"The constellations are so bright tonight! Wouldn't you say so Bird?" Dot murmured, stepping away from the telescope to chart them down. Bird chirped in reply, landing on Dot's shoulder. Their peaceful night was suddenly interrupted by frantic knocking downstairs. "Hold on, I'll be right there!" She shouted, stepping back from the telescope, and quickly running downstairs. She opened the door. "Ace!" She smiled and paused. "Ace? What's wron-" Ace pushed past her, grabbing her hand. Once they were both inside, he quickly closed the door. "Ace, what's the matter?" Dot asked, watching him look out of the windows. "You look like you've seen a ghost!" Ace looked at her, a frightened look in his eye. "Dot," Ace started, grabbing her hands, looking directly into her eyes. "Have you noticed how strange Forest has been acting?" Dot blinked, a puzzled look on her face. "What're you talking about? Forest's acting like himself. I-I mean, he has been a bit more irritated, and snappy, but..." She trailed off, frowning. Ace nodded. "I've noticed that too. He's been acting like this since he left to clear a path in the woods." Ace regarded Dot with a solemn look. "I...I don't think that's Forest. I think that's something else..."
Dot stood up and walked to the window. "Have you told anyone else? Besides me, that is." She asked quietly. Ace shook his head, walking to the window and resting his arms on the window frame. "No," He admitted quietly, with a sigh. "You're the only I've told," "Besides," He added, with a faint blush. "I was...wondering if you...could come with me, to convince everyone else." He murmured, his voice hopeful. "Besides, two heads are better than one...right?" Dot nodded, with a small smile. "Right." She stepped away from the window, walking to the kitchen. She grabbed two mugs, filling one with water, and setting the other mug on the counter. Ace watched from the window, where he stood. Dot grabbed a small pot, setting it on the stove. She opened the fridge, and. after rummaging through it, retrieved the milk. She poured some of the milk into the pot and put it to a boil. After a little while, Dot poured the warm milk into the second mug. She walked backed to the window, handing Ace the mug of warm milk. "You look tired, so I made you some warm milk, to help you sleep." She said, noticing for the first time, the prominent bags under Ace's eyes. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I haven't been sleeping well lately." A rumble of thunder caused them both to look at the window. It was pouring outside.
Dot glanced at Ace and blushed, her cheeks turning a faint pink. "Well, I guess we should tuck in, huh?" She said, stepping away from the window, and grabbing a quilt off of her reading chair. "Here's a blanket," She handed it to him, their hands brushing during the exchange. "W-Well," Dot stammered, blushing. "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning." She said, walking back upstairs to her bedroom. As she lay awake on her bed, she found herself thinking about Forest, and if it really was him...
Forest sighed, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His reflection, a faceless gray monster stared back. "It's ironic," He thought, with a mirthless chuckle. "I'm supposed to be a carbon copy of Forest in every aspect, but whenever I look at the mirror..." A knock at the door, caused his thought to trail off. He sighed, going to open the door, coming face-to-face with Spot. Spot grinned, stepping inside. "Hello, Spot," Forest said, watching her set up a small easel and painting tools. Spot grinned. "Hiya, Forest!" Spot exclaimed, pulling out a paintbrush, and some paints. She began to paint feverishly. Forest walked up behind her. "What're you painting?" He asked. Spot smiled. "I'm painting your reflection!" Forest panicked. "Y'know Spot, it was nice of you to visit," He pushed her out of his house. "But I have some chores to do, so you have to leave. " He said, closing the door in front of her. He glanced at the painting, a dark thought taking form. "She knows...she knows and she can't be left alive."
"FOREST! OPEN UP!" Ace shouted, pounding on his door. Dot stood behind him, wringing her hands nervously. "Uhm...Ace? I don't think this is a very good idea-" Forest opened the door. "What?" He snarled, glaring at Ace, his face an angry flush. "F-Forest, we wanted to see if you were alright..." Dot stammered, falling silent when Forest turned to look at her, regarding her with all the warmth of a blizzard. He took a step toward Dot, eyes glittering maliciously. Ace moved to shield her, his mouth set in a thin line. "Watch it, Forest," Ace warned, his voice steely. "I don't want to fight," Forest smirked viciously, his face inches from Ace's. "I wouldn't think of it," He said, his voice dangerously quiet. "Friend." Forest turned on his heel. "See you two later." He said without turning to face them. "Oh, and Ace," He turned around to face Ace, an unsettling smile stretched across his face. "Watch your back." He walked inside, the door closing with a loud slam. Dot gave a shaky sigh of relief, putting a hand on Ace's shoulder to support herself. "So...what next?" Ace blinked. "I think we should tell someone else...probably Spot. She might believe us."
Spot stared at the empty easel, picking up the brush. She thought of what she saw, the image was still vivid in her mind. Mixing the paint, until it became a dark gray, she began to paint, a form slowly taking shape on the canvas. When she was finished, the picture on the easel was of a faceless, grey creature, with an unnaturally wide grin. She sighed, massaging her temples. She picked up the canvas, setting it down beside several similar pictures. "What are you," She muttered, staring at the pictures. "And why can't I get you out of my head?"
"I don't think she's going to answer the door. Maybe we should come back later." Ace sighed, standing behind Dot. "Don't be so negative Ace," Dot replied, knocking on Spot's door again. "I'm sure she'll answe-" She was interrupted by the door opening, revealing Spot. "Hey Dot," She smiled. "And Ace." Spot's smock was splattered with gray paint, and she was holding a paintbrush. "Well, come in," She walked back inside, Ace and Dot following her. Dot gaped at the canvases that lined the wall, which was leaning against other furniture. They all had the same image on them, a faceless gray creature with an extremely wide grin. "Hey, Bay Brush," Ace picked up one of the canvases, a confused look on his face. "Oh, that's Forest's reflection." She replied, picking up another blank canvas, and starting to paint again. "This," Dot said, pointing at one of the pictures. "Is Forest's reflection?" Spot nodded. "Uh-huh. He acted sort of panicky when I told him." Ace turned to face Spot. "Acting panicky how?" He asked. "Well, he pushed me out of his house, saying he had chores to do." Spot painted another gray creature. "It was...very odd." Dot nodded, sharing a look with Ace. "Spot...I have something to tell you," Dot started, looking at another of the eerie paintings. "The owner of the reflection...wasn't Forest..."
It was midnight, and the Town Square was deathly silent. Forest made his across Town Square, in the direction of Spot's house, the door slightly ajar. He quietly pushed the door open, the door creaking loudly in response. "Who's there?" Spot demanded, noticing the door ajar, going over to close it. She didn't notice Forest in the shadows, walking soundlessly behind her. Spot stopped, turning around, and getting hit in the head. She collapsed to the ground, dazed. She looked up, her face inches from Forest. She gasped, scrabbling backward, hitting a wall. Forest's grabbed Spot by the neck, lifting her off the ground. Spot's arms flailed wildly. As Forest squeezed Spot's neck, the flailing grew weaker and weaker, until he heard a snap. Spot's body went limp, and he dropped her body. He left her house, making a beeline for the woods. Guilt stabbed at him, but he ignored it. It was for the best...She knew...It was for the best...right?
Crumbs stood in front of Spot's house, holding a basket of cookies. "Hey Spot," Crumbs shouted. "I got the cookies you requested!" She waited but got no response. She noticed that the door was slightly ajar, so she stepped inside. "Spot?" She turned on the light, and seeing Spot on the floor, walked over to her. "Spot? Did you fall asleep on the floor again?" She asked, lightly nudging her on the shoulder. She was cold and stiff. Crumbs paled as the realization struck, and screamed, dropping the basket of cookies. Rosy, Dot, and Ace were there instantly, Ace catching Crumbs as she fainted. Rosy walked over to where Spot was slumped over and checked her pulse. "No pulse," She said, her voice steady, as her eyes welled up with tears. "She's gone." At this revelation, Dot wailed, burying her face in Ace's shoulder. "NO! NO! SHE CAN'T BE GONE!!" She wailed, sobbing. Rosy walked over to Spot's phone, picking up the receiver. "I'll call Berry and Sunny, so they can bury her." Rosy said, dialing the twins'. Berry's cheerful voice answered. "Hey Rosy! What's up?" Rosy didn't answer. She stood stone-still, as shock settled in. Ace took the phone, setting Dot on the ground. "Hey, Berry." He answered calmly. "Hey, Ace! What's the matter?" Ace sucked in a breath, pondering how to break the news to her. "It's about Spot..." He started, gazing at her corpse, knowing without a doubt who killed Spot. "What's up with Spot?" Berry's voice sounded puzzled. Ace sighed, dread and sorrow leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "Spot is...dead." If Berry's breaking down in tears was any indication, she wasn't taking the news well. "Crumbs found her this morning...We need you and Sunny to prepare a funeral..."
There was no music in Town Square that day. The procession was deathly solemn. Forest and Ace carried the casket, dressed in matching black suits. The girls were dressed in black dresses and veils, with Storm E. leading them, singing a funeral hymn, her voice echoing through the woods. The procession halted at a deep pit in the earth, shaped exactly like Spot's casket. Forest and Ace lowered the casket into the ground, grabbed shovels, and began to bury the casket. As they did so, Forest glanced at Spot's face. Even though she was dead, it felt like her unseeing eyes were staring into him, seeing him for what he was: A monster, who killed her and stole her friend's face. Looking away from her corpse, he found himself staring at Ace, who stared back. Ace mouthed the words; "I know it was you, monster." Forest dropped the shovel and left the procession, the very picture of composure. On the inside, however, guilt, dread, and panic were tearing him apart. "Wait, Forest!" Storm E. ran after him, catching up, and grabbing his hand. "Forest, please...don't go off alone...Don't push everyone away..." She murmured, tears welling up afresh in her eyes. "Don't push me away..."
Forest grimaced as he peeled the bandage away from the gash on his arm. "Good thing Rosy taught me basic first aid," He muttered, changing the bandage quickly. "I would've been already been dead a while ago." He thought about the monster that had given him the wound, a gray creature, with no face, save for a very wide grin. It had attacked him, leaving a gash in his arm, and rendering him unconscious. The last thing he remembered, before blacking out, was the creature's face, slowly changing. It had turned to look at him, Forest's face on the creature. He had lost consciousness after that, coming to a while later, lost. It was kind of funny really. He always had planned what to do if he had ever gotten lost, and now that he was, none of his plans came to mind. He sighed, cinching the bandage with a knot. Fatigue washed over him, making him feel fuzzy. He fought the urge to sleep, shaking his head. "I've got to get back to Town Square and find that creature..." He said out loud, walking in a direction he hoped was north. "And stop it, so it won't hurt anyone."
Forest looked up at the sky. It was pretty, not a cloud in sight. "Forest, come here!" He walked down the hill, where Storm E. was skipping stones. She smiled when she saw him and handed him a stone. Forest was about to skip the stone when he caught a glimpse of his reflection. It was scowling. He bent down to get a closer look, when two hands grabbed him, dragging him under the surface of the lake. He kicked, struggling to break free, only the more he struggled, the tighter his reflection gripped him. His reflection's smile began to stretch, becoming unnaturally wide. "Thief! Murderer! Give me my face back!" His reflection shrieked, wrapping his hands around Forest's throat, and beginning to squeeze...
Forest bolted awake, his hands around his own throat. He let go, his breath shaky. "It was just a dream," He said out loud. "I'm fine." He sighed, rubbing his eyes. He felt unusually tired like he hadn't slept in days. He frowned, looking around for any unusual landmarks. He started to get up, but another wave of fatigue caused him to slump against the tree. His eyes started to droop, and he felt himself starting to drift off again. "No..." He shook his head, but he couldn't shake the fuzzy feeling.
"Uhh...Forest?" Storm E. looked at him. He was staring off in the distance, eyes blank. She waved her hand in front of his face. He blinked, a confused on his face. "What?" Storm E. sighed. "You zoned out again." Forest gave a her puzzled look. She frowned. "Are you alright? You've been zoning out a lot lately. Do you need to see Rosy or something?" Forest shook his head. "No. I'm fine, I just need to..." He trailed off as his eyes got that blank look again. Storm E. huffed, grabbing his hand. "Whatever, I'm taking you to Rosy's. Maybe she can diagnose...whatever this is." She walked over to Rosy's house, Forest in tow. She knocked on Rosy's door impatiently. Rosy answered, opening the door. "Hey, Storm E." She leaned to the side a bit, noticing Forest. "And Forest. What's up?" Storm E. sighed. "It's Forest, he keeps zoning out. " She said, pointing at him. "He's also been really tired, and he keeps dozing off." She continued, looking feeling returned, this time stronger. He collapsed, sleep coming upon him quickly.
Dot sat in her reading chair when shouting outside alerted her. She opened her door and screaming. Ace and Forest were fighting, both of them battered and bloodied. Forest stood over Ace, wiping the blood off of his mouth. He smirked viciously. "I told you to watch your back, Ace." He snarled, grabbing Ace by the shirt, drawing his fist back, preparing to punch him. "STOP!" Forest grimaced, dropping Ace on the ground. Ace coughed, blood splattering onto his shirt. Dot ran in between Ace and Forest, shielding Ace from him. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Dot shouted at Forest, glaring at him. Forest stared back at her, his eyes glittering with malice. "I told him to watch his back," He said, deadpan. He shrugged. "It's not my fault he didn't listen." He turned on his heel and walked back to Storm E's van. Dot helped Ace up. "Are you alright, Ace?" She asked, worried. Ace gave her a pained grin. "I'm alright Dot." He began to limp towards Dot's house. Dot followed him, grabbing his hand, to steady him. "I'm worried about Storm E.," Dot said quietly. "She has no idea, what Forest really is." Ace shrugged, grimacing in pain. "We have to let her find out on her own. If we tell her, we'll put her in danger." Ace murmured, looking up at the sky.
Forest hissed as Storm E. cleaned the wounds on his face. "I wouldn't be doing this if you hadn't gotten into that fight with Ace." Storm E. scolded, discarding another cotton ball to the growing pile. She picked up another cotton ball, dipping it into the foul-smelling hydrogen peroxide. "You didn't need to do this, I was fi-" Forest was cut off when Storm E. took his face in her hands. "Shush, and hold still," She muttered, dabbing the soaked cotton ball on a scratch on his cheek. "There. All done," She said, throwing the pile of cotton balls away, and pulling out some band-aids. When she finished putting band-aids on all of the scratches, she stood back, admiring her handiwork. "Not bad," She grinned, pausing when she noticed Forest's arm. "Roll up your sleeve." He frowned, yanking up his sleeve to reveal an ugly gash, that started at his shoulder and ended at his elbow. Storm E. went and grabbed the gauze from the medicine cabinet. She wrapped the gash in gauze, tying it in a bow. She smiled. "There. Now you're all patched up." She said, hugging Forest. He scowled, cheeks turning red. "Hmph."
"Alright, that should be enough," Rosy murmured, grabbing a small fistful of yarrow leaves. She dropped them in a basket, which was full of leaves and plants, bundled up according to type. She thought briefly of Forest, and whether or not he would be interested in apothecary. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn't hear someone walking up behind her. She felt a blinding pain erupt on the back of her head, and then nothing...
Forest stood over Rosy's unconscious body, the blood from her head wound splattered on his face and hands. He blinked, the confusion being burned away by a white-hot panic. "R-Rosy?" He bent down to check her pulse, giving a shaky sigh of relief when he felt it. "I-I didn't kill her..." He murmured. His thoughts were racing, and he felt the fuzzy feeling on the edge of his consciousness. He scowled, knowing what would happen next. He would get tired but at the same time, he would be wide awake, his body moving of its own accord. "No, not of its own accord," He thought. "Of his accord...He would be in control."
Forest watched the sunset, the sky turning from red to a deep purple. He sighed, his thoughts drifting back to the night he killed Spot. He glanced at himself in the mirror, his reflection frowning back at him. "I wonder," He thought out loud. "I wonder..." He closed his eyes, a smirk on his face. "What chaos I can cause next?"
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