May 7, 1977
"So what now?" Theo asked.
Ethan sat down on the damp moss beneath him. "Survive?"
Theo smiled, but his smile quickly faded, "We should get you help," he insisted, shining the flashlight around them.
"Like right now?".
"Yeah, you would die if we waited till tomorrow, Sherlock."
Ethan looked down at his leg. "It's not that bad," he tried assuring Theo, though his leg was clearly in bad shape.
"Ethan," Theo paused, turning his gaze to him, "Stop lying".
Ethan didn't reply.
"Can you walk?" Theo asked,
Ethan nodded and tried to lift himself off the ground using a tree trunk to steady himself.
"Use this," Theo handed him a long stick. "We could try the path over there," he gestured to a muddy path surrounded by grass and flowers.
As they walked, Theo bent down and plucked a flower. "You once said this was your favorite. What is it called again?".
"That's a Freesia," Ethan said, bending down to take a better look at the purple flower with faint shades of blue.
"See how well I remember?" Theo tucked the flower behind Ethan's right ear.
"You look like a princess," he added, chuckling.
Ethan smirked.
They sat on the path for a while, soft grass beneath them, tall trees around them. Theo turned off the flashlight and looked up at the stars.
After a moment, he suggested, "We should go," reaching out his hand to Ethan.
Ethan stood up but his vision swirled and he passed out. Luckily, Theo caught him and slowly placed him on the ground.
After a tense moment, Ethan's eyes opened. "What happened?" he asked softly.
"You passed out," Theo said, quivering. "Is it because of the leg? I'm getting worried about you. What if you-".
"It's okay, Theo. I'm going to be okay," Ethan grabbed Theo's hands to calm him.
"How are you feeling?" Theo asked.
"Like throwing up," Ethan chuckled. "But we should keep going".
"Want me to carry you?".
"Oh yeah, please".
Theo smiled, ducking a little so Ethan could jump on his back. Ethan's leg ached but he hid it. Theo looked back at Ethan, wrapped around his neck, head resting on his shoulder.
"So, want to hear some interesting facts about dinosaurs?" Ethan's face lit up.
"Whatever you want," Theo said groggily.
"Well, there are roughly 700 known species of extinct dinosaurs. One book said that some of them had feathers".
Theo enjoyed listening, though he wouldn't say it out loud. The air seemed drier than before and suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
"The thunderstorm is back," Theo said, holding out his hand as faint drops began to fall.
The drops soon grew stronger.
"The path could end nearby, right?" Ethan hoped, as the rain grew stronger and colder.
The downpour was relentless, each drop stinging like a shard of ice.
"I don't know," Theo replied, stopping in the middle of the path.
Ethan dismounted from his back, and Theo sat down on the wet, muddy grass. His clothes—straight beige trousers and a black T-Shirt, were soaked, the cold rain piercing through him, making him shiver uncontrollably. His hoodie still wrapped around Ethan's leg—now probably uselessly.
Ethan squatted next to him. "Hey, do you want my hoodie?" he offered, holding out his old brown zip hoodie.
Theo shook his head, declining. "Maybe it was a bad idea to escape," he began, pulling his knees to his chest to keep warm.
Thunder grew louder, and lightning flashed across the sky more frequently.
"If we get out of here, what are we going to do? Will you be okay? Are we...?" Theo's voice was full of fear, unable to finish the sentence.
Ethan took off his hoodie and draped it over Theo's shoulders, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Everything will end up well," he reassured him.
Theo looked into Ethan's eyes, finding a glimmer of hope, but then his gaze shifted to something behind Ethan.
Ethan turned around and saw it too—fire spreading rapidly through the forest, ignited by a lightning strike.
Theo quickly stood up, extending his hand to help Ethan up. "We have to go. I'll carry you".
"No, I can run," Ethan insisted.
Without another word, Theo grabbed Ethan's hand, and they ran. He wondered why he grabbed his hand in the first place. He didn't do it to help Ethan run. That wouldn't change anything. He just wanted to.
As they ran, Ethan fumbled with the flashlight. He pressed the button, and the light flickered on briefly before going dark again. He tried pressing it several more times, but the flashlight only flickers occasionally before giving up entirely. Funny how the fire became the only source of light.
Ethan let go of Theo's hand and stopped.
Theo quickly turned back, sensing Ethan's absence. "Come on, Ethan, we can't stop now," Theo urged, his voice tense.
Ethan stubbornly pressed the flashlight button again and again.
Theo snatched it from his hand. "Screw it, we have to go," he said firmly.
They were fortunate that the fire wasn't spreading quickly, giving them some distance from the flames. However, the wind began to rise, bringing colder air and driving the rain harder against them. As they moved forward, Theo noticed Ethan struggling.
"Can you keep going?" he asked, concerned.
"Yeah, yeah, it's okay. We can't rest anyway," Ethan replied, his voice tired. "Can I get the flashlight back?".
Theo nodded and handed him the useless flashlight.
Theo quickened his pace, and Ethan followed a meter behind, his breath coming in labored gasps.
Suddenly, Ethan noticed a tall tree tilting precariously. It was about to fall, and Theo was almost directly beneath it. Ethan frantically pressed the flashlight button once more, aiming it towards the tree. It flickered just enough for him to see the tree falling.
"Watch out!" heshouted, lunging forward and grabbing Theo. He pulled him away just as the tree came crashing down with a deafening thud. They tumbled onto the wet ground, Theo falling on Ethan, both gasping for breath. Theo, momentarily disoriented, found himself lying on Ethan's chest.
Realizing their position, Theo quickly pulled away in embarrassment. "Sorry... Thank you," he stammered, his voice quirky and strained with the adrenaline coursing through him.
Ethan sat up, brushing mud and leaves from his clothes. "Are you okay?" he asked, his concern evident despite his own exhaustion.
"Yeah... I'm just still a little shaken," Theo replied, glancing back at the massive tree that had nearly crushed him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "We should go," he added, more determined now.
Theo moved closer to the fallen tree, examining its rough bark. It was massive. He climbed onto the tree, the bark rough against his hands. Once he was perched on top, he extended a hand to Ethan. "Come on," he urged.
Ethan took Theo's hand, allowing himself to be pulled up.
As they balanced on the tree trunk, they both turned to look back. The blazing flames were creeping closer, their heat palpable even from a distance. The crackling and popping of burning wood filled the air, adding to the sense of urgency. Suddenly, another tree, weakened by the fire, crashed down across their path with a deafening thud. This one was also massive, and they wouldn't be able to cross it in time. Theo stood in the middle of the path, his eyes wide with fear, as if frozen.
"Theo, hurry. Through here," Ethan shouted, grabbing Theo's hand and pulling him towards the dense forest off the main path.
The thick canopy overhead blocked out much of the remaining light, making it difficult to see. They stumbled over rocks and roots, the wet ground slippery beneath their feet. Branches scratched at their faces and arms as they ran forward, trying to make their way through the forest
As they ran, the sound of the flames gradually faded, replaced by the rustling leaves and their own labored breathing. The fire seemed to spread in another direction. Finally, they broke through the dense forest and emerged into a wide, open field.
Ethan released Theo's hand, both of them panting heavily. The grass in the field was tall, almost waist-high, and swayed gently in the wind. As they looked around the field, they noticed a car passing by in the distance, its headlights briefly illuminating their surroundings.
"A road, there must be a road nearby. We'll finally get out of here," Theo said, his voice full of relief.
Ethan smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope.
"I just wanna swing you around," Theo added with a hint of irony.
"You can," Ethan replied, chuckling.
Theo grabbed Ethan by the waist and lifted him off the ground, spinning him around in a joyful, albeit tired, circle.
"My mom always did that to me," Theo said, his voice softening.
"Yeah, and I was always so jealous," Ethan said as his feet touched the ground again.
"You never told me about your parents," Theo admitted.
"I don't remember much. And I don't wanna talk about them," Ethan shrugged, deciding to change the topic. "Do you think someone will put out the fire?" he asked.
"Probably. We're close to a road, someone must have noticed," Theo replied, glancing back towards the forest where the fire still raged.
"Can you carry me? I'm... I can't," Ethan asked.
"Of course," Theo said, smiling warmly. He crouched down so Ethan could jump on his back.
As they trudged through the tall grass, the clouds overhead parted just enough for the moonlight to shine through, casting a serene glow on the field. When they finally reached the road, they paused, looking both ways, but no other cars passed by.
"Theo, look, a village," Ethan pointed towards what appeared to be houses in the distance.
With renewed energy, they headed towards the village.
When they got there, Ethan dismounted from Theo's back, his legs shaky but grateful. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Suddenly, an old lady emerged from a small house, calling for her cat, "Cosmo!". She noticed Ethan and Theo standing in the middle of the road, looking lost and exhausted. "What are you two doing out here? It's so dark and cold," she asked. "Come inside, you must be freezing," she added, beckoning them towards her home.
Theo and Ethan exchanged hesitant looks before slowly approaching the house. They walked up the few steps to her porch. Next to the stairs was a mailbox illuminated by the light from the inside, which had "Jacobs" written on it—perhaps the surname of the old lady.
"Is it really not a problem?" Theo asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes, don't worry," The old lady reassured them. She held the door open for them, and as they stepped inside the house smelled like the earthy scent of plants and aged wood, a fragrance that enveloped Ethan and Theo as they stepped inside. Despite the familiarity of the furniture, reminiscent of their orphanage, the room adjacent to the hall stood out, adorned with rich hues of green and brown, adding a touch of warmth to the space.
"Take off your shoes," the old lady instructed.
They nodded in acknowledgement, but Ethan, as he bent down to remove his shoe, a sudden twinge in his leg nearly caused him to stumble.
Theo steadied him.
Ethan straightened up, exchanging a glance of thanks with Theo before taking his shoes off.
With their shoes removed, the old lady led them into the spacious living room, adorned with vibrant, flourishing plants. The worn red couch, adorned with visible signs of wear from feline claws, was draped with a beige blanket.
As they settled onto the couch, the old lady took a seat in an armchair nearby, clearing space by placing glasses and a book on the floor. Her gaze softened as she inquired, "What are your names? Why were you out alone during this thunderstorm, sweethearts?".
Ethan and Theo exchanged a hesitant glance, grappling with how much to disclose.
"I'm Theo and he's Ethan," Theo introduced.
"We were exploring the forest, and the storm caught us off guard," Ethan began—because Theo could only come up with short lies, which Ethan knew well. His gaze drifted to his injured leg, the makeshift bandage already showing signs of seepage.
Concern evident in her voice, the old lady rose from her seat, her posture slightly stooped with age. "What happened to your leg? Let's tend to it right away," she insisted, leading them to the bathroom, where an abundance of plants adorned every available surface.
"Sit here," she directed, motioning towards the edge of the bathtub as she cleared the plants away.
Theo lent a hand.
She retrieved bandages and ointment from a nearby cabinet, offering them to Theo with a soft smile. "This ointment should speed up the healing process," she explained, pausing to steady herself. "Blood isn't my favorite sight. Would you mind taking care of it, Theo? Meanwhile, I'll prepare some herbal tea".
Theo nodded in understanding, watching her leave before turning his attention to Ethan's wound. Sitting beside him, he carefully unwrapped the makeshift bandage, revealing the extent of the injury. Ethan winced at the sight, prompting Theo's sympathy.
"You're lucky to have made it through," Theo remarked, adjusting the temperature of the shower before beginning to cleanse the wound. Ethan grimaced as the dirt was gently scrubbed away.
"I wish I could've done more," Theo admitted softly, his expression reflecting his self-criticism. "If I had gone with you...".
Ethan interrupted, his voice firm with reassurance. "It's not your fault, Theo. You've done more than enough".
After carefully cleaning Ethan's leg and wrapping it with clean bandages, Theo helped him back to the living room. They settled onto the comforting warmth of the faded red couch.
Soon, the old lady entered, balancing a wooden tray laden with steaming mugs of tea and a plate of sweet buns. The rich, inviting aroma of the tea filled the room.
She placed the tray on the small table next to the couch and smiled kindly. "You must be hungry. I brought some sweet buns," she offered, extending the plate towards them.
Theo took one. "Thanks," he said.
As he chewed, the old lady turned her attention to Ethan, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You won't eat, Ethan?" she asked gently.
Ethan shook his head, a bit embarrassed. "I'm allergic to gluten. I always immediately throw up," he explained softly. Just then, a cat leaped onto Ethan's lap, startling him.
"Here you are, Cosmo," the old lady said, smiling as Cosmo purred contentedly.
Ethan gently stroked the cat's long, black fur.
"Do you want something else to eat?" she asked, her voice warm with concern. "I have some chicken soup."
"Thank you, but I'm not really hungry," Ethan replied, glancing at Theo for no reason. Maybe to reassure himself that he had not disappeared. That was a stupid reasoning.
"You're so skinny. Do your parents even feed you?" the old lady pressed, her tone turning serious.
"I don't have—" Ethan began, but Theo quickly interjected, "Cosmo is a beautiful name. How did you come up with it?" He tried to steer the conversation away.
"My husband thought of it," she said, her gaze drifting towards the slightly open bedroom door. "He's in a wheelchair now. Needs his medicine soon," she added, her voice neutral but her eyes betraying a hint of weariness. "I love him, but it's so tiring to care for someone who's paralyzed."
"How did that happen, if I may ask?" Ethan ventured carefully.
"He was paralyzed…by…," she trailed off, her expression pained. "Are you sure you don't want the soup, Ethan?" she asked, changing the topic abruptly.
"Maybe just a little, please," Ethan conceded.
The old lady nodded and headed into the kitchen.
As she left the room, Ethan turned to Theo with a mischievous smile. "Cosmo looks just like you if you were a cat," he said. "You both have black hair, and even his eyes are the same grayish shade of blue as yours."
Theo chuckled. "I guess he copied me," he said, amused. "I've never seen a cat with your hair color though. Like ginger cats exist but I know that your hair is not completely ginger".
"I was destined to not have hair with a lame color".
The old lady returned. "Go eat in the kitchen, please. I'll tend to my husband's medicine in the meantime," she instructed.
Theo helped Ethan to the kitchen, which was cozy and filled with the earthy scent of plants. Wooden counters and a square-patterned tablecloth on the dining table added to its rustic charm.
They sat down at the table next to each other. Ethan blew on the hot soup to cool it down before taking a sip, using a spoon. It tasted as good as it smelled, rich with flavors.
Theo watched Ethan, a mixture of admiration and concern in his eyes.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Ethan asked, half-jokingly.
"I was looking at the soup," Theo replied, smiling.
"Want to taste it?" Ethan offered, extending the spoon.
Theo nodded and took a spoonful, savoring the taste.
Suddenly, a loud scream echoed through the house, coming from the old lady's bedroom. Theo and Ethan exchanged alarmed looks and quickly stood up. They moved cautiously towards the living room, with Ethan leading the way. As they approached the bedroom door, it swung open violently. But the old lady didn't emerge. Instead, she lay on the floor, covered in blood, her organs spilling out from a gruesome wound. The man in the wheelchair was nowhere to be seen, just his wheelchair stood there. In the doorway stood a tall, skinny creature with unnaturally long limbs, sharp claws, and deep black holes for eyes.
The creature's gaze seemed vacant, but when it touched Ethan, it recoiled angrily, as if suddenly aware of his presence. Ethan tried to run, but the creature plunged its claws into his stomach. Theo, reacting instinctively, grabbed a small table and hurled it at the creature. It staggered back, giving Theo just enough time to pull Ethan to the corner of the room. The creature recovered quickly, its rage evident. It turned towards a window and crashed through it, shattering the glass, dropping a photo from the windowsill in front of Theo.
Theo noticed the photo but then looked at Ethan, who was bleeding profusely from the deep wound in his stomach.
"Ethan," he whispered, his voice trembling with fear and desperation.
Ethan didn't respond; he had passed out, his condition critical.
Theo sat there, holding Ethan, his body shaking uncontrollably. A long minute passed, filled only with the sound of Theo's ragged breathing and the distant wail of sirens. Through the broken window, Theo saw the creature being subdued by soldiers, their guns trained on it. One soldier entered the house, his flashlight beam cutting through the darkness. He looked at Theo and Ethan, a glint of recognition in his eyes.
The soldier approached them and tried to take Ethan from Theo's grasp. "Wha-t are you-u going- to do to him-m?" Theo stammered, his voice shaking, trying to hold onto Ethan.
The soldier didn't respond, but his firm grip eventually made Theo let go. As the soldier carried Ethan away, another soldier grabbed Theo's hand, dragging him outside to a waiting car. Theo tried to resist, but he was too weak to fight back. He was seated in the back seat, his heart pounding with anxiety and fear. Theo craned his neck, trying to see where they had taken Ethan, but the darkness and chaos outside the car obscured his view. The driver, a stoic figure, climbed into the front seat and started the engine.
"Where's Ethan?" Theo shouted.
"He'll be taken to a hospital," the driver replied curtly.
Theo fell silent, his gaze shifting to the window. Outside, soldiers were dragging the grotesque creature into a heavily fortified van.
"Where am I going?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"Back to the orphanage," the driver said.
"What?" Theo exclaimed, frantically trying to open the door, but it was locked. The driver paid no heed and drove off into the night.
Exhausted, Theo's eyelids grew heavy, and he eventually fell asleep. When he awoke, he had no idea how long they had been driving. The familiar sight of the orphanage gate loomed ahead, with Mrs. Agnes standing by, waiting. As the car came to a halt, she marched over to the vehicle, exchanged a curt nod with the driver, and yanked open the back door. She grabbed Theo by the arm, her grip like iron, and dragged him all the way to her office. She shoved him into a corner, glaring at him with a mixture of anger and disdain.
"What did you think you were doing, escaping? Ethan could have died! Now we have to cover his hospital treatment. Do you think money grows on trees?" she shouted.
Theo looked up at her, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. "What was that creature?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"That's none of your business," Mrs. Agnes snapped, delivering a swift kick to his side. Without any further explanation, she began to beat him mercilessly, her kicks landing with cruel precision.
"Go to your room," she finally commanded, her voice cold and devoid of empathy.
Theo, battered and weak, managed to stagger to his room. He collapsed onto his bed, the pain in his body lulling him into a deep, troubled sleep.
—
May 8, 1977
The next morning, as Theo groggily awoke a sharp, stabbing pain shoots through his head, causing him to wince and groan softly. He felt the bruises on his body like a thousand knives, each one stabbing with relentless cruelty. His pain eased up when he turned to his side and noticed Ethan laying in his own bed. Relief flooded Theo, and his eyes lit up. He immediately got up, his body still aching, and moved to sit by Ethan's side, watching him sleep.
Ethan's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Theo?" he said weakly.
"I'm so glad you survived," Theo said.
Ethan felt a strong burn in his chest as he slowly sat up. His torso was covered in bandages. They smelled like the iron scent of blood.
"I don't remember anything that happened after eating that soup. I just woke up here," Ethan admitted.
"I think it's better that way," Theo insisted. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"The leg is alright. My chest hurts though," Ethan replied, and Theo smiled slightly. "It'll get better," he added.
Theo then stood up, wincing slightly from the pain, and picked a clean T-shirt from a box under his bed. As he lifted his—Ethan's hoodie—still slightly wet at the same time as the T-Shirt he had underneath to change, Ethan noticed the bruises covering Theo's torso.
"Where did you get those bruises?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with concern. "Was it Mrs. Agnes again?"
Theo pulled on the clean T-shirt. "I..." he couldn't form an actual word, so it only sounded like a murmur.
"Come here. It's not your fault," Ethan said, his voice gentle but firm. Theo moved back to Ethan's bed and sat down. Ethan reached out and pulled Theo into a tight hug. This touch was the type that would fix anything. Any pain. Mental or physical.