After a silent morning, everyone else got up slowly. Once everyone was up except Wilson. We decided who was going to follow the note today. I thought the discussion was going to take a while however, it was decided very quickly.

“I’ll do it,” Ezra spoke.

I expected some disagreeing but, it seemed that everyone agreed almost instantly.

Before the discussion could come to a quick end though Annabelle said “Isn’t it dangerous going that deep into the forest by yourself? Shouldn’t someone else come with you?”.

As she said that a sudden silence came to the room. I imagined we all were thinking the same thing. It would be difficult to follow the rules if someone else went with Ezra.

Just as I thought Ezra was going to decline he said “Dante, come with me.”

In a sudden shock at his words, I replied without thinking “y-yeah”.

What was he thinking? If I went with him wouldn’t that make it hard not to break the rules? Oddly enough I felt safe going with Ezra. It felt like he was a protective grandfather and I was his grandson. Although I bit worried I had this strange feeling I would be fine.

From there the discussion ended and we all went and did our separate things. It felt like no one really was friendly.

It felt like eight strangers in a room together. Which it was.

I just felt uncomfortable in the silence every day. Although I was getting used to it I still didn’t like it. There wasn’t much to do in the church so I sat there and counted the number of cracks in the wall and zoned out as time passed.

After some time passed I heard the sound of metal and I now knew that it was time to depart. I walked out of the church and met Ezra at the spot we had agreed to meet at outside the church. I arrived first and there was no one else there.

A moment later I heard the sounds of footsteps.

I refused to look in the direction however, I knew it was Ezra the moment he started talking “It should be straight for a bit, and then we should end up there if I read this map correctly”.

As he said that I looked up and saw the forest entrance. I felt afraid of the forest. It was completely unknown as to what lurked inside of it. Every time I looked at it my memory flashed to the grotesque scene with the pigmen. I couldn’t step forwards. I was only one step out of it however, I was afraid of it.

As I was about to take a step back I felt a rough slap on my back shoving me forwards forcing my first step into the forest. I knew it was Ezra giving me a push forwards.

He spoke, “Now you’re in the forest and if you look backward you will see me and break a rule. So now you have to walk forwards.”

As he said that I thought about something and asked, “Are you looking at me?”.

after a moment of silence, he asked, “Are you a human?”

Surprised at his question I answered, “I-I think so?”. He then said, “Then it’s fine anyways start walking if we don’t hurry we won’t make it back before the bell rings it’s a long walk”.

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As we were walking I remembered a few days ago why I thought this forest was like a dream. The trees all stood strong and tall. The canopy of leaves protected you from the beating sun and made you feel safe. The dirt was soft under your feet and made you feel like you could walk on it forever.

As I was basking in this dreamlike forest reality hit hard as I stepped in a pile of shit.

Ezra saw this and started gave a quick chuckle “watch where you’re going, buddy!”.

I scoffed and said, “I didn’t realize there were animals in the forest.”.

Suddenly in a serious tone, Ezra said “There arent any that’s human shit.”

flabbergasted at what he said I had a stupid thought a spoke, “Wait did you-”.

“No, it was probably one of the island’s residents. I'm sure you have met them before,” he spoke back.

I thought about what he meant and then grew pale as I thought about the pig people from before.

“We Should probably pick up the pace as long as the bell hasn’t rung were safe however, the moment it does.” He said.

I hastened my pace as I pretty much sprinted the rest of the way. When we got there I was out of breath.

I bent over and put my hands on my knees to catch my breath. “It’s quite a pretty view” Ezra spoke.

I looked up and saw what he was talking about. There was a small hill with a river flowing down it creating a waterfall. The water was so clear that you could see the rocks on the bottom. I took in the view for a moment however it didn’t seem that there was much here other than that. What we were looking for I didn’t completely know.

As I was looking at the waterfall Ezra muttered “Dante slowly look to your right”.

As he said that I turned to my right without thinking about much and I was horrified. There were two people.

One was a naked male with the head of a fish that looked to be salmon. Although it was strange looking I was more pressed about the thing eating it.

It was a female with the head of a bear. It was currently gnawing on the intestines of the fish person and was paying us no attention.

I felt sick watching, Blood was flowing into the previously clean lake.

Ezra said to me “Don’t make any sudden movements and slowly back away”.

I listened to his instructions as I looked at the scene trying not to throw up. As we were backing away I accidentally stared at the fish’s lifeless eyes and something within me broke.

My stomach churned and I hurled up last night's dinner of berries.

As I did I heard Ezra mutter “Shit.”

I looked up at the bear and saw it was looking straight at me now and was ignoring its previous meal.

In a sequence of unfortunate events, the sounds of a bell ringing in the distance went off. Adrenaline kicked into my body as Ezra spoke a single word

“Run”.