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Ok, so before you read this chapter, make sure you have a good 15 minutes or so minutes to spare. I made this one very long, about twice as long as he second one. Sorry for the length, but I had alot to cover this chapter. With that said and done here it is. Enjoy!



After four months from the beginning of school, it’s almost half-way through the year and my relationships with Fred, William, Trent, and Sophia continued to grow. Before class started, I would always meet the group on the west side of the school and we would play jokes and make a mockery of anything we don’t like in our daily lives. Once the bell has rung, to call the students to their first class, I would meet with Sophia in our assigned seats and later in the day during lunch, which was weird to me because Fredrick, William, nor Trent were nowhere to be found. As time progressed and the more we talked to each other, the more Sophia came out of her shell and became more social. On the other hand, there were some moments when we discuss some of her poetry; when she would write about someone she would describe as “He would give me a rising feeling that only increases whenever I am near him.” She was brought to back to the same mumbling girl from when I first met her; hesitant in her words when I ask her to describe what she meant in some of her verses in any poem of the same sort. Toward the end of the day, I would stay after school in the library to study for a while. During some days, Sophia would make an appearance to help me every time she felt I struggled during English, which she was always right in that sense. Those were my quotidian events, and each day was never tedious.
However, there was that day. The day were everything changed, both in my view of the people around me and my life. It all started when that dream returned…

I continued to sleep into the night, until I heard a familiar voice.
“Wake up…please you need to awaken…”
My eyes, again too heavy to lift, begin to open slightly and I see the silver haired girl once again, mourning on me. I wanted to ask who she was, but I was unable speak. I felt an air of malevolence around me as I moved my left hand and felt something nearby; I tightened my hand to grasp the item. A glimmer of light radiated from my left side, and it continued to grow brighter. The girl then raised her head toward the unknown object and quickly looked at me. A smile of faith and hope grew greatly on her face.
“You’re finally awake…”
My eyes opened quickly to find myself lying on my bed. I moved to sit on its side, facing the maple desk; no longer filled with books of coins, but started to become accumulated with school books and papers. I stayed staring at the computer’s screen with the floating text of Norma’s warning. “That hasn’t happened since the first day of this school year here.” I told myself, “I wonder if it means anything; it was more intense this time. No matter, got to get to school.” With that said I rose from the bed and headed toward the opposite side of the room. I donned my school attire and packed the brown book bag with books and supplies for the day.
With everything packed, I advanced to the hall. Pictures of memories surrounded me and I felt as if I was home again. I proceeded deeper into the hall, until I reached the dark red table. I reached for the same bright orange-colored frame and felt empty. I placed it centered on the table and continued through the hallway.
As I exited the hall and entered the dinning room, I saw Norma sitting near the table reading the morning paper. Breakfast was already prepared. I sat across the table and gazed at the scrabbled eggs aside three sliced pieces of ham and a cold glass of orange juice. “Looks good as always, sis.” She lowered the paper and smiled.
“Just eat up and head to school,” she replied.
“Naturally, Norma.”
I started eating the meal in front of me. After I was finished, I started to wonder about something. “Hey, Norma.”
“Hmm, what is it Lupus?”
“I’ve been thinking, when are you going to tell me why we moved?”
“Well,” she said as she lowered the newspaper, “I did tell you that I would tell you later, and four months does count for later –”
“Century, to be exact.”
“Quit you joking. But nevertheless, you didn’t ask me once about it since your first day. So I’ll tell you when you come back from school, ok?”
“So what you mean is, ‘later?’”
“Well at least I gave you a definite time, so stop complaining and get on your way to school.”
“Sure, I hear ya.”
I headed toward the front door and exited the house. I walked for twenty minutes, like everyday, and reached the high, black school gates. I walk around the giant tree and headed to the building’s west side. The group was there, as always, goofing off and having a good time. “How’s everyone doing this morning?” I said to state I was nearby.
“Well, looks like Lupus decided to make an appearance today.” William said.
“What do mean William?” I said in a sarcastic voice.
“Well you never show up, and you rarely come to school,” he replied, also in a sardonic tone.
“Maybe because I’m always on your right.”
“I feel something good coming out of this.” Fred said, adjusting his glasses.
“Well, what does that mean?” William continued.
“Let me just say this: have you seen Trent today?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“I’m over here,” Trent said, joining in the game.
“There you are Trent,” William said as he turned his head to Trent, “Where have you been?”
“To the right of you.” Trent responded.
The group begins to laugh aloud.
“Never a dull moment here, right?” I said.
“Nope, but what did you mean by ‘right side?’” William announced, adding kindling to the flame.
Everyone started to laugh louder until it slowly started to ease down.
“Man, we should do this more,” I stated, “especially during lunch, Sophia will love this kind of environment.”
“I don’t know about that,” William answered.
“Why not?” I stopped laughing all together.
“Well,” Fredrick continued William’s thought, “She isn’t our friend and we wouldn’t want to interrupt the…relationship you two already share.”
“Don’t worry about it; she’ll enjoy you guys.”
“Not as much as she enjoys being with you,” Trent replied, “It’s not that she won’t enjoy us, but she will feel ignored if we divide your attention when we’re around.”
“My sentiments exactly,” William commented.
Before I was able to ask what they meant, the bell rang with its usual tempo.
“Just don’t try to dwell on it too much Lupus,” William said when he placed his hand on my right shoulder, “it’s not that we don’t want to, it’s just that we feel it would be better if we didn’t intrude.”
With those words said, we went to our first class. I entered Harward’s room and noticed the words on the whiteboard; Mid-Term Paper. I sat at my assigned desk and waited for Sophia. I looked behind me and glanced at Fred and Trent. Fred adjusted glasses and smiled, while Trent nodded with his arms crossed at his chest. I returned to look forward to see Sophia enter the classroom.
“Good morning Lupus,” she said in an angelic voice.
“Good morn’ Sophia,” I replied. “Did you do the assignment that’s due today?”
“I should be asking you that,” she responded as she gave a giggle, “I’m the one who helped you out on the assignment.”
“True, but with all your helping I wanted to know if you had time to do it yourself.”
“Naturally, Lupus.” She said in my tone of voice.
“You’ve been listening to me and my sis too much.”
“Well I can’t help it if I’m on hold, while you shout at your sister from the other side of the house when she asks you if you’ve done your homework or taken a shower for the day.”
“You know too much about me, Sophia.”
“I can’t help neither…”
A serious look took her face as she stared to her desk.
“Are you alright, Sophia?”
She was startle by the question and shifted her eyes to the ground at her white book bag.
“Yes…I’m ok…just thinking about something…”
“You worry me when you start to talk like that.”
The final bell rang and the class became silent. Mr. Harward stood from his desk and began his announcement, “We are coming to a close on the first half of this year and it’s time for the annual mid-term assignment. This year we chose a subject that has many other subjects to choose from. Let’s just start with this question; who can tell me why this school is called ‘Silva?’”
Fred raised his hand. “Yes, Fredrick. Please, stand.”
“Yes, Mr. Harward.” Fred stood and began his explanation. “The word ‘silva’ is a Latin word meaning forest, and this school is called Silva because of the nearby forest that surrounds most of the school.”
“Good, Fredrick, now what is the forest’s name?” Harward added.
“It’s Anima Forest.”
“Yes, now why did Anima Forest get its name?”
“Well, again, from Latin ‘anima’ means spirit. It was given that name because of the tales, legends, folktales, and superstitions that derived from the unusual activities that dwell within the forest without explanation.”
“Very good, Fredrick. You may sit down now.”
“Yes, Mr. Harward.” Fred said as he adjusted his glasses.
“Now that we all have some background information about the school’s and forest’s name, I will announce the mid-term assignment’s topic. You will pick a partner and research one of these tales of Anima Forest. I want a full detailed report on when the tale originated, why would it have originated at the time, and if both of you believe the tale itself with an explanation of why or why not. It will be due by the end of the semester. Start choosing your partner, I’ll give you fifteen minutes to assemble and the rest of class to choose your topic.”
The sounds and voices of social conversations began to uproar followed by the screeching of chairs sliding across the floor. I looked behind me to see Trent rise and meet up with William to form a group. Fredrick would work by himself, as usual; he says that if his grade is dependant on the work of a group, he would rather do it himself so he wouldn’t worry about unreliable people. I turned my head and looked at Sophia. “So I guess we’re working together.” She gave me a grateful smile, “Yes, it seems so,” she replied. We arranged our desk so that we faced each other.
“So what’s going to be our topic for the assignment?” I said to her.
“Well, I want you to pick.” She said. “What do you want to write for it?”
“I’m not really familiar with any of the tales of the forest.” I said embarrassed as I looked outside the class window at the large forest that wraps around the school like the sea surrounds a peninsula.
“Oh…I just wanted to do something that you wanted…”
“Don’t worry about it. What about you, what’s the tale you want to write about?”
She shifted her head to the desk with both her hands held together and a great smile on her face, “I was thinking about…the one about…the two lovers that went into the forest…for a romantic picnic…” She turned her head to shift her eyes to my own, “and a blinding flash of light came from the ground. When the light faded, the girl was left alone and the man was never found.”
I was so stunned at the story that I sat there gazing at her. She continued to look at me until she quickly turned her sight back to her desk. “It was just a suggestion…we don’t really have to do the assignment on it…sorry I mentioned it…”
“No,” I responded, “it’s ok. That’s a great story. We can work on it in the library during lunch and after school as well.”
She raised her head another time, “Ok…that sounds good…I’d like that…”
The bell rang and the class ended. We said our farewells until a few classes later, which we’ll see each other again during lunch.
The aroma of the day’s meal was fragrant in the air of the school halls and in the cafeteria. The students of Silva all gathered at the cafeteria for their afternoon meal. Today was the chef’s special, and it was known to be the best meal the school had to offer. The lines were long, as it would to be expected. I stood in impatience, thinking I wouldn’t wait that long for a meal. I turned in order to head to the library, when Sophia called to me from the middle of the line. “Hey, Lupus! Over here!” I saw her waving her hands in the air, like a stranded islander calling out to a ship nearby the shore. I chuckled at the sight; I could imagine and anticipate her jumping up and down as well.
I walked over and she yielded a spot for me in the line. “Thanks Sophia, I didn’t want to wait too long for lunch.”
“Yes, I know that much about you; impatient as usual.”
“Hey, not all the time, I can wait when the situation calls for it.”
“Right,” she said, stretching the single word sarcastically.
“You don’t believe that I can’t wait for more than thirty minutes, do you?
“Yup,” she responded, quick and candidly.
“I was about to head to the library to wait for you so we can start our assignment. Do you not call that ‘patience’?”
“Well,” she paused for a moment and continued, “You were going to go to the library and then wait for me while you got started on the assignment. That doesn’t count.” She said with a playful grin.
“Then what will count for patience to you?”
“Let me think about that one…and I’ll give you a task to do later.”
“Ok then, but it’s a test of patience, not a torture experiment. So don’t do anything that will make me suffer.”
“Now will I do that to you?”
“No, but you might something up your sleeve.”
“Ok, now you’re being paranoid.”
He both laughed. After a long wait, too long for me, we’ve reached the serving area of the cafeteria. The large selection of fried shrimp, pizza, and salads was awe inspiring. I had chosen the fried shrimp wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese, while Sophia chose the chicken salad with Thousand Island dressing. After receiving our trays, we left to our usual spot to eat; under the giant tree in the front of the school, where a cement wall, about three feet high, surrounds the tree. We sat on top of this wall and began eating.
“Is there anything else you know about this tale?” I asked, my curiosity taking over.
She stopped eating and placed her tray beside her and started to look at the cracked cement floor below her hanging feet.
“Well…the two lovers…were engaged to be wed…and were planning to get married the following day…but they were soon departed…the woman, Mary, was heartbroken.”
“Wow, that has to be painful; losing your loved one the day before uniting with each other forever.”
When I had said that, Sophia turned to me, “Do you consider marriage like that,” she responded, “is it really that strong in your eyes?” I was bemused, “why would she ask that question,” I thought to myself, “with such intensity in her eyes?”
“Yes, I think marriage as a promise not a commitment.”
She shifted her head to the ground another time and silence took her voice. Sophia was holding both her hands, rubbing them against each other. “I guess we should head to the library now, don’t ya think?”
“Yeah…but you’re starting to worry me again.”
“Sorry, but thanks for your concern.” She replied with closed eyes and a sincere smile.
I lowered myself from the high wall and held up a helping hand for Sophia. She accepted the assistance and grasped onto my hand. Sophia then gave herself to the air and descended from the wall. When she set her feet on the ground, she lost her balance. I held her steadily. My left arm around her waist, to keep her balance, and my right hand holding her own.
“Th…thank you…Lupus…” she said with more hesitation then usual.
“Don’t worry, I got you. Are you ok?”
I held her as our eyes stared into each other with admiration in her own. Her hand was sweating like a river, but warm like a recently lit lamp. Her breathing was intense, giving short inhalations as if succumbed by a fever.
“Y…yes…I…I’m ok…”
“You’re starting to worry me a little more than usual, Sophia. Should we make our departure to the library now?” I asked as I released myself from her.
“Yes…we should…”
I obtained our trays, dumped the leftover food in the nearest trash bin, and placed the trays in the proper location for cleaning. Sophia remained below the tree with her left hand pressed kindly on her with the other hand over it. I returned to see Sophia staring on the ground with a slight smile on her face.
“Ready to go Sophia?”
“Oh, yes. Let’s go.”
We made our way to the library. The quiet solitude of the place was calming, as everyone was either studying rigorously or reading a book in peace; a contradicting place, I thought to myself. We stayed inside, researching the tale and finding anything that would help us with the report. The bell rang. We stopped our activities and gathered our materials found that day. “We made great progress today,” I stated as we were still packing the papers of information.
“Yes, we did.”
“I bet we would even finish once we get a little more info after school.”
“Oh, right. Um…Lupus?”
“Yeah, what is it Sophia?”
“I won’t be able to make it after school.”
“Oh, don’t worry; I’ll see what I can find on my own.”
“Sorry…but I did figure out a way to test your patience.”
“Really?” I said, wondering what she was planning.
She placed her snow white book bag on the table and pulled out a black leather covered book. She held it front of her.
“Here, I want you to hold onto this book and never open it.”
“Ok, sounds easy enough.”
“But it’s the principle that counts. I want you to hold it and open it until after school when you’re in the library. Open it and read the first page,” she paused for a moment and looked at the book in front of her in her hands, “Then read the last page, can you do that for me; at least.”
The task was a simple one, but the gravity in her face and voice made it more than just a simple task. I grabbed the book and held it in front of me. “Ok. Consider it unread until after school when I’m in the library.”
“Thank you, Lupus.” She said as she lunged toward me to give me a quick hug and then turned around to run to her next class. “Bye, Lupus! Remember, be patient!”
I didn’t really understand what had just happened; her sudden change from being serious to happily running to reach her class. I kept myself from thinking of the event and continued to pack. I grasped the book and packed it within my brown bag. I exited the library and followed the subconscious route to my next class.
As I entered my science class and sat down in my seat, I opened my bag and the dark black book stared at me. Temptation swelled up inside but the promise, not the test, prevented me from opening it. “Stop it Lupus,” I told myself, “you gave your word to Sophia; don’t let it get to you.” Three classes remained after lunch, and every time I had to remind myself of the importance of keeping a promise.
The final bell made its inevitable call and I exited my last class. I directed myself to the library, like everyday after school. I entered the tranquil area and moved to the round table nearby the window. I placed my brown bag on the table and took my usual seat. I stared at the ceiling and gave a deep sigh, relieving myself of today’s events. I opened my bag to study the papers obtained during lunch, until I saw the black leather book. A chill of anticipation ran through my back as I hesitated to hold the book. I placed it on the table as my heartbeat started to race. Even though I didn’t have a clue about what was written in the book, it frightened me to open it.
After deep thought, I decided to open the book. The first page only contained a small description that covered the whole first page:
“This book is dedicated to the one who has given me a great and large feeling that only tends to rise each time I am around him.”
“That wasn’t as bad as I thought initially,” I told myself, “Now for the last page.”
I turned the book to its final page and saw a poem by its self:

The poem was idyllic and the impact it left me almost made me jealous of the person Sophia adores. I then noticed the small writing at the end of the poem:
“I have been admiring you since the first time we met but I couldn’t summon up the courage to tell you my feelings for you. So I write this book of poems and inner feeling to you.”
I stopped reading, “I guess Sophia wanted me to read this before she would give it to the person she talks about.” I glanced at the bottom portion of the page and noticed my name:
“Lupus I just wanted to say, to you yourself, not in my poems but directly to you. I love you Lupus.”
The impact I’ve received from reading the last section made me think of all the moments I’ve spent with Sophia. Those words were all kindling to a dormant fire that is my passion for her. The ember ignited into a blazing inferno; I realized then that I love her too. It took her undutiful words to make me understand my feelings latent within me.
I stayed sitting on the chair, staring at the book. To ease the shock and this strong feeling, which is now flowing inside me, I looked out the window in front of me. The forest seemed eerie like always, as a coming fog enshrouded the sylvan area. I continued staring at the forest because I noticed something from deep inside; a small light. I slowly rose from my chair and remained gawking at the glimmer. “Is that the same light from the story,” I pondered, “if it is, I have to see this. The guy might even return since this light is not as blinding as the description in the tale.”
I quickly grabbed my bag and Sophia’s book and dashed out of the library. I headed toward the school entrance, took a sharp right turn, and stopped at the forest. “Anima Forest,” I said to myself, “looks weird how the fog just stops at its boundaries.” I stared deep into the dense bog and saw a small luster. “There it is!”
I raced to its direction; avoiding trees, dodging branches, and evading the small animals that roam the forest floor. The light became brighter as I came closer to its radiance, almost blinding. I stopped about fifty yards from the source and began walking. Step by step, I advance to the light. Forty, thirty, twenty, I stop another time. I see the outline of someone standing near the light. I was surprised to see anyone this deep into the forest, but even more surprised that this person might be the guy long since seized away from the one he loved. I ran closer until I was ten yards away, “Hey!” I shouted, “Are you Mary’s spouse?” The unknown person turns at the question. “Now Lupus, how can you confuse me with someone else, and who’s Mary?” It was William.
“Oh, sorry. I got a little ahead of myself with excitement.”
“Right, always in hurry.”
I took the last few steps and entered a flat area, encircled by the trees. I looked around and saw Fred and Trent in there as well. “Hey guys, what brings you here?” It was stupid question to ask at that moment.
“Well,” Trent started, “we just wanted to see if we can find a place to hang in the forest.”
“What about this light?” I pointed to the center of the area where an orb of light floated in the air, pulsing light every few seconds.
“Looks like he can see it too,” said William.
“What do you mean by that?” I inquired.
“Before we left the school,” Fred continued, “we saw something from within the forest, a light. We pointed to it but as other people looked directly at the light’s direction, they said that they couldn’t see anything, not even this fog.”
The explanation made me stare at the hovering orb. “So, so far we are the only ones that have, or can, see this light?”
“Seems so,” William said with reassurance.
“But what does it do?” I asked.
“That’s still theoretical at the moment,” Fredrick said, adjusting his glasses, “we believe that it will take you somewhere that’s not part of our own world.”
“What makes you say that?”
“We gathered the data and concluded that most of the tales told of Anima Forest tells of a great light that blinds your eyes. Once the light fades, one or more people seemed to disappear without a trace and are never found again…or are just forgotten.”
“Forgotten? How does that happen?”
“Some stories,” William took over, “that Trent and I researched, say that some people were talking about others that no one had ever heard of. Those people say that they were killed by the light’s journey and that they were guided by the same journey. Everyone ignored these people over time and never bothered to listen to them.”
“What to do they mean by the light’s journey?”
“Some things cannot be researched,” Trent answered, “only experienced. That’s why we came, to get out of this world and enter a new one.”
“Why would you guys want to leave this world?”
“It’s too hard to explain,” William responded, “we just feel as if we are destined for better things, that can’t be reached in this world.”
The eyes of prescience were held in William’s stare as he looked at the glowing ball. “It’s about time we made our leave,” he said as he approached the light.
“Wait, Will!” I shouted.
“There’s no longer time to wait, only time to move forward. The time for longing is over and the time of belonging shall begin!” He raised his hand and smashed his right fist onto the orb. It reacted to his interaction and began to emit a stronger light. Too bright to see, I held the book of Sophia’s passion in front of my face to block its intensity. Growing brighter, the light became too concentrated for the orb itself and it burst into a giant pillar of light ascending into the sky. Its refulgence grew bright until it engulfed the forest itself. I lost consciousness.
I felt myself being dragged into an airless space and I began to awaken. I open my eyes; the sun was bright even though it was shaded by branches. I rose to my feet and I found myself on a giant field under a lonesome tree. The area unfamiliar to me, I looked around and found nothing I was able to recognize. William, Trent, nor Fred were nowhere to be found. “Hey! Will, Fred, Trent! Where are you guys?” I shouted to nothing and received nothing. I then sat to the ground and grabbed Sophia’s book on the floor.

Lupus continued to sit below the lonely tree as the birds took flight another time playfully gliding toward the direction of the dirt road. “Like the birds, I need to move to the direction I feel I must go,” he said as he raised himself with the precious book in his right hand. He opens his bag and places the black book within it. He starts to descend down the high hill and enters the road’s path. “I will follow this, and many other roads, until I meet her again at our destined yield.” He makes his way through an unknown world, not knowing what will be waiting for him, through the light’s journey…

(Hope you have enjoyed the story so far. The first three chapters were for putting up a setting. I'm working on the fourth chapter, which is the first chapter in part one of the story. I have been getting good remarks from the story so far, even though thre are no comments. The poems placed in the story are my own works, so I like how that puts more of my creativity in it. Thank you all and I hope you like the rest of this epic journey. 'Til then, thank you)