Chase Newell stared out at the grass waving in the wind, his mind drifting to years in the past, countless memories of summer and winter breaks spent here. A small piece of rural Oregon, of a larger property that had been in his extended family for over a hundred fifty years, and one that he hadn't visited in over twenty years. Closing his eyes, Chase took in a deep breath, savoring the clean mountain air.
At the moment, he was standing next to a gate connected to a barbed wire fence. The fence led into a forest mostly composed of different species of pine and fir trees, with a large clearing next to his destination. A few buildings that had been where his family had stayed during various vacations. Even if things were strained with the extended family that lived nearby, it was still good to be back.
Chase opened his eyes and unlatched the gate, stepping through onto the worn dirt path beyond. A light breeze stirred the pine boughs overhead, filling the air with the sound that always made him smile, as he made his way toward the clearing, and he breathed in the familiar scents of the forest – pine, earth, and memories.
The path wound its way among the trees before opening up to reveal the old camp buildings – a small cabin, a ramshackle barn, a root cellar, the outhouse with the well-fed sink, and a few other sheds and outbuildings. They looked just as he remembered, weathered gray wood blending into the forest surroundings. Chase smiled slightly. It was like stepping back in time.
He approached the cabin first, running his hand over the rough plank door before turning the tarnished metal handle and stepping inside. It was musty and dim, with dust motes dancing in the shafts of light that filtered through the small windows. The main room held a wood stove, a rough hewn table with benches and a few chairs, and a couple cots tucked against the walls.
Chase moved through the cabin, trailing his fingers over the surfaces, picturing his younger self and cousins playing cards at the table, bundled up in sleeping bags on the cots. He felt the echoes of long-ago laughter, summer heat, and carefree days spent exploring the surrounding woods.
Stepping back outside, he turned toward the next building. A flood of memories returned as he immersed himself in this place from his childhood. It had been too long, but now he had returned. Part of him wished that he could stay, make this small piece of property a permanent home. But too much had happened, and too much bad blood now existed between him and the nearest relatives.
Chase sighed, knowing his visit here would be brief. There were too many ghosts, too many bittersweet memories. He hadn't come to stay – just to make peace with the past before moving forward.
He made his way to the old barn next. The broad wooden doors creaked as he pulled them open, revealing the dim interior. Sunlight filtered in through gaps in the weathered planks, illuminating dust and cobwebs. Farm equipment and tools still hung on the walls, remnants of a bygone era when this had been a working farm.
Chase' gaze went to the back corner of the barn, and his throat tightened. There, tucked against the wall, was the area where every year would be the small fort he and his cousins had built out of hay bales. They had spent hours playing in that little hideaway, often joined by the barn cats that lived there. He vividly remembered hot summer days, the dusty golden light, kittens tumbling over their feet...
Shaking his head with a bittersweet smile, Chase closed the barn doors and turned away. He wouldn't disturb its contents – he felt it was better to leave everything just as it was, frozen in time.
His steps led him next to the old woodshed. Just outside, he found the stumps and logs they had once used as stools for outdoor lessons from Grandpa. He could almost see the old man sitting there, weathered hands gesturing as he taught his grandkids about wildlife, plants, and the natural world. If he closed his eyes, Chase could hear his gravelly voice echoing from the past.
Stolen story; please report.
He wandered back outside and decided to take a walk into the woods. The trees welcomed him like old friends as he followed the faint remains of the path he knew so well. It led down to the creek where he and his cousins had spent countless hours as a child, building dams and catching frogs.
When he arrived, the water burbled over rocks and fallen branches just as it always had. Chase sat on the bank, listening to the creek's quiet song. However much time had passed, this place held a magic that spoke to his very soul. Though the future remained unclear, he knew he had made the right choice in coming back, if only for a short time. This land held a part of his soul, regardless of what had happened.
As the afternoon waned toward evening, Chase returned to the cabin. He lit a small fire in the wood stove, watching as the flames rose to envelop the dry wood. The familiar crackling was a comforting sound. If he'd brought some with him, he'd pull out a beer, but he didn't trust himself with anything addicting, so instead he cooked a simple meal and ate it in front of the fire. He sat for a long time, lost in thought, remembering happier times.
Eventually, he doused the fire in the stove and made his way to the master bedroom. The polished log bed-frame was there, absent a mattress, but he easily inflated an air mattress and set it into place. Crawling into his sleeping bag, Chase took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the countless memories lull him to sleep.
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The sun was just peeking through the trees when Chase awoke the next morning. He rolled out of his sleeping bag and stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles from the long drive and the previous day's exploration. As he made his way outside, he couldn't help but admire the perfect peace of the countryside in early morning.
He decided to start his day with a walk around the property. The dew was still fresh on the grass, and the crisp air invigorated him as he made his way toward the pond at the back of the property. He had always loved this little oasis – it was a perfect spot for fishing or just lounging by its edge with a book.
To his surprise, he saw that there was a family of ducks nestled among the lily pads, despite it being late March. The mother duck lifted her head at his approach but seemed unconcerned about him being there. Chase couldn't help but smile at these unexpected visitors to his childhood home.
He sat down on a nearby rock and watched as they went about their morning activities – preening their feathers, diving for food, and occasionally letting out little quacks, all while a dark brown turtle sunbathed on a log. It was such a simple and peaceful scene, but it brought back memories of watching wildlife with Grandpa. So many memories.
Chase spent some time there, enjoying the ducks' company. Then, with a contented sigh, he stood and began to make his way back to the cabin. He wasn't going to be here long, but he could still do some maintenance and clean up on the property.
Chase spent the morning tidying up around the cabin and barn. He patched some holes in the barn roof, cleaned out old cobwebs and dust, checked the picks, shovels, and other tools in the shed, and neatened up the overgrown yard area. The work kept his body occupied, but his mind was flooded with memories. He thought of his grandparents who had lived here for so many years, and of the summers when he and his cousins had run wild on this land.
Around midday his stomach began to rumble, so Chase headed inside to make himself a simple lunch. As he ate a sandwich at the old wooden table, he gazed out the window at the swaying trees. It was so quiet and peaceful here, just the sounds of birdsong and the branches in the breeze.
It was at that point that things went…well, weird. Apocalyptic would be a better word. There was a deep rumbling, the ground shook under his feet, and the sky looked like it had cracks running through it. The sound of shattering glass filled the air, and the sky... broke, for lack of a better word. Chase stared in disbelief as the sky fractured into pieces like broken glass before ascending into the void beyond. The endless void looked like the pictures of nebulae and clouds in deep space that he'd seen, then there was a voice that rang through his ears as the ground settled and a second moon, half again the size of the original and a copper green, appeared in the sky.
CONGRATULATIONS: YOUR WORLD HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO THE NETWORK.
Universal Laws Examined
Laws Incompatible With The Network Altered
Initiating Geographic Expansion And Scrambling