Chapter 1 - Into the woods
Author's Note
This story takes place in an Alternative EqG universe, before EqG 4 but after EqG 3. For the sake of this story, Spike is not the usual dog you know him as.
Please enjoy!
Chapter 1 - Into the woods
The Everfree forest was beautiful this time of year. The green canopy of the trees went as far as the eye could see, they melted into a green sea bathed in warm sunlight. I’d always been a city boy myself, so leaving the concrete jungle to have a drive around the countryside? Can’t deny it. It filled my lungs with some much needed fresh air.
For kilometers, I’d been driving my old Jalopy of a truck down the country-side highway, but fortunately, the road wasn’t lonely for me. Spike sat on the passenger side, looking out the window and barking at any cars that we passed by.
I’d need him if I wanted to get to the bottom of this. At least with him on my team, I wouldn’t be going in empty-handed.
An abrupt sound coming from the pocket of my jeans caused me to break my train of thought. I reached in with one hand while I kept the other on the wheel, quickly darting my eyes down at the screen and not diverting too much of my attention from the road. The name of the contact, which I still haven’t had the guts to change ever since the divorce, proved that despite everything that happened to us, she was still kind at heart. No one else would have called me.
I really didn’t deserve her, but I was glad she called. I hadn’t heard her voice in ages.
“Hey-” I accepted the call and brought the phone up to my ear. “Um- Hi- Cadey.”
“Hi Shining.” It was almost instantly soothing. “It’s been a while. How’re you holding up?”
“I’m good. Still um, trying to get my footing, but I’m getting there.”
Ever since Lawson fired me, I had to scrounge for work. But I get it, I understand why people wouldn’t want to take in a complete screw-up like myself. Except for the owner of a library, this sweet old lady who managed to pull some strings to get me to work the security night job there. Pay sucks, but at least it's better than nothing at all, and plus, not much happens there anyway, so it’s pretty simple. “Kinda feels weird not having you around anymore.”
“I get that. It’s kinda weird for me too. But you got Spike, yeah?” Without her, our room felt so empty. The entire house really but I guess it’s not really our room if she’s not there anymore... “So, what’ve you been up to recently?”
“I, uh… joined the search party. For the missing kids.” When I saw the online post looking for volunteers, I immediately jumped up from my bed, thinking I could finally do something useful. It was better than doing what I did every day: lying motionless in bed, staring blankly at the moldy ceiling, wondering where it all went wrong.
The only thing keeping me sane was Spike.
“You mean those that went missing in Everfree? Weren't they Twilight's friends?” Cadence added.
“Yeah.” I replied. “Me and Spike will make a hell of a team, so I’m bringing him along too.” More like I needed him more than he needed me. Hearing me say his name got him to bark and wag his tail in excitement, I took a hand off the wheel for a second to give him a pet while muttering a ‘good boy!’ under my breath.
Cadence chuckled at first, but her laughter died out with a sigh.
“You don’t have to do this Shining… No one will think any less of you if you don’t.”
“No, I do have to do this. I can make things right.” I’m finally getting somewhere again, I can’t just let this go. I have to do this. I’d expect her out of all people would understand this. “Be happy for me, why don’t you? I’m getting my life back together.”
“Stop blaming yourself Shining, if you keep going down this path it’ll only get worse.” Oh this again. I’d heard it countless times, way too many. I’m not blaming myself, I’m fixing my mistakes. “She's gone, Shining.”
“Yeah- But her friends aren’t! They’re missing!” The police haven't found them yet, even after a couple of days of searching. But I’m sure, I’m so sure of it, they’re alive, somewhere out there.
Twilight would’ve wanted me to do this.
“Look- I can handle this, I don’t need someone biting my ear off for it.”
“Yeah. Of course you don’t.” Wait!
“Wait! Nono! I meant that-” Before I could finish my sentence, I was interrupted by the dial tone… I can never say the right things, can I? Fuck me… I slammed my head against the wheel with a sigh followed by a groan.
I mean I just thought she’d be proud of me. I was doing something worthwhile for once, I was doing it for Twily, I thought that… Whatever, it didn’t matter. I needed to keep my head in the game.
After another while on the road, we passed by a road sign telling us to exit on the next right to reach camp Everfree, turning into a random dirt pathway that cuts off from a highway is hardly ideal. And as soon as we pulled up ahead, we saw a much more welcoming sign.
‘Welcome to Camp Everfree’ Etched into wood, staked to the ground.
We stopped at a small dirt parking lot marked by some half-cut logs where a couple of police cars were parked already, including some other cars which I could only assume were from the families. These poor kids…
Just up ahead was a large cleared out camp area.
I remembered that place from my childhood. Remembered the creepy ghost stories, the swimming competitions on the lake, and even the time I got lost, and how that weird guy from the woods helped me back to the camp.
“C’mon Spike.” I took the keys out the ignition and grabbed the backpack I had packed with some essential supplies. Flashlight, some food and water for me and Spike, A compass, Rope, a map of the forest, among other things. I don’t expect to spend much time here, but Twiley always said it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Spike turned to me as I was opening the door to leave, tilting his head with a whine and perked ears. I knew that look on his face, so I simply sighed.
“Look buddy, I know you didn’t want to be taken out of retirement, but we got a job to do. Alright?” Poor dog, he doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him... We’re kinda similar in that regard. I’m more than glad to have him on my side. “I promise I’ll give you as many treats as you want once we’re done with this.”
The word treat activated his senses, as he got up from the seat with a bark and began wagging his tail, tongue sticking out with that pleading look in his eyes. I gave him a nice pet before reaching for one last thing: The jewel hanging from my front mirror.
A purple gem encased in a golden ring— it glowed under the moonlight. But right now it’s just refracting the sunlight and giving it a nice purple glow. Twily’s last gift to me before the accident… It keeps me safe, at least, she said it does.
I’ll make this right. I’ll do for them what I couldn’t do for you Twily. I won’t screw up again, I promise.
“Heel!” With that one word, Spike jumped out of the passenger’s seat and onto the driver’s seat, before hopping off to the ground. I closed, then locked the car door.
We stepped through the gate and into the open field where a few wooden shacks were. This place hasn’t changed one bit, has it? I can see a familiar face dawning a white cowboy hat and a badge, not to mention the uniform that hugged around his dad bod. The Sheriff seems to be talking to a man and a woman, probably parents of one of the victims. And from what I could hear from the shouting, they weren’t very patient. I couldn't blame them. I took careful steps with Spike, we didn’t want to interrupt anything.
“Sir- I understand you’re worried, but our team has been searching the forest for almost three days non-stop. We want to help, but we’re still humans. Trust me, if we could stay the whole week here, we would. But most of these guys are volunteers, I can’t force them to stay.” Sheriff Lawson tried to reason with the angry couple, but the words went in one ear and out the other.
“STILL HUMANS!? YOU KNOW WHO ELSE IS HUMAN?! MY DAUGHTER RAINBOW DASH! SHE’S- SHE’S DYING! WHILE YOU’RE SITTING HERE ON YOUR FAT ASS- ‘Taking a break’-” The husband spoke in a mocking tone with air quotes. “SHE’S OUT THERE, DYING OF STARVATION, HYPOTHERMIA, THIRST, SHE COULD BE DEAD BY NOW FOR ALL THAT WE KNOW BECAUSE OF YOUR INCOMPETENCE!”
The woman was calmer than her husband, but she was still on the verge of tears.
“C-Come on Honey, yelling at them won’t make them go any faster. All we can do is wait…” She stepped between the husband and the Sheriff, laying her head on his chest, both her hands on him, it almost reminded me of my mother. Save for the apparently healthy relationship between them. “Please… Let’s just head back to the canteen and get you something… You haven’t eaten anything since lunch yesterday.” Reluctantly, the man huffed and puffed while his wife guided him with words of care and tenderness.
Sheriff Lawson watched the two head back to some picnic tables where another family sat at. Underneath his cold and expressionless sunglasses, I knew he was just as tired of this as the family was. Lawson is a good man, I’m sure he wanted to find them as much as they did.
“We’re grasping at straws here, Shining…” That’s one way to start a conversation. “Please tell me you bring some good news.” Finally, he faces me.
“Me and Spike are joining the search team.” Spike seems excited to see Lawson, wagging his tail. But Lawson’s brows curl with a groan, he’s clearly not a fan of the idea.
“I don’t know Shining… I don’t think it’s good for you to be out here.” I could see him scanning me up and down. I knew that look. He doesn’t think I’ve got what it takes, does he? Like at the academy. “Especially with your condition.”
“No- Sir, I can do this. Please trust me.” He has to let me in. What other help does he have anyway?
“I know you want to help, but 6 missing kids is enough for me. I don’t want to have to find you too. Spent enough time in these woods already.” I won’t. I can’t. I won’t accept standing here, I just can’t. “And plus, with your history, I’m not sure you should even be out here to begin with.”
“Sir- please. I have to do this.” I was practically begging him. If he didn’t let me, I’d simply walk in there myself. “Please. These are all Twilight’s friends. I know she would’ve wanted this.”
Must’ve been my puppy dog eyes, or Spike’s. Whatever it was, it had worked, he felt pity on me, and groaned with a sigh while tipping his hat, before rubbing his eyes with the same hand.
“Still mulling over your sister I see… Fine.” He reached for his holster then handed me a walkie talkie, it looked brand new. “Just… Stay behind, check the areas we’ve already gone through to see if we missed anything.”
“Yes!” I was brimming with excitement, more than glad he allowed me in. I took it from his hands with a smile. “Thank you- Sir! I just-” But he interrupted me.
“Just- Stay close, Shining. Make sure Spike gives you company. This damn forest messes with your head. The others are already up ahead, you should go.” He pointed in the direction of a small pathway leading into the forest. I nodded, then checked the time on my phone: 9:21 A.M
Maybe I could search until noon, take a break, and have a look at where we could go next. I’m sure Spike could seek if he picked up a scent of something as well. We headed out into the direction the sheriff pointed us in, going into a dirt path and passing through the camp’s perimeter outlined with rickety old wooden fences, but as I stepped through the wooden archway that gave way into a much larger forest, I noticed something on top of a nearby tree stump.
As I approached it, I examined it more carefully. It looked like a thick branch that had been carved into something, like a rudimentary shape of what resembled a human? Or a girl perhaps? It had a blocky wooden head and a torso that transformed into the hips, which then transformed back into the circumference of the branch, and it had been clearly painted yellow. It looked creepy as hell. Did the search team not see this?
I lifted it into my hand, and almost immediately felt a sudden feeling on my stomach, accompanied by the gentle glowing heartbeat of the gem on my neck.
Despite my mind telling me not to, for some reason I put it in my backpack. I don’t know, maybe it could serve as evidence or something. Or maybe one of the students had made it as a prank for old geezers like me. Either way, Spike and I continue down the path and finally enter the Everfree forest. An eerie feeling presides over me as the Sun slowly gets blocked out by the tall canopies and snaking branches.
Me and Spike jumped down a small ledge and onto a long clearing where the floor was littered with fallen leaves, broken branches, the trunks of most of the trees had been wrapped with a black and yellow tape, likely marking the areas the police had already explored.
Spike walked by my side, scanning the surroundings, if anything passed unnoticed by me, he would’ve seen — Or smelled it — and if I ever found some kind of physical evidence, he would be the first I could consult. If Spike could pick up the scent, we could find them, or atleast where they’ve been and at this point, any clue at all is going to help.
But since this silence is only broken by the sounds of the crunching leaves under our footsteps, I decided to turn on the walkie talkie to see if anyone was on. Break the ice a little, introduce myself to my partners. Some of them probably know me already though.
I flip the channel switch and bring it up to my face, pressing the orange button on the side to speak.
“Uh Hello, this is… Shining Armor, and I’ll be joining the search. I’m staying behind to check if you guys missed anything, I’m probably south of your position.” The machine beeped after I let go of the button.
Another beep, and a voice came through. A female voice.
“Oh you gotta be kidding me. You? Seriously? I know we’re accepting volunteers but c’mon Lawson.” What the hell’s that supposed to mean?
“Look- I’m not incompetent. I brought my dog with me, Spike, if he catches the scent on something, we might have a lead.” Spike looked back at me once I mentioned his name. I took a second to lean down and rub him behind the ear before continuing.
“Spitfire, I suggest you worry about doing your job. Sides, more the merrier. We’ve been searching and still nothing.” Lawson spoke over the radio after a beep.
“What have you guys found so far?” They’ve been searching for three days already. Surely, they must’ve found something?
A different voice spoke, a young man’s voice.
“We found fuck all, that’s what we found. Searched almost 4 square kilometers of forest and still came up empty handed. I’m starting to get tired of this…” I continued passing caution taped trunks as I went along. They really did search everything, didn't they. “We had some ideas, but there’s not a single piece of physical evidence we can point to.”
“Wow, 4 kilometers? Impressive. But don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll find something soon enough.” I spoke one last time on the channel, before something caught my eye up ahead. Spike was snout deep into a pile of leaves, he’d caught onto something. I knew it! That’s my boy! I approach with a smile wide across my face. “What’d you find, boy? Huh? Let me see, c’mon.”
I dug through the pile and found… An empty plastic bottle. Must’ve been left behind by the search team. Not only are they leaving behind misleading evidence, but they’re also polluting the forest. Spike leaned his head at me with perked ears.
“No buddy, this is the search team’s.” I gave him a good old scratch behind the ear. “Good job, but these are not the people we’re looking for.” He barked in agreement, and we continued the search.
This is after 3 days of searching. They’ve come up empty handed after three entire days. But I’ll find them, there has to be something, we’re talking about 6 girls, at least one of them must’ve left something behind.
“Hey uh…” I reached for the radio again, lifting it close to my mouth. “Any of you guys know if they left anything behind? Like a message, or sent someone a video or something?”
“Couldn’t have.” The young man’s voice replied again. “None of their relatives or friends reported anything unusual, nobody has come up with any kind of message or call from them, and plus, this place has terrible reception, cellphones act weird around the deeper area of the forest too.”
I lifted my own cellphone from my pocket and turned it on, it seemed to be working fine. I don’t remember that being an issue when I was young, but then again, we had flip phones back then, maybe they’re different or something? I don’t know.
Now that I thought about it, what were they even doing out here in the first place? At least when I visited for the first time, I didn’t go out into the forest. We stayed around camp most of the time, and even when we did leave, it was under the supervision of the camp counselors. Why would they be so deep in the forest?
I’d understand if a younger kid got lost here, but 6 teen girls? Hopefully they at least have some food or find some water to survive on for a few days, they couldn’t have come prepared. Just hold on for a bit, I’m coming.
Me and Spike continue our search for a few good minutes, but this area’s been searched already. Most of what we find are things left behind by the search party. I gripped tight to the straps of my backpack with a sigh. I have to find them. A beep from the radio caught my attention once again.
“He shouldn’t be here.” An older man with a raspy voice speaks. “You remember that gas station incident from a few months ago?” What? Why are they bringing this up? That’s been settled already.
“Yeah. I don’t know why Lawson let him join us. He’s clearly out of it.” Another man replies.
They’re talking about me. In an open channel where I can fucking hear them. If you’re going to talk behind my back, actually do it behind my back at the very least.
I picked up the radio and pressed the button, speaking after the beep.
“I can hear you two, assholes.” I added.
“So what?” The raspy replied after the beep. “You shouldn’t be here. Deal with it. Let the real professionals do the job unless you wanna shoot up another kid. Hell, maybe you’ll kill them once you find ‘em.” He let out an irritating chuckle, if he were in front of me I’d have punched him in the face.
“Hey fuck you okay!? I’m here to help!” Who the hell do they think they are?! To talk about me like that!? “I’m trying to make a change for once, I’m trying to be useful! Fuck you!” They don’t know anything about me, I’m not the same person I used to be, I’m better, I’m more mature!
“Shining!” Lawson cut our conversation. “If you’re not gonna add anything useful, don’t get on the channel! And let go of the damn button when you’re not talking to someone on the radio!”
The hell he means don’t get on the channel? They started it!
He’s gonna let them speak to me like that? And I can’t defend myself?! Whatever. Whatever, I gotta keep my head in the game. I’ll focus. Lost my cool again, but I Won’t let them get to me. I won’t let them.
“WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!” Spike barked at me from up ahead, his tail wagging with excitement. I didn’t rush over this time, I had little faith that we’d found something useful.
He seemed to be next to a small entrance, one hidden by branches and leaves fallen over what looked to be a small hole on some rocks. I couldn’t even see what was inside, But Spike sniffed something and was eager to get in there. It didn’t look too dangerous so I suppose it’s fine…
“Alright Buddy, go for it.”
I opened the leaves and branches that blocked the entrance like a curtain, allowing him inside. It took him a second or two but he did come out with something. I was half expecting it to be just another plastic bottle, but it was something more interesting.
A Hairpin, in the shape of a blue gem that glistened with the sunlight. It was very extravagant to say the least, who would wear something like this out to a forest? Maybe it fell out of one of the officers from the search party, but as far as I remember, we had dress codes and I don’t think we’re allowed to wear something as flashy as this. Even then, this doesn’t look like something an adult would wear. It’s worth a shot though, if Spike can catch a scent he could lead us right to them.
“Good boy!” I take it out of his mouth.
“WOOF!” He barks in excitement, wagging his tail. Looks like this old dog still has a few tricks with him.
“This is important, think you can figure out where they went?” I get down on one knee, holding onto my backpack with one hand while the other extends out for Spike to take a good sniff. Come on, this is a hairpin. I can’t expect much from him.
“WOOF!” He gave me a bark before he turned around and headed in some direction, deeper into the woods, It put a huge smile on my face. He actually found something! He got a scent!
I quickly get up and run after him as he goes deeper, finally we have something! I knew I would be useful, I knew it! I reached into my pocket to grab the radio, it’s probably a good idea to warn the others too.
“Hey-” I press the button with a beep and continue running after Spike. “He- Spike found something! A hairpin! In the clearing, North of the entrance, behind some rocks.”
“What? In the clearing up north? But we didn’t find anything there, we investigated that whole area” Lawson added. “That’s great news! Hold on, stay where you are and we’ll be on our way!” No!
“I-I can’t! If I stop now, Spike will lose the scent!” It was difficult to speak as I ran after Spike through bushes and branches, huffing and puffing with the sudden exercise. It's been a while since I’ve done this. Spike is old but he’s still got it in him, and we can’t stop now. Sure maybe it was a little lie that Spike would lose the scent, he probably wouldn’t, but what’s the problem? “I’m heading uh-” I desperately reach for the side pocket of my backpack, grabbing my compass and taking a look. “East, once you get to the clearing head East. Got it?”
“Wait! No! Shining you can’t just!-” Sorry Lawson. But I’m the one who found the hairpin. I turn off the radio for now and keep on the chase, I have to be one to find them. If I can find them, I can finally fix things. Not my problem you didn’t spot it.
Suddenly, Spike jumped through a wall of bushes, It was difficult to see past it, and as I jumped in after him, my foot got caught on a branch, I tried but failed to regain control and ended up tumbling down a small dirt hill, kicking up dirt and small pebbles, groaning with pain as I rolled down. My gem almost goes flying off too.
I’m dirty, slightly bruised, but nothing too serious. And as I recover and bring myself back up, my eyes scan the empty forest for Spike.
“Spike!” I called out, cleaning some of the dirt on my clothes. Where is that dog?
The scenery around me was barren. Tall trees stretch into the endless sky, the Sun had trouble getting down there. A thin fog descended, carried by the wind which rustled the leaves and broke the eerie silence of the forest. I called out to Spike again, my voice pierced the surroundings, and when I heard his barking in the distance, I instantly headed towards it.
It feels claustrophobic. I’m in a small maze of what are almost like trenches in the dirt, and it seems the more I try to look for Spike, the more I get lost… No. I won’t get lost. I can’t. I turn corners and corners, following the barking in the distance, A sudden feeling grows in my stomach. It makes me sick, it makes me take deep breaths and sighs.
One turn after another, I pass some tree overgrown with moss, and then I do it again. I turn the opposite way I came, and yet again I find the same tree. I can feel a tightening sensation on my chest, everything feels everywhere all at once and yet I’m still standing in place, but I keep on. I need to find Spike, he can help me, I need him, I need Spike.
God fucking damn it, why does it feel like I’m going in circles? I call out to him again and run in that direction, but something’s not right. Something feels wrong. That feeling keeps growing, and all I can hear in the silent forest is my heart beating faster and faster, my breathing getting shallower, quicker. Not now, this can’t be happening.
Where the hell is Spike?!
“SPIKE! WHERE ARE YOU?!” My voice pierces the forest and his barks continue to taunt me, no matter which way I go, it feels like I’m running and getting nowhere. It feels like he’s distant, while still being close enough to give me hope. I need him, I can feel that fear coming back to me already. This can’t be happening right now, this can’t be happening.
Bent steel frames, her voice… God her voice… Screams of terror, blood running down our bodies, I can see her eyes even in the flashing and blinding sunlight, which hit me like the headlights from a truck.
“Spike… Please…” This isn’t the forest, is it? Blurry visions of lights coming my way cause me to jump back in surprise, gasping with terror, I’m reliving that night again. It’s- Not real, it’s not real. I try to tell myself that, but it always feels so present, so close, a memory which I want to forget but never can.
I fall on my knees to the ground, my hands are shaking and my legs feel like noodles. My whole body- It’s giving in. This isn’t real. I remind myself, but it’s useless. Those memories come back to me, they haunt and taunt me, the trees were replaced by light posts, the rocks were pieces of rubble and metal, the leaves turned into cracked glass, a puddle of water turned into a dark oily substance.
It’s not real. It’s not- real. It’s all in my head. Snap out of it. Snap out of it!
I can’t think- I can’t breathe, I can’t talk, my body’s shutting down. God she didn’t deserve it… She didn’t deserve any of it, it was all my fault, I did it to her, I killed her. My right hand grips my shirt, almost ripping it, trying to hold the amulet tight, it’ll keep me safe, I’ll be okay. It continues to glow gently.
This isn’t real. This isn’t real. This isn’t real. This isn’t real. But I can’t stop, my vision is blurred, I don’t even try to speak anymore, my mouth can only make the sound of whimpers, I hate myself for this, for being like this, for killing her…
Then, another bark, and a warm, slimy sensation on my skin. Spike?
As I lifted my head, a comforting sight washed my worries away in just a couple of seconds. Spike licked my face and glanced at me with curiosity. Good boy, good boy…
Slowly I could feel myself focus bit by bit, the gnawing feeling on my stomach becoming easier to handle, how I slowly regained control of my trembling hands, how I took deep breaths to recover myself. Okay. Once I was back in control, I found myself laying on the ground in a fetal position…
Alright. I’m okay. I’m safe. Everything’s fine. It was just another episode. I sat up and took a good look at Spike’s eyes, it was almost like he knew what was happening. He always knows. He’s the only one I can always count on. Yeah I’m okay now.
Enough sitting around like a crybaby.
“T-Thanks buddy.” I sighed, before giving him a hug. A tight, warm hug. He couldn’t hug me back of course, but if he could, I’m sure he would. I caressed his warm and fuzzy coat before patting him on the back gently.“Thanks. Okay. Okay, let’s go.”
Warm sunlight had long been replaced by a colder moonlit glow that barely illuminated my path, strange, given how just a couple minutes ago it was still early morning. Did I pass out? Either way, the encroaching darkness forced me to whip out my flashlight to light the way. I should have at least a couple of good hours of battery, so I’d be fine. And with the way things are going, I’ll definitely need it.
These woods looked creepy as hell during the night too, I couldn't shake off the feeling there was something watching me. I remember ghost stories about a witch in these woods, and I unfortunately also remember how I’d shit my pants every time I was in the forest and heard a tree branch crack.
Still, it was as if me and Spike weren’t alone in there. As if something was just waiting, in between the tree trunks to pop out and take me. Some monster, or some terrible evil spirit. But I got Spike, I know he’ll protect me, and I’ll protect him. We got each other's backs. I tightly gripped my glowing amulet.
But maybe the forest’s just messing with my head. I mean, it could very well be, but after what happened in Canterlot High, is it really that weird to imagine something magical or mystic could be stalking my every move? Ugh… Maybe it was better not to imagine it at all. The simple idea already made every hair on my body stand on its end.
As I got up and continued following Spike — And at a normal pace this time — I kept thinking back to my episode just now. It’s like everytime I tried to push these thoughts away, the more they clawed their way back. The weight of everything, the things I want to forget but can’t, hung heavy. I told myself I’d be strong for them, for Twiley, for Cadance, for the Sheriff, but there I was. Laying there like a cry baby on the ground of the forest.
I wanted to give Cadey a ring, to apologize for earlier. But maybe I shouldn’t. I reached into my pocket and even opened up the list of contacts, but my finger lingered and hovered around her name but never quite pushed the button, but it was only then that I noticed there was no signal. I was partially thankful I didn’t have to make the call, but partially worried too. I hadn’t gone that deep into the forest yet, had I?
Whatever, I shouldn’t be worrying about that Cadance right now. I should just be focused on doing my job, and doing it right. As long as I have Spike with me, I’ll be okay. He’s the only one who’s always at my side. Deep breaths.
Yeah. I can do this. I can do this.
I followed Spike for some more minutes along the bed of a small water stream, the forest was almost suffocating. It’s like the trees bent into my path and wrapped around it, despite being in such an open space it was still claustrophobic with nowhere to run, shrouded in a dense darkness that only made things worse.
And once again this uneasy feeling, like I’m being watched… Every time I thought about being watched I did a 360 with my flashlight, finding only contorting branches and vaguely-humanoid shapes in the shadows. ‘Just my brain doing some pattern-seeking’ is a sweet lie I told myself so I didn’t freak out. I can only hope I’m alone here.
I didn’t really have much time to ponder on the question as something else caught my attention, Spike was barking up ahead, and that can only mean trouble. I quickly grab my swiss army knife and open the larger blade, ready to stab at anything, flashlight in one hand and blade in the other.
Hopefully I won’t have to use it…
Slowly I approached, hearing Spike’s barking grow louder, deep breaths, and as I lifted the flashlight I saw- nothing..
“What’re you barking at, boy?” There’s nothing in the way except for a hanging bundle of sticks.
But he kept barking, so I stepped closer and shined my light on the hanging bundle.
Four sticks. Two of them mirrored, placed diagonally. One horizontally, crossing the two. One additional one placed vertically, making the vague shape of a stick figure with a triangular torso, tied together poorly with some vines. Really? That’s what he was scared of?
“It’s just some sticks boy. Come on.” But he kept whimpering, refusing to step forward. Spike is a retired police dog, a german shepard even, I doubt there’s many things that would scare him. And yet, this did. Can’t say I didn’t feel an eerie feeling on my stomach either, maybe he’s just-Shining...
Wait, what?
Another 360 around the area, and I didn’t see anyone. Yet I could still hear it carried along the wind, hearing it speaking my name. No, there’s nothing here. I’m fine.
“Here, I’ll help you out boy.” I’ll break it.
But as my hand reached out to grab it, a nervous jolt went down my spine, one that made every hair on my body stand on its end, an unnerving sensation washed over me in a simple second, I don’t know why, or how…
Still, I grabbed the bundle and crushed it with my hand, it broke down easily.
“There there, it’s all good. It’s gone now.” Poor dog. After some petting, we continued on our way up the stream of water, where we walked through the darkness while Spike continued leading the way, our footsteps made the leaves crunch with each step.
It was dark as hell, you couldn’t see anything even with the moonlight partially illuminating the way. I heard a sound, a creaking sound, it made me quickly scan my surroundings for anyone or anything, and there was nothing. Lawson was right. This forest has a tendency to mess with your brain.
“WOOF! WOOF!” Up ahead Spike was barking at me, looking at me with a wagging tail as he waited. I could see something, just beyond the bush that was behind him.
My hands parted the bush and I stepped through, and my eyes lit up. We found something.
A campsite. 6 Tents were set up around an unlit fireplace. The place had been left in a hurry evident but how there were still things left behind, like the pink and yellow bag that had been left behind leaning against one of the tents. Spike didn’t waste a second though and quickly snuggled his way inside a purple tent, laying stomach down with a bark. Guess he deserves the rest.
“That’s it! Good boy! You deserve a treat!” Finally we have something! I reached into my bag and pulled out a small packet with some snacks, Spike barks and lets his mouth hang open while huffing, his tail wagged in excitement. He practically bit my hand off when he went to grab the snack. “We can help the others with this!”
These were their tents, they have to be. Six of them too. Maybe there’s something here that can help us go even further. I decided to start with the backpack on the floor as I desperately reached for my walkie talkie to warn the others.
“Lawson? Lawson, come in!”
“Shining!? God damn it, we’ve been trying to reach for hours! Where the hell have you been!?” He was less than happy to hear me.
“Hours? I- Look- I’ll explain it later, you need to come to me. I found a campsite, 6 tents, it must be the girls!” Some protein bars, a flashlight, a bottle of water, plenty of batteries, a phone with a cracked screen and… A camcorder? I think my dad used to own one of these way back in the day. “I’m uh- East of the main clearing, just a couple kilometers deep. I don’t know if I’m too deep, but I shouldn’t be at least.”
“What?! East of the clearing? We searched that whole area, there was nothing there either. Shining, are you sure you’re in the right place?” I’m sure. I know it. I reached into my backpack and grabbed my compass and unrolled the map of the forest just to double check.
“Yeah! I’m sure, I-” What? My compass, it was… Going crazy. Spinning around in circles. What? But there’s no… “But- But I- I’m sure I…”
“He’s sure he’s lost, that’s what he wants to say!” A male voice breaks into my conversation with the Sheriff. “Great! First the kids, now this dumbass!”
“Fuck you asshole! I got more done in a couple of hours than all of you did in three days of searching!” I’m being useful! I’m doing my best! Who the hell are they to tell ME off!?
“You know what!? Fuck it! I'm done with this crap, and I'm not about to be told off by Shining Armor of all people!” Yeah! Go on! As if I cared! “Lawson, I’m out of here!”
“Cut that out! Both of you! Shining, hold it together and stop letting your emotions get the best of you! And you Lenny, if you're so butthurt about Shining being here that you can't do your job, then you can go screw off for all I care and have your childish meltdown somewhere else!” I sighed, rubbing my head with the palm of my hand. Lawson was right. I got to keep my head in the game. I keep saying this but I never do it. “We have 6 missing girls to find, and we won't find them if all you guys do is argue!”
“Screw this, I already told you Lawson, I’m heading home! Goodbye!” Good, that’s one less asshole in the search party at least.
“No one’s keeping you here Lenny. Leave your stuff with Poppy when you leave camp. Now Shining, are you 100% sure you headed east? Any landmarks we can use to find you?” Landmarks… Landmarks… Uh, yeah, I know.
“Yeah. Yeah I'm- Positive.” I tried to find my location on the map, but it was difficult to gauge just how much I'd walked. “Just uh… You’ll reach a river, just keep going up the river. It’s not really a river, it’s like a very small water stream. But I'll keep looking and let you guys know if I find anything.”
“Copy that.” Lawson replied and I turned off my radio.
Maybe it was just stress from work that had gotten me like this. I really shouldn't have let something like that get to me. Again. But I’m not about to let him shit talk me. For once I'm trying to make things right but everything around me seems to bring me down.
And as I lifted my head up from the map to look at the surroundings, I cracked a smile once I saw Spike looking at me with an attentive stare and tilted head, before giving me a yawn. At least I have you buddy.
Back to the important matter at hand. After packing my things away again I took a look at the bag left behind. The phone was my first option, but as I clicked the button and waited, it didn't turn on. Broken? Out of battery? I wasn't sure, but it wouldn’t work. Then the camera.
An old Sony Camcorder, so old it still used 8mm tape. This thing must be from the very early 2000s. The batteries inside the bag looked like they were for the camera too, and plenty of them, probably could last a couple of days. But why would they bring cameras like these?
I changed the battery and tried to power it on, flipping out the screen from the side. The quality w asn't half bad and there was already a tape in there. I walked over to Spike and layed down next to him, might as well watch the tape.
Chapter 2 - Stalking sensation
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.
