I hadn’t realized how thick the forest was until we started down a dirt walking path at the end of Buck’s property clearing. Save the path, there isn’t a single patch of naked forest floor. Buck trails cautiously behind me.

I stop walking. “Can you stop walking behind me like some beaten puppy or something?” I call over my shoulder.

“Listen,” he responds. “I don’t know what emotions you’re going through right now. I just broke some drastic news to you. I don’t know what you are exactly either, hence the distance of caution over here.”

I turn. “I’m still in disbelief. I still think I’m gonna wake up from another weird ass dream. That’s what this feels like to me. That whole demon-flame thing too? I’m not even sure if I was seeing things or not.”

He steps closer to me. “Trust me, this isn’t a dream. If it was I would have woken back up in the seventh century by now. Wish I could. If you can choose not to live forever, don’t. It’s torture, and stop calling them demon-flames.”

“You know I never got that. If it’s torture then why not just…end it?” I ask. “I never got that about vampires and stuff like that in the movies either. They’re all like ‘woah is me, I’m in living hell’.”

He shrugs. “For the same reason we became immortal I guess. Either we don’t have a choice, or we’re cowards.” He continues on the path without another word. 

*****

We walked for half and hour before I see my house peaking through the trees. Buck hasn’t really said much after our last conversation, and I’m not sure if the silence is a sad or reflective one. 

I pat his shoulder from behind. “Hey, Buck. We made it.” I point to my house beyond the trees.

He turns. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you figure anything else out, and I still don’t think it’s a good idea that you’re by yourself like this when I’m not even sure if that guy is dead or alive yet.”

“Thanks for your concern, but you’re just as much of a stranger to me as that guy.”

“Difference is I didn’t try to murder you, and forced my housemate to stitch you up.” He laughs.

I shrug. “I guess I can thank you for that, but still. I’m with my parents. I’ll be fine.”

“If you think your parents will save you from that, you’re going to be incredibly disillusioned.” He shakes his head. “Is there anybody else you can call? I can stay with you if you want.”

I think about Porter. “Actually, there’s somebody I think I can call. He’s been pestering me about something the past few days. I think he can help.”

“Good.” He nods with affirmation. “Call him. I can walk you up to your house and I’ll leave.” He takes a phone from his pocket and holds it out to me. “Put your number in.”

I take it and punch my number in. I give it back to him and he calls mine and tells me to save it. After trading numbers he walks me the rest of the way to my house and leaves before my parents—who barrel out the door and down the front steps—see him. My parents embrace me tighter than they ever have before, and tears run down my mother’s face as she sobs in relief over my shoulders. I see a pair of cops standing at the top of the stairs, waiting for me. Almost menacingly. 

*****

“So you’re saying this strange man started knocking on the door in the middle of the night, and each time you heard the knocking you went to check but nobody was there, and then he suddenly breaks through your door and tries to kill you. You stab him in the stomach and escape to the woods where he, again, attempts to kill you, but you get away and hide out in the forest before coming back in the morning?” A blonde female cop recaps.

I nod. “Yeah. That’s what happened. I’m not sure why, though. I’m just as stumped as everybody in this room.” Obviously I’ve excluded some key details in this story. No way was I going to try and explain how I was saved by a bunch of mythological creatures who live deep in the forest, only to find out I’m one of them after healing magically after being stabbed with a giant hunting knife two times. In the chest. 

The other cop, a skinny brunette male a foot taller than the woman, scribbles notes at an alarming speed in a small notebook. “We searched the entire house. Nothing was missing, so his goal wasn’t to rob you guys. He just went after you, June.” He states. “Have you done anything lately that may have provoked him? It may not have been anything overtly insulting or anything like that.”

“Like I said earlier. He was a strange man. I don’t know him. This town isn’t the densest in terms of population. I’ve never seen him here before. Or up near my campus for that matter.” I state more firm this time. 

The two cops glance over at each other. The look in their eyes says everything. They definitely think some new serial killer is on the loose. They rise. “Thank you for your statement. We’ll keep some officers close to your house in case the man comes back for you. We suggest you stay put if you can, and call 911 if you even so much as see a flash of him. Like you said, this is a small town. Shouldn’t be too hard to catch this guy if he pops back up.” 

The cops leave and I trudge up the stairs to lie down in my own bed, or that’s what I told my parents that’s what I’m going to do. Once I get in my room I snatch my phone from my bed where I left it last night and go straight to my University’s website and search for the teacher roster. I scroll down until I find Porter Campbell and click on his name. It takes me to his profile where his work and personal cell phone number are listed. I click the number and listen till he answers. 

“This is Porter Campbell. Who is this if I may ask?” He answers.