1 Prologue Part 1

Something is missing. What is missing?

I thought frantically. My mind is foggy and slow. It's strange, but I can't remember anything. 

My memory is gone, or is it? I really wasn't sure. I must have a name, what is it though? My frustration was turning into irritation. I continued to question myself, where am I, who am I, why am I in a forest? I kept ending up at the same point with each question. I don't know. Having had enough of the fruitless debate within myself, I decided to change my priorities and take in my surroundings.

There were trees towering in front of me. Each at least a hundred feet tall and six feet thick. The trees were a pale yellow color, however, their color didn't seem completely natural, or artificial.

"Mana Bark Trees. Known for their mana rich bark. Growth rate, slow. A nation can rise and fall to ash before the tree's saplings can reach maturity." I spoke as if I knew what these trees were. "Wait what? Mana? What's a bark tree?" My memory, just for a second, there was something I remembered. Frustrating as it is, there's hope to remember other things. I decided to look around more. There wasn't much besides some small hills behind me, more of these trees in front of me, and past the hills was a group of buildings about half a mile away. The hills were part of a plains, sprawling grass with little to no trees. They went past the buildings, farther than I could see. The forest extended to my left and right. The left side of it went straight until it hit a tall cliffside. The right side, however, curved for a few miles before ending. If what I remembered is true, then, this place must have been growing for a long time. Longer than most civilization lifespan. How are there so many? I wondered in silence. These trees are packed relatively tightly. I'll get lost going in. Getting out would be impossible. I looked up at the sky. I couldn't tell where the sun was. The clouds were thick, but it seemed to be somewhere in the middle of the sky. Maybe the buildings then? Maybe I know someone there, or at the very least perhaps remember something.

Walking on the plains took longer than I thought. I kept getting distracted every so often by these human sized horned animals. Made of meat.. delicious meat.. Although distracted is an under exaggeration, or perhaps the wrong word entirely. What? It's normal to want to eat fluffy animals. Wonder what it tastes like? I thought, slightly drooling. I wiped it away, surprised by how hungry I was. 

The buildings must have been massive, because the farther I walked the less the buildings changed. Although, they weren't actually buildings. The largest one was actually a castle. European in design and surrounded by a large wall. What's Europe? Another forgotten memory I guessed

The others were large buildings, smaller than the castle, but nonetheless large. One looked like a large bridge going by the castle, and what looked like a medium sized village. It stopped at a small hill beyond the borders of the village and turned. I couldn't imagine what it was for. Possibly travel, or transporting something?I could just barely see a small group of people, by what must have been the entrance. Other people were walking between the castle and the town and some looked to be riding animals. I wonder if any of them can see me? I thought a little hopeful, but something deep down felt worry. Like a pit had formed in my stomach. 

Grrrr

That wasn't my stomach growling. I turned to my left. I couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, let alone something that would growl at me. 

The sky had started to get dark and I was still a long way from town. The growling had been following me steadily, however still nothing popped up. It's stalking me Reminds me of that one time. A vivid image of being followed down a stone walkway by a figure, appeared in my mind. They had been following me for quite a while. I was starting to be freaked out. I could swear I heard them rack a round, in presumably a pistol. Oh god I'm gonna get a cap in my ass! I just wanted a burger! I decided to run. I sprinted down the sidewalk, around the corner, down the next block, and repeated it about three times. Winded I stopped and looked for them.

"Hah.. lost.. them." Panting between words, I celebrated my small victory. Slowly walking on I was all smiles. I had been walking for another block when I stopped in my tracks. They were in front of me. Forty feet away.. Creepily standing under a light pole. Even more creepy was their appearance. They were at least seven feet tall. Standing as still as the pole beside them. They were extremely muscular, almost like they had been on a strict diet of steroids from birth. They had a black fedora on their head which concealed their face. They wore a matching trench coat and pinstripe slacks. Their shoes were leather with silver soles and red laces.

"W-what do y-you want?" I said trembling. How did they get in front of me? I'm gonna die. I'm gonna DIE. There wasn't a response. Ok. Ok. Just.. one step back then another. I stepped back. They stepped forward. What now? I shouted internally. As a car sped by on the opposite side of the road. Its lights illuminated the figure's face. I stumbled back. There was nothing there. It was still pitch black. It's a mask. It has to be a mask. I looked to my left and right looking for anywhere to go. I didn't want to die. There was a wall to my right and a road to my left. Neither helped, but there weren't cars coming from either way. Fuck it. I think I'll die if I stay. I hopped over the steel railing and sprinted across the four laned road. Half way I heard the same click sound and turned back and stopped cold in my tracks. Gun. Right. I'm going to die. I should really have visited home more. Sorry Pops. Looking back at the light pole, but they were gone. Relief washed over me, but it was short lived. If they weren't there, then where were they? 

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Footsteps.. behind me. Turning shakily, I looked over my shoulder. They were there. Walking towards me in a slow hypnotic rhythm. A bright light growing behind him. I turned in a last effort to get away. Five, ten feet. I was almost back to the rail. A little more, then I can run farther. In an instant they were before me. Faster than I could track, leaving and after image. I stopped. Still in one of the lanes. I stared at it. The light wasn't behind it anymore. If it wasn't you? Then.. It tilted its head to its right and started nodding. I looked left following its gaze. A semi truck was about five feet away from me. The truck's brakes squealing to stop, but it wouldn't stop fast enough. "What are you doing step truck-kun?"