Duskwood: Into the Forest Pt. 2

**All characters are owned by Everybyte, and are from the game Duskwood, available on mobile devices. Spoilers contained from Episode 9 and before.***

When you open your eyes, you feel groggy and your ears ring slightly. You sit up slowly but something yanks you back where you lay. You jerk your head towards the source, expecting to find your arms bound and the man without a face lingering nearby. Instead, you see a handsome man, black curls peaking out from his hood, laying face down next to you. His hand is in yours, and even though he’s fast asleep, his grip is strong.

You smile to yourself. It’s him, your hacker, Jake. He’s here with you. You can’t believe it. The fond moment is short lived, however as you remember the text from, Michael Hanson, and Jake’s reaction. You passed out. Was it from fear, anger, or something else? Your head hurts. You must have hit it on the way down. Did He carry you here?

You reach over and brush his hair from his face. You smile as you remember everything you’ve accomplished together. You entered the groupchat 10 days ago. Hannah, Jake’s half-sister, was missing. She’d asked for his help. Her email was vague. He didn’t know what was wrong. He called her to find out how he could help. Instead, he witnessed her kidnapping.

At the time, he’d created a group chat amongst her close friends. Thomas, her boyfriend, was already a prime suspect for police. Friends Jessy, Richy, Cleo, and Dan were skeptical that it wasn’t the work of someone in their group, while sister Lilly targeted you and Jake as suspects.

Hannah had your phone number, but how? Why was yours the number she chose to send as her last text message? Maybe she meant to type something else? Maybe she was few numbers off? The semantics didn’t matter, because you were eager to help, even from afar.

In the process, you met Jake. A faceless hacker who claimed he wanted to help find Hannah. He did not openly disclose his relationship at first, which caused Lilly to panic and make a YouTube video outing you both as the culprits. Thankfully, Jake was able to prove his relationship with Hannah and Lilly, and Lilly helped clear his name with a viral campaign.

Well, not clear his name exactly, but make it easier for him to hide. Jake is wanted by the government. You still think about what he could have done. You think about it now as you brush the hair away from his face lost in thought. He’s so gentle and kind. Sometimes he can be overprotective, but still. You just can’t fathom him hurting someone.

His pursuers were also trying to get to you. A group of hackers infiltrated your phone. While he tried to outrun them, he’d stopped their attacks again and again. Why? What did you do to deserve his protection? He kept his thoughts and feelings close to him. You thought you both felt the same way, but it was so hard to tell.

You bit your lip as you thought about everything you’d been through. A flash of Jessy’s attack followed by Richy. You’d been on the phone with him when he’d heard shouting from the forest. You begged him not to go, but he was convinced that it was Hannah. They were calling his name after all.

You swallow hard as you remember him panting as he raced towards the source. The yelling stopped, and so did he. He glanced around the forest for the culprit but saw nothing. In the end, he’d been attacked from behind, just as he was about to head back.

“So much blood.” you whisper to yourself.

Your stomach lurches. They’re in trouble and were just lazing around. I yank my hand out of his. He shoots up suddenly inhaling quickly.

“I’m sorry, but we have to go.” You say quickly.

“We can’t.” He says sleepily rubbing his eyes.

“Jake, we can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

“Your involvement is why he’s taking such drastic measures.” He says flatly.

Your breath hitches in your throat. Your heart hammers out of your chest as you slump back onto the edge of your bed.

“Is… IS this my fault?” You hang your head.

“No.” He gentle sits down next you on the bed, just out of reach.

“Then why can’t we go?” Your head shoots up in defiance.

“It’s not your fault but it’s not going to make things better if we go.”

“Fine.” You sigh in resignation “I assume you have a plan?”

“I do.” He stands and goes to a desk you hadn’t noticed until now. Flipping open his laptop, he gets to work.

“Where are we anyway?” You ask as you peek around the small room.

“My place.” He says quietly.

“Wait, you took me to your place?”

“Yes.”

“What happened yesterday?” You rub your forehead.

“You passed out.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure, but it scared the hell out of me.” He says avoiding your gaze.

“I’m sorry.” You move to stand behind him as he taps away at the keyboard. The screen is encrypted. You don’t need him to tell you he’s hacking into something.

“I’m attempting to gain access to Hannah’s phone.”

“I see. What if we try to gain access to the others?” You place your hands on the back of his chair and lean down to get a better look.

“Good idea.” His fingers race across the keyboard. The screen reflects gently off his eyes as they dart past code after code.

“You’re good at this, aren’t you?” You mean it more as a statement, but it comes out as a question.

“Yes.” His fingers slow as your hands slide down from the chair’s back onto his shoulders.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” You let your fingertips brush his chin as you lift them back up to the chair.

“No.” His hands come to a standstill. “Actually, yes.” He stands from the chair and turns to face you.

His movements are awkward as he reaches for your hand. He avoids meeting your eyes and you find yourself returning his grasp. You reach out with your free hand and tilt his face up slightly with your fingertips. He’s biting his lip. He looks nervous.

“Jake.” You search his eyes with yours.

“Listen, I.” He stammers under your touch. “I don’t think it’s a great idea that were together.” He swallows hard, “I mean, here, together.”

He’s nervous and it is adorable. You wish he wouldn’t feel that way. You’d climb mountains, swim oceans, walk to the edge of the earth if it meant being close to him. He knows that doesn’t he? Doesn’t he feel the same?

He’s said things, done things, that make you think he feels the same way. He interrupted the vote with Lilly. Was that for you, or for Hannah? Jessy thought it was for you. What about the card with your name on it at Michael Hanson’s abandoned home? He was emotional about that, even after looking at photos of the others being stalked.

Your name was enough to set him off. Surely, he feels the same. Surely, he knows you’d do anything for him, right?

“Jake.” You start as he’s still lost in thought. We’ll get through it together. I don’t care if you’re dangerous. I know you want to protect me, but you can’t protect me from everything.”

“We can’t.” He says quietly.

“Why not?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“I don’t care. How many ways must I tell you? I will never regret knowing you.”

“You could get hurt.”

“It would hurt me more if you left again.” You think back to Lilly’s video. The panic and fear of Jake being caught, jailed, or worse. Lilly fixed her mistake, made it easier for Jake to get away, but he was still forced into hiding. Those few hours, that day, felt like it was never going to end. Were you ever going to hear from Jake again? You’ll never forget the wave of relief you felt when his name finally popped up on your phone.

“I don’t think so.”

“You know how I feel about you, right?”

He’s still looking away even though you are commanding his attention. Why won’t he look into your eyes? You grab his chin and pull him to face you. Your noses brush slightly, and he pulls back, but you hold him firmly in place.

“Why are you doing this?” He says pressing his lips into a thin line.

You steel yourself and look directly into his eyes, “Because I love you, Jake.” You feel his jaws clinch under your fingertips, “I love you, idiot. I’ve been drug into this mess, but I would do it all over again if it meant meeting you. Hannah and Lilly are important to you. I want to help save them both. I am part of the group now. I love them. Richy’s death hurt me…” Your eyes well up with tears, “Jessy’s attack made me want to run away, then and there, but you.” You swallow hard, “You kept me here. Not them. You. I wanted to make you happy, save your family.”

He’s shaking under your touch. He remains still searching your eyes. He glances past them to your lips for a moment.

“I can’t be with you.” He says flatly.

“I don’t care.” You quip.

He chuckles under his breath. “How do you do this to me?”

Without much warning he uses the hand you have trapped in yours to pull you into his chest. He brushes the back of your head as you bury your face into his hoodie. Tears roll freely down your cheek. He presses his lips against the top of your head.

“We have to save them, Jake. They are our friends.”

“Indeed.” He says as he strokes your back.

“Jake.” You say as you lift your head. “We have to go to Duskwood.”

“How about a compromise.” He says softly moving his hand to the back of your head.

You realize how close your bodies are. Every inch of you is burning with his touch. You can feel his breath on your forehead. His scent lingers in your nostrils. His hands are warm as they embrace you, and you feel your face flush.

“Comp…” You lick your lips nervously, “Compromise?” It’s all you can do to speak.

He nods, “We can get close to Duskwood, but not too close.” He says flatly.

“Alright.” You manage to choke out.

“You have to promise me you won’t leave my sight once were there.” He says softly.

“Okay.” You answer carefully.

“I mean it. Promise me.” He begs.

“I promise, Jake.” You flash a smile his way.

His eyes bore into you. Is he trying to make a point? Does he not believe you? What’s he looking for? While you’re lost in his eyes, searching for answers of your own, he presses his forehead to yours and closes his eyes.

“Can I…” He pauses shaking his head.

“Can you?” You close your eyes and breath him in.

“Kiss you.” He says so quietly you almost miss it.

You answer him without words, pressing your lips to his quickly and pulling back. He grabs your wrist and reels you back towards him, deepening the kiss. Frantically, his lips move against yours, hands trailing up and down your back. Finding your hips, he pulls you forward. His tongue traces the outside of your lips, teasing you, asking permission. You answer him in kind, until you’re out of breath.

“I take that as a yes,” He laughs as you pull away.

“Yes.” You say breathlessly.

“We should get moving. I’ve got a few more things I need to check on. You can book our flight in the meantime.”

“Uhm, Jake?” You say quietly.

“Yes?”

“I don’t know your last name to book the flight.” You realize you know very little about Jake.

“Ah, here.” He smiles as he reaches in his back pocket and tosses you his ID.

You scan the contents and realize that the photo is his, but the rest, doesn’t match up. According to this ID, his name is Alex Presser, and he’s from the same area you are. You roll your eyes.

“Fake ID, huh?” You grin.

“Yup.” He says dryly as he returns to his work.

“I’ll book the flight now.” You say as you remove your phone from your pocket and load the website.

As you start browsing airports, flights, and hotels, your phone starts to ring.

It’s Jessy. She’s calling you, so you pick up. Jake’s computer screen flashes as the call routes to him as well. It’s a video call. Its dark and dirty. The ground is damp. There are no windows, doors, and very little light. You are trying your best to take in everything you see, incase it can be helpful. The camera pans from blank space to a wall where several people sit, bound with the signature scarecrow bag over their head. Their mouths must be gagged, their voices are muffled.

“What have you done?!” You screech.

“I will kill them, and you will watch.” A distorted voice makes you jump back and your skin crawl.

“Don’t you touch them, you bastard!” You scream at the phone.

Jake grips your hand gently. You were so worried about the details you hadn’t notice him join you.

“If you come to Duskwood, I will find you. I will kill you, and everyone you care about. Stay out of other people’s affairs. This is your last warning.” He threatens as the screen goes black.

Your hands shake as you let the phone drop onto the bed. Jake wraps his arms around you and plants a soft kiss on your forehead.

“It’s going to be okay.” He says softly.

“Is it?” you question angrily. “We have to get moving.” You pull yourself away from him and reach for your phone.

“I’ll get packed.” Jake says returning to his computer.

“Sure.” You say as you punch in your ticket purchase with trembling hands.