Ghosts? Equestrian magic? I mean, I knew what it was. But one out here in this random forest in the middle of nowhere? And they all came to investigate this on their own?

I guess if you tried to call the cops telling them there’s an evil magical ghost in the nearby woods, you’d probably be dismissed as crazy.

However, if there’s someone that should be trusted to deal with these kinds of magical shenanigans, I’d trust Sunset. She was the one that handled the friendship games issue with Twilight, Cadey told me all about what happened. Creepy demons, blinding lasers, portals from other dimensions…

Frankly, it was very difficult for me to accept it at first, but Twilight showed me proof, scientific proof that time and time again, this thing she called Equestrian magic was some kind of force in our world, I don’t think the crystal around my neck glows like that without a reason.

After Twilight died, mom and I cleared out most of her room, even if she was in tears. We’d found notebooks and piles of notes relating to her studies in Crystal Prep, she was studying magic, understanding its effects. The amulet she wore around her neck during the friendship games… I won’t pretend to understand it, but I knew it was related to what happened in Canterlot.

And to think they’re all just kids, thrusting themselves into danger. Twilight knew them, I’m sure she knew they had their reasons, but they didn’t warn anyone, they didn’t have any kind of backup plan. Did they just not think that through, or did they not want to be found?

The video mentioned the logging company, it’s actually not too far from the camp. It was shut down a few decades ago and has remained inactive ever since, but the place’s still up. But why is that place important to begin with?

I need to get back to the camp. Then I’ll be able to show what I found to the Sheriff, and he can organize a search party.

I exited out from the tent into the cold night air, crickets sung and the wind howled and despite the feeling that I’d heard footsteps in some random direction, when I turned to check, I saw nothing there. I’m really going crazy, aren’t I?

The feeling of loneliness was much more preferable to the feeling of being watched.

“Come on boy.” I slapped my thigh and ordered Spike to follow me, and after letting out a yawn and a stretch, we began walking back the way we came, through the bushes, down the water stream.

“Shining!” Lawson’s voice spoke to me from the radio at my waist. “Shining, come in!”

“Yeah, I’m here.” I replied as I continued walking along the path.

“We found the water stream. We’re heading up now.” Oh that’s perfect actually. Saves me the hassle from having to find him.

“Great. I’m heading down right now, we’ll probably meet halfway. I got my flashlight on so you’ll see a bright light.”

“Yeah, copy that.” The radio became silent after his last message.

Well that was good news at least.

Though as we continued to walk through the darkness, it almost felt like something kept one step ahead of me at all times. I could hear creaking from the branches, as if they were about to snap yet they never do. Leaves rustled all around me, making me spin my head every time I heard an unknown sound, yet Spike seemed undeterred from all that was going on around him. He simply kept walking, which only fueled my doubts. I’m just hearing things. Hopefully.

But I knew I saw a shape in the shadows, I knew I did. Yet when I shined my light, it was gone, like it had dissipated into the air and vanished away like smoke and despite being ready to fight, I really didn’t want it to happen. I don’t know what kind of monsters this place has, what they do, if there are even monsters to begin with or something worse, what could even be worse than magical monsters in a dark forest?

No, there’s nothing. I’ll be fine as long as I have Spike. Almost instinctively after thinking that, my head turned down for a quick glance at him, while he looked up at me with his hanging tongue while huffing chest, but stayed silent.

“Shining, come in.” Lawson spoke once again, so I reached for the radio.

“Yeah?”

“We’ve reached a clearing, where are you?” A clearing?

“Wait, you reached the clearing, up the stream? That’s where the campsite is.” I stopped dead in my tracks. They hadn’t passed me, so maybe they were in the wrong place? “What do you think of it?”

“Think of what, Shining? There’s nothing here.” What?

“Wait hold on, what do you mean there’s nothing there? I just came from that direction.” No, they’re at the wrong spot, they have to be. Hearing that made me do a complete 180 and head back in the direction of the campsite, though this time I was jogging up the stream. “You followed the water stream, right?”

“Shining- Are you sure your directions are correct?” Lawnson’s tone had changed, and for good reason. I’d also be annoyed in having to find a grown ass man in the woods, and getting lost myself…

“Yeah I’m- I’m sure of it!” Was I? I mean, my compass was going haywire just a few minutes ago. But what other choice did I have? “Hold on, stay where you are, don’t move, I’m coming back.”

“Fine…” Lawson was getting annoyed, but I can’t let him down.

Speeding through the darkness, flashlight in hand while Spike ran behind me, we both took quick sharp gasps for air. They should’ve passed me when walking up the stream, I should’ve seen them, and worse, they couldn’t even find the campsite. They had to be in the wrong place, there was no other explanation.

Through the bush once again, and into the clearing lit by the moonlight. My head scanned the area, my flashlight moved like a beacon darting between the tree trunks, but nothing. Not even the shapeless mists I was so sure I’d seen before. The campsite was exactly as I’d left it, nothing had changed.

“Lawson- I’m here.” I grabbed my radio and pressed the button with a beep. “Where are you?”

“Hell you mean you’re here?” Lawson’s voice was becoming increasingly more agitated and irritated. “Are you sure we’re in the same place? Blink your light around, let me see if I can spot it.”

Doing as I was told, I clicked my flashlight a couple of times, strobing it in the darkness. But not a beam of light ever flashed back, neither did any kind of voice ever call out for my name other than the—

“This is a waste of time!” A girl’s voice spoke from further away on Lawson’s radio, and I quickly reached for mine.

“No! I swear! I’m here! I’m-” C’mon there has to be some kind of landmark to identify this place, this is just a clearing in a forest but… I see something! “Next to the uh…”

I hadn’t even noticed this here before. A white tree sunk its branches into the earth beneath it just a couple of meters away from me, on top of a nearby hill. Completely leaveless too. The bark was a mixture between an ashy color and a snow-white, leaving it with an even more of a lifeless appearance than it already had.

“The white tree! You see it?! No leaves, on top of a hill, you see it right?” There was a moment of silence before another beep.

“I see it. But I don’t see you Shining. Did you flash your light?” Lawson was trying to be patient, but I could tell he was holding it back.

“I did! I’m sure I-” And just like that, Lawson snapped.

“God damn it Shining! First you go out on your own little adventure, then you get lost for hours and we can barely even contact you, and now you’ve gotten yourself lost for the second time! If this is some sort of prank, I’m not finding it funny!” No! That’s not it!

“Sheriff! Please! I swear! That’s not it, I was- I was trying to help, we can try to regroup- We can go back to the-” But I was cut off by Lawson’s yelling.

“I don’t want to have to drag your sorry ass out of this forest, you already caused enough problems for us as is! There isn’t even any proof you actually found anything of use!” I did! I have them with me!

“I found tapes! I found the campsite! I found the hairpin! I’m- We can find them! I just need to-” I kept pleading, imploring Lawnson to not give up, but he was already fed up.

“Stop lying to yourself, Shining! You didn’t come here to find these kids, you came for the glory! So you could prove something for yourself and others! You just want to be the first to the finish line! I put my trust in you once again, and you made me regret that decision! We’re-” His voice began cutting out. “-Camp and you’ll sleep-” More static. “-Morning-”

“Sheriff?!” I spoke into the radio, but no response.

“Sheriff!” I spoke again, yet nothing.

Just… The silent forest air.

Spike looked up at me, but I didn’t have the courage to even look him in the eyes.

It’s all my fault, again.

Keep your head in the game Shining. Keep your head in the game.

“FUCK!” Before I could even realize that the anger boiling inside me was about to reach a breaking point, I had already screamed into the night. How could I be so stupid?! I should’ve just waited for him back then, I didn’t have to do all this!

“STUPID- PIECE- OF- SHIT!” I kicked the campfire, spreading ashes around the campsite, before turning to a nearby tree trunk and sending my balled up fist right in its direction. Of course, once I hit it and the stinging pain caught up to me and my scratched knuckles began to bleed slightly, I immediately recoiled and yelled in agony while swatting my own first around, letting out various curses into the Forest air.

Here I was. In the middle of the forest, at night, completely lost. The tape said the logging company is just up North, but how do you even define north when the compass spins like that? I wanted to get back to the camp, but at this rate, I wouldn’t be able to. The dark of the night made everything look like a black shapeless mess.

Fuck… Fuck… What do I even do? I was already walking in circles around the broken campfire, both hands almost ripping my hair off my head. I tried to stay calm but how could I? Once again, I had fucked everything up, I had ruined everything, maybe these girls will die now because of me, now I won’t have the weight of one death on me, but six.

The anxiety made me start puffing my chest. I needed to think of something, a solution, I can’t stay here like a crybaby complaining, I need to- I would find them, I wouldn’t let them die.

Okay. Okay, as much as I don’t like spending the night in these woods, it looks like the only choice I have. At least I have some food and water for me and Spike, and the camp was already set up so why not, right?

I made my way into Spike’s tent, then stepped inside and sighed. It smelled of roses and lavender in here, with one large sleeping bag but with nothing else that had been left behind. There were no windows or transparent bits of plastic for me to look through, just the entrance hole which was closed by the most secure of locking mechanisms: A zipper.

Spike watched me scuttle around until I found a comfortable spot, and perked his ears as soon as he saw me unzipping my backpack and reaching for something inside, biting onto the flashlight so I could actually see inside. Where’s that protein bar?

Weird, I thought I’d packed more? Maybe they’re in the other pockets. There’s just two protein bars, one beef jerky, Spike’s eating bowl and some treats in a small plastic bag, and a single half-empty water bottle, along with the rope at the very bottom of the main pocket.

I was certain I’d packed at least 3 full water bottles, I checked them before I left! I was sure of it! I’d even packed food for Spike, and not just treats, I mean real food!

I checked the other pockets and found my knife, my map, the compass, some batteries for my flashlight, but still nothing. They really weren’t there. I couldn’t tell if they had somehow fallen out of the backpack, or if I really just didn’t pack them. Either way, it didn’t really matter at that point, I needed to rationalize food. At least there’s something for Spike here…

First, the beef jerky. I grabbed Spike’s bowl and placed it right in front of him. He shuffled around the tent and waved his tail, probably thinking he was about to get some treats and so he was disappointed to see beef jerky landing on his plate. Not even the full package either, just half of it.

“I’m sorry buddy, but I want you to eat something tomorrow too…” As awful as the food may be…

Despite what I thought, he was actually pretty eager to chow down on some food. It’d been a long day for both of us, so I understand it. Before I’d even opened my protein bar, he had already finished his food and turned his head to me, wanting more.

“Sorry, I can’t let you have more.” I let my hand run through his dusty fur while I took bites out of my own ‘food’ and once I was finally done, I turned to the bottle of water hidden deep inside the backpack and brought it out.

There was barely even a gulp of water left, not half empty as I thought before. I thought about going back to the water stream we’d seen before, but it was less of a water stream, and more like a humid path of dirt, there wasn’t nearly enough water to use. This is all we have. And by the way Spike’s looking at me with his puppy dog eyes, I knew he needed it more than I did.

“You can drink it buddy, you did a good job today. You deserve it.” The bottled water streamed down onto Spike’s now empty food bowl, it didn’t take long for him to start licking and drinking, splashing some drops over me.

I’ve let so many people down already, but I won’t fail him. Not him. I can’t afford to fail Spike.

In the dark tent, something began to glow. My amulet shined with a purple color, illuminating Spike and I partially. I still didn’t fully understand why or how it did this, there was something more here that Twilight didn’t tell me, but it's not like it mattered for now.

Once he was done, I stored the bowl back in the backpack then laid down on the comfortable-enough sleeping bag. Spike curled up in a tiny ball by my side. I wanted to hug him. I wanted to cry, like I’d done so many times before. This situation was overwhelming, everything was overwhelming, I just wanted to be good for something and now there I was. Cold, Hungry and Thirsty in the middle of the forest. I just wasn’t alone because Spike was there for me, he always was.

Despite my attempts, I couldn’t hold back some watering in my eyes. I wrapped one arm around Spike’s body, he snuggled his snout closer to me with a deep sigh, nudging my amulet slightly which continued to pulsate and glow gently. Oh Shining… Welcome home…

Huh?

I lifted my head and scanned around. Nothing. I opened the entrance zipper and poked my head outside. Nothing but darkness. Ugh… Whatever. I went back inside and closed the entrance, before laying comfortably next to Spike once again. He seemed confused at my sudden action, but laid his head down once I did.

It had been a long day, and I could feel my eyelids getting heavier…

“Keep your head in the game, Shining!” My father yells at me from the bleachers, the crowd did the same, all roaring and screaming for their favorite team. It is deafening but all I can hear are the sounds of my heart. This is it, we’re down four points so we need a touchdown if we’re going to win, and with seconds left on the clock, we need to make a quick play.

Quick sharp breaths, the adrenaline pumping through my veins, the heat of the decision weighed more on me than the scorching Sun today. I ran with the ball in my hands, scanning the grass field.

The coach yells out to me, calling for a safe play. A pass to the left, it could be our chance, but something didn’t feel right. The defense was tight and we might not even have enough time, I have a feeling they’re ready for it. But I glanced right where it was completely wide open.

I hesitate, the coach’s words ring inside my head, but quickly dissipate. I can’t afford to second guess now, I’m closing in already. Right. I’ll head right, push past the defense, touchdown, I’m hailed as the one to make the winning play, glory, maybe even I can even go pro.

I fake a handoff to my tail back, then gun it with all my might across the field. I’m stomping on the soft grass, my body is moving on its own practically. Just up ahead, I can see the gap, I can make it! Just a couple more steps!

But it closed up too fast.

Before I knew it, three defenders were on me. I tried to cut back, to find some way out, but it was too late. They hit me, and they hit me hard. The ball slipped and I felt my body fall to the ground like a sack of sand, and for a moment, I was dazed. I couldn’t even understand what had just happened, but before I could even get up, the sound of the whistle blew louder than a boat horn.

And just like that, it was over. It took a few seconds for reality to settle, and once it did, everything was over. I just laid on the ground staring blankly at the empty blue sky. Someone yelled at me, but I didn’t listen.

I cost us the game. I failed. And once I finally realized my situation, I tried to think of all the things I could’ve done better, but it didn’t matter.

As I got up, I could see the disappointment in my teammates’ eyes. I didn’t need to hear their words to know what they were thinking. They’d trusted me to make the right call, and I blew it. It wasn’t just a mistake—it was my mistake, and everyone knew it. The crowd’s cheers for the other team felt like knives in my back.

Worse, I turned to the bleachers and saw my dad, my mom, and Twily. My dad shook his head in disappointment, before being the first to leave the bleachers.

It was my fault. I failed him. I failed them. I failed everyone.

The locker room was quiet, no one said a word to me. Crystal prep isn’t a place for losing, and I just cost our team the game. Fuck.

The next months will be painful and tormenting, I just know it…

Hmh… That nightmare again… My body hurt from sleeping in such a cramped place, and my ears were still ringing, but it couldn’t drown out the growling. Spike was growling at something, but in the darkness it was difficult to see anything. Was it still night outside? I brought up my watch and my eyes widened slightly once I noticed it was 2:13 A.M

Honestly, I didn’t want to leave bed. But I knew that if I didn’t go out there to at least check what had gotten Spike in such a mood, I probably wouldn’t wake up tomorrow.

“What’d you hear huh buddy?” He didn’t even turn to me, just staring at the tent entrance growling, tail spiked up and ears pointing down, ready to pounce. He’s a good boy, but that won’t be needed… Hopefully. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Scuttling around the tent, I had to stretch my body slightly to reach for my knife in my backpack, then after grabbing my flashlight, I unzipped the entrance.

The cold night air hit me like a wall of ice, instantly making me regret the decision to even leave my somewhat comfortable sleeping-bag. Spike stepped out ahead of me and began sniffing the ground for a second, I followed behind him, always attentive.

My flashlight kept swiping across the trunks, it pierced that darkness and revealed nothing but twisting tree branches and the thick trunk of the trees where before I’d seen shapeless shadows and moving blobs of darkness.

No, Spike was growling for a reason, and I knew it, but I was too afraid to admit it. I didn’t want to be right, not in a place like this, not with everyone far, far away from me. And as the realization began to settle, I tried to convince myself of the contrary.

I’m alone. I only have Spike with me here and no one else. Nothing else.

I swiveled again, doing another 360 and still nothing.

“Spike, what do you see boy? Where is it?” I asked him, keeping a wide stance and having him in-between my legs as he continued to growl into a random direction in the forest, so I turned towards it.

Where is it? Where the hell is it? Another few swipes of the flashlight and I still could only see the endless expanse of tree trunks and branches. But then, footsteps surrounded me and moved swiftly from side to side, crunching leaves under their agile movements.

I turned towards the direction of the sound once more. It’s a squirrel. Or a bird. Or a bear or something, something I at least know how to fight, a badger, or some kind of woodchuck or a deer, anything!

Spike began barking again, this time, focused on one point of the forest. My flashlight traced a straight path towards it, and there was still nothing but… Movement. I could see something. I could hear the creaking, like the sound a wooden bean makes when it’s under pressure. Don’t wake it up…

Slowly, I raised my flashlight to meet the source of the noise— But I wouldn’t get the chance.

My light almost blinded me from the sudden spike in intensity, like a beacon in the forest that lasted for not even a second, and something shrieked in response to my flashlight, sidestepping around the forest and crunching leaves under its weight.

I could still hear it moving around, but I wasn’t going to stay around and wait to find out what it was.

“Spike, Heel!” His bark echoed through the dark forest and as I quickly dipped into the tent to grab my backpack, I heard the shuffling all around me again, but a quick scan of my flashlight revealed nothing but darkness. I knew I had seen it somewhere in-between the leaves, sticks and trunks of the trees, but I couldn’t pinpoint where it was.

But I think I know how to fight it.

“Where is it boy?” Spike would continuously search the area around the campsite with me, growling and perking his ears at even the slightest sound. Then he stopped, facing one particular direction and began barking.

I lifted my flashlight— It blinded me once again with the sudden energy spike, and as I heard the screeching of the thing wail across the forest, I knew this would be my chance to run away, or die here fighting it.

“On me! Come on!” I booked it directly opposite to the creature, just running to wherever I could go with Spike, whilst hearing its heavy footsteps stomping around me, it was stalking me, I know it. I can’t stop now. Whatever the hell it is, it’s not going to play nice with me.

Spike is at my side, running with me as we trek through the dense forest, sidestepping rocks, jumping over holes and knocked over trunks, ducking under low hanging branches, all the while the creature behind us did the same, maybe even faster, maybe it was catching up and we just didn’t know it yet. I haven’t run like this since my football days, the adrenaline making my body work overtime.

I wasn’t sure where to go. I thought about going back to camp but in this darkness, I can barely see where I’m going, let alone figure out where I’m supposed to be going. I still took every chance I could to shine my light around, but I was only able to catch quick blurs escaping my vision. Don’t run from me…

My body was starting to give in, I could still hear the footsteps all around me, Spike was just as tired as I was, but we couldn’t stop, or we’d risk getting caught again. When suddenly, through my shaky breath and blurred vision, I saw something straight up ahead, in-between the trees, something shining under the moonlight in a clearing, definitely man-made with how blocky it looked. Maybe my salvation!

But the footsteps were getting louder and closer.

Don’t look behind you. Don’t look behind you. Don’t look behind you.

I repeated those words to myself, letting my body run on autopilot, my legs ready to give in at any second, my muscles begging for a release, but my heart pumped more and more adrenaline. It was getting closer, It would be breathing down my neck at any second now.

What the hell even is that? As I approached, a shape came out from among the tall bodies of the trees, is that… My car? In the middle of the forest?

The footsteps grew quicker, sidestepping all around me, the growling was louder and unforgiving, like a wild animal ready to bite down on its prey. Fuck it, I don’t have time to ask questions.

It was definitely my truck. And as I approached the driver’s side door, all I could notice about it was how it looked decrepit and old, rusted out, with grass growing along the bottom and leaves covering the hood and trunk. My fumbling hands reached for the door and pulled it open, ushering Spike inside—

FUCK!

I screamed as something grabbed me from behind and pulled me to the ground, making me let go of my flashlight in the process, its grip felt like wooden branches and vines wrapping around my left leg, and desperately, I began kicking, turning on my back to see what the hell was trying to pull me with it.

Describing what I saw was difficult, it was all a blur of motion and darkness, some screaming from me and screeching from it. But it explains a lot. The body was like the trunk of a tree, while the arms were its branches, and where there would be a face, was something rudimentary carved out with a knife, and a gaping mouth that somehow managed to stretch and scream at me. The creature was thin and tall, but right now it was bent over trying to pull me with it. Just what in the fuck was this thing?!

It dragged me along the dirt, making me hit my head on a few rocks, covering my body with dirt. Spike barked at it from a distance, watching me twist my body in an attempt to reach for my flashlight, but it was just out of reach.

No, it’s not going to end like this, I’m not going to end up dragged into the darkness by some magical tree monster, fuck no!

“SPIKE!” As a desperate last attempt, I yell at him. “FLASHLIGHT BOY! GIVE ME THE LIGHT! COME ON! FETCH BOY! FETCH!” All the while reaching into the pocket of my jacket to grab my knife, trying my best to cut the vines that now tangled further up my my thigh and kept wrapping themselves around me, grunting with the effort and wincing in pain every time the creature dragged me over a rock.

That’s when I looked back at Spike, and what I saw brought a huge smile to my face. The flashlight! He has it in his mouth, and he’s running right to me! Come on boy, you got this! I extended my arm to help him out.

Without hesitation, he brought it to my open palm. I gripped it tightly, and just as I felt the vines begin to snake up my stomach and restrict my movement, I shined it at the creature and its bark-like skin burned, all the while it screeched in terror, trying to cover its face with both arms, recoiling and unwrapping itself from me, the light worked! Atta boy!

“SPIKE! HEEL!” This is my chance! I immediately get up and book it for the car, I didn’t have the chance or even the time to understand what the hell had just happened, and as Spike jumped into the passenger seat and I hopped into the driver’s, I looked out at the creature who’d now disappeared into the tree trunks.

Hopefully, it’s gone for good, but I know it is never that simple.

The cabin light was on, I could only see its faint glow. I took off my dirty backpack and placed it next to Spike on the passenger seat, then fumbled to put the key into the ignition as fast as I could. As I turned the key, everything suddenly sprung to life, the humming of the motor vibrated parts of the car, it even slightly startled Spike.

But once I lifted my head and looked outside with both hands on the wheel, ready to drive off something had happened. I wasn’t in the forest, I was somewhere else, in the streets, just outside Crystal Prep at night, how’d I even get here? I looked out the window on the side and tried to figure out more of my surroundings, my breathing getting quicker and sharper, but a voice made me lose all focus. Missed me?

“Shining? Can we get going now?” Is that…?

I turned to face the familiar voice, and my heart skipped a beat. Twilight was there, sitting with me on the passenger side, exactly as I remembered her. No, this isn’t real, it couldn’t be. But… I couldn’t bring myself to deny the pleasure of seeing her once again.

“Twily!” I give her my most earnest, honest, best smile I can give. “Twily I’m- It’s- I can’t even-”

“Have… Have you been drinking?” Oh I… How’d she know? “Come on… Drowning your sorrows won’t make things better…”

“No I… It’s okay, I- It was just a couple of beers.” I pressed on the pedal and began driving, having just picked her off from the movies, feeling the swooning and swirling world around me fade in and out of view, I was in a forest… Right? Or did I doze off…? “I-I mean I’m fine.”

“No- I think I’m just going to take the bus instead-”

“No!” I stopped her just as her hand reached the handle. “Don’t worry- I’m fine, I can take you home, it’s okay.”

“This is the last time. I don’t want you drinking again or I’ll tell dad about it. And you know how he solves problems.” She always says this, but she never does. We both know why we don’t tell our dad these things. “Let’s… Just go home.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to face the harsh reality of life. What’s the problem if I want to take my mind off things? I’m still being a good brother, I told her I’d pick her up and here I am. I’ll be fine. As I sped off into the streets, I tried to chat with her about her day.

“Sooooo uh… How’d it go? How was the movie?” Twilight always had social problems, I’m happy she finally found a group that accepted her.

“It was fun. I never actually expected to go out for a movie, much less with as many friends as I have now. Pinkie knew about this great arcade in the mall, so we went there before going. We had some trouble with our tickets but Rarity managed to convince the employee to help us out. Pinkie recorded something with her camera, you can have it if you want to take a look later.” She hands me what looks to be some kind of tape… Wait, why would she record something on tape…?

And this banging on my head too… But It really does bring a smile to my face. Twilight finally making friends… I thought this day would never come, but at least one of us is starting to see the bright side of things. Maybe she should- “Shining?”

“Wha?” I turned to face her for a second before turning my attention back on the road. “Oh- Um- I was just thinking that I’m happy for you, that you finally made friends.”

“No it’s not that.” She pointed at the road. “You just ran a red light.”

“Oh uh…” Did I? I looked in the mirror and sure enough, it was red. “No it’s- It’s fine.” Shit, I was too distracted to pay attention to the road, it’s difficult to focus with everything that’s on my mind. The game was a fucking disaster, and with how Dad and everyone else keeps treating me. I really only have her to support me.

“Look Shining, really, if you need to take a break, I get it. I can take the bus, and you can… Well, do whatever it is you were going to do.” The hell does she mean by that? She’s eyeing me up and down like she’s judging me, just like Dad, just like everyone, but maybe I’m just assuming things. She’s the last thing I have left, I hope she doesn’t turn on me too.

“No!” It’s already enough that I’m a screw up, I have to do something good at least, I can take care of her. “It’s okay, really. I’m fine. I need to do something right for once.”

“Still worried about the game, aren’t you?” Twilight sighed then shook her head. “Look I- It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault.”

“No. It was. I was the team captain, I should’ve-” Suddenly, a car merges in front of us, the only reason this wasn’t a fender bender was because my pickup has some great brakes. Furiously, I honked the horn. Fucking asshole. After recovering, I take a look at Twilight who raises her worried brows at me, and I just sigh. “It’s just- It’s easy for you to say. You’re the smart one of the family, you get amazing grades, you’re making friends now, you can go into pretty much any college you want, you stopped a magical invasion from other dimensions- How’s that even possible!?”

Twilight looked at me, but I kept my attention on the road, watching the blinding lights pass us by, and trying to keep up with the swirling lines on the street. Gah… My head hurts like hell… Is it because of the beer or…

“It’s not about that Shining, you are good at many things! You just need to-” But I interrupted her.

“It is about that! You’re not the one who ended up becoming a laughing stock of the entire school! You’re not the one who blatantly ignored the coach’s call and tried to go for a glory play! You’re not the one-” I finally turned to face her, keeping one hand on the wheel whilst the other gestured at her. “Who had your whole team turn their backs on you!”

“Shining- Please that’s not what I meant!” Oh sure it isn’t, sure you didn’t want to just rub it in on my face. “I was just saying that you-”

“SHUT UP!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, but the look of worry in her face made me realize my mistake. Fuck… No, I can’t become like my dad, I need to be better. Instead, I just sigh with a deep breath, closing my eyes. I’ll tell her what I’m feeling. She’s one of the few that can help me… “Twily, I’m sorry for yelling… It’s just been rough for me and-”

“SHINING! LOOK OUT!”

Immediately I opened my eyes to see the blinding lights of an oncoming semi-truck, in that split second I could only shove the wheel as far as it’ll go to the right to avoid it, but I lost control. It was all a blur. I tried to regain control and push the brakes, but I couldn't.

There was an impact, but I couldn’t feel it, or I didn’t remember feeling it. I just remember opening my blurry eyes to see a broken windshield and a failed airbag on the driver’s wheel. I look down at my bloody and shaking hands, blood dripping down my forehead, my mind couldn’t even process what is happening. I looked to my right and I’m reminded of it again.

I wanted to forget this, but the more I run, the more it comes back to haunt me.

A piece of steel had ripped straight into her neck, exposing meat, blood poured out and stained her clothes and the car seat. Her fucking- Her fucking eyes fucking moved. She was still alive even if for a couple of seconds. I remember how she looked at me, with her slightly parted bloody lips, how she tried to speak but she could only cough out blood, her body tried to extend one arm in my direction but she was weak. By the time I had removed the metal from her neck, she was already dead.

The edges of my vision become more blurred, like sketches on a page, the lightheadedness comes back to me, my muscles giving in, she was dead, she was fucking dead, and I killed her, I felt her warm blood in my hands, I hugged her dead body, I screamed and pleaded with every force known to man, I asked for every God I could think of to bring her back. I didn’t want to lose her, I didn’t want Twilight to leave me, but I had to face reality.

I cried so hard that night. I cried more than I’d ever cried for anything in my life. I remember how Cadance tried to comfort me, but I can’t fucking take that image away from my head, the way she looked at me, even in her dying gasps for air, it’s like she wasn’t even mad at me, it was like she was just disappointed, and that made things so much worse.

During the funeral, I couldn’t bring myself to speak what I had written. Everyone was judging me silently, I knew it. Perhaps it was insensitive for her own brother to not speak, but I just- I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I could only remember her face and how she looked at me, desperate.

I killed my own sister.

Author's Note

I kind of rushed this chapter out because I felt like I hadn't published anything in a while. It may be a bit rough still.