Run

Chapter 24

Somehow, I saw this coming but at the same time I didn’t see this coming, if that made any sense at all.

“Wait, what?” I say, my eyebrows knitting in confusion.

I am at a loss for words.

“I am sorry for not telling you earlier.”

I can slowly but surely see Key’s real character showing.

The girl I have come to know these past couple of days is gone. Instead of a nearly emotionless person, I see a kind, gentle and insecure person in front of me, only wanting the best for people. A girl who is afraid of being put down and left alone. A girl who wants to help other to the best of her ability.

I shake my head. “I understand. Some things are just hard to tell. It’s just… a lot to process in a short amount of time.”

I suck in a deep breath of air, the unsettling feeling in my stomach growing stronger with each passing second.

Key nods, acknowledging my subtle request to be left alone. She walks to the very end of the hub, leaning against the wall, gazing outside. I run my fingers through my hair, letting out an exasperated sigh, my eyes wandering to Key.

Now that I think about it, I can see the resemblance between Key and the twins. They have the same violet eyes. The soft expression on her face is similar to that of Aries, though Aristelle has a colder, harder one. The more I look at her, the more I can see the sibling resemblance. Why haven’t I noticed this earlier? I guess it’s hard to see things that you are not expecting or looking for.

I can feel the vehicle slowing to a stop. I glance at Wil, and seeing that he is still asleep, I say,” Wil, we’re here.”

Fortunately, he is not a heavy sleeper. Upon hearing my voice, he opens his eyes and stretches his arms, stifling a yawn. “I’m awake, I’m awake,” he mumbles, clearly wanting some more rest.

Not that I can blame him. We’re practically running on adrenaline nowadays. Sleep has become a luxury for us.

The door slides open and all four of us exit the hub.

“This way,” Key says, gesturing for us to follow her.

And we do. After all, where else are we to go?

The port here is small, smaller than the others I have seen anyway. It is deserted, though I can’t say that I am surprised. A wooden sign with the words ‘Forest of Hallucinations’ scrawled on it in what looks like black marker hangs from the only exit of the station. Key pushes the glass door open and holds it open for us as we all exit.

I take a deep breath of air, slightly grateful to be in the open again, especially since it is not a city and the air here is fresher than ever. A smile tugs at my lips but I chew on my bottom lip, not wanting to smile in a situation such as this as it is not appropriate.

Key stops and the rest of us follow suit. We stop in front of a forest, thick with trees and other greenery. A thick fog settles near the ground of the forest and all the trees tower high above us, so high that I can't see the top. The thick canopy of leaves block out nearly all the light from reaching the bottom, leaving those who venture in in the dark, even if the sun is high above our heads.

A tired sigh reaches my ears. “Welcome to the Forest of Hallucinations, the best place to be,” Key says dramatically, sarcasm thick in her voice.

“The only place I want to be,” I mutter, not intending it for anyone else’s ears but mine.

"This forest," Key continues, clearly not fazed by my comment, if she heard it in the first place," true to its name, gives hallucinations for all who enters. No one has figured out why or how that is possible, but many suspect that it's the Data Tree who detects your presence as you approach it. The hallucinations are a person's worst fears, deepest regrets and greatest desire. The Tree is located right in the heart of the forest. Not many manage to make it that deep into the forest, but for all our sakes, I sure hope we are the few that do.