The Path Home

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction.

‘There’s no shortcut worth taking’ – By Beverly Sills   

Chapter One

In a small town, where red leaves fell off a tree, through wind. A young boy fell asleep named Zen. Having a nightmare of a dark narrow hallway. Walking as cold liquid came on the bottom of his feet, he stopped to look below. Clean wooden stairs that smelled of fresh paint, gave him a sense of seeing circles everywhere. The stairs seemed to never end into the darkness.

Not thinking twice, Zen was about to take his first step down–, as he heard a lady’s voice “Resist the sham trail of home” with a whisper in a soft tone.

He woke up and jolted out of bed, breathing heavy and full of sweat. Calming down, he realized it was just a nightmare. What a relief, he thought. Not knowing it was more of a warning than a scare.

Ever since Zen’s parents moved into Que town. Living in a large house with empty rooms and old pictures on the wall of dead grandparent’s smilling down upon him, was not thrilling for his beauty sleep. 

****

Dressed up for school, getting out of his room. Zen’s father came upstairs to the hallway-

“Think fast-” said father, throwing the basketball at him.  It didn’t take a flinch for Zen to catch the ball with his right hand. It bothered him that he couldn’t play sports anymore, since the accident.

As father countuied. “You still got it!” As he said it in an exciting way, but Zen knew the truth, his father wasn’t impressed, he was faking it.

“Well ya, didn’t lose my arm” however he injured his right ankel that was swoolen like a large rioten purple grape with green viens, beating as if he had worms swarming in his feet. It looked awful, that he had to cover up with band aid, so it didn’t attract any attenion. The Doctor said the swelling would leave but the damage would stay.

“Well ya, that’s why, I threw it at you.” said father mimicking him, Zen looked down embarrassed to be defeted with father’s words. Father held his shoulder and walked him down stairs.

“Come on, let’s go and get some breakfast. Mum made your favoratie.” As he was trying to make this morning fun. However, father’s eyes seemed to have no happiness and the reason was tragic. 

Zen’s parents always supported him in football, even so they made him join the tryout team at the age of 5 years old. He ended up winning golden medals, playing a football match for Hwakin high, however envy sinked into his closest friends soulses and they scimmed a plan to break his leg, while playing the most important match, Andrew Maten was there, one of the top coaches who was searching for a new player and Zen was going to be the perfect candidate, but his evil classmates ruined it for him. He never knew that his friends were bitter over his medals. After the incident they moved. 

“Sit down and eat.” said father. 

On the kitchen table layed bakery treats and Zen’s favorate breakfast meal, waffles duriseled with surpe and ice cream on the side. 

“I watched a football game last night-…” Said father. As silence came to the room. “I mean, it was boring..football. -It’s boring” Hesitating, he changed the subject. “By the way, when’s your leg going to heal?” The question was hard to answer, since they hadn’t told him the bad news.

“The doctor said bruises will go away but..” said Zen. Scared to tell the rest

“But what?”

“Well, honey. He’s going to have to live with it” said mum.

“Why did’t tell me sooner? ” Father was confused.

“We thought maybe it’s best if kept quit, since you always overeact”

#

“Are you saying my son’s leg is going to be paralyzed for life? This is all YOUR FAULT, if you hadn’t taken him to that school” Raising his voice. 

“How can you say that? You also toke part on the desistion making and you agreed. You throw all his dreams out window”

As the parents argoured Zen grabbed his lunchpack and slipped away, out the door. It wasn’t anything new to see them argue, since the only reason he played was to keep them together. 

Only good side from injury was a great vactions for Zen, it took the heavy rocks off his shoulders, away from poeples high expections, including his parents.They went to all his football matches not missing a single one, even when practice morning and night, they were shouting from the crowd. On his birthday they gave a football, on christmas they gave him football socks and on new year eve all they talked about is his future to football. 

Being the coach’s son and best player on the team, gave Zen tight knots in the stomach, all eyes were on him and failing was not an option, he’d let the whole team down, even school, but mostly his parents who saw potentail in him, since 5 years old. 

Knowing he’d never step foot in the field to play again made his life easy. He wouldn’t miss football. That’s what he kept telling himself, but it was all a lie. He did miss playing with his friends and most of all seeing his parents cheer together for him in the crowd.

~

Going to school felt like a long walk, even though it was nearby. He enjoyed it, as long as there was no company. 

Walking on the steel pevament, he stopped, feeling eyes on his back. Turning as no one was there. 

Arriving at school was different for Zen it was all about not being noticed. Walking with a crowd of students, putting his gaze low and brushing his black curls down to hide his face. As he sat in the back of the class, waiting for the teacher to start class.

“Good morning, Class” said Miss Cassie. After she filled in the register. She stood in front of class as she brought out english textbook and so did everyone else. 

As Zen was going to bring out english textbook too, he kept sensing eyes rise up to his neck again and this time it was close by. In the same row on the left, sat a fat girl with bloned hair in two ponytails, wearing a pink dress, who was looking at him and with a smile. Zen got uncomfortble, he hid his face behide the english text book, however as class went on, her gaze never left him. What did she want from me? Does she like me? Eww, let’s not think about that, thought Zen. Getting irritated, he looked to see if she was still staring. She was not anymore. Looking at her own textbook.

“Who knows Hans Chrisitian?–” said Miss Cassie. Looking around, nobody knew the answer. So she picked the student that truly hates the spotlight to answer her question, not caring that he didn’t put his hands up,  just like every teacher likes to tourture their students.

“How about you, Zen?” Miss Cassie looked at him and so did everyone else in the classroom. 

“I don’t know?” He shrouled his shoulders.

“Just try at least” At that momment Zen wanted to go to sleep and never wake up again.

“Is he a poet?”

“No, how about you Julie” As she went on to the next, looking at the fat girl who’s been staring at Zen for what felt like more than an half hour.

“Author”

“yes, correct. Julie”  

The fat girl was proud as she flicked her hair and looked at Zen with a smile. He cringed, wishing he could earse what he just saw, as he looked back at his text book. Her gaze was hovering over him more in Math class. 

Finally It’s lunchtime and Zen doens’t have to deal with that Juile stare anymore. Sitting alone on the bench watching the others play football was his lunch rountien. He hung alone since he had trust issues with people since the accident, being scared that they might find something he loved and break it once more. So he enjoyed sitting alone and correcting the football team’s mistakes in his head. 

Zen saw Juile getting up from a circle table with her friend and she was coming over to him. He packed his lunch, getting ready to leave, before she- 

“Can you help me?” Juile said with a disturbing smile.

“Sorry, I am buzzy” said Zen, with a disgusted face and got up to the closest exit.

~

When lunch was over, in class she wasn’t there. Even the teacher asked anyone where she went. Her friends say she went to the bathroom and that’s where they last saw her. Zen didn’t care like everyone else he just wanted to end school and his wish came true, but not in the way he wanted.

After school was over, walking alone on the pavement, on his way home, Zen heard “Clap, Clap, Clap” Footsteps. 

Walking down the mudde road with no sidewalks around, he tripped on a thin stick. As his leg screamed with pain, he knew this day wasn’t going to be great.

As he got up from the hard pevrment, he tried to walk, however his right leg shot with another pain. Zen started to limp and pain went away. Limping on one leg, he saw through forest some left tracks. He was making a desion on taking this short cut or taking 1k mile, that always took to go home, however the destion was clear made when his nerves on his leg pinched, stabed his bones.

Limping through the forest, following the treal. It looked like any other forest with birds chriping, long thick trees. However, as Zen got deeper into the forest, gasped seeing the pink leavfs hanging in beauty, large lake where swans swim. A butterflies flow cross his face, as his eyes followed it, sitting on a rainbow flower. How is that possible thought Zen, as deers running about, rabbits hopping over the daises, soft grass. Zen was fastuinated that it was autume and it looked like summer in the woods. 

As magical as it seemed for Zen seeing beauitfull sights. As he was in chanted with the inside of the forest. For a momment Zen forgot home and pain in his right leg. Not caring if came home late any more, he thought this could be his safe hayden. as he thinking to stay here forever, however Crunch Crunch, as branch stick were steped on. Hearing the heard foot steps coming closer, as his back felt a stare. Zen stopped feeding birds, turning back. He saw a figure from 9km, as trees long gated. As it came closer from the dark distance.

He noticed “Julie is that you?” as saw clearly, her pink dress and two pony with bow tie. 

She hide behinde big oak tree, staring at him, as if he couldn’t see her. what was she doing here, did she follow me? she’s been staring at him all day in class and now she’s his stalker.

 “Were you following me?” said Zen with winced face, disgusted by her even more. 

Juile never anwered back, she kept sneaking around, hidding behide trees. 

“You know, I can see you” said Zen. However she still kept hidding as she watching him behide the trees, like a flipping creep. Zen confused, as to what was going on, as she was coming closer. Running to behide each tree with a giggling. As he thought why she didn’t anwer back.What a weirdo. He guessed ‘that’s what you get for helping a weirdo in her biogy class’

Zen got werided out, walked back to treals and ignored Juile. Acting to not seeing her, he countinued walking in the treal to get back home. Limping, he could hear Juile walking behide him. Getting annyoed he turned around 

“Can stop, following me-” however nobody was there.

 Zen got creepty out and started to speed walk into the forest, hearing “-Boom, Boom” gunshots going off.

#

 Zen hidde behide a large rock. As heart almost leapt out of his cheast, beating so fast with heavy breath. Zen saw his life flash before his eyes. Checking who it was, seeing two man with large stomchs and long beards. One was brown and other was Blonde.

 Zen start think about julie ‘Where did she go? did get shot? Couldn’t find juile, however he realized they were hunting not trying kill him, as saw the brown bread shot a deer. 

write about deer trying run. 

“That was great shot” said blonde bread with smile. 

Putting his hands in the air

 “Stop shoting” as he came out of behide rock and man put down their guns.

“What are doing, here kido” said man with brown bread, looking shocked angry.

“I was taking a short cut, but aren’t guys not suppose to hunt here? ” said Zen, since there wasn’t no zone hunting area signs. Two man answer back with unsettling sentance 

“No, it’s says no hunting for humans, but not for us” in the same time. Zen felt creep out, he knew had get out of here insane, since it was only one here. Ran as fast he could with leg kicking in pain, and every step it hurt like hell. He saw the exit and they lost him.

“Hey, kid’o where are you going. Were not going to hurt you!” as I tried to catch up with fat bells holding them back.

 However Zen didn’t care about leg, keept running deeper into the forste until he was far far way from those man creepy man, never looking back. Zen stopped to catch up with his breath, holding his knees and coughing as air was fighting. A cold brezzes blow over on Zen. Looking up Zen saw a strange boy walking up to him. As got startled and saw shoes. He had bloned hair with unusasl face. 

“Here, have some ” as he handed a bottle of water to Zen . He didn’t trust for one bit, however Zen hungar and thristy. He took water right out of the boy’s hand and globed the water. Wipping his lips 

“What are you doing in the forest” asked Zen with suspioson.

 “It’s shortcut, to my house” said the boy with smile, however he his face expertion had smile and indsteant it went nutral. As if he was terrible at showing his emutions. There was somthing ofly unsettling about him.

“Where is your house?”

“It’s there” as boy pointed to a big manison. It had large lake and sourrowend by rainbow flowers. Zen was stund not by the beauty of the house, but by a manison like this was in the middel of the forest and how a werid boy lived there.

“Your purply wondering how I live here”

How did he know what I was thinking?

“Do want come inside” as his two parents came behide him

“No, thanks. I am on my way home” walking back. 

The boys dad stood right in fornt of Zen, he kick him and ecsp their grip. Running as chased after him. Zen ran and suddenly they didn’t run any more as if there was a broad line they couldn’t cross. As he got deeper he saw trees start to welt and grass turn gray. Zen stopped and start to look at his sourrowdings, notice the rainbow flowers had worms eating in it, red leaves scartered on the ground. . The clouds start to over the sun and the blue sky making it gray and dark. The magic forset he once knew turned into a nightmare, before his eyes. Something cold hit his back. Zen flinched and turned around.

“Ah Sorry, didn’t see you there” Said the boy with the school uniform. 

He looked around the same age as Zen, however didn’t seem to be from the same area. He had a British accent and there were no schools nearby with uniforms particularly once with blue and green. 

Luke could see the boy didn’t want to talk and seemed frightened. 

“I am lost, do you know where northen street is?” Zen didn’t answer

“Look, I can see you’re not the social type, but I really need to get home before dark” Luke’s patiance was running out and his hangar was getting woster as his temper.

“GRRAGRrag!” Luke’s stomch, Zen clapsed on the floor out tierdness.

“Mate, you are alright?” as he gave hand. Zen knew the boy was not part of the forest, he felt the boy was on the same page as him.

‘Sorry never meant stoch to staretal u’

“Listen to me carefully, we need to get out of this forest NOW, before they come” 

“Before who?” said Luke_

Brunch snapes and then another. As they both turn around to see what was making the noise. It’s blonde girl running towards them. Zen grabed Lukes arm. 

“What are you doing?-” said Luke, however Zen yacked Lukes ran with him.

“Wait!” The girl calling them for help. Lukes stopped Zen and pulled his hand back “Let go of me” This why don’t hangout with poeple thought luke.

“She’s part of them” said Zen, as girl came breathing heavy

“Sorry, but have you seen my brother? His yay high?” as she gestered her hand up to 145cm.

“No, haven’t. but do know where northen street is?” as she nodded no.

“How about you?” as she looks at Zen

“No, but we need to get out of here. Do rember where came from?” Blood falls out of his head or arm.

“Oh gosh, ur bleeding!” as girl shocked face. Luke looked and got disgusted, since hates blood. Zen just stood there and touched a drip of blood on his forehead or looked at his arm bleed.

“Give me ur scarf” she asked Luke. Luke looked away and gave his blue scarf. she wrapped up on Zen’s arm. 

“what happened to u?” As she was going to do the same on Zen’s forehead she noticed.

 “Wait, that not ur blood”she freaked out and looked back at Luke. 

Zen slaped hands off his face “We need to leave now”.

“AHAHHAH!!” scream from nearby. as all turned back. Big ugly chased. Somthing covered in black colwk came running to them. Sceamin in their hear as if it was close. Zen grabed Lukes and Pia arm and ran. though forset out nowhere a fat boy bumped into them as all fell on the ground scared as thought monster was close by. Look back their was nothing 

their.  

“Sorry” said Fat boy wear white t’shirt smudered with brown stain.

“What was that!” said Luke.

“I told you, we need get out of the forset”

“Get out where?” Luke thought head his going die today. Juile feeling like every coner lurked 

somthing was behide her or breathing neck. Zen saw Pia phone in her pucket peeping out or top lead out. “Julie can call someone get here”

“Oh, okay.” opens phone checking it’s whiles wipping her tears cluming breath. “Oh, shoot, It’s out of battery”

“Luke do have phone?”

“Ya, yes I do” getting his phone out.

“Give me” said juile by accented she breaks it by dropping it and steping on it.

“My phone” Luke was devasted.

“Oops, Sorry”

Luke picked his shattered phone. “Ouch” as pieces of glass went in his finger. Fat boy tried to get up keep falling over, 

On the wooden dark treeses was poster with missing kids. Clair had long pointy nose, Tite and so on.