Journal Entry 42

Also November 29th.

Usually we don't post more than one journal entry a day, but Rusty's subject matter was so different from mine that I just decided to up the number instead of adding a ".5" at the end of the 41. I also noticed that Rusty's entry had been posted as a journal so I transferred it to a new post. Hope you don't mind, Rusty. My condolences for your dad. That's gotta be hard.

Anyway, I'm going to write this in a more story-like format than usual, like how I wrote Entry 12 back in September.

I decided to take up Ray's offer on walking with me to my afternoon class. I wish I didn't have to walk that path to get to that class, but alas, I have to. That's the path by the woods, to be clear. Then I saw that thing in the woods. He was just standing there like a tree. In fact, he looked like any other tree aside from the fact... well, actually I'm not sure what made him look different. I guess I just knew. But I stupidly tried to convince my brother of the danger in the woods instead of just walking past it, which would have been the sensible thing to do.

"Ray, look," I whispered, pointing off into the woods.

He did look, I'll give him that. "What are you wanting me to see?" Ray asked, squinting.

"The tree thing. He's out there, he looks just like a tree but you've got to believe me..."

I must have sounded crazy.

"Jordan, there's nothing there. The trees all look normal, and nobody would be able to tell the difference between any two," Ray said. Thinking back on it now, he had a point, but I kept going as if I was mad.

"No, just... look closer!" I said.

Suddenly Ray was several feet in front of me (my memory blanked out again, I guess), and he was saying to me, "OK, I'm looking. Still don't see a difference."

"Ray, don't get closer to it!"

"You just told me to go see for myself."

"No I didn't, I just asked you to look closer, not go closer."

"Sounded like 'go see' to me," said Ray. "You said 'look closer' before."

Then I realized it. That must have been Null. Still, I followed behind him. "OK, fine. Let's get a little closer. If it gets us---"

"It won't get us," Ray tried to reassure me. "Now, lead me to the tree you think is... it." I could read the skepticism in his tone like large print letters. I knew he planned on showing me the tree was just like any other, and I was just stupid enough at this point to play his game and try to prove him wrong.

"OK then," I said. I cautiously walked toward the tree. The ever-present buzzing became more noticeable. I started to feel dizzy. I guess my dizziness became noticeable to Ray, because I felt his hand steadying me and I heard his voice. The thing is, I couldn't understand what he was saying. Before I knew it, we were right in front of the tree, which suddenly burst open to black tentacles coming for me. I remember Ray pushing me forward and running us back to the sidewalk. We ran into the building and around a corner.

Ray caught his breath, looking honestly scared. Ray never looks scared. Still, I watched him as my mind began to clear, sinking against the wall. I just so much expected him to look at me and explain the whole thing rationally. But his answer surprised me.

"Well, little brother... looks like you were right."

But there was no way he was going to accept it as a supernatural occurrence. No fricking way.

"I'll find an answer to this, Jordan," he said. "You have my word."

-nj