[ti]Ep 3.5[/ti]Darkness Approaches ((Oneshot))

[Jack Darby]

WEEK 1, DAY 1

Somewhere In A Forest....

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Thump thump. Thump thump.

He's back in the Pacific Northwest again, but it's raining this time. Every step he takes is sucked down into unrelenting mud; every root, every rock, every hillock seems to trip him. He stumbles and staggers, breath coming in short, ragged gasps as it burns in his chest. He can barely see for the water in his eyes, his heavy bangs obscuring his vision, hanging like dark curtains in his sight. No matter how much he tries to slick them back, they keep falling forward, and he keeps falling forward too.

Thump thump. Thump thump.

The terrain is getting hillier and rockier. Every time he tries to step up and climb, he slides back down two steps. His feet ache from the strain, his fingers cut and bruised from trying to scramble up rough terrain. Behind him, he can hear something tittering through the trees, thin limbs scraping against the wood, not even bothering to hide its presence. Adrenaline wearing thin, he forces himself up the latest slope, gasping as he hauls himself over its edge.

He stands up, blood dripping from his fingers now, and turns to look at the forest. Whatever is in there has stopped moving. There is no sound save for that of the hammering rain, and a low rumble of thunder in the distance.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

"Jaaaaaaaaack...!"

He whirls on his heel toward the sound, blood-curdling and desperate. Tall redwoods frame dozens of paths before him, each leading into a deep, unrelenting darkness. He can't tell where the sound is coming from, the echo dissipating into a clap of thunder. The trees are illuminated by lightning for a moment, each looking like a hungry specter that looms over him. He steps forward, trying to catch his breath as he strains his ears for an indication of sound.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

"Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack...!"

"Mom!" he cries out, bolting in a random direction. It had to have come from this direction, it had to! Down into shadow he runs, his own feet betraying him as every step threatens to sink down into muck. He's panting, legs feeling like rubber, and he's not sure how much longer he can run. But if he's not fast enough, if he doesn't get there in time, she'll -

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

A bolt of lightning strikes a tree above. He flings his arms up to protect himself against embers and bits of scorched bark from hitting him. He skids and almost falls, pinwheeling before he catches himself. The forest is quiet again, and he looks around, realizing he's almost in complete darkness. Only the smoldering tree provides some kind of faint, hazy light. He swallows hard, and his voice cracks as he cries out, "Mom!"

Silence.

"Mooooom!"

Something giggles in front of him. Two bright pools of magenta purple flash in front of him.

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

It launches itself from the trees faster than he can react. A blade swings down - shwick! - and catches his arm. He cries out and stumbles back, hissing as he clutches the fresh wound near his elbow. A horned, pale face leans down, and as he looks up, he's meet with a vampiric smile. Lightning flashes again, two bladed feet rising on either side of the terrible visage.

"Hello, Jack."

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump -

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BRIIIIIING!

His eyes snap open. He rolls on his back, half-flinging himself into wakefulness. The hard wooden floor of his room is beneath him; around him is tangled a familiar blue blanket. His right elbow is throbbing with a new soreness, and sweat beads on his brow, his body stinking with it. Groaning, the boy slowly sits up, groggily turning his head towards the alarm clock on his table. A radio station is now playing, showcasing some kind of classic rock song he can't remember the name of.

A new day has begun for Jack Darby. The Pacific Northwest is far away. There is no rain, nor shadow, nor thing following him in the woods. It was a dream, albeit one of many he's had since the incident with MECH and his mother. Sighing in relief, taking a moment to collect himself, the teen slowly stands up to get ready for school.