Fateful Farewell

Taking a minute to process the massive shifts in reality that had conspired in the last 20 minutes, James slumped back against a nearby tree trunk, the adrenaline-fueled machismo wearing off as the introduction of an unmistakable factor - 'Dan' - threw him back into the reality of the situation.

Magically appearing in an unknown land, his best friend actually having a dual identity as a mobster rabbit, and the haunting spectre of the strange old man he'd seen on campus what felt like a lifetime ago all plagued his mind. Understandably shaken, James squeaked out a single word: "Dan?".

With a smile of pity and understanding on his face, Antonio responded, "Yeah buddy?".

"Why did you lie to me?", asked James, looking his friend dead in the eyes, a look of helplessness plastered across his face. Of course it was helplessness; the only friend he had in this world might not even be that - he lied about his identity, so a simple thought crossed James' mind, 'Could our entire friendship be a lie?'.

To this Antonio gave a look of slight embarrassment, scratching his head. "I had to, now that it's out I have to leave", he said, "It was for your own good".

"For my own good?" sneered James, "Did you ask me what I wanted? Or did you decide that lying to me was the right decision to make for me? You have a great habit of doing that don't you? You know, I bet that this was all because of your stupid idea to go explore an active god-damn crime scene! Who does that? Apparently me! And then I run into some jacked old dude who terrifies me so much that even thinking of him. Even just that. It makes me so scared I can't even speak!"

"Let's not forget that I'm now 13 for some fucking reason, the smart idea of you chucking me to my near certain death on a whim because of some stupid 'Son of God' -"

"Child of Heaven actually…" interjected Antonio, a hesitant tone rapidly overtaking his voice as he realised his mistake in interrupting just a bit too late.

"SHUT UP!" yelled James, "You never shut up do you 'Dan'! Your smartass ideas and thoughts got me into the mess and now I'm stuck here. I'm stuck. I don't…"

With that final trailing outburst, the last drop of adrenaline keeping James from passing out was expunged and mental exhaustion quickly set in. Tunnel vision turned to unconsciousness as James slumped forwards, his neck hanging down and resting on his chest, the last fleeting look of unwillingness hanging on his face.

"I see" said Antonio to himself. "I've caused a big heap of trouble this time haven't I…"

Antonio tapped a small signet ring, adorned with a black gem, swirling portions of it fading in and out of existence seemingly at random. A small brown leather pouch about the size of a melon appeared from thin air, dropping into his hands slowly, before placing it gently into the lap of his unconscious friend.

As pangs of guilt wracked his face, Antonio suddenly remembered something: 'I can't be here'. Taking a final pitied glance at his friend, Antonio turned away, steeling himself and disappearing from the clearing.

"Goodbye, friend.". Those words echoed in the wind, landing on deaf ears as Antonio's figure flitted away, jumping through the treetops and not looking back. The only evidence of him ever having been there was a small leather pouch left in the lap of the collapsed teenage boy sitting alone in an empty forest.