Duskwood: Into the Forest Pt. 1

***All Characters except "You" are owned by Everbyte. The game is on Google Play/Apple Stores now! This story picks up AFTER Episode 9 of the game, and is my theory thus far. All characters out side of the MC (I will be using YOU so you can relate properly) are owned by Everbyte. Please support them by playing the game yourself! If you have not finished through EPISODE 9, this Fanfiction may contain potential spoilers.***

Your breath hitches in your throat as the call ends. You can’t get the distorted voice out of your head. It’s unpleasant. It doesn’t feel anything like the first time Jake called you using the same voice distortion technique. This time, you sense hatred and bitter intent behind every syllable. You shiver involuntarily as you type with shaking hands, begging one of your new friends to answer.

As your eyes search the screen for messages you know will never come, you click on a familiar icon. You must get ahold of Jake. He likely won’t like what you have to say, but he’s God knows where, hiding from God knows who. He can’t stop you even if he wanted to, but just to be safe, he should know your plan. You hesitate for a moment. Maybe it’s better if you don’t tell him. Just as you are about to slide your phone into your pocket and rush to the nearest airport, it vibrates against your palm.

Jake: Are you okay?

You: Of course, I’m not! Are you out of your mind?!

Jake: I’m sorry.

You: This has gone too far.

Jake: Please, don’t do anything rash.

You: …

Jake: Please.

You logout immediately and cram a few changes of clothing and your charger into a worn-out backpack you haven’t touched in ages. A few other essentials and you are ready to go. You rush from your apartment and order rideshare. As you sit on the curb, your phone vibrates incessantly, but you ignore it. You can’t let your feelings for him get in the way. Someone could already be hurt, or worse.

You swallow hard at the thought. You glance at your wristwatch wishing time would fly or stop all together, either would be better than this. As you’re staring at the secondhand tick by, someone grabs you by the elbow and drags you to your feet. You struggle, but only for a moment. When you look up at your attacker, you realize you recognize his eyes. His face, like so many others around you, is partially hidden by a mask. His mask, however, seems different. Where have you seen this mask before? Where have you seen this person before? Black hair. Black hoodie. Bright blue eyes. Suddenly, it clicks.

“Jake?” You stammer.

“What are you thinking?” He spits gripping your elbow so hard it hurts.

You’re stunned into silence. You’ve daydreamed about this moment for so long. You’ve spent countless days, hours on end, fantasizing about meeting him. You’ve wondered what he looked like, and made guesses based on his sisters, and bits of info you managed to wring out of him during casual conversations.

“Say something!” He shakes you back to your senses.

“I have to go!” You try to free yourself of his hold, but your efforts are fruitless.

“You can’t!” He shouts.

“Why not?!” You huff, teeth clenched in frustration. “They’re my friends! She’s your sister!”

Stunned, he loosens his grip, and his eyes widen, “Please.” His voice is weak. “You promised.”

“I’m sorry, Jake.” You choke back tears.

“Please. Please just listen to me.” His voice softens, “I…” he swallows hard, “I can’t lose you too.”

You inhale sharply, dropping your gaze away from his, “Jake… I….”

Jake lost both of his sisters just after finding them. You try to put yourself in his shoes. How would you feel if Jake disappeared again, this time for good? It’s like the air has been punched out of you. You are left suffocating.

“Please.” He pleads as he lets go of your arm. “Not you.” His head drops and the hood of his sweater conceals his eyes from view.

“Jake.” You reach out, pulling him into a gentle embrace. You bury your face in his chest as he slumps into your arms. His hands dangle at his sides as if he’s afraid to touch you.

“You can’t go.” He mumbles against the top of your head.

Your ride arrives, and you grab his hand and pull him along. He looks exhausted, like he hasn’t slept in days. Soft rings of purple outline his under eye. His hair looks disheveled, even under his hood. His jeans look worse for the wear and there is cat hair here and there.

“How did you find me?” You ask quietly so the driver doesn’t overhear.

“After I had to beg you not to go to Duskwood…” He bites his lip and contemplates how much he’s willing to tell you, “I was nervous that if things got any worse, I wouldn’t be able to convince you not to go.”

You chuckle softly, “Guess you’ve got me all figured out.” You bump his shoulder with yours.

“Where are we going?” He asks you quietly.

“Airport.” You hold your breath anticipating a second scolding.

“Absolutely not.” He narrows his eyes.

“Jake. If you don’t want me to go alone, then you’ll just have to come with.” You give him the most convincing smile you can muster.

He says nothing as you slide your hand across the seat and reach for his. He seems to be holding his breath, but you can’t be sure. His cheeks flush and he turns his face the window. You can see his reflection in the window and your eyes lock. He props his chin in his free hand.

“You’re not going.” He mumbles.

“Like hell.” You protest.

He closes his eyes and shakes his head as the car comes to a stop. Jake pays the driver in cash. You rush to the terminal ticket booth and ask for the next flight out. The nearest airport to Duskwood is still several hours away by car. You know that time is of the essence, but Jake doesn’t share the sentiment. Before the attendant can give you the details, he pulls you into a dark corner of a bustling airport bar. The waitress asks for your order but Jake waves her away. She nods politely and leaves.

“I think it’s better if we stay here and investigate a bit more.” Jake finally breaks the awkward silence between you.

“How could you say that!” You raise your voice garnering the attention of several bar patrons.

“We don’t know what’s happened.” He continues as he picks at a paper napkin.

“We know enough. I can’t do this anymore.” Your eyes burn with the threat of tears, but you continue anyway, “You’ve risked enough to help them. All this time, it’s been you. Your plan. Your way. I’ve always been safely tucked away, just waiting for you to decide where to go from here.” You swallow hard and take a deep breath, “Jake, you know damn well that I was a stranger before, but not anymore. You of all people should know how much this whole ordeal has changed us. It’s changed me! Has it not changed you?!” You bark angrily.

“It has.” He says staring down at his hands as they make quick work of the remaining napkin.

“Is that all you have to say?” You grind your teeth together as you stare at him fiercely. “After everything, are you just going to disappear and act like this never happened? Like those aren’t your sisters and their friends out there?” You press your lips together shaking your head in disbelief, “Are you going to pretend that I don’t exist too? That I might not be in danger even if we stay where we are? Jake, he’s going to come after me next. You heard what he said. I won’t get away with what I’ve done. If he doesn’t, then I still have to worry about protecting you!”

“Please don’t worry about me.” He glances as you sideways.

“Aren’t you scared? Don’t you wonder what will happen if we do nothing? Don’t you worry about their safety?”

“Of course.”

You phone vibrates and you remove it from your pocket. You have a notification from the app that is connected to Hannah’s device. Another message from the culprit pops up in your notification bar. You click on it as Jake leans to see what you’ve received.

“It’s Michael.” You’re shaking as you wait for the message to load.

I told you not to get involved.

Your friends have paid the price for your interference.

You fell right into my trap.

See you soon.

Jake yanks the phone from your hand and types furiously and then deletes his message immediately.

“What are you doing?” You whisper.

“I almost made a mistake.” He says quietly. “I’m not sure why I did that.” He hands the phone back to you, “I need my computer.”

He stands from the table and turns to face where you sit stunned. You can feel the world around you blur and sway as you start to lose focus. Your mind races with scenarios. Has he killed them? Was it like when Richy was attacked? Did he capture them? Is he planning to torture them? Does this mean that Hannah has been dead all along?

The world swirls around you as your ears start to ring. Jake’s voice sounds distant, muffled. Your chest feels tight, and your body feels numb. You try to force yourself to stand, to follow Jake. You want to get on a plane right this instant and fly to Duskwood. You want to help your friends, but your body won’t cooperate. The last thing you remember is your phone slipping from your hand and landing on the hard airport bar floor with a thud. You watch as Jake’s lips move, and he rushes towards you with his arms outstretched. Everything goes dark.