✧ We’ll Go Crazy Together ✧

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Will clutched his side, fingers pressing desperately against his aching ribs, as if sheer willpower could keep them from shattering. Each breath came ragged and sharp, stabbing through his chest like icy needles. He trudged through the dense forest, his clothes snagging on thorny branches while thick tree roots reached up from the ground, threatening to trip him. Only a faint, ghostly light filtered through the dense canopy, casting shadows that twisted the world into a dark, unsettling gloom. Quiet sounds surrounded him—a rustle of leaves, the snap of a branch—but Will no longer startled. Weariness had dulled his fear. However, despite his exhaustion, Will’s senses stayed sharp.

​

If only I had listened to them, Will thought, I wouldn’t be in this mess.

Just 3 days earlier, he had been deep in Elderbloom Forest, where he’d lingered nearly a month as his supplies plummeted. He had decided it was finally time to leave the wilderness and make his way to a nearby town named StoneBridge. While tracing the trail on his map, he spotted a shortcut. It was a slender track that cut through a part of the forest, ominously called The Widow’s Path. As he turned towards it, a group of travellers also heading towards StoneBridge halted him with a warning. They spoke of the dangers ahead, of the creatures that lurked in the Widow’s path. However, Will was accustomed to danger and believed he could take on whatever awaited him in the shadows.

Obviously, he couldn’t have been further mistaken.

Will had already been ambushed by all manner of creatures—relentless foes he managed to fend off, though never without cost. His limited knowledge of this part of the forest, and the beings that called it home, left him at a clear disadvantage. If only he’d known sooner that shadow monsters could be scattered by a simple light spell, it would have saved him a great deal of trouble.

Now, Will pressed on, dragging one foot after the other, struggling to maintain a steady rhythm. He couldn’t be far now—surely the end of this nightmare path was close.

His eyes fluttered, heavy with exhaustion, but he forced them open, determined to stay awake. At least I can still see, he reminded himself, trying to keep positive.

Darkvision was one of the few gifts from his elven heritage he truly appreciated, along with not needing sleep—nights had always been tormentuous for him, nightmares prowling the edges of his mind. The rest of his past among his kind had offered far fewer blessings. After all, conflict between him and the rest of his village was how he’d ended up here, all alone. He’d been on his own for years now, though. Five, to be exact, and Will preferred it that way. Being alone meant he couldn’t be hurt, and he couldn’t hurt others.

Will shook his head, shoving down his thoughts. He didn’t like thinking about the past. He didn’t like remembering.

Gradually, the dense foliage thinned, allowing shafts of light to pierce through the leaves. Will squinted as his eyes adjusted, pupils shrinking in the brightness. He sighed in relief at the change in scenery, but the breath caught painfully in his lungs, forcing a wince. He straightened himself up with effort, just enough to reach into his bag and draw out his map. His weary eyes scanned the page, lingering on the dark smear labeled The Widow’s Path in southwest Elderbloom. Just beyond, farther south, lay the small village of StoneBridge—his destination.

It’s still too far away. It’d take me around six days to get there at this pace… He remarked in his mind. His wounds were holding him back.

Suddenly, the bushes rustled. The sound felt wrong, louder than the others he had heard before. Something was breathing there, heavy and uneven. A low, growling inhale came first, followed by a long exhale that whistled through the leaves, sending a chill down his spine.

Will knew what this was. He shoved the map swiftly inside his bag, and lifted his right arm towards the hidden creature, keeping his left gripping at his side.