went outside. Minutes later Onyx joined me in silence as we took in the outside air. The sun was setting and the sky glowed with beautiful shades of orange, pink, and yellows. "So what happened.. Uh" he started but blanked on what I guess was supposed to be my name. "Jack." I said to help him. "Jack? You got a boy's name?" He said making me feel a bit annoyed "Its short for something else and don't come at me with the whole weird name deal. Onyx? It's a strange name too.". "Alright well I think it's rare, pretty cool name too if you ask me." he said with a slight laugh. We sat in a few more minutes of silence, enough time for me to process what was happening. His voice wasn't too deep but soft and gentle, he had brown eyes and brown hair that swept over his forehead. His skin looked soft, he must somewhat care about the way he looks, if he didn't then his hair would be gross and he would probably have some sort of acne. "So Jack, what happened out there? You worried your mother a lot." he asked me as he looked down at me. He seemed to be examining me as I answered "I have no idea... sort of.".

Onyx: "What do you mean sort of?"

Jack: "It's kind of a long story.. You'll think I'm crazy too"

Onyx: "Nothing is crazy when it comes to that forest"

Jack: "Wait, you know something about it?"

Onyx: "I know a bunch, but you still haven't answered my question."

Jack: "How about a story for a story, you first"

Onyx: "Alright then" he said then sighed.

Right at that moment Onyx's mother came out to call us in for dinner. It was disappointingly quick for the time it took them to make a whole meal for four people and it just had to happen right when I was going to find out more about the forest. I sighed then started making my way back inside beside Onyx, as we did the smell of the food had filled the air and made us hungry. I got everyone their plates and let them get served first, we all talked and had a surprisingly good time. We talked about our old lives and all the crazy moving that my mom and I have always done. I seemed to have forgotten about the forest and all about the weird stuff that happened there. We ate, talked, and had fun the whole night through. Its was pitch black by the time they left and now I lay in my bed alone but happy. I slowly drifted off to sleep glad to know I at least have friends.