Time passed and Jove went to school, his dad to work and his mom took care of the house, she had stopped working when Jove was born. Life was pretty much back to normal; Jove would enjoy his weekends going out to places with his few friends while he could. The fast food, the car Robert would borrow from one parent or the other, the evenings of the week spent with his parents talking or just enjoying each other’s company. Jove knew he would miss these things but had no idea that where he was going, he would not have all the conveniences that he was used to.
Days and weeks passed, and the routine was as usual, go to school come home and spend time with his parents enjoying their time together. Jove’s prom came and went, he asked out a girl that he had a crush on for a time and was surprised when she said yes. They had a great time, but he knew full well that it was not a good idea to develop too much of a relationship with the girl because he would be leaving later that summer.
He was invited to parties on the weekends, and he would go often as not, for he tried and spend more time with his parents. His graduation would be coming soon and shortly after his birthday and that meant one month later, he would be leaving a life with his parents and friends, to start a new life in another place.
The day of his graduation came, and his parents threw together a small party for him and friends he had invited, the party was short because there was going to be a graduation after bash at a local hotel. Many of the parents had gotten together and collected money to pay for the party. Paid a security guard that would ensure that nothing happen, and their children would remain safe. It would be an all niter for all those in attendance which would be the entire graduating class. People could leave but were unable to return, after ten the doors would be shut with the main security guard the only one with the key. There would be no alcohol, well at least that was the plan, but you know how these things go. The parents were not overly concerned hence the no leaving after ten.
To ensure nothing happened they would turn in their keys and their parents would pick up their cars. Since Jove parents only had one car, he went with best friend. He hoped that wherever his uncle lived he could find a part time job and get a car, he had his license but rarely drove.
Everyone had a blast and since someone spiked the punch most students had some alcohol in their system. Everyone enjoyed the party it was one of their happiest moments. For some it was the last time they would see their classmates. Jove would be leaving town not to long into the summer, only four people knew about his imminent departure. He had told two people, Robert and one other close friend. During the party he said his goodbyes to the classmates and other friends.
The next morning, he found himself on the ground, he awoke with a splitting headache, he looked around saw some of his other classmates also sleeping. When did he fall asleep? He was not sure all he remembers was the DJ playing music the people dancing on the floor and him enjoying the punch.
Robert was asleep close by, crawled over to him with his head feeling worse with every step, “Robert, you, ok? I feel like crap.”
He gave him a weak smile, “You’re not the only one buddy.” They leaned on each other and went outside to wait for their parents, Robert’s mom arriving first, she offered him a ride, but he said he needed the air and waited for his ride.
His Dad driving the family wagon and mom riding shotgun picked him up, he was not sure if they had moved one block before feeling sick, lucky for him they had a large brown bag that he used more than once on the way home. “You OK son?” His father asked a little louder than usual to be heard.
Jove’s poor head everything was too loud. “Not so loud Dad I have a splitting headache.”
There passed a conspirators look between his parents; they knew full well that there would be alcohol at the party. “Ok son, you should feel better after you rest.” They left him alone after that, opening the windows some so he could get some air.
Jove’s head felt the size of Lincolns head atop Mt. Rushmore, why had he drunk all that punch he knew that it was spiked, he had seen some of his classmates do it. He felt like he was going to die and all the bumps on the road made him feel worse.
They finally arrived at home and his father helped him up by putting one arm around his waist and Jove’s other arm around his shoulder. They walked up the stairs and his mother shutting the front door behind them, a little too loud to Jove’s sensitive ears, “Augh Mom my head.”
“Sorry honey.” Every step that Jove took made him feel worse than before, and all the sounds where so loud, the birds outside they just would not stop there chirping.
They made it to his room, and he fell into his bed shoes and all, he closed his eyes and when he opened them his father was looking at him, “You alright son you look a little green.” His dad smiling, and Jove trying to force a smile, but it would not come instead he closed his eyes again.
His dad removed his shoes and covered him, gave his forehead a kiss and left the room, Jove’s mother came in and kissed his forehead as well before leaving and closing the door slowly behind her. Jove was asleep before his mother closed the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
He finally woke that evening and got up, washed his mouth, and took a shower. He felt bad but nowhere near as bad as he had that morning, washing his mouth and showering made him feel even better. He went downstairs, his parents were watching some show on TV when he came around the couch to sit down both his parents asked how he was feeling. He assured them he was feeling much better. His mom got up and said she would go and get him something to eat. Now that she mentioned it, he was starving, and could not wait to eat something.
Jove’s father looked at him and said, “Jove I hope you enjoyed yourself.” He paused then continued, “A present arrived last night for you, it’s still in the box I did not feel comfortable opening it. I will go get it.”
He returned with the box, sure enough it was addressed to Jove, but it had no return address, he opened it and inside was no note or anything just a wooden box. The wood was mahogany red with a shiny finish, it seemed that it was a solid piece he could see no joints like if it was carved from a single piece. He turned it upside down, but he saw no way to open it, there was no visible knobs or any sign that it could be opened.
Who had sent it to him? It was a beautiful piece of work, he shook it to see if anything was in it, but no sound came from it? “That strange seems to be just a box, maybe not even a box just a solid piece of wood, but it does not weigh much. Maybe there is a way to open it, but I can’t see anything.”
He passed it to his father so he could look at it, “I don’t know son, I can’t see anything either, no cuts or groves, no sign as to how to open it if there is anything in it. Maybe the box is the present a nice piece to put on your desk or something.” He handed it back to Jove.
Jove’s mother came back in with a tray of food and a snack for her and George. “Here you are son, a nice little dinner for you,” she looked at the box in Jove’s hands. “That’s very nice, is that what came in the mail for you?” Jove nodded and passed it to his mom, she looked at it while he grabbed a plate and started eating, the food was great. His mom made some really good food, well at least he enjoyed it and so did his father. “It’s very beautiful, who sent it to you?” He finished chewing what he had in his mouth and swallowed, “No idea Mom there was no note inside or return address.” There was something about the box that he could not explain but it seemed to be ok. Holding it made him feel good, though there was no associated feeling when his father or mother held it, but Jove had no idea that he was the only one that felt it.
“I think I have an idea who sent it,” both Jove and his wife turned to look at him. “I believe it was your uncle, I don’t know how I know that, but it seems something that he would send.” And the feeling would later prove to be correct.
“Really? Maybe it’s for my graduation or early birthday present.” His father was probably right his other relatives had sent some presents earlier that week for his graduation. Jove finished his food and went up to his room with the box, he put it down and looked at it, still with that feeling of wellbeing that it emanated when it was in his hands, he was not sure what to think about it, it was just a box, but he enjoyed the feeling it gave him. It was just a wooden box and it seemed to be empty and who knew how to open it, possibly his uncle but he was not due to come till later that summer. He picked it up and put it close to his ear and shook it once more, nothing no sound came from it, it seemed to be just a simple box but why had his uncle sent it to him? Was it may be some kind of sick joke? He doubts that was the case.
Jove got out his clothes put on some shorts and a simple shirt and went to bed; he fell asleep thinking about the box. What are you box?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
He awoke and was surprised by his surroundings “Where am I?” there was no answer of course for no one had heard the question. All he could see in every direction was trees upon trees in rows and nothing else there was very little light, but he could still clearly see the rows upon rows of trees. He remembered getting into his bed and falling asleep and now he was here. Where here was, he had no clue, it was a forest.
He looked at the bark of the nearest tree and could not really recognize the style of tree it was, looked up at the leaves and it seemed it was some kind of pine tree, he could not make out the leaves too high to see, he could just barely make them out. What he could see of the leaves was that they were a dark color if he was not mistaken, they were black, which was something different since fir tree’s where normally green or shades of green and brown if the leaves had dried out. Looking back at the trunk of the tree he could see these where old but not as wide at the base as the Great Red Wood trees in the Sequoia’s.
What he could not see was the tops of the trees, if he would have had a bird’s eye view of the trees, he would have seen that they went on for miles and miles in every direction. There were no birds in these parts the only flying creatures above the trees where predators that could see the heat signature of other creatures below the canopy of the trees, lucky for Jove there weren’t any around where he was. When he was done inspecting the trees around him, he picked a direction and started walking he had no clue where he was going but he needed to move. He wanted to see if he could find clearing or something other than trees.
He walked and walked for a very long time, but time in this place seemed tricky and flowed differently that what he was used to. He was getting tired and even if he did not want to admit it scared. He was lost he knew that shortly after he awoke and saw that he was no longer in his room. How had he gotten here? And for that matter where was here? Answers that he did not have and wished he did. He stopped walking and leaned on a tree to rest, how was he going to get out of here? Deep in thought a shadow out of the corner of his eye pulled him away from his thoughts. He turned the way he saw the movement and saw the tail end of a shadow disappearing behind a tree. He was sure he saw something and moved in the direction where he saw the movement.
He stopped at the spot where he thought he saw the movement and looked around but found nothing other than the shadows cast by the trees. Was he starting to see things? Maybe he was, he might be seeing what where those things that people saw in the desert? Mir something or other, mir? Mir?... Mirage that was the word. He brought his hand up to his brow, but he only found the little sweat that comes from walking for a while, and the weather was not too oppressive, it was cool. There was no breeze, and the trees provided all the shade you needed so it usually maintained cool down where he was. No, it was not a mirage, he knew he saw something, but what was it? And was it friendly or would he be killed and eaten by some creature in the forest.
Jove decided it was probably best to continue walking, so with one last look around and a sigh he continued. Another movement caught his attention from his left and turned and saw nothing, only the shadows of the trees could be seen. He continued in his original direction not to long after continuing another shadow movement but this time to his right. Now he was really scared what mater of creature’s could be out there stalking him. A bear perhaps, no not a bear it would make noise if it was a bear. Maybe a wolf, he hoped it was not a wolf, they hunted in packs, so he doubted, if it was a starving animal then he was in trouble. Everything he thought about kept on getting worse, he continued to walk in the direction that he had been walking at a faster pace this time.
Another movement caught his attention not to his right or left but right in front of him, he decided to call out to whatever was out there perhaps the animal or whatever it was would be scared by his voice, “Is anyone out there? Can you help me? I don’t know where I am.” His voice sounded small, and a tinge of fear could be heard in it. It would not be very effective to scare whatever was out there if anything it would encourage it to attack because of the fear in his voice.
Out of the shadow of the trees a shadow separated itself, but did not come forward, from the shadow he could see that whatever creature it was, was not tall about three quarters Jove’s size about four feet. It did not move forward or made any threatening moves as if waiting for Jove to make a move. Jove stepped forward but the creature stepped back Jove stopped and asked his question again. “Can you help me?” This time the shadow answered to his surprise.
“You are in my home young human. How did you enter my domain without my permission?” The voice was raspy, and it had an accent, perhaps this creature had not used human speech in a long time Jove speculated. “Answer me boy, I am not someone to trifle with. I control all that you see. This forest is mine to command, do you wish to die here? I can arrange it if you wish. No? Well, you might want to tell me what you are doing here and how you got here?” Jove had no clue what the person was talking about other than the last part was threatening, and he did not like that, it scared him.
“I’m Jove. And as far as how I got in here. Well, that’s a good question. Only thing I know is that I was asleep in my bed, and I awoke here.” And that was the truth of it. The shadow moved closer but not close enough to where anything of its features could be made out, it maintained itself in the shadows a formless blob. Jove continued, and asked “May I know your name?”
The creature did not answer, instead it said, “That is not possible boy no one has been able to do what you describe in millennia. Not many beings can enter my realm, much less common human boys. Now that means two things you are either lying to me or you are not really here.” What did that mean, he was not there? This creature was confusing.
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, I fell asleep, and this is where I awoke.”
The creature said nothing for what seem a long time, “Yes that’s it. You are not here boy or else you would have been dead already. Your physical body is not here, you can say you are in a dream state, but if you are not careful you might not be able to get back, for your sake I hope someone has thought you how to use this ability. Heed my warning young human be gone by morning and do not travel my realm without a guide, this is a dangerous place. You are lucky I was paying attention, or I could have missed you, some of the creatures you will find in this realm are not as friendly as I am.”
Those where his last words the shadow that he had been dissolved and Jove was alone once more. A voiced called out from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, “Now be gone boy or you will never find your way back to your body.” And then someone started to turn off the lights, from every direction this was happening as he looked forward each tree disappeared behind darkness, until in the end only a circle of light was left around him, then that too was gone.
Jove was in total darkness he put his hands in front of his face but could see nothing. At this point he started to panic, what was he going to do? How was he going to get out of this? These answers eluded him; he had no clue what to do. The only thing he could figure was to continue walking, and walk he did with his hands in front of him, hoping that he would hit nothing. He advanced in the direction he was facing, and he knew that there were trees out there and he was sure that he was close to one, but he never even touched anything as solid as a tree trunk he had seen.
After what seemed to be hours of walking but in fact was less than an hour, he put his hands down, there was nothing in front of him or besides him or behind him. This was eerie how did he get to where he was from his bed and how did the trees disappear from all around him, he was in some sort of tunnel from the looks of it, but he would not go right or left to try and find a tunnel wall.
He walked and walked the never-ending tunnel, despair settled in followed by panic. He felt he had died long ago after walking for so long and hitting nothing. He was about to give up when hope came back to him in the form of a light. The light he saw was in front of him and it was far from what he could tell since it was so small, but it was a light, and he would go towards the light no matter what. Jove remembered the saying that when one died, they would be in a tunnel and there would be a light at the end of the tunnel. His situation was much the same and even if people said don’t walk into the light what choice was there? No, he would go towards the light and find and exit to this place.
At first, he walked then he moved faster at one point he was running, and the closer he got the bigger the light became. When he was upon the light it seemed to be illuminating a doorway, he stepped through and saw that at the center of this room a container awaited an object inside was the source of the light. At this point he figured that it was a flashlight or something so he went in with the intention of picking it up so he could see his way through the darkness that had been surrounding him. He got to the box and looked down at the object inside, at first, he thought to himself wow never seen this type of flashlight, he bent down for a closer look. To his surprise he saw that it was not even a flashlight but a pendant on a chain, the center piece a green emerald or topaz was glowing. It was a green glow that was coming from it, how he had imagined that it was a regular light he had no clue.
Jove was now getting tired of not having a clue about anything that was going on, in fact he was mad, pist-off even. What the hell was going on? Questions upon question and he had no answers. He picked up the chain with the green jewel. He put it around his neck and after the jewel settled on his chest it blinked out. Not again this thing was supposed to be his way out, he sat and at first cried then he needed to let out his frustration, so he screamed “NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” it was not fair. He started to feel something on him on his shoulders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
George heard the scream first then his wife they both ran up to their son’s room to check on him, they opened the door and with the lights still off George reached for his son held him by the shoulders to wake him. Jove must be having a nightmare, and again he screamed “NOOOOO!!!!” at this point George was scared, and shook his son, “Jove wake up, it’s a nightmare, it’s only a dream.” But Jove only fought his father, Molly turned on the light and Jove opened his eyes.
He was blinded by the explosion of light, he did not realize it came from the bulb in his room, and then the sound of his father telling him it was a nightmare came to him. Slowly the blindness went away, and he started to make out what was around him first a blob of colors right in front of him that came into focus his father. Thank God he was back in his room, the rest of his room came into focus, and he saw his mom by the light with a scared look on her face.
She saw recognized in his eyes and went forward throwing her arms around him in a hug, “Are you OK?” She felt something hard on her son’s chest when she hugged him and backed away looking down at his chest and saw what was there.
Jove followed her eyes then he too looked at the thing that was resting on his chest. It was the piece of jewelry he had found in that place. But how was that possible? It had only been a dream, hadn’t it? He looked at his parents then turned his head to his desk, there the box his uncle had sent stood open. He got up without a word to his parents went to the box looked inside and picked up a piece of paper that was rolled up. He unfurled the letter addressed to him and read.