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It was a shortcut.
It was supposed to be a shortcut.
Wilbur has admittedly never been through this part of the park before. The place is so big however, he wouldn't be surprised if no one has even traversed through this area in a long time.
People fear the place too much. Rumours of people going missing force parents to keep closer eyes on their kids or just avoid the place altogether.
Which makes it perfect for loners like himself to get lost in.
But right now he just wanted to get home, to his small apartment after a long day at the studio.
He's glad that he was able to finish up his new song. Just needed to tweak some bits and pieces and he was looking at a complete song ready to be published.
For now though, chilling on the couch with some ramen cup noodles in some comfy clothes watching movies on Netflix, sounded really nice right now.
And he wanted to get there quickly and though he usually went around the park to get to his apartment, he decided to go through it.
Heh, like that book.
Still, hopefully, he'll be there before it gets too late in the afternoon. But it's summer so it's at least sunny.
Wilbur casually flicks through his phone, going from Twitter to Spotify as he chooses and picks songs to listen to through his ear phones.
He doesn't pay much attention to his surroundings, he just had to avoid a few trees and roots that could trip him over or the annoying plants that stuck to his pants.
So he obviously doesn't notice the circle of red mushrooms with white spots. He doesn't notice when the first step he takes inside said circle and the air changes.
He doesn't notice the bright sky. The cool and perfect breeze on a hot day. Doesn't notice the wonderful smell of flowers and nature swirling around him like a comfortable hug.
Doesn't notice the slight buzz in the air that would make anyone's skin fizzle like a cold soda drink.
Doesn't hear the jingle of bells and the giggles of a child carried by the wind.
He does notice the blue of a figure zip in his peripherals.
Wilbur blinks and looks up from his phone, the song Bad Habits by Ed Sheering blasting in his ears. He looks around, noting the area as he stops suddenly.
The place is too bright.
The smell of flowers and nature he didn't smell when he first walked through the trees were now filling his nostrils.
He felt unbelievably calm but couldn't help feeling some strange buzz in the air that tickled his skin and brain.
He blinked rapidly as if to wipe away this strange feeling surrounding him.
To get rid of the veil he knows is there but doesn't know is there.
It's so confusing.
He takes off his earphones, the song already halfway done as Ed Sheeran sings his heart out.
Maybe he should call someone. Maybe Niki can just talk to him to get rid of this strange feeling in his chest. To get rid of the buzzing in his head or the little voice that keeps telling him to keep going.
He looks down at his phone but jumps when he hears a bush rustle.
A blur of blue and yellow rush past his peripheral as he twists and turns to see what or who is there.
"Hello? Is someone there?" Wilbur calls out but doesn't get a clear answer.
Just a childish giggle and trees shakes as if someone pushed themselves off it to run away.
Like a kid playing a game with him, they keep going.
"Hey, stop messing around, I think I'm lost so you might be as well."
Suddenly everything stops. The giggling, the running, the pitter patter of feet running across grass.
It's just silent. Not even the breeze disturbs the strange moment of peace.
Wilbur twists and turns a bit more. Nothing happens.
Did they just run away?
That is until he sees something in his peripherals again. Something below him and he looks down.
He jumps and even yelps in surprise at the child standing in front of him.
"Holy shit, you scared the shit out of me." Wilbur gasps, the kid giggles and it's the same giggle that had been playing with him for several minutes now.
Wilbur looks down at the kid and closely inspects them. He doesn't know why but the kid just looks… too odd.
The kid is blonde and wears a blue tunic weirdly enough.
The kid looks about 10 to 12 years old and has bright blue eyes and almost golden blonde hair.
The child is the perfect description of a golden child as he's clean and pristine. His hair is curled and brushed to perfection and he's healthy and well fed. Filled in cheeks and healthy coloured skin.
Light dots of freckles line his cheeks and he gives a smile that radiates sunshine.
Wilbur is instantly lured by the kid although he doesn't know why. He never was one to like children. Kept his distance and only ever babysat his cousin once years ago, who was five years old and just played with his trucks all day.
"Uh, you okay, kid? You lost or something?" The man questions, and considering he probably will just lay about and do nothing the rest of the afternoon, he might as well help this kid get back to his parents.
He's not an asshole after all.
The kid however, just giggled again.
"I thought you said you were lost." The kid replies, which is true but it's the principal and he's supposed to ask anyway, ain't he?
"Well, maybe I am. What? You know this place better than me then?" He jests, crossing his arms as he raises an eyebrow but can't help but raise a smile.
The kid is so… alluring, endearing and he's only said 7 words to him.
The child nods enthusiastically.
"Of course I do, I always explore this place. I love running through the trees and swinging off branches. My Dad sometimes joins me or my brother but a lot of the time it's just me."
Wilbur smiles solemnly. He feels strangely happy the kids got a loving family. It's not like Wilbur ever did. His Dad is a deadbeat and his mum is a drug addict, after all.
"That's cool, you must really love your family." The kid spins around on the spot but looks up to beam at Wilbur with a smile that rivals the sun.
"Yeah, my Dad is the best. He loves crows and my brother has pink hair and he lets me play with it." The boy crows about his family and Wilbur listens with rapt attention.
"That's awesome kiddo, just wanted to ask, do you know where your Dad is? I bet he's worried about you." He asks as he leans down, hands on his knees.
Maybe this kid is one of the kids that visit the park. Although rarely visited because of the rumours, it doesn't mean no one goes there.
"I know how to get there, I'm not the one lost, you are." The kid exclaims, pointing up at Wilbur and he decides humours him. He knows kids like to put on a brave face although this kid seems to be pretty good at it.
"Oh yeah? Well, I guess you gotta help me out huh?"
The enthusiastic nod that follows is worth it as the kid jumps around like he's got too much energy in his tiny body.
"I will, but only if you do one thing." The kid says, almost seriously as he puts up a finger.
Wilbur crouches fully now, hands still on his knees.
"Oh yeah and what's that?"
The kids smile turns sweet as he rocks on his heels and folds his arms behind his back.
"Can I know your name?" He asks sweetly, like a kid asking for some sweets before bed. There's a fight going on in his head. A small part saying no but the bigger says what's the harm?
It's just a kid.
"I'm Wilbur."
It's instantaneous. It feels like a rush flows through him as the words leave his lips. As he gives his name, it feels like a trap has been set. Lock and key he can never get back.
The child, small and radiating innocence as well as something else sinister hidden behind a sun filled smile, smiles a little sharper.
"Wilbur." The same rush fills him like water and his mind falls into a fog.
What was he worried about again?
Oh yeah, he's got to help this kid get home doesn't he?
The kid holds out a small hand with sharper nails that almost look like claws at the end. Without hesitation Wilbur takes it and is guided hand in hand.
He follows just behind the boy as the kid leads him through the forest. But what was something that seemed endless broke off into a clearing.
And standing there tall and proud was a castle, its walls shined like silver marble and its windows coloured and decorated by artistic perfection, telling stories. Its doors wide open, and neither hesitated to walk inside.
The veil seemed to thin more as Wilbur was able to see men in armour and pointy ears.
The boy he follows changes as pointed ears poke from the curls of his hair and his eyes glow an ever brighter blue.
He spots movement on the boy's back where white feathery appendages sit, too small to fly but beautiful that they shine like pearls in the light.
The boy greets people as they pass them. Men in armour, graceful people wearing robes of silk and decorated in jewels of gold, silver and gems.
But not once does his hand leave Wilburs.
None of them stop him and don't even take a second glance at Wilbur.
The boy has made it clear who he's with.
It isn't until they stop before an intricately carved door of crows and flowers that the boy lets go of Wilburs hand. Wilbur, feels a part of him whine and cry at the loss. He wants to hold the boy's hand again. And he doesn't want to let go. What if he loses him on the prefixes of his mind? Of the forest that surrounded him like half his life had been?
But the boy doesn't go far, he goes up to the door with a skip in his step and gently knocks three times.
In moments the doors open slowly and without anyone helping. But like magic it just does.
The boy with golden hair turns back to Wilbur and grabs his hand again. Wilbur feels over elated and smiles as the fog continues to consume his mind.
They walk into the room and it turns out to be the throne room. There's a red carpet that leads from the door to the stairs that go up to 4 thrones.
Two at the back.
Two at the front.
Pillars line the edge of the large corridor room with windows taking up the wall on one side. The light of the setting sun paints the walls across from them in a beautiful shade of yellow and orange.
They aren't alone in the room either.
On the throne, one that sits at the front of the lifted stage with marble stairs that lead up to them, is a man.
Or what looks to be a man.
He looks so akin to the boy he follows.
Blonde hair but longer and straight instead of curly. Long enough it reaches his shoulders.
His icy blue eyes shimmer in the light of the setting sun as he raises his head and smiles sweetly at the two that enter.
A crow perches on the arm of the throne's chair and caws at their approach.
Wilbur almost stares at the feathered black wings on the man's back for too long as they ruffle at their presence.
"Ah, my sweet boy, what have you brought with you today?" The man asks kindly, turning his body to face the two as the boy stops at the bottom of the stairs with a single boot stomp and a wide smile.
Wilbur almost does a double take at the appearance of the small golden circlet on the boy's head.
"I found a friend. He just wandered into the veil without looking where he was going. He was looking at this thing," he holds up Wilbur's phone. Huh, when did he give him that? Maybe he can let the kid play some games on it later, "and had these little things in his ears that played music through them." And those are his earphones. There's a lot of songs Wilbur could show him too.
The man hums, tilting his head as he scrutinises Wilbur before standing gracefully from his throne.
He walks down the marble steps, eyes kept on Wilbur.
"The world has certainly changed. I don't think I've seen what humanity has been up to in so long."
He reaches the bottom of the stairs and Wilbur finds the man is a lot shorter than him. But his presence is bigger even with his short stature.
He seems like something or someone of great importance. His aura fills the room and the buzzing Wilbur had felt before now feels like a quiet stream that flows through his veins.
It's warm.
The man hums again, his head tilting to the other side before a hand reaches up to Wilbur.
Wilbur doesn't move, there's nothing wrong with this. Nothing. He feels warm and gooey and he's with the boy made of sunshine and now a man with black wings and a kind smile that greets him.
Even with the too sharp teeth and pointed ears and the feeling of being surrounded by something inhuman. The wings in their backs and the influence of their voices.
He feels so safe.
Soft, calloused but warm hands cup his cheek and he looks down at the man who looks up with such a wide smile of accomplishment. Of greed and love.
"Oh you are perfect, absolutely perfect." He whispers with a saccharine smile and sickly sweet lips.
He feels the boy jump at his side.
"So are we keeping him?" He cheers brightly. His smile never fails to pierce Wilbur with warmth at the sight of it.
"Yes Tommy, you did wonderfully son." The man praises, looking down at the boy with the same level of love he just gave Wilbur with his look and smile.
The boy preens at the praise and runs into his fathers arms.
Oh, this is his Dad.
He found the boys - Tommy's - father.
The two hug and Wilbur feels an ache in his chest to join. He wants to join and be wrapped up in the olders wings. Feel and pet the ones on the younger.
They look so soft and comfortable.
The man looks down at the boy again, a shine in his eyes, new but so easy to make that he must always have that shine.
"My boy, why don't you take our new member to my nest. Your brother should be back soon and your mother will want to know about the new nestling."
Wilbur doesn't mind the sound of that, especially when the excitement comes to Tommy's eyes.
Huh, that name suits him well.
"I will, are you gonna tell Mumza now?"
The man nods curtly and looks back up at Wilbur. Wilbur eats up the attention.
"Mhm, your mother will want to know, after all," he raises another hand that cards sharp talons gently through his hair, "she'll want to spoil the fledgling."
Wilbur leans into the touch with a soft hum of content and a gentle closing of his eyes.
He hears an amused huffing as he gets another scratch to his head before the hand leaves.
Before he can whine, he feels a small hand take his as he's gently dragged towards a different door and into a new hallway.
He takes a glance behind him to find the winged man watching them leave with a satisfied look in his eyes and a gentle smile.
Wilbur hopes to see that man again. He wants to see more, see that smile and feel that aura that radiated off of him in waves.
He has a feeling he will.
The kid - Tommy - leads him into a new room. This time it's a bedroom.
It's large, the majority of the space is taken up by a round bed that looks akin to a bird's nest. It is filled with blankets, pillows and even clothing.
There are shelves with books Wilbur has never seen before.
Hanging above it a chandelier but around it are bottles of different colour and chimes made of crystal.
Prism shaped glass in string that when caught in the light, gives off a beautiful reflection.
Wilbur feels like he could stare at it all day.
The two stop at the edge of the bed, the door slowly closing behind them.
"Hop on Wilbur, I bet you're tired." He is tired actually, he can't help the yawn that escapes him as he climbs onto the white and golden sheets.
He finds a perfect place at the centre and curls in it. Followed by another body, tucking itself under his arm.
He welcomes the small form of the boy and tucks him under his chin. He receives a happy chirp that he wishes he could respond to and has an urge to do so.
But still, he lays there, arms wrapped around a golden boy he met not hours ago in a forest.
He feels alright about it though.
"Go to sleep Wilbur, we'll-" a little yawn interrupts, "-we'll have more fun in the morning."
And he finds he can't wait for morning now. He closes his eyes and let's the fog pull him into sleep curled in warmth, with another sharing the bliss of comfort and sleep.
This feels great. He doesn't know why he would worry about anything.
As he allows the darkness to consume him, he knows that he belongs here.