Chapter 1: Chapter One – The forest

Leaves crunched underneath the boots of a young duo. The trees stretch far above their head, sparse, unclustered. The leaves have turned from green to shades of red, yellow, orange and brown falling from the canopy above. Sunlight streams in soft waves through the openings. The last few birds still around before migrating chirp adding to the symphony of the forest.

“Come on Harbor, you’re so slow!” May called out bouncing off a log.

Harbor lagged behind a small huff escaping his lips as he shook his head fondly to himself. 

“Look, we can see the river from here!” May called once more, stopping on top of a large rock, pointing into the distance as they turned their body to face their friend.

Harbor walked a little faster to catch up approaching his friend perched on the boulder looking off where they had pointed. “You can.” He confirmed.

“Race you there!” May challenged, leaping off the rock they stood on.

“Huh? Wait! Cheater!!” Harbor sputtered, processing the challenge before darting off after his friend. 

The duo went down the hill to the river. Leaves crunched below them as their legs brought them deeper into the forest. Flying by trees and shrubs, the river nears. May slowed down quickly as they began to approach the bank of the river. Their feet dug into the ground as May leaned back trying to stop their momentum. Harbor right behind them. He yelped slightly as he grabbed ahold of a nearby tree steadying himself from the rapid decline in acceleration.

May gasped from breath panting as they leaned down resting their hands on their knees trying to catch their breath. “Puff puff… Ha, huff… bet you!” they gasped out victoriously. “God I’m out of shape.”

“Imagine.” Harbor shot back.

“Shut up, loser.”

“Says the one who can’t breathe.”

May shoved into him knocking him to the slide slightly. Harbor laughing slightly.

“Never again.” May declared as they slowly caught their breath once more.

“Weak.”

Harbor got shoved into the river.

“Ah, fuck!” He exclaimed in surprise, losing his footing and stumbling into the shallow water and tripping over a rock tumbling the rest of the way into the frigid river. “Cold, cold, cold, COLD!!!” He screeched springing back to his feet and dashing out of the water dripping wet.

“Pffft! Ahahaha,” May laughed aloud bending over again, clutching her stomach, “I’m sorry--” she laughed out breathless.

“Somehow I don’t believe you.” Harbor accused, picking May up.

“Wait no I’m sorry!!!” They pleaded, clinging onto their friend.

“Vengeance!” Harbor cried throwing May into the water.

May screamed. Water splashed, hitting Harbor. 

Harbor cackled.

May resurfaced spitting water at his face. Their legs kicking up lunging them out of the water to the shore.

“Oh gross!” He exclaimed. 

“I’m gonna be sick because of you.” May complained.

Harbor merely chuckled. May rolled their eyes. 

“Hey wait, what's that?” They asked suddenly, eyes landing on an odd shape in the distance.

“What’s what?” Harbor questioned following May’s gaze.

May did not respond, instead jestering to follow them as they led Harbor towards the object. The gravel bar shifted under their weight and movement. They approached drawing closer and closer. The object, it was black, May noticed, became more visible.

“Maybe it's a treasure.” May wondered with child-like glee.

“Or it's just debrie.”

“Boo!”

Harbor rolled his eyes.

“ACk!” Harbor exclaimed, stopping dead in his tracks, pain bursting through his head.

“Ow, shit.” May muttered, holding their head in their hands, “Motherfucker.” They cursed.

The pain disappeared the same way it came, suddenly and without warning. May groaned as they lifted their head up. Harbor rubbed his temples. 

“The hell was that?” He questioned glancing around.

“Gods that came out of nowhere.” May added.

Harbor took one more look around, the pit that formed in his stomach churning, “That’s so weird.”

“No joke.” May muttered, “Lets just check this thingy out and then head back.” They suggested.

“I don’t know, that was pretty sketchy.” Harbor argued, “We should just turn back.”

May quiet for a moment, “Yeah alright, I don’t want to be around this area any longer.”

Harbor hummed as they began the trek back to the campsite. Slower this time. May’s eyes fluttered around the woods as their hands fidgeted with each other. Harbor’s hand stayed in his pockets, his back rigid and eye focused. They walked quickly.

They arrived at the campsite not fifteen minutes later. One tent sat untouched in a clearing, a small fireplace made with a stone outline laid not far away, a trash bag dangled off of a low tree branch, empty except for a few wrappers from the morning’s breakfast. The site had remained untouched since the duo had left it. May sighed and plopped into the lawnchair perched a few feet away from the fire.

“Ah, good to be off my feet,” May sighed, letting their feet relax.

Harbor hummed and took the spot next to them. They sat in silence for a moment observing the surrounding wilderness. 

“I’m getting hungry,” Harbor started, “Think I’ll make myself a sandwich, do you want anything while I’m up?”

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“Yeah, make me one too, no cheese.”

“Right.” Harbor stood, walking around the chair and making his way to the tent. His hands grasped the zipper, pulling it up to make an opening for himself. The box of food sat outside the sleeping area of the tent, but inside a small enclosure made mostly of bug net. Harbor popped the seals of the lid down lifting it up to reveal the food inside.

He pulled the necessary ingredients out before putting the lid back on, placing the food on top. As he went to open the bread bag he heard a yelp.

“Ack! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow,”

“Are you good?” Harbor called out, brows creasing as a pit formed in his stomach.

“Owwwww,”

Harbor frowned, putting the bread back down and turning to exit the tent. He moved the flap out of the way and ducked under it peering up to see May holding their head between their hands, bent over. As he began to approach they groaned, lifting their head up and leaning back.

“You alright?” Harbor called out once more, worry evident in his tone.

“Yeah.” May groaned, sinking into their chair, “That was just a killer headache just now.”

Harbor frowned, “That’s the second one today. Is it something in the air?”

“Hope not.”

Harbor sighed, “Yeah, well if this persists we might have to head out early.”

May groaned in dismay, “It’s probably fine.” They insisted.

“If you insist, I’m going to finish those sandwiches, shout if you need something ok?”

“Alright.”

The sandwiches were finished without any more incidents, the duo ate in calm silence. The sun high in the sky. They rested there for a while, engaging in light conversation. The sun began to fall into the horizon as the moon peered over the trees, the sky darkened. Lighting up in reds, oranges, and pinks. The sunset glowed softly in the horizon.

May light the fire that night, staking twigs and leaves at first to get it going for the rest of the logs to catch. Crickets chirped.  The fire crackled. Frogs croaked. The duo conversed. 

“Hey, we should make smores!” May announced, jumping up from her spot.

“The fire would be good for that.” Harbor conceded.

“I’ll get the stuff.” May volunteered already heading off towards the tent, guided by the light of the fire. 

They approached with a pep in their step, eyes focused on the tent, the material it was made of reflected the light of the fire slightly. So did something in the woods. Something in the woods? May slowed head turning slightly to peer into the tree line. Something glistened in the distance. May frowned brows furrowing. What could that be? They debated moving closer to get a better look.

It didn’t appear to be that far off really, if something happened Harbor sat no far away, he would hear. May weighed the pros and the cons. By all means, it didn’t seem like it would hurt, but then again this is how horror movies started, to go or not to go, that is the question. Their stomach growled, smores it was.

May retreated back to the fire with their goods, gram crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. “I got the goods.” 

“Sweeeet.” Harbor drawled out.

May sat back in their chair placing the foods in their lap. Harbor grabbed what he needed. Placing the marshmallows on sticks and placing them over the fire.

“I saw something in the woods.”

“That’s not creepy at all.”

“I know right, anyway I kinda want to check it out.”

“Why?”

“I didn’t get to see the thing at the lake. Besides, who doesn’t want to go on a treasure hunt.”

“Fine I’ll check it out with you.” Harbor conceded, shaking his head.

“Yay!” May cheered.

“After we eat.”

“Fair enough.”

Together they roasted marshmallows to perfection. May finished first, foot tapping against the ground, impatient. Harbor ate his smores amused. 

“Alright, I’m ready.” He finally announced.

“Lets go!” May urged hopping to her feet and bouncing off into the distance.

Harbor rolled his eyes, getting up with a groan, stopping to stretch a little before taking off after his friend. Leaves crunched under his feet as he dodged hidden roots poking out of the ground. May continued bounding through the trees unperturbed. 

“Found it!” May called out as they stopped after feet before the mystery object. 

Harbor stepped up behind them. “What is it?” He asked.

“That’s what we're gonna find out.” May giggled, approaching the object and kneeling down next to it. It came up to their chest when they kneeled, it seemed to be a box of sorts. May moved it around a bit pushing it to the side. They pushed it over after a moment. 

“Hmm.” May continued to inspect the box. “Help me move it closer to the fire, I can’t really see it too well.”

Harbor nodded before moving closer, helping May move the box, well rectangle really, it stretched out a few feet, he discovered. Together they heaved it up. Lighter than what they had originally thought. Together they moved it out of the forest and onto the campground. Placing it down a few feet away from the fire.

May panted slightly, “Ha! Got it.”

“You are so out of shape.” Harbor teased.

“Shut up.”

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