Book Project: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly P.2/ Sequel or Aftermath

 An Aftermath of the book, “The Book of Lost things” by John Connolly

by Shannon Yan

Before you read…

Learn more about , “The Book of Lost Things” here:

The Book of Lost Things Summary. 

Chapter 1

If there were any words to describe David, it would be something relative to acrimony. He was strong-minded and unwilling, resenting responsibilities when not urged. 

“Hmm..it is nearly 10. I shall head back home,” said David, peering at his watch. 

He strolled through the rough brick walls of the corridor with his long, dark suit. His coffee black loafers clacked after every step, playing an off-beat melody. Full-growns and children fixed the man with questionable looks. Shifting uncomfortably, David moved his pedora to overshadow his visage.

See, David was quite popular back then. When he was a child, he developed some abnormal sights and sounds he had never seen. The books started talking to him, and a strange man would come to his house every now and then. 

Then one day, he found himself wandering outside in his backyard. There, David noticed a German plane aimed straight at him, as if he were a target. Scurrying for his life, David ran to a nearby crack in his neighbor’s wall. Or so he thought.

David was rushed to the hospital after getting severely destroyed by the aircraft. He was diagnosed with a coma and layed in his cot for the next 11 months. When he woke up,  he told the world about his dream while in the coma. It turns out that he had dreamed of the same fairy tales in the books we read today, including Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Families and individuals were mesmerized by this telling and David immediately became a sensation. During this era, David married his wife, Alyson. Just one year after their honeymoon, they had a young baby boy named George.

But before David could see his son, the nurses rushed Alyson out of the room. David became frantic, but assured himself that Alyson was doing well. So, he waited. 10 minutes turned into 30. Then 60. To David’s relief, he saw the nurses approaching his way. But, soon, the relief died. George had not made it past the neonatal stage. His newborn had died from a birth defect. 

This put David in a dark position. He was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. His self-esteem was deprived, and lost 30 pounds from starvation. Seeing this filled Alyson with much worry. She did as she could, feeding him by hand, brushing his teeth, and giving him appreciation. But, nothing seemed to work. 

Things were not going so well for the Johnson family. Luckily, after two years of denial, David had hope. Alyson was determined to have another baby boy. The couple did as much as they could. This paid off, and soon they were blessed with a baby boy. David insisted the baby be named George, in honor of their first infant. Alyson adored the idea and soon they were back home, living as happy as ever. 

Despite recovering from depression, David still hid himself from the outside world. He did not want the world to learn the truth about his son and why he had perished. 

Now, David was heading home to his son. Using his alias, he avoided neighbors and villagers passing by. His personal-fit apparel hid his true identity, at least at the moment. 

But as David turned at his daily corner of Wilsbury Street, little did he know, a serial killer seeking his every step. The man with the name Quincy Erque viciously smiled from behind the array of bushes. Quincy took advantage of the loud blowing from the apartment aloft and crawled up from behind David. Then, he stabbed him right through the chest. 

Chapter 2

“Where am I?” questioned David. 

He stood up, slightly off guard, and glanced at the ground  and surroundings. Then he recalled the place. The trees. The sky. The smell. 

“Welcome back.”

Chapter 3

David spinned the heel of his loafers to face the calming voice. 

“Woodsman…” he mumbled in awe. 

The Woodsman. The man that had saved his very own life. His apparel is slit from head to toe, just as how David last saw him. The selfsame pale blue blouse hangs loosely from his frail body, and is paired with shabby black leggings. 

“Hello, David. I have been awaiting you for quite some time. How do you do?”

“How did you recognize my presence-” questioned David, aghast.

He stepped towards the clear blue loch and glanced at his reflection. The hat still hung to overshadow his face, but his cloak was drenched with blood. The outline of the knife cut through the thick wool, and stared back in a perilous state. 

The Woodman did not seem to notice, for he was nothing but joy.

“Of course I could recognize my dear fr-”

Before the Woodsman could …… his reply, a blast of agony bolted through his chest. 

David widened his eyes. 

“Are you alright?”

The Woodsman forced his face to shapeshift a crooked smile. But his hand was still cupped above the heart, leaving David immobily perturbed. 

“Yes. But we must seek shelter, and fast.”

Chapter 4

David had many questions, but he held off,  wanting to be mindful of the Woodsman’s patience. They traveled through the bleeding trees until they reached a puny village. There were more than a few houses, but there were not too many.

“Is this where you live?” David asks. 

“Fortunately, yes. I crafted the houses as well. I stand with such pride if I do say so myself,” the Woodsman chuckles.  

The two trodded until the Woodman halted at a vast house.  The walls were made up of dark mud bricks, which were pasted together in concrete. There were no windows, likely making the garret dim and ominous. It was, however, welcoming to David. 

The Woodsman signaled his hand toward the door. “Come on in.”

Chapter 5

A few minutes later, David and the Woodsman were situated at an old oak table. The tea bags were waiting to boil and the bread was pleading to be buttered. They sat in an awkward silence until David minded his manners. 

“Would you like some tea?” questioned David. It was necessary for David to ask such a thing, as the Woodsman was elderly and a dear friend

The Woodsman nodded and thanked him. 

“So, tell me, boy. How did you get here?”

David plopped the tea bag down the steaming water. He stalled the question and watched the color swirl into the liquid, dying the water yellow. 

“A man has appeared to have murdered me,” he mumbled quietly. 

The Woodsman widened his eyes, alarmed. 

“If that is so, how will you escape this world?”

Chapter 6 

David turned to face the Woodsman, with nervous eyes. The tea was ready and warm, but the query was far more important than such serving. 

“There is always a way out, isn’t there?” David asked, hopeful. “I mean, I was able to escape this world once. It is certainly possible for me to escape again.”

The Woodsman sighed. 

“David, you were still alive. You were in a coma, 

The Woodsman replied with empty words, for he could not bear to ruin David’s hope. There certainly was a final path to escape, but little did David know, it would take crucial risks. 

So, the Woodsman being as he is, said, “Yes David. Yes there is.”

Chapter 7

Throughout the night, the Woodsman filled David in with the news. There are reportedly no creatures in the forest, leading villagers with nothing to fret. 

Flashback: Before in the world,  there used to be half wolf/human creatures called Loups. When David was in his coma, he killed the Loups by killing the king. Wondering how this happened? While David was in his coma, things would come alive if someone believed it was there. Since the king believed that Loups were a real thing, the Loups lived in the world. But since David killed the king, the Loups were gone as well, for the belief was lost. 

“What about my family?” David asks. “Who will take care of them financially?”

The Woodsman pats his shoulder. 

“They are doing just fine,” the Woodsman assures. “You have given them enough income for their survival.”

David pauses. His wife, Alyson, and their son, George. They must be worried at the moment. Oh, how he missed the annual hugs from his child and wife. He would only hope they still loved him…

“I recommend you get some sleep, David,” said the Woodsman. 

He nodded and headed to the garret. There, a soft mattress was waiting for him. David heaved his body onto the bed and stared at the wall. 

“How could I be so clueless of such murder?” He wondered.

Sighing, David laid his head on the firm pillow and fell asleep. 

Chapter 8

The next morning, David woke up in recall of his surroundings. 

“Ah, yes.” thought David, “The Woodsman.”

He quickly jumped up and straightened his coat, before heading downstairs, where the Woodsman sat quietly. He stroked his growing beard, in deep thought. David slowed down his steps, not daring to interrupt. Before he can, the stairs make a deep croak that sends the Woodsman jumping out of his chair.

“Oh David. I did not see you there.” He chuckled lightly.  “Did you get a fair amount of sleep?”

David nodded. It was the first time in a while where he had gotten 10 hours of sleep. The bags under his eyes, however, did not seem to lighten. 

David exchanged the same reply from the Woodsman. They went back and forth, checking upon one another’s mental wellbeing. Minutes passed to hours and soon it was time for the journey. 

“I shall pack some bread and salted meat for the journey,” the Woodsman commented. “I have asked others to do the same for themselves.”

David stared with a blank expression.

“Others?”

Chapter 9

The Woodsman stared at David in confusion. Then in realization, he sighs a breath of relief.  

“Ah, yes. I have forgotten once more!” He put his hand on David’s shoulder and stared into his almond shaped eyes. 

 “We do not live in this village ourselves, young man. There are many children here who have traveled to this world and gotten lost, just as you once did. It is my duty to continue to help them along the way. But they have been begging for an adventure, a real one, and I must give them the one I have found.”

“Yours.”

Chapter 10

On the que, children from every direction fled from the village. The girls and boys jumped in delight, with happy smiles sprawled on each of their faces. They carried baskets of supplies for the trip: flashlights, dried fruit, salt, blankets, and more. It was a vacation alright. 

The children knocked on the door of the Woodsman’s house. 

“Hello, children,” welcomed the Woodsman. “Come in, please.”

The youngsters tumbled over one another, in a desperate state. All came to a stop as they saw David. Girls and boys gazed at him with large eyes and squealed. 

“It’s David! The guy who told the story of this world!” a girl squeaked. 

David scratched his hair, not wanting to boast. He looked at the children who admired him. They reminded him of himself as a young boy, excited from every story and adventure. 

“Hello, children.”

Chapter 11

David and the Woodsman enjoyed talking to the children. The contrast of the adults to children was drastic. One boy with the name, Josh, resembled his son, George. David favored the boy out of all the children. He was very quick-minded, with a strong approach. 

Soon, it was time for the journey. But, David had one last question. 

How were these children going to help with the journey?

Chapter 12

Before they could travel, David pulled the Woodsman to the side. 

“Uhm, dear Woodsman. I have a quick query,” blurted David. 

“What is that?” questioned the Woodsman. 

“With this adventure, have we possibly led the children to a tough situation?”asked David. 

The Woodsman’s eyes glinted, excited. 

“You see David, these children are not just the cuddly youngsters you see them as. They are much much more. Each child has a drive, something that will benefit both them and us.”

He stared into David’s eyes with determination. Something tells David that the Woodsman is indeed wrong. The Woodsman understands his hesitation and tells him once again. 

“These children are much much more than you think. I know what they are capable of,” the Woodsman pleads. “Each child can take down more than an army, group by  group, ” he insisted. 

“I promise”

Chapter 13

David did not expect the Woodsman to speak with such passion. But, there were so many children on the line, David could not bear any sort of agony from them. Then again, he imagined their falling smiles and their feelings of disappointment. Josh. George. The girl. 

So, he followed his gut and said,

“They shall come.”

Chapter 14

Then, it was time for the journey. The Woodsman and David gathered the girls and boys to the centre of the village. 

“Remember, children. You are much more capable than you think. Together, we will have to fight next to one another and fight as a group,” the Woodsman declared. “Are you all ready?” he questions. 

“Yes!”

Chapter 15

The group of children, the Woodsman, and David traveled back to the woods, where David arrived. The trees were perfectly straight and standing and lush grass surrounded the wide scenery. The children ran to feel the soft grass, but the Woodsman yielded them before they could. 

“Be careful, boys and girls. Traps could be everywhere. We must be wary,” warned the Woodsman. 

The children nodded and followed the Woodsman, who stopped in front of the largest tree of the array.  

“This is where David arrived. Let us investigate to see if there is anything that will help us along the journey,” the Woodsman announces.

David and the juveniles searched at every angle, hoping to find some leftovers from David’s arrival. However, there was no sight of such thing. But, as they turned to travel onward, Josh shouted, signaling a find. 

“Look!’ he yelled. “There’s blood on the tree!”

David’s face shifted into apathy. 

“Ah, yes. That is nothing important, Josh,” he said. 

The boy sulked, hoping to find something beneficial to the journey. David patted Josh’s head. They turned to head on once again, but the Woodsman stopped in mid-step. He looked at the blood on David’s coat and stared intently. 

“I have a question for you, David. Do you recall the murder by detail?”

David nods. “Yes.”

“Was the man wearing gloves?” he asks. 

“No?”

The Woodman smirked. 

“This will give us great help.”

Chapter 16

“What do you mean by-”

Before David could utter another word, the Woodsman pulled a magnifying glass from his satchel. He scanned the lens over the space of the bullet hole. The juveniles rushed to the Woodsman to see the discovery. 

“Mr. Woodsman, what are you-”

“Shh,” the Woodsman silenced. “Just wait. “

A few seconds later, the pellucid glass scripted the words, “Detecting..” The children watched in great awe, as The Woodsman tapped his loafers on the grass, impatient. Then, the text came to a final stop.  The Woodsman dropped the glass. 

“Quincy Erque?”

Chapter 17

“You know him?” David asked. 

The Woodsman nodded.. 

David recalled his first approach with the Woodsman. He had mentioned his murder, but had failed to include the name of the man. He slapped his forehead with his hand, feeling regret. Any information of some sort was crucial and could help his journey. 

However, the big question was,

 “What happened to him? Were you two close?” 

The Woodsman stared down at the soft grass. He felt a mix of remorse and sorrow, somehow. 

“Yes, David. We were once very close,” he said quietly. “However one day, Quincy and I fell into a big fight. From there, we grew apart and became assailants. I fought for the good of the land, whereas he fought for the bad.”

“Then one day, he started his array of kills. He killed many, including my wife and children.”

At this point, the Woodsman was close to tears. He had told David on the day they met that he once had a family, but did not allow him to ask such questions. David had always been curious about what had happened, and now he knew. 

“I am sorry, Woodsman,” replied David, putting a hand around his shoulder. “She is in a good place. “

The Woodsman wiped his sprouted tears and nodded. He breathed out and straightened his shirt. 

“Now back to what I was saying…Esque is obviously a foe. He stabbed me in the back, as he physically did to you. I am much more than determined to bring you back. Let’s go, children.”

David and the Woodsman turned their  back and set off once again. The children followed, aggressively stomping the ground. The death of the Woodsman’s family angered both the children, David, and himself. Now, they were more determined than ever.

Chapter 18

After traveling for a bit, the Woodsman suggested that they find shelter. David agreed and they walk on in search of a nearby village. It took more than a couple hours to find one. Luckily, their waiting had paid off. The houses were considerable and elevated. Pop up stands were scattered along the entry, filled with lush fruit and edibles. 

However, the village had its resemblance to the Woodsman’s, for it was desolate. 

“Where is everyone?” thought David. 

There were few people roaming throughout the pathway, gathering rocks and sticks. None seemed to acknowledge them, causing the Woodman and his group to stand dumbly.

“Ahem.”

No villagers seem to recognize the sound,  but finally a man looks up at the Woodsman. He has a handful of rocks and apples in his grasp. His hair is frazzled, along with his shirt, and is brushed with specks of dirt

“Yes?” he questioned.

“Could we please stay here for the night? My children are hungry, and even my oldest cannot help,” the Woodman begged.. 

The man looked at the wee girls and boys, who played along. They rubbed their stomachs as if hungry. This seemed to do the trick, and the man gave in. 

Later on, David and the others learned the name of the man, Rashiq. (This means graceful in Muslim.)  Rashiq led them to a gorgeous pearl white home. It was not as immense as the others, but it was a beauty either way. 

After touring the interior, (which was quite barren), Rashiq left adults and children.  

“Good job. everyone. Let us unpack a couple items for the night. After, we shall plan our next destination,” announced the Woodsman.

The children, David, and  Woodsman got to work. They unraveled their sleeping bags and pillows on the smooth, oak floor. Then, the children showered with buckets of water from a nearby lake. After the group had finished their needs, they gathered around a refectory table.

“Well, children. David and I have decided a scheme in which we could possibly use,” the Woodsman announced. “We have planned to track down Quincy’s footsteps. When we find him, we will be able to fight him with ease, for he will be unprepared.”

The juvenile’s eyes widened. 

“But. Mr. Woodsman, wouldn’t that be risky?”

The Woodsman sighed. 

“Yes, it would. Quincy is wary and aware of his surroundings. If he catches us on patrol,  he could force us to stepback and even kill us along the way…” the Woodsman whispered, wavering at the end. 

“But I am willing to risk the chance, and so is David. . Are you children willing to risk your life as well?”

The boys and girls sat quietly. They looked at one another with deep thoughts and concentration. Seconds passed, until a quiet voice peeped out from the group. 

“I am.”

The girl’s name was Elizabeth. Children looked at her and faced the Woodsman. 

“Me too.” 

“Me three.”

 “Me fo-”

Responses came after each  response, until there were no more. The Woodsman smiled in delight, but not as hard as David. He was feeling more ecstatic than he could ever explain. The fact the children and Woodsman had risked their lives for his journey almost broke him into tears. 

“Thank-k you-” wailed David. “It means a lot, children. And you, Woodsman. Thank you for being there from the very beginning.”

The Woodsman smiled and nodded. The boys and girls smiled their chubby cheeks and blushed. This was one of the cherished moments in their adventure.

 But soon, this moment would not last long. 

Chapter 19

The night passed, and soon it was time to leave the village. The girls and boys packed their sleeping bags, whereas the Woodsman and David cleaned. When done, the Woodsman and David signaled the juveniles out of the house. 

“Out you all go!” the Woodsman exclaimed. 

Once the children were settled in an array, the Woodsman led the group forward. They passed through many meadows and deserts along the way. After a couple hours, the juveniles were feeling some fatigue. Luckily, a couple bites of an apple seemed to do the trick. 

Soon, they passed by another house. It was located on a steep hill, which would give an elevated view to the resident. Just as the two adults and children could step a foot more, a loud, “DAVID!” rocketed through the air. 

“Who is that?” asked a boy. 

“I do not know,” replied David, who squeezed his eyes. 

Under the Sun laid an outline of a short, stubby…dwarf? David jogged backward until he could finally identify the person. 

“Dwarf 4! I haven’t seen you in forever!” exclaimed David. 

Flashback: When David was in his coma, he ran into some of the fairytales. One of them was Snow White and the seven dwarfs. The dwarfs assisted him in his journey out of the fairytale world and gave him supplements like food. 

“David! What are you doing here?” 

The dwarf peeked out to investigate the Woodsman and the children. 

“Who are these people?”

David laughed. After meeting the Woodsman, (whom he had to leave because it was certain that the Woodsman was deceased), he had met the dwarfs. He did not tell the dwarves about the Woodsman either. 

“This is the Woodsman. He was the first to help me when I was lost,” David explained. 

Dwarf four ran down the hill to shake hands with the Woodsman. 

“Hello, Mr. Woodsman.” 

“Hello, Dwarf number four. It is an honor to meet you,” replied the Woodsman. 

From there David and the dwarf caught up, until it was time to head forward. Unfortunately, David was unable to meet the other six dwarves, who were shouting from the interior of the house. 

“I must get going now, Dwarf four. The children are waiting for me. Fare-”

But before David could finish his farewell, the dwarf grasped his shoulder. As David turns around, the dwarf’s smile is enlarged in front of his eyes. He certainly cherished the dwarf as his friend, but he knew he had to move forward. 

“You all can stay here for the night! We have plenty of space since Snow White has moved out. It is much safer to stay here than to travel furthermore,” he reasoned. 

David tried to decline his urge by shaking his head, but before he could,  the children clapped in agreement.  He turned around in surprise and looked at the Woodsman. He does not seem to be pleased, but his face is unreadable. 

“Cmon. David. Don’t be a party pooper,” joked the dwarf. 

David nervously chuckled. He looked at the Woodsman again, who turned away. This decision was tough, for he could not afford to disappoint the children of the Woodsman. It was still morning, meaning there was more time to hunt down Esque. 

But surprisingly, David decided to lay off hunting for the day and relented. 

“Let’s go, kids.”

Chapter 20

After encompassing the children in the cramped house, the dwarves gathered to stare at the new visitors. 

“She’s so tiny!” squealed dwarf 7. 

“His cheeks are so flabby,” grunted the fourth. 

David sent the dwarves scattered with the push of his body to defend the children. He could not bear to faze or hurt the children. It was his responsibility, and his only. 

“Woah there, David,” piped dwarf 1. “Protective, ay?”

The children giggled at the “joke”, but David stayed straight-faced. He sighed and rubbed his hand against his oily neck. 

“Would you mind if we stayed in a room, away from any noise?” David questioned. “We are busy with things, if you don’t mind.”

The dwarves nodded understandingly. They were, however, surprised by David’s confident statement. It had been more than a couple years since the dwarves had seen David, and during that time, David had matured drastically. 

Silent, dwarf 6 guided the Woodsman, David, and children into a larger room. He waved and left the group on their own. 

“How are we going to plan things for the journey?” questioned Josh.

“We will train.”

And so they did. They practiced with their swords, guns, balance, and much more. The children mastered the skills within their second attempt, which surprised David. 

“Maybe I did underestimate them,” thought David. 

Soon, it was night and the group had become worn out. They had practiced as hard as their bodies could take, and would surely be sore the next day. The Woodsman and David agreed it would be best to freshen up and feast. 

But, as they approached the door, the Woodsman stopped the children in a split second. There was some rumbling between the walls, David could sense it. But, the Woodsman pushed the children back, including David. 

“Mr. Woodsman?” questioned the girl.

The Woodsman put a finger to her face and moved closer to the door. He cupped his hand and listened to the conversation of the dwarves and the incognito. 

The entire time, the Woodsman had been hesitant to enter the dwarves house. He had learned from his past not to trust anyone entirely, not even friends. 

“Good work, elves, or should I say a job well done.”

*The elves jump up and down.*

Now, do not celebrate too early.  You will have to keep them distracted,” whispered a deep voice. 

“And when the time is right, we’ll kill them.”

Chapter 21 

The Woodsman froze in shock. He looked at David, who stared confusedly at the Woodsman and kicked his shin. The Woodsman winced at the pain and scowled at David. 

“What is wrong, Mr. Woodsman? What happened?” asked a boy. 

The Woodsman wiped the sweat off his forehead and faced David once more. 

“Your friends are planning to kill us.”

Chapter 22

“What? The dwarves?” blurted David. “They would never.”

The Woodsman gazed at his focus on his loafers. David stepped back with wide eyes. 

The people that had once helped him had deceived him. David waited for the information to process, but as seconds to minutes passed, it was stuck to every part of his body. David was filled with sorrow, for all the trust he had given the dwarves wsd gone. 

The Woodsman patted his back. 

“Do not worry, David. From this experience you will learn a valuable lesson,” he reassured. 

The children gathered surrounded  David and gave him an enormous hug. But, David was not paying to the children, (although he attempted to show his appreciation.) He was replaying the Woodsman words over and over again. 

“From this experience, you will learn a valuable lesson. From this experience…”

David understood the lesson related to trust. But the big question David had was..

“Can I trust you?”

Chapter 23

After David had taken a deep breath, the Woodsman called the children into the corner of the room. 

“We will have to think of a plan,” he whispered. 

But before the children could reply, the door bursted open. 

The Woodsman and David froze and looked back to face the dwarves. 

“What are you doing?”

Chapter 24

David chuckles nervously.

“We were just scheming a plan,” he reassured. 

The elves walked into the room and closed the door. The sensation of the room grew uncomfy and unsettled.  

“Scheming a plan, ay?” echoed elf 4. “What are you working on?”

David peered at the Woodsman, who is faced toward the children. They are encompassed in a small circle as if planning something. As David turned to face the dwarves once more, the Woodsman stepped in front of him. The children followed. 

Side eyeing the backs of the children, David identified swords and guns. As David widened his eyes, the Woodsman replied to the dwarves. 

“We were just talking about killing you.”

Chapter 25

The children erupt from the back of the Woodsman. Their armaments unlatched from their backs and pockets. Then, they fought. 

The boys and girls thrashed their weapons skillfully, just as practiced. Dwarves swifty dodged the strikes. But after a few minutes, the dwarves had become worn with their untrained bodies. The children took advantage and slashed until there was no sight of movement. In front of them laid the remains of their brief, but draining battle. The blood from their heads seeped on the floor, forming puddles of gore. 

The group quickly ran toward the door. The door did not budge. 

“Use all your strength, children,” called the Woodsman. 

The door’s resistance broke and busted forward. The Woodsman stared at the man. His red hair and his colorful tie. 

“Quincy?”

The man smugly smirked. 

“Tis  I.” 

The Woodsman gazed at David. 

“Go get him.”

Chapter 26

David revealed his sword and got into position. He sat in a sideways squat, like a cat just waiting to pounce on its prey. Quincy raised his eyebrows. He smugly bent down at the same position until he met David’s eyes. 

“Hello, David. Glad to see you from your death.” He turned to face the Woodsman. “I see you have met my dear friend.”

“Be quiet,” snarled David. “Let’s fight.”

Quincy stood up and shrugged. He stepped lackadaisical, taunting David to take advantage of his surrender.

“Make the first move then.”

And so David did. He aimed for the right arm of Quincy, but failed to stab any part of his skin. Quincy chuckled. He grabbed his dagger from his back pocket and suddenly aimed for David’s heart. David staggered back, barely dodging the attack. 

This goes for minutes. David struck Quincy, who sent David barely alive. After a half hour, David sensed his fatigue and used his determination to make one last strike. 

“This is not the end, David,” yelled the Woodsman. 

And with one last strike, David used all his heart and might. He clenched the hilt of his sword and looked at Quincy’s face to see him turning back. 

“The idiot believes that I have surrendered,” thought David. 

Closing his eyes, David leapt toward Quincy’s back and stabbed the sword into his heart. 

But this time, it’s stuck. 

Chapter 27 

David closed his eyes and raised his head. The children looked at Quincy with open mouths. Then, he looked. 

Quincy was dead.

Chapter 28

David dropped his head down in relief. The children ran  toward him and jumped. David hid a smile and hugged the children. As he embraced the children, he saw the Woodsman standing sternly.

David ceased the cuddle and stumbled to the Woodsman. He expects the Woodsman to give him a word of appreciation, but he stood silent.

“We must get out,” whispered the Woodsman. 

He curved past David and led the children outside, leaving him alone. David looked back in confusion. 

“Why was he acting so weird?”

Chapter 29

David sighed and ran toward the door hurriedly. He looked up to find the Woodsman and children two blocks ahead of him. David was breathing heavily and the life around him seemed…blurry. His brain screamed for water and food. 

“Woods..Woodsma-” he panted. 

But, the Woodsman was far from reach. David warned himself to keep going, but his body disagreed. Then, David’s leg gave out and he stumbled to the floor. 

Chapter 30

David woke up to find himself in a small cot with a cold towel. He sat up immediately, causing his blood to rush into his head at once. Wincing, he looked around for the children and Woodsman. 

“David!” peeped a girl. She looked back. “Mr. Woodsman, David is awake!”

A man popped up from behind David’s shoulder. David looked back. It is the Woodsman. 

“How are you feeling?” 

“Fine,” replied David. He looks the Woodsman in the eyes. “Why are you acting this way?” 

He looked away. David put a hand on his shoulder for comfort, but Woodsman slid away. 

“We can discuss this later,” he assured.  Right now, we have to make sure you are well enough for the journey. Can you stand?”

David nodded and placed his feet on the glossy floor. Pushing up, he felt his muscles tighten and winced. The pain is faint, but he could still feel its presence. Just as he started to stand, his legs gave out once again. David grumbled and cursed under his breath. 

“It is okay. We shall wait another day. Your health is very important, so do not worry,” the Woodsman said.  

David looked up. Days? How long had he been here for? The group could not bear to lose anytime. He had, of course, accomplished killing Quincy, but there was more to be done.  

“How long have I been here for?” asked David. 

The Woodsman hesitates to reply. 

“You’ve been here for about a week.”

David bursted out of his bed. How could he sleep for seven days straight? He had wasted more time than ever. Burying his head with despair, he raged into his pillow and fell asleep. 

Chapter 31

The next day, David woke up. The Woodsman is awaited by his side and immediately greeted David. He pulled a gray portable table and set a plate of bread and gravy. 

David plucks the bread and dips it into the soggy substance. 

“I hate being here,” he announced. 

The Woodsman rose his thick eyebrows and grinned 

“I can tell. But, you must stay here until you are well enough. However, there are some positive notes. Because you are awake, we can plan our next move.”

David sat up abruptly. This time, he was not dizzy. He was intent to use any time productively. David called the children to gather near his cot. They rapidly arrived and swarmed over him. 

“Hello, boys and girls. We are going to proceed with our scheme,” declared the Woodsman. 

“What frets me is why David has not been transported to his world. Once you have banished your own murderer, you are intended to travel back. But in this case, David has not.”

The children stared at one another. David tilted his head, confused. Was this the end of the plan? Why had it not worked? Oh, how David missed his existence on Earth. His child and wife. His family. All this was absent from David’s life at this moment. 

The Woodsman cleared his voice. “There are two possibilities why this has not occurred.  Either that man was not Quincy at all or…”

“Quincy was not killed.”

Chapter 32

David and the children stood with open mouths. All the hardship, with no outcome? This was dreadful news. Quincy was too swift to be caught, too smart to be outsmarted, and too well liked by others to be hated. 

David grumbled and hit his pillow. 

“What do you mean not killed? We all saw Quincy perishing. The sword cut through his right heart!” exclaimed David, alarmed. 

The Woodsman rubbed his neck.

 “Which is what I have forgotten to tell you. Quincy can create illusions of not only objects, but people, including himself. So, he could have possibly created an illusion of him dying. But of course, Quincy could have shapeshifted one of his allies as well….”

The Woodsman ruffled  his hair. David slapped his forehead in rage. They both sighed and sat in silence. Juveniles stand in deep thought, as if attempting to solve the drawback. Suddenly, the silence breaks. The Woodsman stood triumphantly. 

“There is one thing…”

“Quincy is hypersensitive to gold.”

Chapter 33

David raised his eyebrows. 

“Is that all? “ he questioned. 

“What do you mean, is that all? This can give us a boost. Learning about our assailant’s weakness can benefit our next move,” smirked the Woodsman. 

David sighed.

“Another thing to add is that Quincy has a dear ally who I am close with. We can talk to him for more information.” 

 For the remainder of the day, the Woodsman and children marked possible locations of Quincy’s peers. They settled on the Fortress of Thorns, Periyan Avenue, and his home in Quinton. David sat in silence and looked down at his frail body. The Woodsman noticed his silence and gave him a playful punch, but David looked away, just as the Woodsman had before. 

Soon, it was night and the children headed upstairs to the garret. David interpreted the Woodsman would follow, but he stood motionless. 

“Meet me outside.”

Chapter 34

Then, he disappeared. David turned in every direction, but could not find the Woodsman presence. Having no other decision, David peered at the floor around him and placed his cold feet on the base. He winced in preparation for pain, but none was found. Carefully placing one foot after the other, David traveled until he reached the glass door. 

The dark shade of the night and glowing outline of the stars of all shapes and sizes covered his surroundings. David breathed in the cool, night breeze and smiled. He had missed the presence of clean air, whereas the oxygen in the room was dusty. David suddenly remembered that the Woodsman had intended to meet him here. 

“Woodsman?” David called. 

On que, footsteps clacked. 

“Hello, David. “

Chapter 35

The Woodsman appeared in his unchanging baggy trousers and shirt.  He led David to a nearby fireplace and propped sticks in a small dome, drowning the sticks in the fire. 

“So…, what brings you here?” David asked, hesitantly. 

The Woodsman faced him. Attempting to determine his next move, David tried to read his expression, but his face is filled with nothing recognizable. But as the Woodsman moved inch by inch, he noticed his eyes fixed on his hand. Shifting uncomfortably, David backed away. 

“What are you doing…?”

Then at the instance, the Woodsman lunged toward David at full blast, like he was prey. David screamed and jerked upward. He ran at an instance until he was out of breath. However, the Woodsman did not follow. He stayed back, holding his head in agony. 

Worried, David woke the children and clasped the doors shut. It was only after a couple minutes that the Woodsman had finally fallen into deep sleep. David hurriedly tucked the children to sleep until each of the boys and girls fell into deep sleep. 

David sat in bed with them, contemplating to protect them or fall asleep.

“What has caused the Woodsman to act this way?” thought David. “Why has he been this way ever since we met?”

His mind was filled with many spiraling questions and thoughts that only the Woodsman would know himself. But, David had no time to spend his questions, for it was only a matter of time before he could meet his family. 

But, little did he know, the tables were about to turn. 

Chapter 36

The next morning, David woke up to face the children scratching his scabby face. He playfully shooed the young girl and boys away and promised to gather some food and water for the morning repast. Recognizing that he was supposed to be in bedrest, he carefully stood up. But as he winced to feel the pain, none came. David raised his eyebrows in surprise. The children glanced at David and looked up and down as if he was an intruder. Then, they jumped up in glory. 

David chuckled at the juveniles and went downstairs to provide some stale bread and bitter coffee for the children. Then, he recalled what had happened last night. Rushing out the door, David ran to the big oak tree where he had met Woodsman. 

“Woodsman? HELLO, WOODSMAN?” David yelled. 

But, he was nowhere to be seen. 

“Hello David.”

Chapter 37

David turned around to face the voice that had come from the bushes. 

“Woodsman?” David whispered.

The deep voice chuckled. 

“Oh, so you wish.”

David froze in place. He recognized the deep, ominous voice that kept popping up in his head. This man was not Woodsman, not Woodsman at all. 

It was no other than Quincy Erque. 

Chapter 38

“I see you have figured out who I am. Care to turn the other way?”

Somehow Quincy had teleported to David’s north, rather than his south. David slowly turned, which had created a stern, menacing environment. However, instead of asking questions, David was sick of  this nonsense, Erque’s tricks and all. It was time for an end. 

“Well, well, David. Quiet, as it seems? I wish you-”

But before Erque could utter any more words, David unveiled his sword and aimed straight for his chest. Quincy was taken aback and immediately jumped back. David had only missed by a centimeter. Clenching his teeth, Erque revealed his weapon. 

It was a stick, but not the ordinary in which you would find on a stroll. It was a stick, wooden staff, that could leave someone knocked out with one swing. David, however, was not affected by this and crunched down in an even lower squat. 

“I see you want to fight. Very well then, bring it o-”

But once again, David had made the first move. Erque smirked at David’s patience, which was lower than a small infant. He had noticed that David had been aiming straight for his chest, and therefore blocked David’s strike. Little did he know that David was planning for this all along. He took a small dagger from his jacket pocket and stabbed it right through Erque’s hip. 

Before he could see Quincy’s face in agony, David ran away. He ran as fast as he could, imagining the blood seeping from Quincy’s cheaply made pants filling the grass with puddles of red. Finally, he arrived at the cabin and blasted through the door. 

“Children, children! Come quick!” he yelled. 

David guided the pack of hunger-fighting juveniles to the site of Quincy. When they arrived, he could not believe his eyes. In place of Quincy was no other than the Woodsman. The children began to run toward their master, but David stopped them. He slowly approached the Woodsman, with tears brimming his eyes. Surely this could not be true, he thought. But as he approached further, he had a gut feeling. David checked everything: his pulse, his breath. But there was no sign of life. 

“Is he dead, Mr. David?” a small girl asked quietly. 

David turned to the girl with tears streaming down his face. 

“I’m afraid so.”

Chapter 39

“How did he die, Mr. David?”

He held his face in despair. The children were situated at the small oak table, pestering him with questions. David was still shocked by what he had just seen. There were emotions of all kinds flooding through his brain, sadness, remorse, stress, and even anger. He had just lost Mr. Woodsman, the man who had guided him to his second chance in life. But David had just messed up his second chance, and this was the outcome.

“I don’t know,” was all David could strain. “I really don’t know, children.”

The boys and girls looked at each other in silence, not daring to shatter the patience of the man in front of them. After a few minutes, the only child who spoke was Josh, the boy who resembled his son. 

“What were you doing out there in the first place, Master?”

David looked up. It had been a while since he had spoken to the young boy. By just looking at him, memories flooded back. There were too many things going on in his head, grinding together as if in a blender. He could not handle all this information, which left him with no other choice than to rant. 

“I had went to go see Mr. Woodsman, Josh,” David replied, looking down at the ground. “He was not feeling well yesterday. But, when I got there, he was nowhere to be found. I was confused, until I heard a noise in the bush. I thought it was the Woodsman, but it was Quincy Erque instead. I became furious. I was angered because he was constantly playing tag with me, as if it were a joke. So, I charged at him. We battled for a short time, until I jabbed a dagger in his hip. I ran away to show you all, and found him like this.” 

“Oh,” said the children in unison. 

“I see.”

Once again, the conversation was filled with silence. But instead of fidgeting with the other children, Josh thought in deep thought. He had seen many films in movies, and used his so-called “creativity” as logic. 

If Master David had jabbed Quincy in the hip, then why was Mr. Woodsman the one bloody. He thought. 

Then Josh stopped. His eyes became as big as boulders and his back straightened. To prove his theory correct, there would be one question to ask. The question that would change David’s perspective of the Woodsman forever. Josh took a loud gulp. Everyone stared at him. 

Gathering up the courage,  Josh finally asked, “Did you see the Woodsman- I mean, er, Quincy dead?”

David stared into Josh’s eyes that were winced. David had little acknowledgement on how important this question would be. But looking at the little boy’s face showed it all. 

And so David took a deep breath and replied, “No.”

He had run out before seeing Quincy, for all he wanted was to find the kids to show what had occurred. With this response, David looked up at the table. He saw Josh’s pale face turn grim and green and his eyes were strained open. Not wanting to hold suspense, he blurted…

“I think the Woodsman is Quincy.”

Chapter 40

For the first time in a while, David became alert. Then, he laughed. He laughed until his lungs could no longer withstand the feign. The children awkwardly chuckled along, although they could not find anything amusing in the situation. 

Finally, the same curious girl asked, “Why do you think that?’

“Well..” Josh said, looking at David carefully. “If you had stabbed Erque without looking and ran away, you would not have been able to see Erque transform into the Woodsman. And ah- before you ask how we know that it is the Woodsman who is Erque, how do we explain how the Woodsman was dead? There was no other thanErque and  David in the camp ground. I would guess that when you stabbed Erque, he lost his strength and power, and morphed into the Woodsman. “

After this, everyone in the room stayed silent. David had stopped laughing. Josh had a reasonable explanation for what had happened. The only problem was that no one wanted this to be true. If the Woodsman truly was Erque, then that meant that the Woodsman had tried to kill him. Attack him. Betray him.

But the thing that irked David the most was that… he had trusted the Woodsman. He had respect for him. And this whole time it was trickery, was it not? 

The children stared at David in empathy. They understood the worn sadness on David’s face. He missed his family, his life, and his friend, the Woodsman. Boys and girls gathered around David to give him a bear bug, but David raised his hand. The children immediately scattered and sat down at their original place. And  without saying a word, David went upstairs and plopped on the nearest pillow. 

Chapter 41

The first thing that David noticed when he woke up was that…something didn’t feel right. He was surrounded by a wide cot, fluids, medicine, basically anything else in a hospital. David immediately sat up and immediately winced. His head felt light headed. But as he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of small, hazel eyes before him. It was his son. 

George had the same pale, chubby cheeks. His cheeks were rosy and perfectly pink, just how David remembered. His son’s face was in an adorable smile, one that could send a bunch of teenagers flying over to the boy as if he were a celebrity. 

David was nonplussed. He did not know how to react, although he did give his son a big bear hug. This hug felt as if it had lasted five hours, and the whole time David did not want to let go. He had missed the presence of his son to an extent that could not possibly be described. 

Then, David heard a snuffle in the corner of the room. He had not noticed this cry until at that instant. David looked over, and sure enough, sat his wife. His wife had the same dark black hair. It had looked like she had not gotten sleep in a long time, for her eyebags were dark black. As soon as David had turned to look at her, she looked away and her muffle became a sob. 

“Oh, come here Alyson!” David exclaimed, his voice hoarse. 

Alyson rushed into her husband’s arms. It had been a hard word taking care of her child and her stress was relieved in the comfort of his arms. The family hugged in unison and at last, they were reunited. 

Chapter 42

David spent the remainder of the week at the hospital and happily took his pills. He was at last reunited with his family, and that was all that mattered. David was finally dismissed from the hospital. As soon as he was in the room, he stood to look at his surroundings. Everything was in the same position and place. 

A few days later, David was already at work. He worked at a high-tech computer company and programmed websites. The sight of typing and drinking coffee bored him, but hey, it was better than dying and killing rascals.

Despite all this happiness he was feeling, he was also feeling some confusion. Why had he come back after the Woodsman had died? This bugged him for days and months, until one day, something caught his eye. 

He was doing the laundry, and saw his black pants from the day Erque had shot him. The sight of it scared David, and he absent mindedly threw it across the floor. When the pants had hit the ground, out came a shiny, gold necklace. Out of curiosity, David approached the item and picked it up. There he could see the Woodsman’s face. 

Started, David dropped the necklace on the group. However, he still stared at the necklace waiting for something to happen. Then, something did. 

“Hello, David,” the Woodsman said. “By the time you have gotten this, you have figured out that I am no other than Erque himself.”

This caught David’s attention. He picked up the necklace and waited for the Woodsman to go on. 

“I know you would have killed me, Percy. At first, the thought of dying scared me. I tried tricks to fight back, and fled. But, I find something about you that I have never seen in someone. I cannot explain what I mean, but I have sacrificed myself  for you. I have given you another chance in life, and I am sure you will live it well. Be sure to be careful, David. Use your last life wisely.” 

And with this, the story ends. 

END