10 EARTH: The Forest

The sky was a blanket of cool blue, painting the world in a comforting aura. But my mind still lingered on what Levy told me. Cryptids. He is a Cryptid and so am I. The once rare breed of humans that had plagued the Old World—ushering an era of power and deceit. I can't possibly be one. They have been extinct since the Wipe Out.

"Hey," Levy said behind me. "We better get going. The sun's setting soon." I looked around to see him carrying a small bag. I moved a bit to take a look at our camp.

"How di—," I trailed off, pointing at the empty and seemingly unoccupied venue of our camp.

He let out a giggle in response. "You don't know a lot about me." Turning around to face the forest as he started to trek.

"Then tell me," I said, interested in this mysterious man who I once saw a helpless being in our room. "We're roommates remember?" I laughed at the thought.

Levy just focused on the trail towards the forest, not letting his gaze to falter. "Come on now," I told him. "Please!" Facing him making beady-eyes to try to tempt him, but he won't budge. I let down the act and moved to his back again.

"Let's do it this way, I'll tell you something about me and you'll say something about you," I told him after a few seconds of just the forest talking. I did not wait for him to reply. "Well, I was sold to the Institute by my parents when I was 5 for a fortune!" I frantically laughed at what I said, thinking on how pathetic my life is—riddled with pain and broken hearts.

Levy twitched at what I said and his pace slowed down. "They sold you?" Levy asked, trying to compose himself as to what I just said. His voice still seemed the usual but I can feel something was off about it.

"Uh huh," I replied. "For a promise of fortune! They must be swimming in gold right now." My mind then flicked to what could my parents be doing right now back in our hometown. Did they regret what they did? Did they miss? Did they ever loved me? Come on now, it's your turn," I managed to say, my voice breaking but still trying to hide it.

He did not reply. I gave up on him and just composed myself—not letting him hear and see my cries.

Atop were interconnected branches and leaves that seemingly turned into a roof of greens. Light broke through the cracks, warming my skin and the old military fatigues.

"I was once in the military," Levy uttered, breaking my "one with nature" feels.

I looked at the clothes he had me wear. "Woah, that's not obvious."

"But did I tell you where?" He said, looking back. His face tensed about my reply. I shook my head in response. He then resumed his gaze on the tracks. "I was a Mad Man."

I stopped in my tracks to what he just said. "You're crazy?" I told him in disbelief, slowly backing away when he started to look at me.

"What?" He replied in disbelief. His brows scrunched up and brown eyes painted with confusion. "No! I'm from Mars!"

"Now, you're crazy AND an alien?" I screamed at him, panic starting to ensue me. I continued to back away until I hit a tree. The realization kicked in why he was in the Institution. He is clinically crazy and Ill!

Levy looked at me like I'm the one who was crazy, and after a bit, he bursted out laughing. "What's so funny?" I managed to say in between his laughter. He started clenching his belly as his turned from utter happiness to pain—and also painted with a hue of red that mimicked a tomato. The sight of it kickstarted my laughter as I laughed my heart out.

In the middle of the forest, I was laughing with a crazy alien, having the time of our lives—not knowing what was so funny actually.

"I can see them, Big Boss!"