Chapter 1
A group of kids stood alone in the front of an old, laid back school that sat next to a dark forest. Every other kid had already quickly rushed home. If only Mason’s had decided to rush home like the others instead of stay a while longer to turn in an assignment he wouldn’t be here, stuck in this problem.
“Come on guys you don’t have to do this.” Mason said shakily as the three bigger kids laughed at him as they pounded their fists.
Mason Key, a kid who’s body was closer to the size of a short and skinny sixth grade rather than a normal 9th grader and brain that, most would agree, would put others to shame is also the number one kid to pick on. What a fun collection of achievements. His messy, brown hair of varying shades swayed just barely over his eyes which were the color of a golden sunset. Mason usually wore hooded, zipper jackets with solid-color t-shirts and matching jeans along with the run down running shoes.
Mason now stood facing the three biggest kids in his school pounded their fists and laughed threats. Not creative one but most definitely unpleasant ideas.
The three rocks-for-brain jocks with their hair filled with all sorts of products and football jackets on top of white shirts and blue jeans below continue to laugh at Mason weak attempt to get them to stop.
The leader of the group, Roger, said. “Well who else is going to teach you not to go looking at other guy’s girl. You seemed a little too buddy today in class.”
Chelsea, Roger’s girlfriend, one of the best looking girls at school, maybe in the city. That’s why they’re doing this? Roger’s thick, over-obsessed head can’t tell the difference between someone helping someone with math, which is what Mason was doing, and flirting with someone. Sure most guys had a crush on her and Mason wouldn’t mind getting to know her better but the two of them dating just never crossed his mind.
“Okay first, I was just helping her with math and second, why would I try to do anything close to what your thinking?” Mason replied.
“Oh so she’s not good enough for you nerd?” Roger accused.
“No! Of course not. It’s more like the other way around. What I meant was that I know the two of you are a thing and I wouldn’t try anything.” Mason clarified.
“Oh so if we weren’t together you would try to get together?” Roger said. “You going to try to break us up or something?”
“No! For the last time I was just helping her with math, nothing else.” Mason said.
Roger seemed to be pondering what Mason had said to see if he should pound him or not. His pals on the sides of him seemed to want the pounding option but luckily for Mason Roger looked like he was going in the other direction. That was until Mason heard his named called by a familiar voice.
“Mason!” Chelsea called out when she spotted him after walking out of the building then rushed over, her curly blonde hair bouncing on her shoulders and her pink expensive clothing standing out in the crowd.
Oh no.
“Mason!” She said excitedly when she reached the group. “Look at the grade I got on the test. It’s so much higher than the other ones and it’s all because of you.”
Chelsea held out her math test with the number 79 circled on the top. Sure it wasn’t the best grade but Chelsea usually failed or just barely passed her tests so this was huge to her.
Roger seemed to be trying to process what was going on in front of him and figure out what he should do.
“Roger I’ll call you later and Mason thank you so much.” She said as she gave Mason a tight hug.
Mason’s brain stopped as his heart sped up.
“Bye.” She called as she walked off.
Mason was still trying to recover from what just happen but one look at Roger’s furiously red face with his eyes nearly popping out of his head was enough to snap Mason out of his daze.
“R-Roger that wasn’t what it looked like.” Mason stammered.
“Hmmm!” Roger grunted like an angry bull about to charge.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.” Mason said taking a step back.
“Hmmmm!” Roger grunted again.
“You know what I’m just going to go.” Mason said as he began to turn and run.
“You are dead Mason Key!”
Mason dashed from the angry jocks but he stood no match against their speed and only made it about a yard before they caught up to him. The jock named Tim tackled him to the ground as the one named Bill pinned him down just by pushing down on his back with his foot.
“What do we do with him?” Asked Tim.
“You ever hear about the rumor of the curse in the forest?” Roger asked his fellow jocks.
“You mean that thing ‘bout people disappearing in there?” Bill asked.
“Yep.” Roger replied. “How about we see if it’s true?”
Tim and Bill laughed wickedly as they picked up Mason and dragged him to the edge of the woods and flopped him onto the ground. Mason quickly stood up with a curiously scared face.
“So Mason here’s the deal if you walk into the forest in a straight line for ten minutes then come back right here I’ll forget what happened earlier and allow you to continue to help Chelsea and let whatever rewards she gives you slide.” Roger said.
“What if I don’t?” Mason asked.
“If you don’t then we’ll beat you up until you wake up in the hospital.” Roger threatened.
With those two options going into a possibly cursed forest didn’t seem too bad. The tall trees loomed over the group and the darkness ahead warned of danger. A few months ago a rumor started going around that the forest was cursed or something because a kid went in and never came out. Other disappearances happened over the years but the thing with this one was a search party found the kid’s body. It’s head turned all the way around and a mix between fear, crying, and laughing froze on the kid’s face. They also say the kid’s brain was melted into a puddle a brainy soup. Now everyone stays away from there unless they had some sick sort of death wish.
“What are you waiting for nerd?” Roger said.
“So ten minutes in there then I can come back right?” Mason checked.
“Right. Both ends will have a timer. Come back any earlier you’ll wake up in the hospital.” Roger said.
“Stay in there for too long and you’ll end up dead.” Tim laughed.
Mason and Roger both pulled out their phones and set a timer for ten minutes.
“Keep walking straight until the timer goes off then you can come back.” Roger said.
Mason nodded. They both started the timers at the same time and Mason entered the forest. Within seconds the jocks lost sight of him.
The jocks were now sitting and waiting. Tim and Bill were eager to know what happened in there. Roger just looked worried and frightful. As his head cooled and he replayed the events in his head he realized he may have gone a bit overboard. Mason was helping Chelsea and Chelsea was sweet to everyone so what happened wasn’t Mason’s fault. He was actually glad Chelsea was getting help. Roger couldn’t help his temper.
The sudden alarm going off shocked everyone. Now Mason would be coming back. Unless...
Minutes ticked by. Each second where Mason hadn’t showed up and each minute where he wasn’t here frightened the group.
What if he died?
Would they be found guilty of murder?
They had forced him to go in there.
They knew what could happen in there and what has happened.
They knew those things could happen to Mason too.
And they still sent him in there.
It had now been twenty minutes since Mason went in there and he still hasn’t came out.
Roger stood up and went to the very edge of the forest.
“Mason!” He called out.
There was no reply except for the echo of his shout.
And a laugh.
A laugh?
A loud, deep laugh echoed throughout the forest. Tim and Bill stood up.
“Mason?” Roger said again.
The slow laugh continued.
“Oh no man! It’s the curse! It got him!” Tim yelled.
“It’s real! There’s something in there!” Bill yelled.
“Lets get out of here!” Tim yelled.
Tim and Bill both ran as fast as they could away from the forest. Roger stayed back for a second longer, sadly shook his head as there was nothing he could do and walked away.
The laughing soon faded away.
