The twins were now out into the mass of trees, not knowing how far they were from the road. Bill's lungs burned from the effort, and he was panting heavily. Will was no better, practically falling behind. A while later, the blue haired boy couldn't take it anymore, and stopped in his tracks.

"Stop!" He rasped, clutching his chest in exhaustion. "I think we gone far enough..."

Bill halted, and turned to him with a frown. "You don't know that! That thing could still be nearby!"

"Well, if that's the case, we would've heard it a mile away," Will noted.

The other boy considered his brother's words, then said. "Alright, let's take a break, but we have to start moving again."

Will exhaled in relief, and collapsed flat onto his back. Meanwhile, Bill was taking in their surroundings. Trees. All that stood in his sight, were tall trees, with prickly leaves that moved in the gentle breeze. At least it stopped raining, there was no reason for the twins to be soaked while running for their lives. Still, it was a bit chilly. Bill briefly remembered that Will still had his jacket, and briskly knelt down and took it back from his twin.

He lowered his backpack, so he could fit his jacket on. After that, he turned back to Will. "OK, let's go."

Will sat up, and stared at him. "It's barely been a minute."

"Well, I ain't staying here, it's creepy," Bill countered, gesturing his arms towards the darkness around them.

"But--" He paused, and his eyes grew big as saucers.

Bill narrowed his eyes. "Oh boy, what near death experience awaits us now?"

Will didn't respond, only pointing a trembling finger towards a tree that stood behind the blond. At once, Bill slowly turned around, and rose his head. There, he spotted a moving form perching on the branches. The creature was hidden by the shadows, but looked scrawny, and had wild hair.

"Hey, there," It said, it's voice sounded feminine.

"Hello, demon," Bill replied, while Will was cowering behind his brother.

"You seem lost, mind if I help?" It asked, shifting in place.

Bill managed to catch a glint that appeared behind her back. She was carrying something sharp. "No thank you, we have it all handled, miss."

The creature tilted her head. "Are you sure? Because I know my way around these woods."

"Listen, lady," Bill started. "I appreciate the concern, if it weren't...you know, coming from a total creeper in a tree--"

"Bill!" Will snapped.

"Oh, do you want me to lie, now?" He shot back.

"Don't worry, I get it," The stranger reassured. "You have to be careful who you trust around here, after all."

"OK, but where exactly is here?" Bill questioned.

Both twins flinched, when the creature rose on her legs, the branches somehow holding her weight. "There's a small town nearby. A place called Zero Gravity Town."

Weird name, Bill thought.

Will peered from behind his brother's shoulder, and looked at the creature. "Can you point us to the direction of this town?"

"Sure," She answered. "Just follow the lights."

"Lights?" Bill repeated. "What lights? It's completely dark here!"

"Just trust me on this," She said, simply. "And once you find what you're looking for...be careful, from now on."

Bill regarded her suspiciously. Was he really going to believe some weirdo in a tree?

Yes. Because you don't have any other choice, stupid, He told himself.

He agreed with his conscious. They were in the middle of the woods, with no map or general idea of where to go next. Bill hated the thought of trusting this stranger, but it was better than facing that monster again...or returning home.

"Follow the lights? Sounds easy enough," He agreed.

The figure nodded. "Good, I'll be going now."

"Wait, what?" Bill asked, incredulously. "You're just gonna leave behind two underaged kids, when you are like, the only adult supervision here?"

"I am an adult," She admitted, then added. "But, I am neither a responsible or mature adult. Peace!"

Then, she leaped from one tree to the other, with little effort. The twins watched as she eventually disappeared. Bill huffed in annoyance, then rummaged inside his backpack.

"C'mon, Will," He said, taking out a flashlight. "Let's see what this hag is talking about."

"You mind if I curl up into a ball and cry for a second?"

"You have plenty of time for that, later."

Will sighed, then reluctantly followed his brother. Together, they ventured into the threatening unknown.

❇❇❇

Bill wasn't sure how long they traveled. At least, Will wasn't whining or cowering the whole way. Yet, the blond sensed something was wrong with his almost identical other.

He wouldn't call it a twin thing, because heaven knows he didn't believe in that crap, and would punch the living daylights out of anyone who disagreed. No, it was more because of keen observation. Bill caught the worried crease in Will's brow, to his thinned lip, and lastly to the hands fidgeting his blue sweater. Bill couldn't blame him. In one night, they watched their father die, were attacked by a giant monster, and were giving directions by a strange woman in the trees.

More than enough craziness, to be forcibly weighed down on the two 15 year olds. They both avoided the subject, but they should talk about it, and a part of Bill wanted to. Except, what would one say in this kind of situation? He wasn't good in terms of communication, one of the reasons why he mostly spoke in taunts, snarky remarks, and rather aggressive reactions. Bill could never express his emotions properly, despite his brother encouraging him to do so. He remembered countless times where he allowed himself to be weak, to cry on Will's shoulder in a desperate need for comfort, before almost instantly isolating himself in shame. Thankfully, Will kept those moments between them a secret, but still reassured his brother that it was alright to be vulnerable.

Easy for you to say, Bill thought, bitterly. You've never been the protector all your life.

Bill couldn't be weak. For Will's sake, he had to be strong for both of them.

With that promise sealed, he puffed his chest determinedly and shined his flashlight on their path. The bright haze only revealed more dirt and fallen twigs. Where were those lights that weirdo told them about?

"Bill, look!" Will announced, clutching his brother's forearm.

Bill turned and followed the other's gaze. His eyes widened in shock. He saw a path that cut through the trees, and scattered over it in a neat line, was a trail of glowing mushrooms.

The blond beamed. "Wow, we were right to listen to a stranger, after all. In your face, brainwashing cartoons!"

Will stared at the illuminated fungi, and approached the trail. He knelt down, and peeled one of the little things out of the earth. He held it in his cupped hands, fascinated.

"Is this what she meant by follow the lights?"

"It better be," Bill said. "Or else, I'd be pretty piss if we gone all this way for mushrooms...because I'm the only fun-guy here" He grinned at his brother.

Will knitted his brow together in irritation. "Let's just keep moving, shall we?" He turned and walked off

"You never understand me," Bill whined, following him.

"You say that like it's possible to understand you!"

With a occasional brotherly spat here and there, the two focused on following the mushrooms to their desired location. Bill decided to put the flashlight away, since the trail before them was emitting enough light as it was. He noticed that there were fewer trees, as they progressed on the path.

OK, here's the plan, He told himself. Once we reach town, we'll pay for a motel room, find jobs in the morning...or Will finds a job, he likes working anyway.

"I know what you're thinking," Will groaned.

"Pfft! What, can you read my mind now?" Bill scoffed.

The blue haired boy waved him off dismissively. "No, I just know my own brother. I also know you can be a complete slob sometimes."

Bill ruffled Will's hair. "At least, I'm not a total neat freak."

"Hey! Am not!"

"Stop lying, you find any excuse to clean my side of our room."

"Can you blame me?" Will snapped. "It reeked. The neighbors thought something died!"

Bill smirked. "What makes you think something didn't?"

"I'm disowning you," He deadpanned.

"Not possible! I disowned you years ago," Bill laughed, quickening his pace.

Will blinked. "Wait, what--Bill, come back here!"

He chased his brother, and they both sprinted along the path. Bill adjusted the backpack's straps, as he ran away from his angry twin, laughing hysterically. They barely noticed that they had entered a clearing, until Will lunged at his twin. Bill was pinned onto his side, as the other boy hovered over him.

"Owie! Why must you harm your favorite brother?" Bill pouted.

Will glared playfully. "You're my only brother."

"Still counts," He remarked, as his twin got off him.

Bill graciously accepted Will's extended hand, and allowed the boy to help him up. Now standing on his two legs, he dusted himself off, and then gave a look around the clearing. His eyebrows rose in shock, and he tugged Will's arm to grab his attention.

"Bill, what--" He paused, when he saw what was in front of him.

What stood only a couple of feet away, was a rickety shack. Bill's eyes traveled over it's wooden exterior, cracked windows, and overall creepy aura. Not the best living space, but definitely better than their former one.

"Guess this is our new home," Bill decided.

However, Will seemed to disagree. "Are you crazy? Someone could be living in there for all we know."

"Who would live in that piece of junk?"

"A psychotic hillbilly, of course!" Will fretted.

Bill rolled his eyes at his brother's paranoia. "You're the one acting crazy, here. If you're done freaking out, I'm going to go check inside."

He approached the shack.

"Fine! Don't complain if you get a banjo to the head!" Will called after him.

Bill sighed, wishing his twin wasn't such a wimp. He neared the dusty old building, before examining the outside. It really did look like a piece of junk, and the blond was having second thoughts about living here. However, as he stepped onto the creaking porch, he opened the door of the shack slowly. He flinched, when the hinges whined, before the door swung open completely. The inside was now exposed, and Bill hesitated, as the objects around casted eerie silhouettes. Mustering up some courage, he crept forward. Although, that courage died, when the door slammed closed behind him, plunging him into complete darkness.

"You got to be kidding me," He hissed, already reaching for his flashlight.

Thankfully, he found it quickly, before turning it on. He moved the beam of light around, except it didn't do much. Feeling a newfound chill up his spine, Bill continued forward. He inspected the place, this was what he found: a staircase, a kitchen, and a living room. He was relieved, when his light landed on a switch in the wall. Bill reached for it, on the same time when his flashlight flickered, then died out completely.

Of course, He thought, tiredly.

No matter. Bill discarded the now useless object, and felt around the wall, in hopes of finding the switch again. Eventually, he felt it under his palm, before flicking it. Instantly, light flooded into the shack, and Bill was surprised by how good looking the inside looked compared to the outside. There was a comfy sofa in the living, a beanbag, and even a TV. Him and Will weren't even allowed a television back home, so this would definitely be a new experience for them.

"Bill?"

"AH!" Bill exclaimed. He whirled around, and saw Will standing behind him. "Where did you come from?"

Will twiddled his fingers. "I followed you in...and might've accidentally shut the door."

Bill breathed in relief. "Phew! That was just you, then. For a moment, I thought your paranoid delusions were true--"

A abrupt pounding cut him off sentence. Both twins turned slowly, and saw a cupboard under the staircase. They waited, then both jolted, as the loud pounding returned, causing the hinges to squeak. Whatever was in there...it wanted out.

Bill turned to his brother. "What do you think is in that cupboard?"

"I'm hoping Harry Potter," Will gulped, fearfully.

The blond hesitated, before taking a deep breath, and moving forward. Bill ignored Will's protests, and made his way towards the cupboard, and the thing that wanted to get out. He reached a trembling hand towards the bronze doorknob, and grasped it. The pounding of the door, matched the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Bang!

Bang!

BANG!

The sound rang in his ear, and sweat beaded down his forehead. Tightening his clammy hand around the doorknob, Bill yanked the cupboard open. He gaped inside. Two yellow glowing orbs, stared back at him from the darkness.

Bill screamed, and fell back on his behind. Meanwhile, Will was rushing to his aid.

"What's wrong!?" He cried, seeing his brother's distress.

Bill wanted to speak, but only managed to ramble out a string of gibberish. "FJSKCJENKDJCKSJKC!"

"English, please."

The blond hugged his knees to his chest, and pointed to the cupboard. "Just look in there!"

Will obeyed, and checked to see what was inside. "Oh my god..."

"I know!" Bill exclaimed. "It's--"

"Adorable!"

The blond stared. "What?"

Bill stood up and turned, only to see Will carrying something. He was surprised to see, that it was a goat. A scruffy brown goat, with gleaming yellow eyes.

"What were you doing inside there, little guy?" Will cooed, cradling the animal like a baby.

"It was scaring the crap outta me, that's what!" Bill snapped.

"Bill, I'm sure it didn't mean any harm."

"C'mon, look at it's dumb face," He retorted, then glared at the goat suspiciously. "It planned this..."

"Baa!" It bellowed.

Will's gaze darted to the goat, then to his brother. "I think you gone mad."

Bill huffed. "I have not! And, I want this thing outta this house."

"But--"

"OUTTA THIS HOUSE!"

"Urgh, fine," Will sighed. "You know, for someone fascinated by dead bodies, it's surprising to see you're afraid of a petting zoo animal."

"I'm not afraid of it," Bill scoffed. "But, if you place that thing on the floor, I will burn this shack to the ground."

Will murmured something unintelligible. Then, he carried the goat to the front door, before opening it. He placed the animal on the porch, and it bleated in response.

"Bye, little guy," He told it, before closing the door. Will then returned to his brother. "Happy now?"

"Very," Bill replied.

"OK, forgetting about the goat for now," Will started. "What are we gonna do with this place?"

Bill answered for him. "Well, it's pretty obvious no one lives here. Despite the nice look, the inside looks like it haven't been cleaned for decades, and that horned demon doesn't seem like an average pet."

"So, is this suppose to be our home from now on?"

The blond contemplated. Once again, he looked at his surroundings, and saw how comfy it was compared to their other other living space. Bill had only been here for a few minutes, and it already felt like home.

"If you want it be, then yes," Bill said, finally.

Will hesitated, before a smile broke across his face. "Then, let's start getting comfortable, shall we?"

The two carried their backpacks, and climbed up the staircase. Both were unaware, of the stranger peering at them from the open window.

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