At present Francis decided that perhaps it would be best to investigate these northern trails on his own. He wasn't the most comfortable around other people and this idea of a shared dream really bothered him. Besides, they would probably catch up to him out on all of those switchbacks. After he had put his share of the bill on the table he indicated he needed to use the restroom which was close to the front door. Then like a scene right out of a movie he slipped out of the entrance and made his way to his car. He made his way north across town toward the trailhead for the northern paths.He had to admit it was a pretty nice day for walking in the woods. And rather than ominous the forest in front of him looked vibrant and welcoming. Taking a deep breath he left his car behind and started down the path.
As Francis walks the north path he feels slightly more enthused, when he smells the fresh air and sees the beauty of the Oak forest.
After a time he comes to a fork in the path. There will be five more forks after this. Without looking at past posts. (Honor system here) Tell me right or left for each one. Equaling a total of six.
Having no particular destination in mind Francis allows chance to lead him wherever it might lead him. At each fork in the path he chooses a direction at random: right, right. left, right, left, left.
Having no particular destination in mind Francis allows chance to lead him wherever it might lead him. At each fork in the path he chooses a direction at random: right, right. left, right, left, left.
Francis wanders through the forest taking fork after fork. And ends up in more forest... Hmmm...
A older man of 50 or so then wanders into Francis's path. "You lost?" The man, asks gruffly.
Ivan looked over at the figure in front of the house, and nodded to Trevor. "Stay here in case of touble. I was given basic first aid and hand-to-hand instruction for field combat. I'll call if safe."
He then went closer to near the steps leading to the front of the house. "Hello there and good morning. Are you in need of assistance?"
After a moment with no response Ivan stepped up to the man and put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you hurt? Need doctor?" he asked hesitantly.
Michael stands up and looks at ivan. before ivan stands a 6'3" man with grey eyes. he seems well toned with stubble on his head and face. he seems to stand at attention Thank you sir i was just slightly light headed. you're not from around here are you?
Ivan looked at the man standing before him. "That is good. And no, I do not come from here. My name is Ivan. Have you come to seek mysteries from this house as well?"
shakes his head slightly as he speaks
names Michael, i have lived in porter my whole life and use to play in these woods and never remember seeing this place before
Ivan nods. "Stranger things happen all the time."
He then turns away from Michael looking back to where he left Trevor and calls out.
"It safe to come over now. Maybe you even see this man before. His name is Michael."
You notice Trevor, still looks apprehensive. "I'll stay down here. I don't know any Michael's."
You both then feel a desire to enter the home. Michael slowly opens the large wooden door. Excitement welling inside the two men. When the door opens they discover that the home is... pretty ordinary. there is no furniture. The wall are a dull white with dusty wooden floors.
there is a brick fire place in the front room. as you explore further you discover a empty dining room, empty kitchen a wooden staircase, with fairly large empty rooms. An attic full of dust and to top it off a dark and dusty basement.
You feel like there should be something more something substantial. But it is just a large empty house. It looks slightly strange and is in a strange place, but that seems to be all.
"This... is not what I expect. Where is mysterious edge?"
Suddenly, the two men, hear a young soft female voice say, "Welcome friends."
A young fair skinned woman with long blonde hair, that fell to the small of her back, she had bright green eyes, and is wearing a simple but elegant white dress. She came from the dining room into the front room, where the both of you have regrouped after searching the house for clues.
inclines his head slightly in greetings greetings miss i was given a message to come here. i didn't mean to bother anyone
Ivan eyes the pretty woman appreciatively and nods.
"Well hello. This is your humble abode, yes?"
Part A:
She gives Ivan, a warm smile. "I reside here currently is all."
She then walks a little further into the front room you can see she has a kind yet sad look in her bright green eyes.
"You, are the chosen. You, will bring much joy." She says, with her smile wavering, for a split second.
She then turns and walks back into the dining room. As you both attempt to follow her to get a better understanding of what she meant, you discover she is no where to be found.
Baffled, you both comb the house once more but find nothing or no one.
After a time, you both decide to head home, as standing around in here seems to be fruitless.
You both head outside, to see that it looks like early afternoon.
Ivan, you notice that Trevor, is gone. You figure he probably got tired of waiting and went home.
both Ivan and Michael, head down the stone steps then take the path of forks. Michael, leads the way with his map walking his bike next to him. The young men, also discuss what they had just witnessed in length, they also discover they both share the same dream. Dumbfounded and now more curious than ever as to what it could all mean, as they walk the way they came.
After a while they reach the exit to the woods, say good day to each other then head their separate ways.
As they both go back to their daily activities. The house, and the strange event, and lack of bigger events, swirl through their minds.
Who was that woman? Where did she go? Bring joy to who?
That night as the two of you slept, you both had the same dream, the dream, you have had for the past several nights. The dream, of the strange house, in the oak tree forest.
Part B:
When you awoke the next morning, you could feel an even deeper longing than before to discover the answers to this mystery.
Ivan, thought he would head to town to see if his boss had changed his mind. (He had not) As Ivan, decided to go and eat inside the Emil's Breakfast Nook. He saw Trevor, sitting at on of the booths alone, eating a large waffle with butter and syrup.
Ivan, decided to join him ordering the same. Trevor, apologized for leaving, but said he had classes to get to and was to afraid to go inside and that he called to Ivan but he never responded. "I talked to the sheriff, who said he would head out but I don't know if he did. Though when I was in class I saw you come back into town through the window. I would have talked to you sooner but I didn't and still don't know where you live."
Ivan, waved his right hand at Trevor's, apology/story, as if to say no worries. Ivan, then went into what had happened inside the house, the day before. Trevor, listened with a slightly open mouth. As Ivan, spoke to he noticed a scar that he had not seen around Trevor's neck and throat the day before. Ivan, figured that he just wasn't looking at Trevor, close enough to notice before.
When Ivan, asked about it. Trevor, waved it off and said, "Long story."
The two talked for a time more and after some convincing. Ivan, managed to talk Trevor into going back to the house. He would of asked Michael, to come too but had no idea where he lived or worked.
Meanwhile Michael, had already planned to check out the house once again and after a quick breakfast, hopped on his bike, and headed straight to the Northern path. He would have invited Ivan, but he forgot to get his address or phone number the previous day. Though he figured Ivan would show up at some point.
As he rode, he noticed that the town had a slightly different vibe today. he couldn't quite put his finger on it... Maybe it was that a few of the shops looked just a little less well kept than he remembered seeing from the day before. Maybe it was the fact the some of the usual cheery people, looked just a little less upbeat today...
When Michael, arrived at the North path and rode along it for a short time he encountered a similar situation, as to one the day before.
Once again he saw the boy who had given him the map, sitting on the side of the path with his bike off to the side, as if he had wrecked it again. There was a difference today though and that was the fact that the boy, looked a fair bit more banged up than yesterday. On top of the severely scraped up knee, of the day before was that his other knee and both of his elbows were just as damaged.
Though again, like the day before when Michael, attempted to help. The child stood up, walked to his bike, picked it up, and rode off down the path without a word. Michael, also noticed as to be expected from wrecking two days in a row, that the boys bike was looking more banged up as well.
Michael, decided that if he saw the boy on his way to the house he would try to help him again. But he never saw him as he got closer to the house and the many forks which he now remembered the route from the day before.
While Ivan, was just beginning to head down the North path with Trevor. The two young men walked and talked Ivan leading the way today. As they came to the forks Trevor said Shall I lead now? But Ivan, felt confident that he could remember so he kept the lead role.
When they reached the house, Ivan, could see the see a familiar figure in front of the house, like the day before. He was sure that it was Michael. Ivan again tried to get Trevor to go up to the house but Trevor refused. Ivan then getting impatient headed up the stone steps once more.
Michael, was studying the outside of house for quite a while and lost track of time. Something about how it felt now was bothering him. If he knew what it was it wouldn't be such an issue but the fact that he could not say what is was vexed him.
Michael, then heard footsteps coming up the stone stairs and looked back to see Ivan, coming up with a curious expression on his face. Ivan too felt the strange vibe in the air surrounding the house
They greeted one another. Told each other about how they once again had the same dream. Then decided to enter the house once again.
As they entered the home the first thing that struck them was the fact that the house now had furniture. old antique type furniture. the walls were no longer a dull white bit a deep red the wood floors were now clean and shiny. inside the dining room was now a long wooden table with a clean white cloth laid over it as well as six wood chairs around it. Two on the left and right with one on each of the ends.
"Welcome friends." a familiar soft female voice spoke from the kitchen, in the next room. The blonde haired woman, walked into the dining room, warm smile in place to greet the pair of you.
She looked the same as the day before, except... She had very light scars on her arms, hands and face. When asked by Michael, about them the woman simply said "I made a mistake."
When Ivan, then asked who did such a thing she said simply, "This is the end of todays visit. Please come again tomorrow."
The two men looked very confused. But as she held out her hand gesturing towards the door the pair decided to not be pushy. And complied. Not a lot of time had passed this time as they were outside again. But for some reason Trevor, was no where to be seen.
The young men, headed back down the stairs and toward where they came. Again, as they walked Michael, his bike along side him once more. Went over just how strange this was all getting.
How did the blonde woman get those scars? What mistake? Why did she have them leave so suddenly?
When they got back to Porter they made an arrangement to meet up the next morning. Again that night they dreamed the now familiar dream and again woke up with the need to discover what it meant.
Part C:
The next morning Ivan, awoke. The weather looked to be like another nice day. Ivan then decided to have some eggs and went to the kitchen to cook them up. As he did so he could feel a very strange vide in the air. It bothered him as he ate his eggs on toast.
He then got dressed and headed to meet Michael, at the Northern path.
Michael, was feeling something similar as got up and had a bit of sausage and cheese on an English muffin for breakfast, then headed out the door. He then hopped on his bike and rode to the Northern path, to meet Ivan.
As both Michael and Ivan traveled to their destinations they both noticed a definite change to the town of Porter.
A lot of the buildings now were looking rundown and empty. the people that were often cheery didn't even have a smile today. and moved in a somewhat sluggish way.
When they reached the North path. They greeted each other and headed up it. They were both pretty quiet today, as they tried to work things out in their own heads. The big question being What is going on?
When they reached the house this time they could see a difference today than before. The house was covered in vines and looked slightly lopsided. when they climbed the stone steps they saw that the door had a somewhat crooked look to it as well.
They both looked at each other for a second nodded then proceeded to head inside. Where when they entered they could feel heat within the room they were standing. As they made their way to the dining room they noticed frames were up on the walls of the dining room. each with a blank white canvas sitting inside...
A gentle voice that said, "Welcome friends." Greeted them once again and out of the kitchen came the blonde haired woman. Except today, her scars were now stitches, they looked as if they were the only things keeping her harm and head attached.
She still wore the kind smile, even though she looked like a like she was barely being held together. As you both began to bombard her with questions, on how this could have happened. She holds up a hand and says simply, "If you like answers then please come back for dinner tonight." She then gestures towards the door like the day before.
After staring at her for a moment and attempting to ask her questions she just said again, "Come to dinner tonight." and with her smile and gesturing towards the door. After the two men realized they had no choice but to leave and come back once more they did.
They walked down the steps in silence, as did they walk the path the same way. when they got to Porter, they both agreed to meet that night to attend the house for dinner though both felt uneasy. But their desire to find out more was stronger.
Throughout the day, they tried to do some normal like things, but they did not seem to pan out. Ivan, went to his job to find the place quiet and the boss gone. Ivan, did see one thing that freaked him out that day and that was Trevor walking into the school but his neck was bleeding profusely. Ivan, terrified at the sight ran up to follow him but when he entered the school he found inside it was completely rundown and deserted.
Michael, had seen the boy from before but now his bike was very banged up and the child had looked as though someone had bashed in his face. The unsettled Michael, tried to get to him to see if he could do anything but the boy rounded a corner and had vanished when Michael, rounded it.
That evening when the two men came together to enter the woods once again they breathed a deep breath and entered.
The woods looked much less inviting at night but Ivan and Michael stayed the course and kept on the path flashlights on and eyes wary. They had finally reached the house to see that now had glowing windows from the light that came from within.
They could smell delicious food, coming from inside and decided to head up. They knew this was not wise but they just had to know what was happening.
When they got to the top of the stairs and stood in front of the crooked wood door they noticed on the brass door knob was a tall shadowy figure marked on it. This made them both hesitate. But then they decided they had come this far...
Inside the house it was now sweltering with a fire going strong in the fireplace. They then entered the dining room to see other people then themselves had been waiting for them as well. One was a man they both recognized who went by the name Arthur if memory served correctly along with two others a young woman they had not seen before but looked to be a student probably. And the last was a young man whom they knew was named Francis.
They were sitting at the dining room table each with a worried look on their faces. They each gave a simple greeting while you learned the girls name was Katie.
As you both sat at the table you heard a voice from the kitchen say once more, "Welcome friends." Then a very disfigured person walks out of the kitchen to greet you all. you can tell it is the blonde woman, but only just. her face is all cut up, with numerous stiches as well as well as down her neck and along her arms as well. a few of the people around the table jump in surprise.
Francis, quickly heads for the door. But he cannot get it open. The woman says calmly, "You all need to be calm and still so I can explain."
After a moment of heavy panicked breaths, and then a chilled silence. The woman begins to speak in her soothing voice. "You have been chosen. You will bring much joy... These are the things I said when we first met. Well you have been chosen to play in a game. A game that will bring much joy... To Madam Seeker."
"I should have introduced myself ages ago. But, Madam Seeker, wanted me to wait till tonight. I am Cecil Collins, it is a pleasure to meet all of you. I do hope you do well. Though I suppose you can't all win..." she finishes distantly.
"What is this game you speak of?" Arthur, asks in an uneasy voice.
"It is a game of survival." Cecil says calmly.
Everyone in the room freezes at this you could hear a pin drop...
"You will be tasked with a task once per night. The game will go until only one of you is left..." Cecil explains. She looks very sorry at this, but continues "Tonight will just be dinner and a chance to get to know your rivals. I will serve dinner now. If you don't mind?"
Cecil then walks into the kitchen and leaves the rest of you alone...
Ivan sat at the table, near shock level of response was all he could manage. Slowly his adrenaline and fear melted out of him leaving him feeling exhausted as he looked around at the rest of the table.
Cecil? Getting to know rivals? Just dinner tonight?
"What in the hell is happening here?!" He stood up from the table and looked around at the others. The futility of his statement seemed to ring into his ears and he slumped back down into his seat.
He put a hand to his head. "I have seen all of you before. This is not joke. What are you good at? Maybe we work together, find way out?"
shakes his head, this is like a bad horror film. he gazes at those gathered in thought
i think ivan might be on to something.
Arthur, stands up and declares, "I can shelve books like nobody else's business! Because it is mine... uh... I guess I am pretty good with puzzles."
Francis is frozen at the door with fear. His eyes are completely blank. On occasion though he still attempts to turn the door knob to no avail. Though the way he moved from the table, to the door showed he had great speed.
Katie just looks up with a somewhat fierce look in her eyes, and says, "I have taken martial arts. So I can kick ass!"
"Good, good. Um... so door is locked. Maybe we just wait for food and then try to get out once..." he let his thoughts die off as he thought of the horrible sight that was Cecil coming back into the room. He didn't know how anyone could possibly move with the damaged she had on her body.
I am ending this game.