Illusive Eden - He Pretends He's the Hero

The faint lightning—the clap of thunder is wearing away. The rushing, thrumming of rain on the frayed straw roof and leaden leaves waning to droplets of muffled, light pitter–patter.

In the womb of the dark forest, the late of afternoon—bare of sunlight, the abandoned, tattered little thatch house provided the boy a sanctuary.

He was hunched on a corner, chin shored on his folded knees, shivering from the chillness of wind that gushes through the unclosed door, the ripped windows and roof.

A golden retriever laying curled by his side, as if sensing him cold leans in to him, nuzzling the side of it's face to Rhean's legs.

Rhean's gaze aligns with the dog's dark brown affectionate eyes. A smile blooms in his face, he rubs carefully, lovingly running his hand through it's soaked goldish fur.

But then the loosened posture of the dog stiffens, the hair on the back and neck raised, he straightens up to his fours and walks towards the door, confusing Rhean.

"Where are you going Zoro?" Rhean stands up, trailing behind his friend. Then through the rustles of leaves, birds chirps, soft falling of rain on trees, came creeping in the crunching of twigs beneath footsteps in a close distant.

The sky is clearing of black and gloomy clouds, sunrays seeping through the clinches of close woven branches, the dark green misty forest illuminating slow.

Soon follows the hazy voices ringing in his ears.

"Do you really think a kid could survive here?" Asks a man, and is harshly countered back by a woman, "Can you shut your mouth for a fucking second?!"

"Hey!" "Goddamn you're hurting my head!" "You!" "Look!"

"Huh! Where?" "Look at the hut dumbass!" Sky huffs bending her body to move beneath the looming branch, dripping water on her at a slight shake, stepping over a broken trunk from a storm.

Ace follows after.

The slits of learning path between the overflowing wilderness of plants and trees was crammed, twigs and thorns poking, ilitching him.

She paces towards the thatch house, covered in crawling vines, hands hustling to veer away the leaves and branches in her way.

"I swear to God Sky, if a leech sucks into me—" Ace's grumbles are interrupted by a low growl made by an animal.

Staring ahead him, Sky stands glued to her ground. A golden retriever towered, a thorn in their way, cruel and alert—glaring at them intensely, posture tensed and primed for a fight.

"We're not gonna hurt you buddy," Sky raises her hands—carefully inching forward.

"Calm down." She mumbles, keen gaze riveted to the dilated ones. But the growls only grow louder, shaking and barking at her.

It seemed to her the dog was guarding something, rather someone—in the hut; for she heard light footsteps running inside the worn–out straw cabin.

"Did you hear it?" Sky asks Ace, still maintaining eye contact with the animal.

"I did. Could it be him?" Ace asks, attempting to look through the rifts of the breaking shack.

"I'll take care of the dog. Inform Boss and pursuade him out." She instructs.

"Okay."

"Such a good dog. Be calm..." Sky speaks softly, taking small steps, smooth and slow, while the beast barks at her, it's hair raised and sharp fangs on display to terrorize her.

Rhean stood against the wall in the dark corner of the small space. He didn't know these people, and he hesitates to show himself before strangers in the unknown woods. He was fine not seeing any human for three days anyway. Were they here to punish him for beating up his classmates?

His eyes rounds in trepidation, his form timid and tautened, hands fisted, heart pounding loudly in his chest. "Is someone here?" The stranger had barged in the hut, and his dog was not making any noises anymore.

Did they hurt him? At once, in the cocoa pools, salty water brims over.

Rhean with invisible steps backs away, attempting to merge with the shadows.

"Hey! Reveal yourself!" Ace narrows his eyes, with caution closening to him, the little frame not escaping his trenchant sense.

"Is he in there?" A different voice, somehow, surprisingly familiar asks.

"Not sure. Ace went in," Sky replies, and then sounds of hurried footsteps nearing the shack becomes lucider.

Rhean stays unmoving, wide eyes staring at the giant brute before him, scared and trembling against the wall, tears wetting his chubby cheek.

He shuts his eye when he reaches his hand to grab him, then he halts—as another man rushes in through the door.

"Rhean?" Rhett calls, his voice mellow and sedulous.

Rhean feels his heart skip a beat, ears perked up.

He raises his head, looking up at the tall frame, pulling down the hood of his raincoat—approaching him slowly.

The agape between the roof of the hut had light seep in, and the succouring face has drifted the curtains of horror, now spark of hope visible to him.

"Dada," Rhean runs to his father, who kneels on the ground and opens his arms for him.

Rhean collapses in Rhett's embrace, searing sobs escaping his trembling lips.

"It's alright my boy." Rhett murmers, holding him close, while Rhean's clutch on him only tightens.

"You're safe,"

He closes his eyes, caressing his head, a sigh of ease escapes him, his body relaxing—embracing the warmth of his son.

He could feel his heart breaking at his wrenching cries, face buried in his chest.

"It's alright. I'm here." He assures lovingly, soothingly rubbing his back.

Ace and Sky looks at them in relief. Exchanging glances, they smile at each other.

Pulling away, Rhett wipes the tears off the hiccuping child. Rhean sniffs, his weep dying down, his breathing slowly steadying. His lips pursed down, he looks at his father; he couldn't believe he was here.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" He asks, concern swimming in his orbs—scanning his frame. "No." Rhean shakes his head in refusal.

He smiles, stroking his lightly drenched hair. "Let's get you home. Shall we?"

He nods at him, wiping his flowing tears.

The rain still hasn't ceased wholly, so Rhett takes off his raincoat and drapes over Rhean. He then picks him up in his arms, and Rhean immediately wraps his arms around his neck, burying his head in the crook of his neck.

The little soul was filled with gratitude his father was back, he didn't even realise going home could feel this mirthful until he came.

"My Zoro?" Rhean then suddenly jolts up at remembering his friend. "Who's Zoro?" Rhett asks, frowning at his terrified son. "He's my dog Dada." He replies, his features ashening.

"Don't worry. He was a bit angry so I just made him sleep for a while." Sky chirps in, gesturing at the golden retriever laying on the muddy grass with it's tongue splayed out.

"Zoro!" Rhean exclaims, wanting to get down and be with him, anxious of his motionless body.

"He's fine, uncle here will carry Zoro." Sky remarks, nudging Ace walking beside her with her shoulder. "Me?" Ace in disbelief points to himself, eyes widened in dread at a merry Sky.

He glares daggers at her. She's always causing him grave hurdles. But Sky could care less and hops away, while he holds his back, the kid's backpack swung on his shoulder, already feeling a throbbing pain—glancing at a large slumbering Zoro.

"How did you meet him?" Rhett asks the child, coursing away to leave the woods through the trail they made, leaving a fearful Ace suffering with his poor back.

"I met Zoro here. He didn't mind me staying with him. We are friends now." Rhean asserts, while Rhett just hums in return. In great wonder—and guilt at how he endured this far in the forest.