Chapter Text
My name is Jared. Just Jared will do for now, there’s no need for my last name. I'm just about your average kind of person. I got the things you would usually have in an adult’s life: a job, college to study in, a friend or two, the usual. I had a pretty normal life. But what made recent events different was when my classmate and friend, Cameron, told me about this new place he found during the summer while he went on a drive. He’s told me that this “place” led to many great things happening with him and that I should see it for myself. Hell, he didn't even tell me what this place was. He only said that it was a surprise and that I should pack any essentials I’d like to bring. At first, I was pretty hesitant about coming with him, but after some convincing that I would be safe with him and the fact that I trusted him to have my back like he had since High School, I relented and prepared myself for whatever unknown thing he wanted to show me.
But that was a week ago. Each day leading up to now only had him more and more excited, and me more confused and even anxious. But today was Friday, the big day. No sooner than when I finished my shift and I had the weekend off, Cameron came to my mother’s house in his dope Lancer Evo that very afternoon. He assured my mother that I would be safe with him while we went on this trip and that he would be back on Sunday. After that, I put my bag into the trunk, got into the front seat of his car, and off we went.
His Radio blasted music from Logic as we drove off to wherever he was taking me. As we drove, I looked down at the road below us through the front window. But this trip wasn't on any familiar roads we had previously. It was leaving me increasingly curious about where exactly we were going. Disneyland? Great America? Another State? I would also think of Space as one place, but that’s just crazy, though it would have been cool if it were possible. Eventually, I just had to ask him again.
“So Cam, where are we headed?” I asked, garnering his attention with a brief look before his eyes locked onto the road. He turned down the radio to a comfortable volume before he addressed me.
“Wha?” Cameron asked, raising an eyebrow. “I didn't hear you, man.”
“Where are we headed?” I repeated. “You’ve been keeping this place secret all week now. I don't even know where this freeway leads.”
My question garnered a smirk and a chuckle from him in response, as he tapped the steering wheel to the beat of the track the radio kept playing.
“I already told you, bro. You’ll see when we get there,” Cameron assured me. “It’s gonna be lit, I’ll tell you that.”
He offered his fist for a fist bump, and I returned the gesture trustingly.
“I’ll chill out then,” I answered as I leaned back in my seat, watching as other cars passed us by.
Time went by. I think we were driving on this freeway for a couple of hours by this point. By 3 PM, the sky began to grow a bit cloudy. By 3:30, it started drizzling. It was always calming to see a little rain now and then when it wasn't a Thunderstorm. Just watching as the drops hit the window as I chilled with my homie, bumping to our favorite songs and talking about our lives. Nothing vibed more than this kind of moment, even when there was no clear destination. Trips like this were like a getaway from life’s everyday struggles, so whenever one happens, I never take it for granted.
By the time we were supposedly close to our destination, at least according to Cameron, it was already 4 pm. Now, when I looked out the windows, all I could see was nothing but tall forest. I looked at him, confused, wanting to ask what we were doing in the forest when it was nearing evening. He held back a fit of laughter like he was expecting me to react this way, though I only assumed so. I had a small bit of laugh in me before I asked him where we were.
“Um…What are we doing in the forest of all places?” I asked as I pointed at the trees. “Was this the trip you were teasing me about, camping in a cabin somewhere around here?”
He only laughed in response.
“We’re not camping out here, Jared,” He answered with his laugh. “If it was like that, I would have brought tents and other things. We’re doing something way cooler than that.”
“Is it a fishing trip?” I asked further. We laughed in response at the same time.
“Bruh, do you see a fishing pole in the car?” He asked jokingly.
“Not unless it’s in the trunk,” I answered.
“Just chill, bro, you’ll see when we get there,” Cameron reassured. “As I said earlier, it’s gonna be lit.”
“This dude is crazy,” I thought as I shook my head. I saw as he turned on his blinkers, and we took a turn into what seemed to be a hidden path that led right into the forest. His driving slowed as we moved further down this path that was just large enough for the car to fit without scratching any paint. It was bumpy but not an uncomfortable amount.
“Where does this path lead?” I asked carefully.
“There’s an open spot where we can park the car,” He answered. “We’ll take a rest before we walk the rest of the way.”
“Gotcha,” I responded, still curious as to where we would walk once we parked.
A couple of minutes later, we reached what I thought was a lot where Cam parked the car along with other cars next to it. We rested in the car for a few minutes to gain some energy. We were the only ones out there, as the sound of the insects, birds, and other wildlife made up the ambiance that we heard around us.
“Sooo…this is the 'place' you were telling me about all week?” I asked
“Yes and no,” Cam answered. “This is the place that will lead us to the place we’re actually going, so we’re almost there.”
I nodded in understanding of where we actually were right now.
“Let’s get our stuff and be on the way, bro,” Cameron told me as he opened the door with me doing the same. We swung round to the trunk of the car where our bags were being held. I didn't exactly pack much since it was only for the weekend that we would be here. I mainly brought my backpack and gym bag filled with clothes. We then checked the front and back seats for anything we had missed other than our cell phones. Once we had everything, we shut the doors, and we were on our way.
“You Ready, Cam?” He asked me.
I nodded in response. “Are you sure the car’s gonna be alright while we’re gone?” I then ask.
“For Sure,” Jared answers. “I don't see anyone else come here, so I'm sure it’ll be fine.”
“Alright, lead the way,” I then say in response, garnering a smile in response.
He led me down a path going into the forest. As we walked, we talked about different topics we preferred, like video games, cars, and even how the forest we were in was both creepy and peaceful the deeper we went. 5-10 minutes had passed at this point, and it was 5 PM. The orange glow of the sunset was growing dimmer as time passed by. But the trees around us made it seem like it was darker than that, and it added to the creepiness of the forest, especially with the minimal sounds that could be heard. But, not wanting to disappoint Jared and putting my trust in him, I stuck to the peaceful side of my mind and didn't give in to my imagination.
As we walked further down the path, I could feel like sprinkles of water hit me, which gave me the feeling that it might rain again. If I knew about this on-and-off rain, it would have been good to pack an umbrella. I then saw Jared stop and turn to look at me.
“Alright, right here is where we reach the end.” He told me, pointing at some bushes and leaves.
“Wait, we have to go through there?” I asked as I pointed at the bushes.
“Yeah,” He answered confidently. “This is the final stretch, so we're almost there.”
I sighed in response. “Alright…but if something bites me or something crazy happens,” I began saying.
“Then we head back to the car as a second option,” He answers for me. “But from where we are, I think you’ll be alright.”
As we continued to walk past more wilderness, I shook my head over what was going on up to this point.
“The hell is he talking about?” I wondered to myself. If this ‘place’ is amazing enough to have him be this persistent… It’s probably one of those giant caves you see in videos all the time. I just hope nothing crazy happens when we get there.
After a while of walking through nature, we wound up in a small open field with…a door suspiciously in the middle of the field.
“Cam…what’s happening here?” I asked questioningly.
“This is it, man,” Cameron answered. “This is where we travel to another world.”
“Hold up, another world is behind that door?!” I asked in surprise as my eyes widened. “Like in the Twilight Zone or something?”
“Yeah. Some random Sci-fi in the forest.” Cameron answered. “Freaky, huh?”
“Dang…” I said to myself quietly.
“The freakiest part is that this isn't even the place yet,” Cameron then told me. “The real place is on the other side.”
“I guess it works like that,” I responded, half knowingly. “So we gotta go through there? What’s it like in there?”
“It looks scary, but it only takes a few seconds and is really smooth,” Cameron explained. “You’ll feel nothing.”
I raised a brow at how he explained the portal to me. “Exactly how many times have you gone through this door?” I asked.
“Shoot, too many times to count,” Cameron answered. “But it's dope, man. Believe me.”
I remained still, unsure about this whole portal door.
“You know what, how bout I go first then?” Cameron then offered. “That way, you can see what I mean.”
I remained frozen for a moment but nodded. “Nothing better than to see it for myself,” I told him.
With that, Cameron walked toward the door and gently opened it. The…whatever it was inside it swirled multiple colors, pulsating flashes of light, looking like thunderbolts inside its cloud, waiting to be shot down.
Without a second thought, Cameron walked into the portal. For the moment, he was gone. I felt my nerves go haywire. The seconds he was past the portal felt like minutes. Eventually, I saw his arm reach out. His arm offered its hand to me so I could join him. I shook my head in hesitation, then, with a deep breath, mustered the confidence to grab his hand.
I was quickly pulled through the portal, into the pulsating portal, and most crucially, into the unknown…