The morning starts as it always does. It's a grey, dreary morning. The air is cold and crisp, but I don't shiver even as it bites at me when I step outside to check the mail. Unlike every other morning, instead of bills or spam, I have an actual letter.
-
Open it.
Welcome to the story.
Here are some quick notes before we begin:
♦ This page requires you to hover your mouse over images to read descriptions and click to other locations in the map. The links within the map are invisible and are found via mouseover.
♦ Mobile users should still be able to play through the page by clicking the links, but since they won't be able to hover over them, finding them may be more difficult and mouseover descriptions will not be displayed. There are no non-clickable hovers, so the story should otherwise play basically the same. However, due to the increased difficulty, it is still recommended to play on desktop if possible.
♦ Sometimes LN himself is clickable! Make sure to check, since sometimes he is the link in a page or can provide extra content.
♦ When outside, clicking the edges of the map will take you to other areas of the forest. When inside, clicking gaps (doorways) and stairs will take you from room to room.
♦ This page contains looping gifs. You may need to wait for a gif to restart to see it properly, as all the gifs are already loaded and thus already playing - if things seem confusing, just wait for the loop to start over again.
♦ The page itself does not keep track of what items you've already gathered. You do not technically need to gather every item to progress, but it is recommended that you look around anyway for extra content and context!
♦ The scrollbars on pages are hidden, but still function - if text is cut off at all, just scroll down.
Alright, that should be everything!
Thank you for stopping by, and enjoy.
[Begin]
What I just read sounds ridiculous, but I know the letter is right. The forest has felt different lately. As I look out into the woods, I can almost feel my skin crawl. It's like something is watching me.
I don't think I have a choice. The letter came with a list of ingredients. Time to make a potion, I guess.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
This is my living room and open-plan kitchen. I'd rather not have an open-plan kitchen to be honest, but when you're living alone it isn't too bad. I wonder where Skitters ran off to... Her water bowl is still full, she never drinks the stuff.
I've never managed to keep this thing alive, unfortunately... It was really pretty when it was alive the first few weeks, but now it's just here as a reminder that I have absolutely 0 green thumbs.
-
Back.
She always leaves a mess of her food after she's glugged it all down. And yet, as usual, her fresh, perfectly good water is completely untouched.
-
Back.
This is my garage, it's nothing special. It's just a place to put some of my horror novels and to get out to the backyard. Those two boxes have nothing but art supplies I haven't touched...
My cellar. This is where I go to write in my journal. I've been very bad at keeping up with it lately though, and it doesn't help that at night the cellar feels kind of creepy. It only has one light fixture and a lamp, so it's always kind of dark, but it's the only room I have to put my writing desk. Ignore the boxes, that's just stuff I haven't sifted through since I moved here. Probably full to the brim with spyders and other pests.
The most recent entry says:
June 11th, 20XX
Some odd things have happened recently. A few weeks ago while on my couch, Skitters began to growl and hiss at the back door. When I peeked out the window there was someone standing far off by the tree line, staring straight at the house. But just as soon as I had seen them, they were gone. Similarly, while on a night walk to clear my head just a few days ago, I saw what I thought was the tallest... thing? I'd ever seen run past the trees. I was shaken up but assumed it was just some animal running wild. I do live in the forest after all.
But even the house feels different, things in general just feel different. I'm hoping things go back to normal, though. Things haven't seemed normal in what feels like forever, but I mean MY normal. Well, whatever. I have to go get the mail.
--LN
-
Back.
The backyard... I don't come back here much. Honestly all it has to offer is the view of some of the forest. Seems quiet out here today.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
This is my upstairs... hall-type thing. It's not quite a hallway, more like a hall area? Anyway, it's boring here because it's just a walk-through. I'm going to be honest, that drawer thing has nothing in it but dust. It's just there because I didn't know where to put it.
I don't like the air of this attic. Never have. It's not like anything's even happened up here, I just don't like it. It... gives me déjà vu, but like, bad? I stare quietly into the room, hearing nothing but the creaks of the house and the small jingle of the hanging light swaying in the darkness. Despite nothing seeming off, I still get a bit of a chill standing here.
No clue where I got this thing, or why it's in my attic. I don't come up here enough... It's a weird little plush. The eyes aren't in the right spot at all. I'm just going to leave it there.
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Back.
A very tiny spyder... It's just minding its business.
-
Back.
This is the bathroom. I really like my clawfoot tub. I've already bathed today though, so I don't think anything in here matters right now.
This is my bedroom. I sleep here, play games, stare at the walls... you know, things people do in their rooms. Nothing exciting.
Skitters' bed is untouched. She always wants to sleep either right next to me or on the ceiling. She's not in here right now it seems... I wonder if she got out of the house again? I hate that she's so slithery, but she always comes back fine. Can't say the same for the local wildlife though.
I don't remember why this mirror is broken. Honestly, it's been broken for a long time. I probably did something stupid like maybe I accidentally flung something at it and it shattered into bits. It's pretty cheap anyways, maybe I should get a new one... Some of the broken glass is still on the floor. Better be careful.
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Back.
I really would rather not deal with whatever today has in store and instead take a nice nap. Unfortunately, I'm not going to.
-
Back.
A pair of dusty glasses are stuck in this bush. What's with all the litter around this place? Just gonna leave 'em there, I guess.
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Back.
This is the lake, it's nice over here. I watch the fish swim around sometimes, and I also really love this tree. It's beautiful! Skitters likes to drink this water sometimes. I don't want her to but she does. She just loves anything that isn't in her water bowl, I guess.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
This is supposedly a lake, though honestly sometimes I think it's more like a pond. According to the letter it looks like I have to fish. Great. I hate fishing!
-
I don't want to fish right now.
-
Fish!
Click around the lake to fish!
-
Give up.
Dang, this isn't what I'm looking for!
-
Let it go.
What even is this? Definitely not what I need...
-
Let it go.
Awww Look at this little guy--
...
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Back.
This doesn't...look THAT mutated but... there's certainly something wrong with it.
-
Let it go.
You've got to be kidding me.
-
Ok.
Huh. An old, rusty necklace. It's pretty I guess, but not what I'm looking for. It's not even a fish.
-
Throw it back in.
There's an old photograph on the ground. It's very dirty and ripped up. Can't really tell who was in the photo. I stare at it for a while, but I don't want to pick it up.
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Back.
There's a strange symbol carved into this tree... it's weirdly familiar. Maybe I've seen it around town?
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Back.
There's a broken camera on the ground. What a waste.
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Back.
There's an old, dirty boot by this tree. Looks like whoever was wearing it must've been in quite a scuffle with how messed up the boot is. I don't think I've noticed this around until now. Weird...
-
Back.
This leads to the road. I don't use it much, since I barely leave the woods. The dirt road seems to stretch on for miles. There's just more forest on the other side.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
This well has been in this little clearing for years. It's not connected to a pump or anything, and there's no homes nearby that it connects to, so I have no idea why it's here. The water inside always smells and looks gross. Skitters would probably drink it, so thank goodness it's too far down for her to reach. Maybe I should take a closer look. It seems to be marked?
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
Someone used to live here for a while, but one day I passed by and it was abandoned and taped up. I never saw anything about it in the news... I do vaguely remember cops talking to me, but I didn't know anything. Every time I walk past this area it feels eerie. Am I willing to trespass?
I shiver, but I don't feel a breeze... fur's standing up a little. Think I'm just a little uneasy.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
Someone used to live here for a while, but one day I passed by and it was abandoned and taped up. I never saw anything about it in the news... I do vaguely remember cops talking to me, but I didn't know anything. Every time I walk past this area it feels eerie. Am I willing to trespass?
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
I got myself in through the roof. I'm sure if I hopped for a while I could get out through the roof again, but... I'd have to be careful, I don't want it to fall apart on me. Those boards look pretty sturdy, so I don't know if I can leave any other way. Maybe I should've thought through an exit strategy before I got in here.
There's a giant hole in the ground, for some reason, and a letter. I wonder, if that guy used to live here, where did he sleep? Was the bed swallowed up by the hole?
I pick up the ring that's next to the letter. As I do, a grumble comes from the hole...
-
What is that?
The hole lets out an eerie noise. The longer I stare at it the weirder I feel. I really don't want to be in here anymore.
-
Back.
I have no idea what just happened??? My necklace is burning hot right now though, and that... thing appears to have fled. Is it gone? I don't think I'm injured, but my head feels strange. I'm getting the heck out of here.
-
Risk climbing out through the roof.
The guy that lived here was a shy author. He didn't really talk to people much, and probably went to town even less than I did. He was also really superstitious, the kind of person who thought breaking mirrors caused bad luck. I was nice to him, though - I'd stop by sometimes to check on him, but it was always a gamble whether he was happy to see me or not.
Sometimes I come over to stare at the caution tape... I wonder what happened to him. The only other person who visited him was some girl, and after he vanished she never came around again, so I couldn't ask.
Anyway, the window and door are boarded up. Can't go in through those, but maybe the roof...?
-
Back.
Looking at how the shack looks now, I think about the times I visited beforehand. I can't help but wonder if, had I known him better, he wouldn't have vanished or something. I guess there's part of me that doesn't... care. Maybe it's because I didn't know him that well. It's hard to miss someone you barely interacted with.
Regardless of all that, this area makes me uncomfortable. I feel like I'm being watched.
-
Back.
Got back out through the roof without incident after all. I really don't want to go back in there ever again. At least I have the ring... another item checked off.
-
Look at the map.
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Look at the list.
This is a big abandoned sewer tunnel thing? I'm not sure what it is exactly. Either way I've never been in there, I peeked in there once a while ago and heard some... uncanny noises. I decided I'd rather leave whatever creatures have taken hold of it alone. Guess that's about to change, though.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
This side of the road leads to town. I don't really need to go there right now. I haven't in a long time, either - it's just such a long walk, and I usually just get all the things I need delivered, and-- Wait, who the heck is that?
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
I look toward the direction of town. I haven't been there in a while... I almost want to go, but something tells me not to put my foot forward. The roadside stranger watches me closely.
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Back.
There's a flimsy fence that has only ever been on this side of the forest. They completely gave up on finishing it I guess, considering it's been like that since I moved here. I kinda hate it.
Beyond it is the denser forest. Sometimes I see animals while standing over here, which is nice. It looks like there's something hanging from that treetop, but something stops me from crossing the fence. I wouldn't be able to reach it anyway, so it's whatever.
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Back.
There's a baseball cap in the tree, being held up there by the needles. It's too high up for me to reach it. Wonder whose it was... and how it got all the way up there in the first place, really.
-
Back.
Huh, weird. A little stick of blue chalk.
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Back.
I stare through the forest. It gives me a sense of nostalgia. Didn't I walk through these woods like, two months ago? Why am I getting nostalgic about it? Maybe it's just because I've been in my house so much. I like walking through this area a lot, though. But I can't do that right now, not with this stupid letter getting me all curious.
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Back.
I look at the odd stranger. Its skull-like face is just... looking at me. Despite him not having any pupils, I can feel the weight of his stare. I don't think I remember seeing him around before. Why the heck is he even here?
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Back.
-I ask the stranger who he is.
"I am nothing you need to concern yourself with, lupe, for I am nothing in this world. Simply, I watch. Your aura is... putrid. I refuse to answer more questions of your kind. Leave me be, and I beg you... do not make that potion. It'll hurt far more than you know. Though... I suppose you wouldn't care about that, would you?"
Okay? Weird. He's right about one thing, though - I don't care. I'm not going to listen to him.
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Back.
I was actually here when the tree fell over. I was out while it was storming, which, yeah, kind of an idiot move in a forest, but it was nice. I wasn't too close to the tree when I saw it get hit by lightning and fall. Watching the electricity cra
ckle through the tree sure was something, though I was surprised the tree didn't catch on fire. I guess the rain probably helped with that. Now it just lays on the ground. I see bugs hanging out around it a lot, they love the thing. Skitters loves the bugs.
-
Look at the map.
-
Look at the list.
I rip some bark off of the tree stump, since I need it apparently. For some reason the stump is 'bleeding' this dark black liquid... it kinda smells like... licorice? Whatever, no time to question it.
-
Wait, what's that?
I stare down the road. Most of this road leads to absolutely nowhere, though there's a couple farms if you go far enough. I don't have a vehicle. It's always a sight when one passes by, but it's not very common. There's an old abandoned car further off by the trees, and it's been there for a long time. Years, I think. I'm not too sure, but definitely a while. I remember when police were checking it out. I kind of thought they'd take it away but they never did. Otherwise, there's nothing interesting over here.
-
Back.
The last time I ate these, I threw up. Badly. I still don't know what kind of berries they are, and I probably shouldn't try one again. I really should get a berry guide or something, honestly.
-
Back.
I've eaten probably hundreds of these and they never made me feel sick. They're great! Nice and sweet. I still don't know what kind of berries they are though. I just wish they were red... that's my favorite color.
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Back.
I ate one of these once. They're pretty bitter and taste awful, but at least they aren't poisonous. I don't know what they are, but it doesn't really matter. For some reason looking at the color makes me kind of angry. Wonder what that'd mean to a psychologist.
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Back.
I tried one of these once.
Never. Again. They're... sweet, but with a
terrible aftertaste. Plus they're full to the brim of these nasty little seeds that make my whole body shudder. Gross. I don't know what kind of berries they are, and I don't care. I wish they didn't exist.
-
Back.
Just about had a heart attack, what the heck even
was that??? Why was it so big?? I don't know if I'm too happy about seeing it, nor do I want to see it again. I didn't know the forest had gotten THIS bad...
-
Back.
I don't know whose grave this is... the dirt looks pretty fresh.
What was that noise?
-
Back.
This dead tree has probably been here since I moved here. It's never had a single leaf on it, and petpets won't even touch it, which seems strange. I find a weird red rock inside of it. It's like if a regular rock was red instead of regular - a stunning observation from yours truly. That seems to mark off one thing from my list. Cool.
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Back.
This is, uh, basically Skitters' tree. Doesn't look like she's here right now, though. She likes to gather up shiny things and random stuff she finds around the woods when she escapes, then she places it high up in the branches of this tree where she
knows I can't reach. It's kind of cute to be honest. She's got some crazy stuff up there. I probably can't even see it all from here. Looks like her newest addition is that random sock.
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Back.
Yuck, this water is disgusting. I apparently need the water - and whatever that little gem thing is. The bucket is kind of hard to pull up though, but I manage. On the inside is a small pink gem, which I admire before putting both the bucket of water and the gem in my mysterious INVENTORY. That marks two things off my list.
-
Back.
I don't know whose grave... Wait... who's that?
WHAT THE???
-
Back.
...This place mostly smells like moss and gunk. It's probably going to look more and more awful the further I head in. I'd rather not, but apparently I need 6 used candles from in here - the recipe says the 6 candles will need crushed for this potion, so. No choice. This better be worth it.
It's really damp in here, and the air is even colder than it was outside. There's an eerie feeling in my bones. Hopefully getting these candles will be easy. Why are there candles in an old freaking sewer anyway?
There's some old matches in the puddle. They're absolutely soaked, and there's only two left.
-
Back.
I have to step over so much moss in here. I don't want my boots getting in it because that seems kinda gross. There's another sewer pipe with some caution tape hung up, as well as all over the floor. Ahead of me is a heavily boarded area - I don't think I could get through that if I wanted to.
Yeah, after some more inspection these boards are surprisingly new
and surprisingly strong. Would definitely be hard to remove. Guess there's only one other place to go...
-
Back.
That...
thing is standing over by something I can't see very well. It looks like there's paint on the ground? The figure shakes in its spot eerily, staring at me with a face like a black hole. My necklace glows a little, heating up.
I have no idea what just happened. My necklace lit up a lot while it spoke to me, but I have no idea what happened after that. It's gone though, and I'm over by the weird paint-stuff on the ground. What just happened? Well uh, might as well grab these candles I need anyway.
Huh. Looks like dusty old wing bones. I'll leave them where they are. I don't need them anyway, but they're probably gross regardless.
-
Back.
Well that was... strange.
I crawl through the new opening and land on the other side of the tunnels. It looks like I'm still in the forest. I can't see my house from here, but I know how to get there if I need to. Maybe I should head ba-- Oh, wait a minute, is that Skitters?
It
is Skitters!! There you are, you have
got to stop escaping the house! Whose bone are you even nibbling at? You have to stop trying to destroy the local wildlife population, Skitters. She chitters at me happily, and I just can't stay mad at her when she sounds so sweet.
What's this? There appears to be a note tied to her.
-
Put her on your shoulder and read the note.
I wonder how they knew Skitters was going to be in just the right spot for me to find... Weird. I guess I'm almost done with this. I'm still confused, but I have a good feeling that the letter's right. Things have felt off, lately. Everything has felt monotonous, strange, unnatural... I don't know.
I feel antsy, almost like I've been waiting for this day to come for a long time. Most might say not to trust whoever sent this to me, or think it's crazy that I'm following it. But I just have a feeling it's supposed to be like this.
Skitters nibbles at my cheek as I survey the area.
Let me take a look at that--
OUCH!! What the heck is this thing covered in?? It seems to have burnt me just a little... Ow. Didn't burn me too bad, though, more like when you accidentally touch a stove for a second. Soon the redness will go away. Guess I'm not touching that... It's oddly familiar, though...?
-
Back.
As I walk the air grows even colder than it already was. It's only now I realize how stagnant the air has been since I woke up this morning... how stagnant it's been for a long long time. I look at Skitters. She brings me comfort just by being there, and her soft chittering breaks the uneasy quiet of this area. Each step almost feels like a whisper in the dark. The trees up ahead are beginning to rot and die, and it looks like after a certain point there will no longer be a living tree to see.
Looks like a dusty old arm bone. Strange... it looks pretty old, it's a wonder it hasn't completely turned to dust by now.
-
Back.
The name is scratched out. I wonder why.
-
Back.
There's a large slab on the ground, and these two strangers are standing around doing nothing, much like that stranger back at the roadside. They're watching me intently as I walk up to the slab.
The slab has a small cauldron with a fire lit underneath, despite a lack of kindling beneath it. The trees here are dead, and the air feels thick. Skitters makes an excited noise.
I stare at the empty cauldron. The heat radiating from the fire is almost comforting... it's different, a new feeling, something I think I missed, but I'm not too sure.
I don't know what these guys are talking about, but they're right that I will not listen to them. Whatever this is... I want it.
-
Begin adding the items.
I pour the wellwater and pink gem into the cauldron. I then add the bleeding bark, and the red rock from the dead tree. The items begin to slowly dissolve in the water, reacting in strange ways to the black ooze. I drop in the gold ring, then the mutated fish - it wriggles, somehow still alive after all this time. I watch as it, too, dissolves alongside everything else. I crush up the candles from the sewer with my bare hands and add them, the wax quickly melting into the water.
As I stir the strange concoction, the water begins to glow a bright, beautiful red.
I can't imagine this will taste any good.
-
Drink.
Somehow the cauldron isn't hot to the touch, so I lift it to my lips and drink. The potion is hot, but not too hot to drink... until I've already swallowed. It has an aftertaste of... burning. Freezing. Burning freezing.
It burns. It burns. It burns.
It burns. It burns. It burns. It burns. It burns.-
Remember it all.
January 18th, 20XX
One year ago
This was one of my few grocery runs into town, and I couldn't help but stop and stare at the missing posters that had been put up. Multiple people in the region had gone missing recently, especially near the woods where I was living. According to townspeople, the woods had become dangerous. This wasn't the Haunted Woods, yet there were many tales of monsters roaming the forest and of hearing strange noises coming from the woods at night. That, paired with the missing people, made it all the more terrifying. Many people saw me as a shy friend and had kindly warned me to be careful out there.
I was about to finally turn away when I heard a voice.
-
Continue.
"It is a shame, isn't it?" An elderly Lenny in fine robes said.
I glanced at them - at first I wasn't sure they were talking to me, but they were. They didn't wait for an answer before continuing to speak, making eye contact with me for just a moment.
-
Continue.
"I'm a cleric, you see. I'm here to try and find them." They spoke, looking down at me.
I stared at them, my gaze landing on the pendant around their neck. "Good luck," I said, "It's scary out there. I'm not sure how being a cleric will help, but I don't know a lot about that stuff."
They smirked, tilting their head.
"Thank you, young one."
-
Continue.
May 11th, 20XX
Two years ago
These memories are blurry, but still so clear at the same time."You're always nice to me, LN," A small Kiko said, looking to the side shyly.
He had trouble making friends, much like me. He lived in town, and always wanted to hang out near the lake. He loved fishing.
-
Continue.
I remember his words so well now.
"I just know I can trust you." He had said.
I remember how it made me laugh multiple times throughout the months, whenever I thought back on it.
It was funny because I knew that I was the least trustworthy person he could've known. His naïveté was so amusing to me.
-
Continue.
January 18th, 20XX
One year ago
It felt like the conversation had dragged on for ages. When I finally turned to leave, they spoke again.
"I didn't catch your name?"
It took me a moment to answer. I considered giving them a fake name, but I knew that'd be suspicious, as multiple people in town knew who I was. There was always the chance they'd find out that I'd lied.
-
Continue.
"LN," I said.
At the time I didn't think it was a big deal - it wasn't my full name, anyway. I think it wasn't until a bit too late that I realized they had been staring at my necklace, much like I had been with theirs.
Maybe I should've realized it then.
-
Continue.
August 11th, 20XX
Two years ago
A Lutari had shown up at my doorstep.
"Can I use your phone? She had asked.
Of course, a kind soul like myself let her in.
-
Continue.
I remember standing there, listening to her conversation for a bit. I was careful, after all. She didn't get to tell them exactly where the car had broken down just yet.
She probably would've been better off just walking the long, long walk home. But instead, she found me.
-
Continue.
February 21st, 20XX
One year ago
Apparently, a group of clerics had shown up to town. They had heard about the disappearances that had been happening over the course of the last few years. Originally it had just been people from out of town, but slowly people from town had started vanishing as well. The clerics were sure that the disappearances were something more than people just getting lost or encountering wildlife.
They were convinced
something was behind it.
-
Continue.
February 21st, 20XX
One year ago
If only I had known.
I was placated by the fact that people in town would vouch for me.
I wasn't stupid. I had heard that the clerics had asked about me. But everyone said the same thing; I was just a shy, friendly guy who lived in the woods where all of this had been taking place. If anything, most people were scared I would be next, and they told the clerics just that.
But the clerics weren't stupid, either.
-
Continue.
November 11th, 20XX
Two years ago
A partially blind shoyru had somehow managed to get lost in the woods. She was someone who lived in town. She probably shouldn't have wandered off too far, and I didn't know how or why she had ended up here.
But that didn't matter.
-
Continue.
Of course I agreed to help her.
She was fun. Wings are some of my favorites.
-
Continue.
February 21st, 20XX
One year ago
It's funny to think... I had known the clerics were there, I knew they were talking about me, I knew they were suspicious. Maybe I was the naïve one, but I had thought there was no way they could do anything about it.
It feels like so long ago.
-
Continue.
December 11th, 20XX
Two years ago
I had figured out my neighbor was planning on calling his spiritual advisor. I remember being angry. He was a hermit, an author who lived in the woods and hardly spoke to anyone. I thought I had gotten to him fast enough, but I must not have. The spiritual advisor must have informed the clerics. But I hadn't known that.
I don't know why he was suspicious of me. I had been nothing but kind to him. All I truly remember was that he began acting strange towards me. Maybe he had seen something he shouldn't have, but to this day I still don't know.
-
Continue.
Maybe if he hadn't called anyone, he would've made it out in one piece.
-
Continue.
They had surrounded the forest with items that would keep me in one place. I felt it quickly after they arrived. I thought I could hold my own.
-
Continue.
The clerics entered my home. They were speaking that putrid language, their holy words spitting off of their tongues and into the air. The words burned my ears and my skin. I had tried throwing things at them, but being surrounded by those disgusting blue pendants drained my energy.
-
Continue.
My face was slashed during the scuffle. They pushed at me and I tried to escape, but they must've put something around my house, too. I couldn't leave.
-
Continue.
They pushed me all the way up to my attic. They quickly surrounded me with a strange blue symbol, and I thought for sure this was the day I was going to die. They spoke of banishing me. It hurt so bad, but I was putting up a horrifying fight.
I think they underestimated me.
-
Continue.
I managed to gather just enough strength to push an attack outside of the square, harming the main cleric. The other two were terrified. I remember their screams, as clear as day.
-
Continue.
"Noreis!" They shouted the cleric's name in unison, fear evident in their voices.
They had kept themselves stone-faced up until this point. We all watched their longtime friend fall to the floor like a bag of bricks.
-
Continue.
"This spell isn't working! We have to do something, Noreis is injured!" The Draik yelled, flipping through his book. Panic had begun to set in - they were scared they wouldn't be able to banish me. That if they tried, either they'd die, or Noreis would.
-
Continue.
I don't remember it well, but I remember them saying something about time. They started the new spell.
-
Continue.
I watched in confusion as they began their new phrases. I remember feeling a bit of hope.
-
Continue.
Then it felt like I was being pulled and prodded, ripped to shreds. My hope diminished. The room exploded in a bright, red light.
Their spell had succeeded.
-
Continue.
"I... suppose so."
With that, the two of them walked away, leaving behind the forest for good. They did not stop by town. They didn't want to face anyone, as regretful and guilty of that night as they were.
-
Continue.
April 27th, 20XX
One year ago
I wonder how long it took for people to figure out I was "missing" too.
-
Continue.
I think the spell had to have been a Time Banishment Spell. While the real world was changing around me, I was going through the same four months continously. March, April, May, June... and then back to March, over and over again. Things would change around me to trick my brain into thinking everything was normal, and at the start of every loop I'd forget the last one.
The loop also seemed to make me forget my nature. I didn't know what I was.
What a shame.
-
Continue.
I don't know how many loops in it was that I started to realize something was off, but I did. Maybe it was because I didn't remember how I got the scar on my face, or because Skitters always seemed so antsy. Regardless, at some point I had begun to remember, though only somewhat. Déjà vu can only be explained away for so long before you start putting pieces together. My otherworldly nature broke through the spell's hold, just a
little. But it was enough to formulate a plan.
-
Continue.
The clerics weren't the only people who knew magic. I knew that the loop would likely make me forget what exactly was going on, but I also knew that if I moved something, the loop would keep it that way to avoid making me suspicious. I used this to my advantage and wrote myself a letter containing the steps to making a potion that would, if I was right, break me out of this. I tricked myself into believing someone else out there knew something - a means of escape I was unaware of.
And what do you know? I was right, after all.
-
THEY UNDERESTIMATED ME.
The memories flash before my eyes, my head aching with the pressure of them. Pain wracks through my body, crawling through each vein, burning my insides and turning me inside out. I scream out into the night.
It's a horrible pain, yet a welcome one.
-
I REMEMBER IT ALL.
The stone slab bursts open, shards of rock erupting from it. Dozens of hands burst forth from the stone, grasping onto my body. As I float into the air, the arms are pushing me back down, two forces fighting each other. I scream, and my body rips into itself. Power surges through me, anger and horror fueling me.
-
ESCAPE THE LOOP.
A wave of relief washes over me, and hands spring forth from my body, my true form spilling out around me. I feel amazing. I feel brand new. I feel like myself. Skitters clambers around me, seeming just as excited as I am.
The spell that was holding me hostage suddenly snaps. The present comes crashing down around me.
I'm free.
-
THEY CAN CONTAIN ME NO LONGER.
I AM FINALLY GOING TO GET OUT OF HERE.
HOW DARE THEY DO THIS TO ME?
"..." They say nothing, but they shake with fear.
-
GOOD.
I NO LONGER WANT THIS AS MY HOME.
I MUST ABSORB THE REMNANTS BEFORE I LEAVE. THEY WILL GIVE ME POWER.
THERE IS NOTHING HERE FOR ME.
I'VE ABSORBED THE CREATURE.
IT WAS YOUR FAULT, AUTHOR.
YOU HAVE ONLY YOURSELF TO BLAME.
-
CONSUME.
IT TREMBLES IN TERROR. I ABSORB THE MUTATED BEAST.
MY ENERGY STRENGTHENS.
-
CONTINUE.
OUTSIDE OF THE FOREST, I CAN TELEPORT TO WHERE I TRULY NEED TO GO.
-
IT IS TIME.
-
WAIT.
It's a late night and I can't sleep. I've been staring at this picture for what seems like hours, memories and regret swirling inside of me. There's a pit in my throat.
I don't know why, but something in the air feels wrong tonight.
As I stare at the picture, I hear a loud thunk from outside my room.
-
Continue.
I make it to my door, and something horrifying enters - a monster with hands springing forth from every which way. Looking at it hurts my eyes. If it wasn't for the floating red gem, I wouldn't know who, or what, this was.
-
Plead.
"Please, don't hurt me! I have a family - a life, please! Don't do this!" I cry.
The beast listens, its face unmoving. A voice speaks out from nowhere.
"You're a coward." It speaks.
My pendant is in my nightstand. I'm completely helpless.
"It was you who decided to use the time spell. What do you have to say for yourself?"
-
Beg.
"Yes, but I didn't continue the exorcism! Isn't that enough? Instead of taking your life away, I gave you a chance to live! And what else was I supposed to do after what you did to Noreis?" I cry out, blubbering, tears falling from my face. I've never felt so pathetic and small, begging for my life from a demon. It's shameful, but what else can I do?
A chuckle echoes throughout the room.
"You sicken me. You're a coward, a fool, and you can't even do your job right. What would all those lovely people think if they knew you were pleading for your life instead of fighting me?" His gem burns a bright red, and it's only then that I realize it's floating above me now. I hadn't even noticed during my pleading.
-
Please...
"Please..." I whimper, but I can feel in my soul that it's no use. The beast has already made his decision.
The gem glimmers in front of my eyes, and I stare into it absentmindedly. It whispers a language I don't understand, but it burns my stomach.
-
...
"Be with Noreis, Cleric Juvieal..." The beast says softly, his tone more natural. I don't get a chance to beg again before I feel my soul leave my body, and I am gone.
-
...
It's a nice afternoon, but I'm not outside enjoying it. I've been standing over by my phone for a while. The air has felt heavy lately, and I've been having nightmares about that night again. I keep thinking about calling my old friend, Juvieal. We... grew distant after what happened. I always wanted to talk to him again, but I was scared. I think we both were.
I've been nervously whispering his phone number to myself for what seems like eons, but I finally steel myself and gather the courage to lift the phone. As I'm about to tack in the numbers, I hear a thunk outside my front door.
-
Is someone here?
For a moment, I just listen to see if I hear it again. I had dropped the phone in surprise, and now it's hanging from the side of the table, moving slightly in the breeze. I can hear the phone droning its off-the-hook sound. I can hear my clock ticking nearby.
Then there it is again - a thunk by my door. I feel a sense of dread, but I ignore it and make my way to the door.
-
Check to see who it is.
The second I reach the door, it flies open, cr
acking into the wall beside it. The outside air is unnaturally cold, and a monster bursts in.
I scream, scrambling backwards and falling to the floor. The beast laughs, reveling in my fear. Its familiar voice, the glowing gem... I never thought it'd come back, or, at least, not this soon.
-
Continue.
I stare up at the demon in front of me. Its many hands are shifting and grasping at nothing, and the black hole of its face eminates an ominous groan. I can feel the evil scratching through my living room, corrupting the very air around me. I need to... do something.
-
Defend?
I throw my pendant upward in a desperate attempt to rid myself of the beast before me. I hadn't seen it like this the last time.
I must have faith, I think.
I am not alone in this fight.As if sensing my thoughts, the beast laughs in my face.
-
Continue.
Its gem flies forward, its laughs continuing to echo through my ears. The skittering creature in its maw chitters along with it. The gem glows a bright red, forcing my hand to release the pendant - and as I do, the pendant cr
acks, then completely shatters. The symbol of protection falls to the ground with a soft clunk, but to me it's louder than an earthquake.
-
Ponder.
I don't have much time to ponder what to do next. It's obvious that my pendant didn't weaken the creature, and it dawns on me right then that I'm not getting out of this. No words, no spells, no anything will protect me from the beast's vile, hideous rage.
I just wish that I had called Juvieal like I planned.
"At least you tried something, Cleric." The beast mocks.
-
...
The gem flies in front of my face, burning a soft but eerie red.
"What do you think of yourself, Cleric? Do you feel weak? Do you regret it?" I stare into the gem. My voice catches in my throat.
"...No. I regret... I regret not keeping you trapped for all time."It growls.
"It's what Noreis would've wanted, I assume." It says, angry at my lack of guilt. The truth is, I
am guilty, but I want to save some face before I'm gone.
-
I won't give it the satisfaction of my tears.
The beast snarls, fed up.
"Be with Noreis and Juvieal, Cleric Nureoth."Those words are the last thing I hear from the demon before pain rips through my body, burning as my soul is tugged from its vessel. As guilty and afraid as I am, I leave with a feeling of peace - I will be with my friends. The beast cannot take that peace from me.
-
HE IS GONE.
THE CLERIC'S SOUL IS MINE. THERE IS NO PEACE FOR HIM. HE IS A FOOL.
IT IS I WHO WILL HAVE SOLACE, KNOWING THAT THEY ARE FOREVER LOST, THAT THEY HAVE PAID FOR THEIR MISTAKES.
-
IT IS TIME TO GO BACK.
Well... here we are. The end.
I'm not going to lie and say I won't miss this place. I've lived here for years, but it's probably for the best that we get out of here as soon as possible while people still think I'm missing.
-
Ponder.
I'll probably move on to the Haunted Woods. I think that would be the best place for me. I've learned from my mistakes, and I think living in a place known for being 'creepy' might be a better fit.
After all, if someone goes missing, it's a lot less likely that they'll pin it on me.
-
Leave.
I turn away from my old home and begin walking back to the road. I think about the past few years fondly - before all of this happened, anyway. Skitters chitters at me, nuzzling my face as we leave it all behind. I can feel an ache blooming in my chest. Saying goodbye to old memories is hard.
-
Move on.
I've finally started moving into my new place, and I'm... happy. It's in the woods much like my old home, but definitely in a better state. There are two lovely towns nearby, full of friendly, welcoming faces. Just what I like to see. The eerieness of the forest feels like home, like this is where I belong.
-
Continue.
Well, I still have an open plan kitchen, but I can't always win. I like the layout of my new house way better than the old one, though. Skitters is over to the side playing with her new toy. I think she likes it here, too.
-
Done exploring?
Usually she would've slurped down her sludge by now, but she's so entranced with her new toy that she didn't even notice I slopped that crud in there. It smells awful, but it's good for her.
As usual, her water is completely untouched.
Some things never change.
-
Back.
It's still dead, but whatever. I, uh, like it better this way, anyway.
-
Back.
This is the upstairs. I got a house without an attic this time. Or, well, it's got one, but it's really small and more of a crawlspace situation. I just don't like the idea of an attic anymore.
-
Done exploring?
This is my bedroom. I don't know why I bothered keeping Skitters' bed, honestly. Maybe I'm just hopeful that she'll actually use it one day. I got her a Meowclops tree and she seems to enjoy it a lot, though! I also bought a new mirror.
I'm going to try to keep this room cleaner. But... I don't have much faith in that, to be honest.
-
Done exploring?
This is the bathroom. I actually had it redone. I liked the way my old one looked better than this one did, but now it's perfect. I still love the claw bath.
-
Done exploring?
I feel pretty good right now.
-
Back.
This is my garage. I decided to keep putting my horror novels in here, as well as my untouched paint supplies... but maybe I'll actually use them now?
-
Done exploring?
My cellar. I still needed a place to store my journal stuff, and I like it here. It's weird having a boiler and a fuse box that's actually
inside the house now, but I like it. I put all of my old stuff I don't know what to do with down here, too... I'll look through it all eventually.
-
Done exploring?
The most recent entry says:
July 23rd, 20XX
I'm finally moved into the new place after everything went down. I'm pretty ecstatic, honestly. I feel more at home than I have in a long, long time. That old house was being haunted by myself for so long. I'm here now, though. I think I'm going to go back to how things were, somewhat, but maybe with more planning and being careful. I'm also hoping to get Skitters harness trained, maybe it'll stop her from running around outside so much. I also made sure the vents are secure so she won't squeeze through them.
While I make my new normal, I'll have to get used to the Haunted Woods being louder than my old place. At the same time, I spent... 'months' looping in the same eerie forest for so long, so this might not take much to get used to. I'm planning on doing my first grocery run into one of the towns soon. I hope it goes well.
--LN
-
Back.
The backyard... I decided to put a little table out here. Maybe I'll sit here and drink coffee in the mornings.
-
Done exploring?
Skitters is playing with her new toy. I got a ton of them for her recently so she can have more enrichment. There's not a lot made specifically for Intesteens unfortunately, but these variety packs for other petpets seem to work just fine. She does get a bit growly if I get too close to her toy mouse while she's playing with it, but she's probably just thinking I'll take it from her like I do with the living Miamice she captures too.
-
Back.
My new mirror. I can use this to scry, but also get ready in the morning. I like it. My biggest issue with these mirrors is that I always forget to get a bigger one, so it's never my exact height. But whatever.
-
Back.
My bed... I'm not really tired right now.
-
Back.
My screensaver is on... If I don't look away now, I'll be stuck here for hours staring at it. I don't know why.
-
Back.
I still have this thing... Did its eyes change?
-
Back.
I stare out at my new view. It's lovely. It feels so much better to stand outside now - I feel so free. Nothing will ever trap me again, I'll make sure of it.
-
Continue.
Well, now that I'm settled in, I think it's time for me to visit those towns.
I'm sure the new faces will be pleasant to see.
-
♦️
To him, this is a good thing. He gets to live his life again.
-
♦️
He broke from his prison and destroyed the clerics who tried to stop his every move.
-
♦️
Cleanly erased, those left behind will never find peace or justice, and neither will their families.
-
♦️
Evil won, and that's just the plain truth.
-
♦️
To a beast who's hungry for blood...
-
♦️
...maybe that's just what is meant to be. Maybe that is destiny.
-
♦️
A candle glows eternally,
but it never melts.
-
♦️
