Fantasy Forest 3: Ressurection

16. The Stranger

Earnest laid on Talia's bed with a hot towel over his face staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Are you okay?" I asked him and he waved his arm.

"I'm fine. Just give me a minute to process."

"Ok." I said as I sat quietly in the room. Earnest paused and then he removed the towel to look up at me.

"A minute alone please." He said.

"Fine." I said as I got up and left the room. His reaction to all of this was better than Talia's but it still wasn't great. Talia was in the living room biting at her fingernails while sitting on the couch.

"He okay?" she asked.

"Better than you were." I said and she glared at me. 

"Im tired of just sitting here." She said as she got up and brushed off her skirt. "Im going to go get lunch, wanna come with me?"

"What about Earnest?" 

"He'll be fine by himself." She said and I nodded as I grabbed my phone and bag and headed out the door with her. Outside the city streets were overcast with clouds and there was a light mist in the air.

"It feels like rain." I stated.

"Lets hurry then, Y/n. I don't want to get rained on."

I nodded as we walked down the street to our usual hangout, a dollar a slice pizza shop over by the park. As we passed by the park I took notice of a small crowd of about four kids gathering around a street bench. I looked over and saw they were talking with a young man who was dressed in some very outlandish costume covered in feathers.

"Is it some kind of performer?" Talia asked me but that didn't seem to be the case. In fact it seemed more like the man was trying to shoo away the kids. 

"We should probably go check it out." I said and Talia seemed slightly unnerved by the idea but followed me nonetheless. As we came close I got a good look at the guy and was struck by an odd familiar feeling. He appeared tall and thinly built with short jet black hair and a dark complexion. His lips were thin and red and his eyes were small and black with thick eyelashes and eyeliner. He did look a lot like a performer with his black shawl covered in feathers but my guess he was just eccentric or maybe even a bit nuts. I watched as he growled at the kids and told them to 'shove off' in a deep voice but the children just laughed at his eccentric behavior as he was in no way intimidating. Finally an adult approached and called the kids over and they ran off. With them gone it was just the three of us and the guy finally took note of Talia and I standing there and his demeanor changed.

"Hello fair ladies." He said as he stood up with a flourish. "Please please help me for I am totally and completely lost."

He spoke as if he was talking to both of us but I felt as if he was very focused on me in a way that didn't sit right.

"Where are you trying to go?" Talia asked him, ignoring the fair ladies bit.

"Home." He said plainly. "I am always trying to go home."

"Where do you live?"

"My home is a very beautiful place. I am sure you will like it very much...if I could find it."

At this point Talia looked at me and it was obvious by her expression that she was getting weirded out. My first thought was maybe this was guy was homeless or mentally unwell but at the same time he was very well dressed and well kept looking. I thought maybe I should call someone when all of a sudden he took me by the arm and started leading me away.

"I think my home is this way." He said with a smile. I pulled my arm away and looked him in the eye. 

"Please don't do that." I said.

"Why? Aren't we friends?"

"I don't really know you." I muttered as Talia rejoined us, her phone in her hand ready to call someone if he made a grab at me again. At this the man became utterly confused. He didn't seem to understand how he had upset us and that plagued him greatly. I was about to open my mouth to speak when suddenly I heard Talia squeak behind me.

"What is it?" I asked her as I turned to look and immediately caught sight of what scared her. Walking across the park towards us at a brisk pace was Seally. His robe fluttered behind in and even from a distance he had blood lust in his eyes. He came close and immediately pushed the two of us back behind him as he approached the guy.

"You have exactly ten seconds to explain what you are doing here before I beat the shit out of you." He said. The guy looked at him for a second and laughed.

"This is my city." He said. "Why shouldn't I be here?"

"But this is not your area! You are way too close to the forest and you know you have no right to be here!"

"Seally is this a friend of yours?" I asked him and he ignored as he clicked his tongue and crossed his arms as he stared down the taller male.

"Get lost!" He demanded and the guy just chuckled and stood his ground. For a second I was worried an actual fight would break out and Seally was so much smaller that I was worried about his safety. Then suddenly the guys demeanor changed once again and he relaxed.

"My name is Frost." He said, addressing Talia and I. "I am sorry for scaring you. Next time I will try to keep your feelings in mind."

"There won't be a next time." Seally growled.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." He said to Seally before he turned to me. "I will see you soon." He said and with that he turned and left. I watched him walk away into the bushes and disappear into the back streets by the park. I then turned to Seally who appear to be absolutely pissed. I had never seen him so mad and it had an affect on me as well as Talia who was shaking with one hand gripping the back of my shirt.

"What just happened?" She asked with a shaking voice.