Chapter Text
The fog grew thicker, and it was getting harder to see. The thick air had felt like needles on his skin. Geo kept walking, practically choking on the stagnant air, squeezing his eyes shut to try the stop the stinging.
He kept walking, one foot in front of the other.
“Just one foot in front of the other.” He told himself for what felt like the hundredth time.
And all of the sudden, the stabbing pain disappeared. It was no longer a struggle to breathe, and his eyes shot open to look around.
But it was all the same. Despite walking for at least an hour, he stood in the same place he had started. The fog always brought him back.
He kicked the closest thing he could see.
He doesn’t know why he even tried to leave, it always ended the same, the fog always brought him back.
He picked up an old tire and threw it as far as he could.
He had tried convincing himself that this time would be different, that he could actually leave. He just wanted to leave.
All his attempts ended the same. The fog would bring him back and he would be left angry and confused.
What was this place? Why couldn’t he leave? Was someone behind this? Why was he here?
He kept asking himself the same questions over and over, and he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t stop the constant racing thoughts.
It didn’t make any sense, this place didn’t make any sense. Had he been cursed? Who would want to curse him?
The endless questions continued to build until it all boiled over. He felt tears well up in his eyes and spill over.
Why had even try leaving anymore? He had no one to go back to, and he knew no one was looking for him.
More tears streamed down his cheeks.
He dropped down to his knees and clutched his fist against the ground in an attempt to calm himself down.
Deep breaths, in and out.
He focused on his breathing, he had to calm himself down. There was no use in getting upset and wasting his energy. He needed to stay calm and level headed.
He pressed the fabric of his robe against his eyes to soak up the least of his tears and let out an exasperated sigh.
The sky was growing darker, and he was getting tired. He slumped onto the dirt and stared up at the sky, admiring the stars.
The stars would always remind him of when he had first left the Munce tribe. When he had first left, he wasn’t sure if he was making the right decision or not. He remembers standing just outside the walls of Shintaro, debating wether or not to go back.
The Munce tribe was all he had ever known, would he even be able to survive on his own?
He was stood there silently, his thoughts racing, until his eyes drifted up, and saw a sky filled of stars.
Just for a moment, his mind was quiet.
He stood there for a few more moments before turning and walking away from the city for the first and last time.
He continued to reminisce as his eyes fell shut.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a loud crash not far from him. He quickly shot up and looked around.
Whatever was there was quick though, running off in the time it took for him to open his eyes.
The whole time he had been there he had not seen anyone else, so the loud sudden sound had left him a little shell shocked.
Was it even another person who had mad that noise though? Maybe it was animal? A strong gust of wind he had noticed?
He quickly picked himself up and began walking in the direction he had heard the noise.
Maybe there hadn’t even been a noise, maybe he was starting to hear things…
Just as the thought crossed his mind, he noticed something in the corner of his eye. A large tarp on top of a trash pile was moving just ever so slightly.
He quietly made his way over, careful not to scare whatever was hiding underneath the tarp. As he got closer, he could hear someone breathing heavily. He also noticed how small the form underneath the tarp was.
He crouched down, making himself small. “Hello? Are you alright…?” He asked, trying his best to sound comforting.
Whoever was under the tarp let out a gasp, and they both froze.
The person underneath the tarp slowly lifted it up to look at him. Geo finally got a good look at them, and was just a bit confused. He had never seen anyone who looked like the child under the tarp.
“I didn’t know there wasss anyone else here, I thought I wasss alone here…” said snake child.
“I thought I was alone too.” Geo said with a small smile.
“What are you sssupposed to be? Do you live here?” The snake asked, tilting his head in way that reminded Geo of a dog.
“No, I don’t live here. I’m a munce from Shintaro.” Geo answered.
The snakes eyes widened. “Shintaro?! That’sss amazing, I’ve heard ssso many ssstories about Shintaro!” He said excitedly
Geo chuckled a little. “Well where are you from? I’ve never seen a walking snake before.”
“You’ve never heard of ssserpentine? I’m a Hypnobrai!” The snake answered.
Geo smiled and offered his hand to the Hypnobrai. “My name is Geo, what’s yours?”
The Hypnobrai took his hand and they began making their way down the trash pile. “My name is Sspitz!” He exclaimed.
Spitz seemed happy to meet someone else here, and Geo was too. He had been stuck here for 7 months, and for those 7 months he only had his own thoughts for company. He can’t imagine how awful that must be for a kid…
“It’s nice to meet you Spitz, do you remember how long you’ve been here?” He asked.
Spitz look down at his feet as he racked his brain. “Uhm… a few daysss, I think…” he answered, “what about you?”
Geo thought for a moment before answering, “not that much longer, do you remember how you got here?”
Spitz quickly looked back down at the ground. “No, I just woke up here one day. I’ve tried to leave, but there’sss thisss weird fog that alwaysss bringsss me back.”
“Yeah, I can’t leave either. But hey, I bet we’ll be able to find a way out together, and you can go back to the other Serpintines!” Geo said, trying to cheer him up.
But when he looked down at Spitz, he saw that there were tears welling up in his eyes.
“I-I can’t go back to the Sserpintine! E-even if I could, they wouldn’t want me!” Spitz spat out, glaring down.
Geo was taken aback by the sudden switch in Spitz attitude, but not all that surprised. He remembered when he still lived in the munce tribe, what it felt like to be forgotten and cast aside. He had been so angry, mostly at himself. As a kid, all he had wanted was to feel wanted.
He squeezed spitz to get his attention. “That’s ok, you don’t have to go back! When we get out of here I’m not going back to the munce tribe.” Geo said quickly, trying to console him.
“W-wuh? Why not…? Don’t you miss them…” Spitz asked.
“Well, sometimes.. but I was too cool for them anyways. Bet you were too cool for those other serpentine too, huh?” Geo said.
Spitz laughed and wiped away his tears. “Yeah, I’m waaay cooler than those other guys!” He said confidently, smiling up at Geo.
“Come on and help my gather some stuff for a fire, you should get warmed up before going to sleep.” Geo said smiling back.
“Ok!” Spits yelled excitedly while running off.
Geo began setting up some bricks and stones into a circle for the fire. Once he was finished, he pulled some large branches out of a nearby trash pile. After he had finished setting up, Spitz came running back with an armful of twigs and trash to use as kindling supplies.
Once Geo got the fire going he sat back down, waving Spitz over next to him. He could tell that Spitz was getting tired when he snuggled up agains his side. Geo absentmindedly rubbed Spitz back as he watched the fire flicker.
Now that there was a kid stuck with him too, he was going to have to start taking everything more seriously. He didn’t want to admit it, but he had already grown attached and had a soft spot for the little guy.
Starting tomorrow, no more moping, and no more self pitying. He had to be strong for Spitz.