Double Trouble

Lost

By the time the boys realized they should have brought a flashlight, it was too late.

They tried to trace back, to fetch one, but one wrong turn led to another and before they knew it neither of them had any idea where they were.

Forgoing being silent, they tried calling out for their dad, hoping he would be nearby and hear them.

When that didn't work, they shouted for their mom.

Then they shouted for anyone .

There was no call back, no reaction or guiding lights. Nothing to give them even a hint of where they were.

Was no one else camping nearby too? Were they completely alone?

How far away were they for no one to hear their desperate yells?

The forest around them was dark and oppressing. It felt too big and too small, it was swallowing them up, closing around them while never seeming to end. Every snap, every rattle, every strange noise that they couldn't spot made them jump in fright.

Izuku was in tears, his grip on Mikumo's hand was so tight that the dark haired boy could hardly feel it anymore. He dared not to tell him to let go though, fearful that he might lose Izuku too and they'll be all on their own.

Mikumo didn't even want to think of that.

Mikumo wanted to be strong for Izuku, he really did! If Izuku could see how brave his brother was, then he wouldn't worry as much. He could reassure him that everything will be fine, that they will find Dad and the camp in no time!

But, like Izuku, he was only seven too, just a kid. A very lost and frightened kid.

Tears were welling up no matter how hard he tried to keep them at bay. They pricked and threatened to break free, burning his eyes like liquid fire.

He screamed for help again but cuts short as harsh coughs wrack his small body, his throat raw. Izuku stands behind him, thumping his back as Mikumo rode out the coughing fit.

They stood there. Bent low to the ground even as Mikumo's hacks dwindled down to uneven wheezes. The forest around them swayed ominously with creaking branches and tittering unknown occupants surveying the two intruders. Hostility pierced Mikumo like a white hot spear, sinking deeper into his gut inch by excruciating inch.

What were they thinking , coming in here by themselves? With no preparation, with no adults, no source of lights, no water, no invitation, no— nothing.

Nothing, nothing, nothing.

They couldn't be heard, the forest around them was oppressively silent. It knew that they were lost and yet offered no helping hand to guide them back to safety. Mikumo could feel it mocking them. As if it enjoyed the terror and uncertainty raining down on what didn't belong.

Mikumo's wheezing breaths picked up in speed.

They were so stupid . No, god, he was so stupid—why did he drag Izuku into this with him? Mikumo should've kept his big mouth shut and sucked it up. If it weren't for him, his brother would be back at camp, asleep in the tent and blissingly unaware of his idiotic brother's turmoil.

But at least he would have been safe.

"Yami..."

He wanted to leave. He wanted to go home. He wanted to find his dad and pretend this never happened. He wanted the forest to stop staring straight through him until his skin crawled and itched with release. The trees trembled and the ground shook and echoed. Sticks cracked and snapped, and animals howled and screamed into the night, reverberating down to his bones and sending his ears ringing in cavernous wails. A thousand hands clawed at his arms, his legs, his shoulders, his neck—yanking, pulling, dragging him —