Finished packing all the necessities, Johny sighs heavily.

"I'm sorta surprised I got all this stuff yesterday", Johny comments recalling his fourth day in the forest.

He had packed around five baskets worth of stuff.

Johny looks up to see that it is around midday.

"We'd better get going".

The two walk off each carrying the items on their backs.

They remain walking without disturbances for about an hour until they come across the steep mountain side.

"Should we go around or over?", Johny questions looking at Barry.

Barry just sits down and stares at Johny.

"What?", Johny questions Barry with concern.

"Do you want to try finding an easier way?".

"We can do it, come on", Johny says ushering Barry forward, starting to climb the mountain.

"This probably isn't the easiest way, but it's the most efficient and fastest", Johny reassures a little more to himself than Barry.

They both begin to ascend. Trees surround them and no traces of movement can be seen. They manage to find a path and follow it. The path weaves between the trees and bushes leading them to a leveled resting area. They both settle down for a bit and have a quick lunch break, drinking water and eating berries and some cooked fish.

After which they began to climb upwards again. They stayed going for hours until it was almost night. They set up camp, Johny starting a fire and Barry, well, being Barry. They prepared to go to bed after eating their dinner, Johny leaving the campsite for a bathroom break. Barry stayed behind and watched the camp.

Johny walked for a few minutes trying to find a decent spot before hearing a few voices nearing him. He got quiet. The entire area grew quite except for the creatures of the night. A slight sound of static can be heard along with a few branches snapping. They were getting closer.

Johny decided to sneak away, crouching down low and walking on the tips of his feet. A branch snaps. Johny curses under his breath as he feels their eyes go towards him and he books it. He runs all the way back to the camp. He makes sure to run in multiple directions so that they wouldn't be able to find the camp site.

Johny finally returns to the camp about half an hour later. Barry is sitting down by the dying fire watching Johny approach with wide eyes.

"Don't look at me like I just got back from taking a massive dump. I didn't even get to use the restroom. Some guys were over there", Johny reproached tactfully, blushing and pointing.

Barry just rolls his eyes.

"I'm gonna go use it behind these bushes, don't peep. Cover your ears too", Johny says walking past Barry into the bushes.

A moment passes and Johny is getting ready to fall asleep. Barry is sprawled out underneath him, already asleep. The fire crackles and pops, emitting a warm glow. His eyes shut and he drifts into his dreams.

Johny is in his bed. The sun is barely in the sky and the birds are chirping. Sitting up, he looks around.

He is surrounded by light blue walls. The large bed with a pattern of clouds on the blanket is in the corner of the room next to a white dresser filled with clothes. On top of the dresser is a television and a console. Next to the white dresser is a small shelf filled with movies and games. The remote and controllers lay on top of it. The window is aligned with books of a wide variety.

Johny gets out of bed, his bare feet touching the white carpet, leaving a slight imprint. He leaves his room and enters the white walled halls.

The slight sounds of heavy breathing and sobbing can be heard coming from the kitchen. Johny walks in and sees his mother on the floor, blood seeping from her forehead between her brows.

Johny's father is kneeling down next to her, crying, holding her close. He notices Johny and stands up wiping tears away trying to regain some composure. He notions for Johny to come towards him.

Johny's chest starts to pound as his eyes begin to water. He walks towards him beginning to sniffle, looking at his father's weary smile. His father embraces him in a tight hug and the sound of his sobs fill Johny's ears. Johny feels the tears streaming down his cheeks as he looks down at his dead mother. His throat hurts. He shuts his eyes tight and starts to hug back his dad, but he's not there now.

Johny's left with a hollow feeling inside of him as he begins to breakdown inside. He starts to curl up and opens his eyes. He's surrounded by pitch black except for the area surrounding him. He starts to shiver.

A few streaks of light like static cross Johny's vision. White noise begins to fill his ears slowly then he sees the creatures forming from the shadows. They rise like a sludge then solidify. Red eyes; no, dead eyes, can be seen in this pitch black darkness. The many faces can't be seen, but their presence seems familiar.

They all rush him at once and attack. The wave of attacks all cease millimeters away from him. Johny opens his eyes from his flinching, fearful state. He looks around. It was almost like he was surrounded by mannequins. He then looks down as a sensation like frostbite goes through his body. The black sludge is on his feet starting to crawl up his legs. He tries kicking it off, but to little avail.

The skin on his arms begins to crack and peel away revealing the darkness that was underneath his bodily shell. Sheer pain, like a burning sensation, slashed through his body relentlessly.

Screaming. Screaming and crying. He gave up. That's all that one could hear. That's all that one could do. There is no hope.

Johny flings himself awake as the sun hovers over the mountains. He breathes heavily as the tears stream down his face.

Barry stirs awake and looks at Johny perplexed. Seeing his tears, he licks Johny's face. Johny smiles. The calming reality sets in as the dream is pushed to the back of Johny's mind.

Johny hugs Barry. He then takes a deep breath and gets up. Stretching, he takes in a breath of fresh air. Opening his eyes, he's filled with new vigor and strength as he nears the end of this challenge.

*Chapter: End*

Hey! It's the author here! I hope this quarantine isn't too harsh for you guys. Wash your hands and be safe. I'm not doing the recommendations this time, I apologize to those that enjoy them. I'm willing to answer any questions if you guys have any, and if you just want to chat that works too. Oh, and as always, tell me what your thoughts are and all that good stuff. Until next time, stay safe, bye!