When Chuck pointed at the tree in front of them, Max was confused. How was this tree considered a village? Was Chuck actually schizophrenic? This was the first question that popped up in Max's head.
But when Chuck insisted to follow him, Max agreed. He had seen far stranger stuff than this anyway. Max waited for Chuck to move first, which he did the very next second.
Chuck for some reason walked towards the tree and vanished when he touched it. It was almost as if he went through the tree. Max followed suite, trusting the kid.
Chuck: Ya, follow my voice, you will find the entrance!
When Max heard Chuck's voice he wasn't visible. Max was near the tree to closely examine it. He tried touching the bark, but his hand went through it, as it separated itself, as if it was made of thin fibres. It was actually really tiny vines, the exact colour of the trees, made to cover the huge cavity in the bark.
As Max pushed away that and entered he saw the fibre-like substance rearrange itself to cover the entrance again. Max kept walking in the dark area, following the light ahead of him. And he finally got out, to see Chuck waiting for him.
He was smiling and looked excited. He pointed to his opposite side.
Chuck: Welcome to my village!
Max: Woah.
This wasn't an answer that deserved to be expressed at the sight he saw. He wasn't staring at some impossible sight of mankind or anything grandiose of sorts. All he was looking at was a peaceful, rural side village. It was simple in style and architecture, that people would have built during their farming years.
Amazing part about the village, was their roads. It was made of pebbles, carefully placed to create a huge pathway. A task which was still kinda impossible and extravagant in the world he grew up in.
The houses there, were mere cottages, with semi hemisphere rooftops. They had chimneys everywhere. Far away he could see something that resembled a market place. It was still night and moon shone into the village giving it an eerie look. There were street light-like poles too at every street corner.
But the worst part of this village was clear as day.
THERE WASN'T A SINGLE PERSON TO BE FOUND.
No one was in sight in any direction. None of the windows in the cottages had any indication of light or life. The street lights weren't on too. It was almost as if this was a ghost town, which sent a shiver down Max's spine. The only illumination this village got was the moon light.
Was he right? Was the kid actually just bat-shit crazy?
Max turned at Chuck again.
Chuck: Ya....no one lives here anymore. Don't be creeped out.
Max was trying incredibly hard to sustain a face of calmness in front of the kid. Maybe there was more to the story, Max thought.
Max: What happened to everyone here then?? Why do you live alone?
Chuck: I don't know where everyone went. They just....vanished. Like poof! I've been alone ever since.
Max: What?? How long ago was that..?
Chuck: Everyone here vanished about a week ago, I think. Honestly, everyday feels the same to me now.
Max wondered how the kid lived through a week of loneliness in a village that went missing suddenly.
Max: You had someone you love here?? Like your...uncle?
Chuck turned immediately towards Max. His eyes were filled with curiosity.
Chuck: Ya...you did say you saw my uncle...I wanna know more.
Max: Only if you tell me..
Chuck hesitated for a moment. But then he took a deep breath and decided to spill. They kept walking, as it felt like Chuck was still going somewhere. Probably to his house.
Chuck: My uncle is called Matthew. He was the guy with the monocle and the thick facial hair. He was the only one in the village with that style.
Max: So, you are sure, that the guy I saw was him? You know I could have mistaken him right?
Chuck: Did he have a butler costume on..?
Max started silently at him, as they kept walking...
Max: .....Yupp...I saw your uncle.
Chuck: Can you tell me where?? Pleaseeee??
It almost looked as if that was his salvation. As if that's all Chuck wanted right now. He seemed lost to Max.
Max: I .....don't know actually....it's a huge forest...and I was lost...
Chuck sighed. For a kid, he wasn't throwing a tantrum. He was pretty mature for his age.
Chuck: You know, my uncle was always home whenever I got back from playing. It's...weird now. Lonely too...
Max just kept quiet. It felt like he was holding it in until now. Max decided that Chuck needs to have his moment right now.
Chuck: He was also one of the people that went missing. Our village has a rule. A rule that no one should break.
Max: A rule??
Max enquired...curios about it.
Chuck: Our rule is simple. Do not leave the borders around the village. Or we will be caught by the Ameliorates, or the Experiments.
Max: Experiments and Ameliorates?? What's that?
Chuck was shocked to hear that. But then he bent down again, and continued walking.
Chuck: They are like...monsters. what we saw out there probably was an Experiment too. It's an experiment to play with life. That's all everyone knows. I'm surprised you don't know that.
Max: Well...I ain't technically from around here..
Chuck chose to ignore that for the time being, as he didn't question him. Max walked slowly, as Chuck looked around him.
Chuck: This is where I grew up. This is where I played with my friends. I loved them all. I loved my village. Everyone. I knew everyone in this village. All 135 of them.
Max was amazed at this kids knowledge. The entire population of the village, including his family, had vanished. Max couldn't begin to imagine what kind of torture he had gone through at this age.
Chuck: I was away...I sneaked out, that one day. That's it. And by the time I returned, no one were there. Everyone were just...gone...
Max felt sad for a moment. That's how he felt too. He remembered being with everyone in his family, and then suddenly waking up in cocoon like pod, with blue eyes and a black arm. He somewhat could relate.
Chuck bit his lip hard, trying to control his tears.
Chuck: And the last memory I have of him.....was just an argument. I was sooo angry on him and I just left. But when I returned. .everyone was ...go...gone....
Max realised that the poor kid couldn't take it anymore. Max started patting his head. Trying to calm him down. Chuck was using his entire forearm to wipe the tears. Max felt sympathy for a kid going through something like this.
But then he wondered. If the guy he saw in the forest was this kid's uncle, then what about the people with him? Were they villagers too? Were all the missing people in the forest? Why were they were?
Thoughts of all sorts circulated his brain. He wanted to say it to Chuck immediately, but he refrained from doing so, so as to not endanger him anymore. But he knew he had to say when he has calmed down a little, despite the show of emotional intelligence and maturity that the kid had shown earlier.
Chuck: We are here....this is my home...!
Chuck pointed at the house in the middle. It had two windows on two sides. It was rather small, and the roof was red in colour, atleast from the illumination that he recieved from the moon.
The door was locked and Chuck was looking for a key in his pocket as Max waited. As soon as he slid the key into keyhole, the door opened slightly. Max thought it was magic.
Chuck: Hmm....I swear I locked it...
Max realised that the door was already open. Max immediately rushed to his side and stopped him from going further, as the door slowly moved to the side and opened due to the wind. The door also creaked.
Max: Stop....I can hear someone inside. There is someone at the door!!