Reality is Insanity

Woot we’re onto chapter 3! Or would it be Chapter 2 if you don’t count the prologue? Ah well whatever, you know what I mean. I’m glad this random idea that popped into my head and weaved itself into a story has been received so well! I’m rather long winded aren’t I? I want to thank everyone that read, reviewed, and rated. Thank you so much! Well, to hop to things I shall now answer reviews!

Anon: Here’s your update

Aisha: Awe thank you very much! I’m glad you found it funny since I tend to right more dramatic stuff than funny. I hope you keep finding this story interesting.

Anonymous: Thank you! I was hoping I did well with that chapter and apparently I did, I’m happy you enjoyed it. Here’s your update and I hope you enjoy this one just as much if not more.

Madlodger: Wow I caught a rare visitor, woot to me! I’m happy I could help you in your time of boredom and thank you for taking the time to review. Sorry if I went skimpy on Joshua’s looks, hopefully I corrected that in this chapter. I hope this keeps up with your expectations!

Well, there we go. Now go and enjoy the chapter my naughty little monkies!...I watch too much The Late Late Show

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Joshua was slowly brought back to consciousness, but not on his own. Something was tugging a lock of his hair incessantly and it was starting to get annoying. Not to mention it felt like there was a heavy weight on his chest that wasn’t helping his mood. The boy moved his head away to shake it off and it stopped, but only for a moment before the tugging started up again.

“Mom, stop it. I don’t want to wake up yet,” Joshua grumbled, turning his head to the other side and the tugging stopped once more.

“Mom, stop it. I don’t want to wake up yet.”

Joshua’s eyes snapped open. The voice that repeated him sounded exactly like him. The boy looked down at his body and his eyes widened.

“Ah!” Joshua cried out and immediately tried to move back. A flurry of white feathers fell around him as a creature took off into the air. The boy stared in awe as it circled above him.

The creature that had woken him up was a large, beautiful white bird. It was a little bigger than a swan, with a log neck just like one. Long tail feathers that curled at the ends followed it in its flight and Joshua saw it had a light blue beak that was open.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” the bird kept repeating Joshua’s cry and the boy was still surprised that it was a perfect imitation of him. After the large bird circled a few times it began a smooth decent. The boy closed his eyes tightly as it came at him and let out a grunt as it landed on his stomach.

When Joshua opened his eyes he came face to face with the animal. It stared at him with bright blue eyes that sent a shudder through the boy for some reason.

“Um, hello,” Joshua said, not really knowing what to do.

“Um hello,” the bird echoed and tilted its head to the side. “Mom, stop it. I don’t want to wake up yet. Um, hello. Ah!” it said, repeating everything Joshua had said so far. The boy couldn’t help but laugh at the odd creature.

“What are you, a glorified parrot?” he asked and slowly lifted his hand, seeing if the bird would let him pet it. Joshua smiled when the bird leaned its head into his hand. Curious fingers stroked incredibly soft white feathers and followed the ones that ended in a curl on the birds head. Joshua had never seen or heard of a bird like it before and he was very intrigued.

“What are you, a glorified parrot? Um, hello. Mom, stop it,” the bird said and Joshua chuckled and shook his head.

“You’re a very odd bird,” he told it then tried to sit up, but found the bird was holding him down with its weight. “Do you mind letting me up?” the boy asked it.

“Do you mind letting me up? You’re a very odd bird. Ah!” the creature imitated before hopping off Joshua with its long legs. Everything about the bird seemed to be long.

“Thanks,” Joshua said before sitting up. The boy groaned as his body fought in protest, his muscles and joints painfully sore for some reason.

“Oh God, it feels like I got hit by a truck!” Joshua whined and wrapped his arms around himself once he fully sat up. The boy then furrowed his eyebrows when the events that had taken place before he blacked out emerged, very foggy at first. “Wait a minute…” Joshua concentrated as he tried to think of the last thing that happened.

“Holy crap I was hit by a truck!!!” he cried out, making the bird ruffle its feathers in surprise. The memory of the truck smashing into him played across Joshua’s eyes and the boy began to pat himself down, trying to find any wounds.

“I was hit by a truck, but…I seem to be fine,” he muttered, not finding any broken bones, or open wounds. He couldn’t even find a bruise. “Wait, why doesn’t this hurt anymore?” Joshua questioned, pressing against his side where Ellie had punched him. It had been bothering him since it had happened, but now it wasn’t. Joshua lifted his shirt to look at the bruise that had started to form, only to find that it wasn’t there anymore.

“Ooooookay, this is getting freaky,” Joshua said, lowering his shirt.

“Ooooookay, this is getting freaky,” the bird echoed.

“Yeah, you can say that again,” the boy agreed with it as he then began to take in his surrounding, adding another point to the weird chart.

“Wait a minute…” the bird said as Joshua started to look around frantically.

“You took the words right out of my mouth. Where am I!?” Joshua exclaimed. The boy was sitting in a clearing surrounded by trees. The trees twisted and turned in odd ways Joshua didn’t think a tree could grow.

“Not good, not good. What the hell is going on? I get hit by a truck and wake up in a weird ass forest. It makes absolutely no sense,” he rambled, still looking around at the twisted trees. Joshua suddenly felt a tugging on his sleeve and turned to see it was the bird.

“Um, hello,” it said, tilting its head at him cutely.

“Okay, you’re a really cool bird and all, but I need to find out how I got here.” Joshua’s eyes widened with a thought as he looked at the bird. “You don’t think I died, do you?” he asked it, the possibility of waking up in some kind of after world not helping keep down his panic.

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” the bird replied.

“Ah! Don’t say that! I don’t want to be dead!” Joshua cried out, making the bird jump back and ruffle its feathers again.

“Holy crap I was hit by a truck!!!” the creature yelled.

“I know I was, but I still don’t want to be dead,” the boy told it, looking around once more.

“Wait a minute…” He heard his little repeater say before a weight was suddenly in his lap. Joshua looked at the bird that was staring right back at him. “I don’t want to wake up yet,” it said. Joshua furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head. “I don’t want to wake up yet,” the bird repeated and flapped its wings. The boy didn’t understand what it was doing. Joshua had thought it had just been repeating him, but it seemed to be trying to tell him something.

“I don’t want to wake up yet,” he said, trying to see if it would help him understand. It then suddenly hit him. “Are you suggesting that I’m sleeping?” Joshua asked it.

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” the bird replied. The boy stared at it before looking around the forest again.

“Well, this does look like something I’d dream up, especially lately…but it’s hard to believe,” he muttered.

“I was hit by a truck, but…I seem to be fine,” the bird said, repeating Joshua’s earlier statement.

“Yeah, I guess that’s hard to believe too,” the boy told it.

“It makes absolutely no sense,” the bird said, ruffling its feathers once more.

“Now that I believe,” Joshua agreed. “Here, let me up,” he then told the bird and waited for it to get off him before slowly standing up. His muscles continued to scream in protest, but he just ignored them. Once he was up Joshua patted the dirt off his clothes before surveying the area.

“Well, if I am dreaming again I guess I’ll just go with the flow. But if by some chance I’m not I better find some way to get home,” Joshua said aloud as he tried to decide which way to go. The memory of Ellie screaming and the look on her face as the truck came at him replayed itself in his mind and he shook his head.

“She must be really worried,” Joshua muttered. “And once Mom hears about it she’ll probably have a heart attack. Who knows, maybe even Lilah will miss me,” he mused, though that was farfetched.

“Now that I believe,” he heard from his side. Joshua looked down at the white bird and it cocked its head at him.

“Nah, you don’t know her, she wouldn’t miss me,” he told it before looking up. Joshua decided on a direction and started walking.

“But it’s hard to believe.” Came the boys voice from behind him and he turned to see the bird hopping after him a bit before taking off and perching in a tree above him.

“Are you trying to argue with me on this?” Joshua asked, putting his hands on his hips as he looked up at the creature.

“Yeah, you can say that again,” the bird replied. The boy stared at it before shaking his head.

“I’m arguing with a bird that’s using my own words against me,” he mumbled as he continued on his way. “This definitely seems to have the makings of a dream,” the boy confirmed.

As Joshua walked through the strange forest he could hear the fluttering of the bird and scraping of bark as it followed him. Finally Joshua looked up to see it land on a branch right above him and it turned its long neck downward to look at him.

“So are you going to be following me the whole time?” he asked it.

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” the bird replied. Joshua chuckled and was happy that it was tailing him.

“Good, it’d be nice to have some company while I find my way around. If I was alone I’d probably freak out,” he told it.

“Now that I believe,” the animal said and Joshua scowled.

“Hey, watch it.” The boy sighed as he looked around again to get his bearings before looking back up at his new friend. “Well, it’ll probably be tiring for you to hop from tree to tree so you can sit on my shoulder,” Joshua offered. “If you can fit that is,” he added.

In a flurry of white the bird took off and circled the boy before swooping down and gracefully landing on his shoulder. Talons gripped its perch and Joshua was thankful that it wasn’t too tight.

“Well, surprisingly you do,” he said, even though its side was brushing against his face Joshua actually enjoyed the feel of the soft feathers. “And you’re not too heavy. Looks like this will be just fine,” Joshua told it happily.

“Thanks,” the bird said and the boy smiled.

“No problem. So what am I going to be calling you anyways?” Joshua then asked it. “Do you have a name?”

“You’re a very odd bird,” the animal replied and Joshua raised an eyebrow.

“You want me to call you very odd bird?” he questioned and the bird shook its head.

“You’re a very odd bird,” it repeated. Joshua continued to stare at it and the bird ruffled its feathers, appearing to be frustrated. “Okay, you’re a really cool bird and all, but I need to find out how I got here,” it then said. “I’m arguing with a bird that’s using my own words against me.” The boy stared at it as it repeated three phrases he had said before.

“I’m still not…” Joshua trailed as he suddenly had a thought. All of the things it said had one thing in common. “You want me to call you…bird?” he asked uncertainly and was surprised when the bird nodded vigorously. “Your name is Bird?” the boy questioned in disbelief then shook his head. “A bird called Bird, why not? It’s not like that’s the weirdest thing today,” Joshua told himself.

“Now that I believe,” Bird said and Joshua chuckled. “Do you have a name?” Bird asked and looked down at the boy

“Oh, I’m Joshua,” he replied. Once the introductions were over he looked around.

“Well, Bird, since you’re probably more familiar with this place can you suggest a way to go? Preferably to a place where I can get help,” Joshua requested. He watched Bird look around before it stretched its neck out and pointed to the right. Joshua looked that way then nodded.

“Okay, I’m putting my faith in you, buddy,” he told it before walking the way it had directed.

As the two traveled the boy looked around at the odd scenery. The trees were at least normal in color, but their twisting trunks and branches were just unnerving.

“This definitely seems like a place that would pop up in my dreams. I just wish I knew if I really was dreaming,” Joshua said as he walked, Bird swaying a bit from his motion.

“It’s not like that’s the weirdest thing today,” Bird said.

“It is for me. Unless this is the same day before I got hit,” Joshua mused. The boy suddenly stopped as a thought hit him. He winced as the abrupt halt caused Bird to jerk and dig his talons into his shoulder.

“Hey, watch it,” Bird told him as it resettled itself.

“Sorry,” Joshua apologized, but thought he got the worst from it. Then Joshua went back to the thought that made him stop in the first place.

“I know exactly whose fault this is,” he said, thinking back to the first very out of place thing that had happened. “That guy in the strange clothes and the blindfold. I saw him right before that truck hit me, it had to of been him,” Joshua said, remembering the man’s smiling face before the impact.

“But what does it mean? Why has that guy been in my dreams and why did he appear at school? What reason would he have for bringing me to this strange place? And why did he have to use a freakin’ truck to do it?” the boy asked question after question, hoping something would answer them.

“It makes absolutely no sense,” Bird said and Joshua nodded in agreement.

“You got that right. I guess the only way I’ll find out is to track that guy down and ask him myself,” he concluded. “So, you still say this way?” Joshua asked Bird, pointing in the direction they had been going.

“You got that right,” Bird replied and Joshua nodded as he continued.

The two walked on in silence, Joshua doing the walking, and the boy didn’t really get where they were going. The scenery didn’t seem to be changing at all. But he kept following where Bird pointed since he wouldn’t know where else to go. It was a good thing Joshua had been having all those strange dreams or else he would have found a bird that could repeat him perfectly and use his words to make conversation really weird and unnerving.

“So, are you going to give me any clues on where we’re goi-ack!” Joshua cried out as he tripped over something. Bird took flight so it didn’t go down with the boy, who fell to the ground with a thud.

“What the hell is going on?” Bird asked from the safety of a branch. Joshua lifted his head enough to spit out a mouthful of leaves.

“That’s what I want to know,” he grumbled before sitting up and looking around to see what had caused his fall. After brushing away some leaves he found it.

“A chain?” Joshua said curiously. Lying in the dirt and leaves was a golden chain with a jewel embedded shackle at the end. The boy picked it up and tugged it until it suddenly resisted. Joshua looked up to see that the chain was embedded in the base of one of the trees.

“What the hell…” Joshua jumped when Bird suddenly started flapping its wings loudly.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” it kept screaming over and over.

“What’s wrong with you Bir-” Joshua was cut off as he heard a metallic clinking and the chain he was holding suddenly moved.

“Ah!” he cried out and dropped it, falling back in the process. Joshua’s mouth fell open and his eyes went wide as the chain lifted itself into the air. The shackle opened and closed a few times, resembling snapping jaws.

“N-Nice, chain…thing,” Joshua stuttered as he slowly tried to shuffle backwards. The chain wiggled around a bit and snapped its shackle again before lunging at Joshua. The boy screamed and closed his eyes, bracing himself.

But nothing happened and Joshua heard a weird sniffing sound. The boy slowly opened his eyes to see that the chain was close to his face and seemed to be smelling him.

“Um.” Joshua was tempted to move back further, but didn’t want to alarm the chain. After one last whiff the attacker backed away from the boy and abruptly fell to the ground, lifeless once more.

Joshua sat there in shock, not believing what had just happened. A flapping of wings sounded from above and Bird landed beside the boy. When Bird’s soft head rubbed up against Joshua’s cheek, the boy finally snapped out of it. He looked over to Bird and took a deep breath to calm his racing heart before lifting a hand to pet the creature.

“That wasn’t fun,” Joshua muttered, looking at the chain warily. “Let’s get out of here,” he said and got up, moving away from it. The boy waited for Bird to get back on his shoulder before quickly making his way out of the area.

“What the hell was that thing?” Joshua asked when he thought they were far enough away.

“A chain?” Bird replied and the boy rolled his eyes.

“Well, I know that, I mean why did it do that? Where I come from chains can’t come to life and attack people,” he said, watching his step in case there were anymore of the vicious chains.

“I get hit by a truck and wake up in a weird ass forest,” Bird said, making Joshua look at it.

“Yeah, I guess a weird ass forest means weird ass things to go in it,” he agreed. “I’m glad you’re at least cool and helpful,” Joshua told it and Bird preened at the praise.

“Thanks,” Bird said and Joshua chuckled.

“You’re welcome. I just hope we get ou…” Joshua trailed off as he stepped into a clearing. “Not again.”

In all of the surrounding trees Joshua saw golden chains attached to them. Some lay on the ground, innocently, but the boy was surprised to see items caught in the shackles of others.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked quietly as he looked at all of the captured objects. There was a violin with the shackle from a chain clasped around its neck. A small red ball was trapped in another and other such items were in the grasp of the chains.

“This is just getting freakier by the second,” Joshua whispered as he tip toed through the clearing.

“You got that right,” Bird agreed. Once the boy was past the clearing he picked up his pace, wanting to get far away from the chains.

“I think the sooner we get out of this forest the better,” Joshua told Bird, who nodded.

“You took the words right out of my mouth,” it said.

“Which way now?” the boy then asked and Bird pointed a bit to his left. Joshua followed its directions and continued strolling through the woods. As he went Joshua thought about how he could return to his world. Sure he had wanted to come to this place when he dreamed about it, but now that the boy was there he just wanted to go back to his family and friends. *I just want to get home. I hope no one worries about me too much,* the boy thought.

“Hey, watch it,” Bird suddenly said in Joshua’s ear, bringing him out of his thoughts. The boy blinked then looked up at Bird.

“What is it, Bird?” he asked, immediately becoming wary. The bird looked over to their side and Joshua turned to see what it warned him about. Lying at the base of a tree was a sleeping cat. It looked like an ordinary cat, except for its dark blue fur. Joshua raised an eyebrow then his eyes widened when he saw that one of the golden chains was around the cat’s neck.

“Oh no, the poor thing. We have to help it,” the boy said, the animal lover in him coming out. He was about to take a step when Bird suddenly nipped his ear with its beak. “Ow! What was that for?” Joshua asked.

“Let’s get out of here,” Bird told him and the boys eyebrows furrowed.

“What?”

“That wasn’t fun,” Bird then said. Joshua looked from Bird to the cat.

“Are you saying that cat is dangerous too?” he asked, lowering his voice. Joshua sighed when Bird nodded. “Great, isn’t anything in this forest safe?”

Deciding to take Bird’s advice, since it had been right about everything else, Joshua started to sneak past the cat. Just as he thought he was safe there was a loud crack. The boy froze and looked down to see a broken branch under his foot.

“Uh oh…” Joshua and Bird looked over to the cat to see its eyes snap open. The cat slowly lifted its head and gazed at the other two.

“He he, nice kitty,” Joshua said and knew he was in trouble when the cats pupils suddenly shrunk into slits. The animal leap to its feet and started yowling and screaming deafeningly. Bird’s feathers ruffled and Joshua covered the ear he could reach.

“Oh God, I think my ears are bleeding!!!” he yelled over the horrible noise that threatened to shatter his eardrums.

“Not good, not good.” Joshua heard Bird say and he looked up. His eyes widened in horror as tan spikes sprung up from the cats arched back.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Joshua said in exasperation. The boy then cried out when the spikes launched into the air in all directions, more importantly, in his direction!

“Holy shit!!!” Joshua screamed and tried to move back. But the boy tripped and fell back, the spikes narrowly missing him.

Bird took off into the air, dodging the flying projectiles as Joshua scrambled behind a tree. The boy cowered behind it as he heard thunk after thunk of spikes embedding themselves in the trees surrounding the cat.

Finally everything went quiet and Joshua let out a big sigh in relief. It took him a second to realize something was missing and he looked around for his companion.

“Bird? Bird, where’d you go?” Joshua called out and looked up when he heard screaming.

“Ah! Holy shit!!! Ah!” Bird cried out over and over as it flew through the treetops and off into the distance.

“Wait! Bird, come back!” Joshua yelled after it, but Bird either couldn’t hear him or ignored him and soon it disappeared into the sky.

“That’s just wonderful,” the boy grumbled and leaned over to look around the tree he was behind. “Thank you very much you little bastard,” Joshua snapped at the cat. He yelped and ducked behind his cover again as more spikes were hurled at him and the cat hissed and growled.

“I like animals, but that one can just stay chained to the tree,” Joshua muttered. Once the attacks stopped the boy slowly got up and took a deep breath. After sucking up his courage he made a run for it.

“Ah!” he yelled as he heard more thunking of spikes, but he didn’t turn back and didn’t stop running.

After sprinting as far as his legs could stand Joshua had to stop to catch his breath, his chest burned from the lack of oxygen and he took deep gulps of air. He bent over to place his hands on his knees and he felt sweat trickle down his face. The boy watched as a bead ran down to the tip of his nose before falling to the forest floor.

When the boy’s breathing calmed down to soft pants he stood up and wiped the sweat off his face with his arm. He spotted a large rock near one of the twisted trees and made his way over to it.

“I am really, really going to hurt that guy for bringing me to this place,” Joshua growled as he plopped down. “This just can’t get any worse,” he muttered as he rested his head in his hands.

“Well, it just has for me! Get off me, boy!” yelled a shrill woman’s voice, making Joshua jump and quickly look around.

“Uh, what?” he asked, not seeing anyone. Joshua shrieked as the rock he was sitting on began to shake and he was tossed to the ground.

“Ow…I think I stand corrected,” Joshua whined as he propped himself up on his elbows.

“How dare you sit on me! I’ve never met such a rude little boy. Not even asking first,” said the voice from before. Joshua looked up and thought he was going to faint when he saw the rock he had been sitting on staring back at him with eyes of its own!

“Agh-rock, eyes, talking…oh God,” he squeaked out.

“What do you think I am a pile of dirt?” the rock asked him, sounding offended. “I have half a mind to roll over you right now, but I won’t because I’m a lady,” she said haughtily. “Let’s go children,” she then said and Joshua watched her roll away.

His attention was then caught by many smaller rocks that started to roll after her. One stopped in front of the boy and the two stared at each other. Joshua raised an eyebrow when it blew a raspberry at him then rolled after the others. The boy watched them until they were gone before falling back to the ground.

“This is just too much, too much,” he groaned as he covered his face with his hands. “This is way too “Alice in Wonderland” for me. I wanna go home!” the boy yelled to the treetops.

“Does that mean your name is Alice?” a voice suddenly asked followed by a giggle. “That’s a funny name.”

Joshua jolted into a sitting position and looked around.

“Who said that?” he asked, not seeing anyone and hoping it wasn’t another rock.

“Up here, silly,” said the voice again. Joshua looked up into the tree and saw a girl sitting on one of the branches a little ways from him. She had bright curly blonde hair and was wearing a deep purple dress that poofed out at the skirt end. Fingerless arm gloves that matched her dress went up to her elbows and were tied with crisscrossing black strings.

“Um, hi,” Joshua said to her, wondering if she was dangerous too. The girl smiled widely and waved back.

“Hello, Alice!” she greeted and the boy raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, um, my name isn’t Alice, its Joshua,” he corrected her. The girl looked down at him curiously then put her finger on her lip and looked like she was concentrating.

“Josh, Joshw, Joshwa!” she exclaimed, seeming to be proud of herself.

“Um no, Josh-u-a,” the boy said, getting up off the ground. The girl frowned and looked confused.

“But that’s what I said, Joshwa,” she said.

“All right, fine, whatever,” Joshua said, deciding not to bother with it.

“Joshwa, that’s a funny name too,” the girl giggled and Joshua raised an eyebrow.

“How’s my name funny? What’s your name?” he asked, happy enough to talk to someone that could use their own words to talk.

“I’m Lliamy!” the girl said as she jumped down from the tree and landed perfectly on the ground. “It’s nice to meet you, Joshwa!” she said excitedly.

“Um, yeah, nice to meet you too,” he said. *And she thinks my name is funny? Oh well, at least I’ve finally run into another person,* he thought. Joshua was brought back when the girl named Lliamy was suddenly in his face.

“Ah! What?” he asked, taking a step back.

“You have blue eyes,” the girl stated.

“Um, yeah, is that a problem?” Joshua said, not seeing what the big deal was.

“I’ve never seen anyone with blue eyes before! They’re so pretty!” Lliamy squealed in delight. Joshua stared at the girl oddly. *…why is she reminding me so much of Ellie?* he wondered.

“You’ve never seen blue eyes?” Joshua then asked, finding that hard to believe.

“Yeah, I’ve only ever seen my family and we all have violet eyes, see?” Lliamy came really close to his face again and pulled on her cheeks so her bottom eyelids went down. Joshua tried to ignore that as he looked at her eyes.

“Wow, they are violet, I’ve never seen a person with violet eyes,” Joshua said in astonishment. Lliamy let go of her skin and she blinked at the boy.

“Really? That’s great! So we both have something the other hasn’t seen before!” she cheered and Joshua smiled at how easily excitable she was. *Yeah, she and Ellie would get along just fine,* he thought. But thinking of his best friend sent a pang of sadness through him and he pushed the thought away.

“Hey, Lliamy,” Joshua said to get her attention.

“Yes, Joshwa?” the girl asked.

“Do you know how to get out of this forest? I really need to find a way out,” the boy told her. Lliamy blinked at him again and tilted her head to the side.

“A way out?” she repeated. “Where are you going?” she then asked.

“I’m trying to find my way home. I got here…in a very odd way,” Joshua said, running his hand through his bangs. Lliamy watched him then suddenly reached out and pulled a strand when it fell. “Ow, what are you doing?” the boy asked her.

“Why are your bangs all chopped up and uneven?” Lliamy asked as she tugged the sandy brown lock again.

Joshua liked keeping the right side of his bangs longer than the left. He thought it made him look mysterious and punkish with how it partly covered his face, though Lilah always called it stupid.

“Its cause that’s the way I like them, now please stop pulling my hair,” he said, trying to not become irritated. The girl pulled her hand away and put both hands behind her back.

“Sorry, so why do you want to go home?” Lliamy then asked.

“Thank yo-wait, did you just ask me why?” Joshua questioned and the girl nodded. “Because I want to go back to my family and friends that’s why,” he told her and Lliamy gasped.

“You have family and friends!? Are they nice? Do they love you?” she asked excitedly. Joshua stared at the girl oddly.

“Um yeah, they love me, my sister is questionable, but they love and take care of me,” he replied. A dreamy look appeared on Lliamy’s face and she clasped her hands in front of her.

“Oh they sound wonderful! I really wish I could go and help you find them.” The girl’s face fell and she looked away. “But I can’t.”

“What? Why not?” Joshua asked, wanting any kind of help he could get. Or at least some company that didn’t spit out spikes or wanted to roll over him.

“Because I have to stay here, it won’t let me go,” Lliamy told him and moved her leg a little. Joshua was about to ask what, but heard a metallic clinking and looked down to see a golden chain locked around one of Lliamy’s ankles.

“Oh no, not those things again,” Joshua muttered. *How did I not see that before?* he thought. “What is it with those chains? I’ve seen them all over this forest and one tried to grab me earlier.”

“It’s to make sure none of the unwanted things escape,” Lliamy told him and the boy was confused.

“Unwanted things?” he asked and the girl nodded.

“Yes, this is The Unwanted Forest. All the things that people don’t want end up here and these chains make sure they don’t get away,” Lliamy explained, shaking her foot again.

“The Unwanted Forest?” Joshua mumbled and looked around. “So all the things I saw no one wanted, but why would that man send me here?” he mused when something suddenly hit him. “Wait.” He quickly turned back to the girl and looked down at her ankle. “Are you saying you’re unwanted?” he asked and Lliamy nodded sadly.

“Yes, my family didn’t want me, so one day I just went POOF and ended up here,” she said, but then smiled. “But I’m kinda glad for it.” Joshua furrowed his eyebrows.

“Why?”

“Because I’d much rather be here than have my parents eat me like my brothers and sisters!” she said happily and Joshua’s mouth fell open.

“They ATE your siblings!?” he exclaimed in horror and Lliamy simply nodded.

“Yes, it’s not uncommon. Don’t your parents eat the young they don’t want?” she asked him curiously and Joshua shook his head vigorously.

“Of course not! That’s gross! Not to mention murder and cannibalism! ” he shouted. Lliamy looked perplexed when she suddenly gasped and reached out to grab Joshua’s head to hold it still.

“Uh, what are you doing?” the boy asked as she turned his head to the side and started moving his hair away. “Again with the grabbing, ever heard of personal space?” Joshua asked and raised an eyebrow when Lliamy gasped again.

“Ah! You’re a human!” she squealed, jumping back. “You have round human ears!” Lliamy yelled, pointing at Joshua.

“Um, yeah, don’t you?” the boy asked in confusion. Lliamy shook her head, causing her golden curls to be tossed about.

“Of course not! See?” Lliamy parted her hair at the side of her head and Joshua’s eyes widened. A little higher up from where normal ears would have been were what looked like little furry rodent ears, the fur a darker color from her hair. *Holy shit!* the boy thought.

“Humans are mythical creatures, only heard of in myths!” Lliamy then exclaimed before she gasped and started jumping around in joy. “I’ve met a human! I’m going to have good luck for years and years!” she squealed in delight.

Joshua stared at her as she jumped about, not knowing what to make of that information. *Humans are mythical creatures here? It’s like I went to a totally backwards world! Where is that guy so I can get some answers!?* Joshua thought angrily. The boy was then brought out of his thoughts when he heard a sniffle.

Lliamy had stopped her celebration and was wiping tears away from her eyes. She crouched down as she let out a sob and a hiccup.

“N-Now I really wish I could help you. Human’s are so-so rare and for you not to go home is-is horrible!” she wailed. Joshua gazed down at her and smiled softly at her words, at least someone felt sorry for his situation. He crouched down beside her and rubbed her back.

“It’s okay, I’m sure I’ll get home…somehow,” he reassured her. Joshua then had a thought as he looked down at the golden chain.

“Lliamy, what happens to the people and things that end up here?” he asked. The girl calmed herself down and brushed away the stray tears.

“The Patrollers feed them to the forest’s core,” she replied. Joshua’s eyes widened, even though he didn’t know exactly what that meant he figured it wasn’t good.

“Feed them to the forest’s core? W-What’s that?” he asked, the boy had never heard of a forest having to be fed or it having a core.

“The forest’s core is the very center of the forest where there’s a deep hole and all the roots from the trees go down into it. In order for the forest to stay alive and do its job it has to be fed every so often so they use the unwanted things as food,” Lliamy explained.

Images of people being thrown into a huge hole flittered across Joshua’s mind and he became thoroughly disgusted.

“That’s horrible!” he yelled, making the girl jump. Joshua stood up and pulled Lliamy up with him. “I can’t let that happen to you that’s not right,” he said. The violin as food? Sure. The red ball? Why not? The spike throwing cat? …he didn’t feel too bad about that one, but a living, breathing girl? Joshua couldn’t let that happen, he would never let that happen.

“Is there anyway I can get you out of here?” he asked, turning Lliamy towards him and put his hands on her shoulders. “There just has to be a way to get that chain off.” The girl looked at him in surprise then became thoughtful.

“Well, the only way the chains don’t bother you is if you’re wanted,” Lliamy said.

“If you’re wanted?” Joshua repeated and the girl nodded.

“Yes, the chains only latch onto things that are unwanted, so if someone wants you around the chains let go,” she explained. The boy thought back to when the chain had attacked him.

“Is that why when the stupid thing tried to grab me it suddenly stopped?” Joshua asked. “Because I’m wanted?”

“Um, I’m not sure,” Lliamy replied before leaning forward and sniffing at the boy. *Again with the smelling,* Joshua thought, being reminded of the chain.

“Yep! You definitely smell wanted!” Lliamy exclaimed when she pulled back. Joshua raised an eyebrow and lifted his arm to smell it.

“I didn’t know want was a smell,” he mumbled and the girl nodded.

“Yep! It is. So you’ll be able to leave this forest just fine, Joshwa,” Lliamy told him. Joshua was glad for that, but looked at the girl solemnly.

“But what about you?” he asked and Lliamy shrugged.

“I’m not wanted so the chain won’t let me go,” she said simply. Joshua couldn’t believe how calm she was about it, but he wasn’t going to let that happen to her. Even though he didn’t really know Lliamy he wouldn’t be able to bare it if he just left her to her fate in the forest’s core.

A look of determination came to Joshua’s face and he bent down and grabbed onto the golden chain. He began to pull and tug on it with all his might. Lliamy watched him as, after awhile, he gave up on that and began trying to pry open the shackle.

“Let go you stupid thing! She’s coming with me!” Joshua yelled at it in frustration. “If all she needs to be is wanted then I want her! I want her to help me find a way home!”

Suddenly there was a click and the shackle simply opened and fell to the ground. Joshua and Lliamy stared at it in surprise and the boy stood up.

“Well…I guess that’s that,” he said, not really expecting the chain to let go so easily. He yelped when the girl suddenly tackled him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Lliamy cried out happily.

“Breathing…air!” Joshua squeaked, her gratitude choking him. Lliamy let him go with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, but thank you so much! You’ve made me so happy,” she told him. Joshua smiled, glad to have saved her.

“You’re welcome, now let’s get out of here,” he said and took hold of Lliamy’s arm and the two started walking in a random direction.

“Do you know where we’re going?” the girl asked.

“Not a clue.” Was her reply. With Bird gone, Joshua had no idea where to go.

“Stop right there you two,” said a gruff voice behind them. Both of them froze in place as the voice had directed.

“What now?” Joshua grumbled as he turned around. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he craned his neck upwards. “Apparently a big what now.”

Standing before them was what resembled a troll, an eight foot tall troll to be exact. His arms were huge and muscular and were holding it up as its legs were very small and thin. Its mouth took up much of its body and it stared at the two with beady eyes that were over a large, bulbous nose.

“L-Lliamy, what’s that?” Joshua asked in a high, squeaky voice as the girl hid behind him.

“That’s one of the Patrollers,” she replied in a hushed voice.

“What are you two doing wandering about?” the Patroller questioned and Joshua gulped as he forced a smile.

“Um, out for a brisk walk?” he told it. The creature narrowed its eyes at them and leaned forward. The two leaned back as much as they could and Joshua felt like he was in a vacuum as the Patroller used its giant nose to take in a deep breath.

“Hey, what are you two doing here if you’re both wanted?” the Patroller asked and Joshua and Lliamy looked at each other.

“Um, we got lost,” Joshua lied and the girl nodded. The Patroller lifted one of its giant hands to scratch its head.

“Well, since neither of you are unwanted then you’ll have to leave,” it told them and the two grinned widely. Those smiles faded however when the Patroller lifted up its hand in the air.

“Be gone!” it bellowed and brought its hand down. Joshua and Lliamy closed their eyes tightly and held onto each other.

Suddenly Joshua felt like he was yanked out of his place and hurled through the air, his gut leading the way. All at once the feeling stopped and he fell to the ground. The boy opened his eyes and his stomach churned as the world spun round and round.

“What the hell was that?” he groaned, fighting back the strong urge to puke.

“I’m not sure.” He heard Lliamy reply. She then gasped and the boy felt her tugging his shirt. “Joshwa! Joshwa, we’re out of the forest!” she exclaimed. Joshua woozily sat up with Lliamy’s help and he looked up. Finally his vision became clear and he blinked.

“Wha…I don’t believe it! It let us out of the forest!” he cried out, jumping to his feet. In front of them was The Unwanted Forest, but the two were right on the outside of it.

“That sure was nice of it,” Lliamy said as she got to her feet also.

“Yes! Now that we’re out of the forest I’m one step closer to getting home!” Joshua cheered, punching the air with his fist. Lliamy smiled at him then looked behind them and her eyes widened.

“I wonder if we have to cross that to get to your home,” she said. Joshua looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Have to cross wha…?” the words died in his throat as he fully turned around. Beyond the forest was a dry, barren wasteland that stretched as far as the eye could see. Joshua’s shoulders slumped and he hung his head.

“Something tells me there are going to be a loooot of steps to get home.”

==========================Ch. 2 End

Well, there you have it. I think Joshua’s journey has started out well enough. He met new friends, even though one flew off (I love Bird, it was only supposed to wake Joshua up but it stayed through most of the chapter ^-^) and got to see some weird creatures that weren’t so friendly. Hopefully Lliamy will be able to help him at least not be bored. So if Joshua has already experienced this much when he first wakes up, what will the rest of his travels hold in store for him? And one question still remains, where is that blindfolded guy that started this mess? He should really be taking responsibility for his actions. Well, to find all this out you’ll have to tune in next time and in the mean time please review!...and now I sound like a commercial, no more tv for me!