Greetings and welcome to the Theory Entales. I'm your storyteller, and each time
we sit down together, we'll explore a tale from the world of Theory,
a fantasy realm created with the Dungeons and Randomness podcast. On that show,
groups of people have explored the world and told countless stories of their own.
Our stories will have a singular focus, though they can range from tragic to
triumphant and everything in between. Today's story is about a man with a crush
a yarn that starts all too familiar before taking an interesting turn. Dear listeners,
this week I present to you The Strangers, written by Jason Massey and
Brianna Murray. We hope you enjoy. This is humiliating, Jack thought to
himself as he felt Amber's gaze on his left hand side. He'd always been
useless at starting fires, but he'd hope that his desire to impress the woman
he'd had a crush on for so long would help him overcome his own ineptitude.
It had taken forever for him to work up the courage to speak to
her at the tavern. He saw her there almost every other day while making
deliveries across town. Something that made his trips there a worthwhile street instead of
a menial chore. The moment he turned the corner and saw the sign that
read the Silver Flagon, his heart would begin to beat steadily faster with each
step he took toward the front door. He would pass the kindly old man
Ewen who ran the fruit stand just outside, and exchange pleasantries. On the
day he finally managed to approach her. After a lengthy conversation with himself to
work up his courage, he finally sputtered out a hello in her direction.
Amber Crenshaw looked up from her book she was reading. After a moment.
Her dark charcoal eyes seemed to stare straight through the gawky stranger in front of
her for just a beat or two. After what seemed like an eternity to
Jack, she blinked and gave a slight giggle. I'm so sorry. I
guess I got lost in my own little world. Hello. You're Jack,
right, He was astonished she was talking to him, let alone knew his
name. Oh yeah, he stammered. The two maintained eye contact for just
a second pass what was comfortable, until both started to speak over one another.
Sorry, Jack mumbled, what are you reading? It's this wilderness guide.
I can't seem to put it down, She replied. Oh, do
you do a lot of traveling or something? Jack asked, I wish.
I've mostly been stuck in town these days. It's not like Alvary isn't a
nice place or something. It's just that sometimes you want to get away from
everything for a while, you know, sort of leave everyone behind. During
the last sentiment, she brushed a portion of long black hair behind her slightly
pointed ear, a small movement that made Jack feel even more endearment toward her.
Oh. Really, well, I just so happy to go camping.
Quite a bit, his brain put out the alarms. What was he doing?
The words had tumbled out of his lips in such a matter of fact
tone that he almost could believe in himself. He wanted to correct himself,
take it back in a playful way that wouldn't brand him a liar, but
he couldn't find the words before Amber chimed in, that's fantastic. Where do
you usually camp? He started to panic a bit. Why did he lie?
He was an abysmal outdoorsman? If he told her now, though,
the girl of his dreams would never trust him again. Um normally just in
the hills to the east, about twenty miles or so from here, he
improvised, impressed with his own aptitude for lying in the moment, so impressed
that it continued on the statement without realizing how stupid he was being. Maybe
I could take you some time. Are you asking me on a date?
Jack? She smiled as she cut to the chase. To Jack, it
felt like several minutes before he could put two words together. In reality,
it was only several seconds of him stammering. Amber's grin stretched across her face
as Jack struggled to gather his composure. I yes, he finally retorted.
It's a bit of a big first step, isn't it, She asked.
I mean I barely know you, and you'd be taking me out in the
middle of nowhere. Though Amber sounded more flirtatious than suspicious, Jack realized in
a moment that, on top of lying, he also came across like a
murderous creep at the same time, as if there wasn't a certain type of
person who surely would laura pretty girl like Amber into the woods and then try
to harm her. How was she meant to know he was different. Thankfully,
she seemed to think he was without much convincing, She made a show
of puzzling it over. I do have some time off next weekend, though,
I guess we'll just have to get to know each other better until then.
She reached over and gripped Jack's hand, and the two spent the rest
of the day chatting. Jack made it a point not to tell any more
lies outside of the ones he needed to throw out there to support the original
lie. Mostly they spoke about literature, with Amber seemingly being a of a
bookworm and Jack looking a few choice genres of fiction. They left the conversation
with a list of recommendations for one another, unless Jack added a few wilderness
guides to for good measure in his head. The week flew by in a
whirlwind for Jack. He and Amber had really enjoyed each other's company and spent
almost every day asking one another questions about their families, friends, and careers.
They ate dinners together and even took a ride to Durnhallow, where Jack
needed to deliver some supplies. Of course, that trip hadn't involved setting up
a camp fire, as they stayed at an inn in separate rooms for the
night. As time passed, Jack grew more and more nervous about their camping
trip. He managed to convince Amber that he needed to put it off for
a few weeks due to poor weather, which thankfully was actually true, so
he didn't need to add to his sins with the borrowed time. He attempted
to subtly downplay his supposed expertise throughout the week, but with alt fail Amber
would respond with some fair creation of I'm sure it'll be fine and you'll do
a great job. He felt awful about the lie, but vow to learn
everything he could before the big trip and never lie again if he could just
get through this. Finally, Jack couldn't put up the trip any longer.
The day came to set out, and he spent his savings buying brand new
camping gear and supplies that turned out to be the first of quite a few
mistakes. Wow. Amber stared for a few moments at the man carrying at
least sixty pounds of extra items on his pack. Jack looked like the weight
threatened to compact his body at any moment. Are we really gonna need all
this for a weekend trip? Jack he's strained to speak normally under the added
weight. Oh yeah, this is all pretty standard, really, well,
at least let me help you carry some of it. She started to reach
for his pack, but Jack pulled back right away. Oh that won't be
necessary. Oh for Pete's She grabbed the pack and pulled him in close,
starting to redistribute the load. You don't need to show off to impress me,
you know, she gently scolded. The words resonated inside the young man,
throwing him off long enough for her to finish taking some of the equipment
and strap it to her own pack. Jack felt a mixture of shame and
foolishness for thinking his crush wouldn't notice the weight, or that she might assume
he could carry it on his own. As such, they walked in silence
for a few minutes after. Once they started making their way out of town,
Amber leaned over to Jack and asked, in a low voice, so,
what was the plan there? Anyway? Walked the whole twenty miles carrying
most of a house on your back? That broke the tension, and Jack
felt himself relaxed down, his shoulders in spine, mostly able to do so
because his pack wasn't as heavy, not at all. I was going to
get as far as I could, and then I figured we would just camp
wherever I stopped, he said, with a grin, as sly as hers
during the teasing. Right. But the point was to get out and see
new things. I've seen the alley behind the bar Jack. The two share
to laugh as they walked under the archway leaving town. They walked as far
as they could on the first day, but didn't get anywhere near the optimistic
twenty miles they were planning on. Amber explained that she had broken her ankle
when she was a child and it never quite healed correctly. It soon became
apparent that the trip would have to revolve around that healed injury, which didn't
bother Jack. Once her ankle became sore, they would take a break.
Once she confessed that it was hurting quite a lot and noticed that the sun
was beginning to set, they started setting up camp and Jack began to build
a fire. Several minutes went by as he fumbled with sticks and tried to
exude the confidence of someone who knew what they were doing. His feeble attempts
became more desperate as he tried over and over again, starting to sweat become
frustrated, Amber finally broke the silence. So when are you going to admit
that you don't know the first thing about camping? Jack ever so slowly looked
up from his broken pile of sticks, eyes wide as they met hers,
her smile contrasting his slack jawed stare. Oh, come on, Jack,
Amber pushed him playfully. I'm not an idiot. He started to think of
an explanation, but then deflated. He finally had a chance to come clean,
if nothing else, though it seemed less meaningful after she'd cornered him.
How did you know? He finally asked, How could I not know?
Amber looked at Jack in disbelieve. You purchased all new gear for this trip,
which was sweet, but it means you didn't have any old gear of
your own. You nearly walked us into a dire bore lair, and that
was nearly after eating burning ivory. Thinking it was mint. I like you,
Jack, but you're a terrible liar. He threw up his hands in
defeat in response to her laughter, you got me. I'm really sorry for
lying. I'll never do it again. I just wanted to impress you,
and it sort of got out of hand. I get it, Amber said,
while looking him over. Like I said, it was kind of sweet
that you put in so much effort for this. It's just a good thing
that I read that guidebook cover to cover. Just no more lies, okay,
she asked as she prodded him with her finger. Ouch. Yeah,
I promise, he shouted, and pulled back for the record. I read
it too, I just didn't retain as much as you did. Yeah.
Things like that just sort of stick with me. How bad I help you
with this fire, she said as she reached a hand out towards the pile.
As her fingers began to glow, A small flame shot up from her
index and middle fingers, and in a second, the small arrangement of kindling
was lighting up the area around them. I didn't know you knew magic,
he said that. She smiled. It's just basic teethling stuff. As she
replied, she scooted closer to Jack and laid her head on his shoulder.
He hesitated before wrapping his arm around her. The sun sank slowly as the
two warmed themselves by the crackling fire. They talked until the moon was high
in the sky, the sounds of crickets and small nocturnal animals hittering and chirping
in the distance. It was calming. Jack imagined he may have felt nervous
or frightened if he were alone, but Amber's presence made their can't feel warm,
both literally and metaphorically. Just as Jack was about to teasingly suggest they
needed to sleep before the sun started to rise, a snapping sound echoed from
the tree line nearby. He looked over at Amber, who had looked over
at him in returned. They both heard it. What was that? She
asked, barely managing to hide the panic in her voice. Jack didn't blame
her. The snap hadn't been from something small like a twig or a light
rustling of leaves. Maybe it was a deer or something. Jack offered a
second snap, this time much more distinct and closer. That is not a
dear. Amber's voice was a shrill whisper, where he being too loud but
betraying her fear. What a bandit of followed is here? Okay, let's
say that is a person. Maybe they just got lost, or maybe they're
checking on us. He tried to stay calm, if not to continue to
appear confident to Amber to at least keep himself in check. Hey, is
anybody out there? Amber shouted into the darkness. Unprompted. It made Jack
jump, but a reason that it made sense considering the way he'd tried to
explain it. There was a long silence, but no reply. Jack began
to stand up. Where are you going? She asked, I'm going to
check it out. There might be someone hurt out there. Are you insane?
She said, her wide black eyes reflecting the fire nearby. I'm just
going to see if there's anyone around and come right back. I'll even take
a knife, all right. He reached down and grabbed the sheathed blade near
the pear. Amber looked back and forth between Jack and the source of the
sounds. There was another snap, and almost send it deliberate. Finally,
she grumbled and grabbed one of the larger branches in the camp. With a
small flourish, she lit the end of the branch, greeting a makeshift torch.
At least take this, She handed the light source to Jack. Her
eyes narrowed as she spoke. And if it seems like you're in trouble,
I'm coming in after you. I'm sure there's nothing bad, he said,
only halfway believing it. Jack crept into the night and beyond the Each step
took him further and further from the supposed safety of the camp and the warmth
of the fire. The cool, wet grasp beneath his feet made shifting noises
with each stride. The nervousness that he recognized company had kept away had started
to creep. In. The air was crisp, the cold nibbing at his
fingers that held the blade only somewhat staved off by the flames of the torch.
He stepped over a few small, rotted trees that must have fallen during
storms over the past few weeks. He was very glad that he had the
light, as tripping and stumbling out here would not have been great. After
about twenty yards or so, he took a good look around. He let
out a soft sigh, reasoning that he must have been correct that it was
a deer or something like it. Amber shouting must have scared it away.
He turned back, intending to return to the camp. Suddenly the snapping resumed,
this time directly behind him, so close he thought it must have been
right up against his ear. He nearly slipped as his entire body rotated,
sheer instinct and fear driving his muscles to react faster than he ever thought he
could. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust again, but he
saw something running out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to scream
or run, but the fear paralyzed him. More snapping echoed around him.
He took a deep breath, fully intending to yell out some threat at whatever
was running. It looked like a person, but it was so quick he
wasn't sure whatever he intended to do. He was instead picked up aggressively and
driven against one of the larger trees to his left. His back collided with
the wood and drove the wind he'd finally managed to inhale from his lungs.
His legs slumped, and he fell against the base of the solid oak.
His vision blurred as he struggled to get air back into his body. At
first, he simply couldn't manage it. He coughed and sputtered, attempting to
stand. It was no use. Something was holding him down. Tears filled
Jack's eyes, blinding him to his assailant. Finally, he managed to shake
his head and get a better view. Long black fingers wrapped around the collar
of his coat and crept up to his neck. The dark and lack of
oxygen were playing tricks on him. The thing was completely black from head to
toe, not its skin, but it. The creature was more of a
silhouette than a person, a shadow, vaguely in the shape of a human,
but certainly nothing of the sort. Its movements were slow and stilted,
almost a mockery of how a person would move. The only thing visible were
its eyes, these soulless white specks hovering near the top of its head.
Jack thought momentarily that it looked as though it was shining through its shape,
as if two holes had been pierced through and a steady stream of magical light
was held up behind them to create the effect of eyes like shadow puppets.
Jack's mouth was a gape and trying in vain to swallow air. The creature
leaned down, but still loomed over him. He felt the long fingers start
to loosen their grip around his neck. They were cold. A wheeze escaped
Jack's mouth. The creature raised one of its hands up to its face.
A small line began to form near the bottom of the creature's head. Crooked
and long, it ran from one side of its face to the other.
Was it smiling? Had him? A single finger extended up from its hand,
and it touched the appendage to the slit that had formed across its face.
S It hissed as Jack blacked out. He began to stir. Many
hours later, he had to assume hours, though he had no way of
knowing for sure outside the daylight that blinded him. When he opened his eyes,
confusion said in for a moment, not used to waking up outdoors,
but then the previous night's events resurfaced in his mind. He started to stand
and used the tree for support for his battered body. What had that thing
been? Where was Amber? Amber? He called out on instinct, sheer
panic icing his veins, though his spine was in terrible pain. He began
to run as fast as he could back to the camp. He reached the
clearing near the tree line and stopped. Nothing. There was nothing there,
no bedrolls, no fire, no supplies, no amber. Jack stared in
disbelief. What the hell was all he could muster? He fanned out and
searched the area, but there was nothing, no sign of Amber. In
fact, there wasn't a single sign that there had been a camp at all.
With his meager studies and wilderness training, he wasn't even confident at first
that he was in the same area had the creature carried him off, But
then he started looking for landmarks, and the river that had led them from
Aubrey was exactly where he remembered it being. Had Amber abandoned him there,
No, she wouldn't. But what if she had been hurt? Maybe she
assumed him dead and went back to town. That didn't explain the lack of
a campsite, but Jack was desperate. As he hiked back the way he
and Amberg had come, sprinting when his body would allow. His mind kept
flashing back to the night before, the thing that had flicked him against a
tree, that held him down and gazed at him with that uncanny smile,
its eyes cold and distant, present and taking in the scene but otherworldly.
It was completely unfamiliar to Jack. He had no explanation for it, but
rather than focus on that, he said, his mind is something he could
do, and that was finding Amber. He finally reached the archway that led
into town. He ran down the street and turned the corner approaching the Silver
Flagon, a familiar path that felt strange to walk when things were so wrong.
He ran by the nice old man selling fruit and grabbed the handle of
the door, flinging it open. Thank the gots, Oh, thank the
gots, Jack said, nearly falling to the floor of the bar. There
she was setting up tables to the right. Well, you seem awfully excited,
she said, with a grin. Jack closed the gap between the two
of them and wrapped his arms around her tight. Whatever that thing was,
it hadn't gotten to her. Maybe the fire kept it away. Then he
noticed, with a start that she was pushing him away rather aggressively. Okay,
there, buddy, she distanced herself from Jack with an al furrowed brow.
I'm not that kind of girl. Now, if you want to drink,
I'll gladly set you up with one. Jack didn't understand, amber,
it's me, he pleaded. The look in her eyes was unbelievable, but
also recognizable. She paused, trying to be polite, hoping he would finish
the thought with a name or further explanation. He didn't. Finally, she
responded, her voice empathetic but hesitant. I'm sorry. Have we met before.
Jack was stunned. If he didn't know we were so well, he
would think that she was joking. But he knew Amber. He knew her
teasing was always coupled with a sly grin. She couldn't keep a straight face
at her own games, and her eyes there was genuine confusion, there,
a trace of fear. Even Jack. You know me. We went camping
last night, don't you remember. There was a noise and I went to
check it out. There was some kind of monster and I must have passed
out after it attacked me. I woke up and I couldn't find you.
I thought it had done something with you. He blasted, even more panicked
and loud in the tavern. The longer he went on without her knowing what
he was talking about, the more frantic and scarity became. Ember started to
take very small steps backward. About halfway through the rant, from the back
room, a large man entered to see what all the fuss was. Jack
finally stopped and dies with Amber. He held his hands out and begged,
without saying another word, why didn't she remember? Now? However, the
empathy and confusion that had existed. There was almost entirely fear, a small
trace of her confidence there to mask it. Hey, Grant, we have
a real lively one here, she called to the back of the building.
The large man began to walk over to the raving lunatic and gently grabbed his
arm to escort him out. Jack started to struggle, but wasn't putting up
much of a fight compared to the bouncer. He was all but defeated,
but his mind began to scream out one final plea something only he would know.
Your ankle, he shouted. Her expression changed, though it was obvious
she was putting up a brave face. Her brown narrowed just slightly. My
what your ankle? You heard it when you were a kid, right,
You told me that While we were hiking. Jack was finally starting to gain
traction. Amber paused for a moment, Then the puzzlement became anger, Have
you been stalking me? Have you been following me around? Or asking about
my life? To pull the ship today? He wanted to defend himself,
but was cut off by Grant, yanking him off the ground and carrying him
the rest of the way to the bar. I've never seen you before in
my life. Get the hell out of here, and don't ever show your
face again. The bouncer dropped him onto his back on the cobblestone street,
and Jack's already battered forms screamed at him. Get the hell out of here,
he said in a low voice, before walking back inside. Jack looked
up at the cloudy gray sky for a long moment, trying to wrap his
head around what had just happened. He eventually rolled over to his side and
pulled himself up off the ground. He looked around to see the nice old
man observing him cautiously. It's okay you and I'm fine, he grunted.
I'm sorry, Do I know you? A frail voice answered back. That's
when it made sense. A creeping, dreadful sort of realization surfaced. Even
though it couldn't be, he knew instantly that it had to be true.
A pit and Jack's stomach began to form. He forced himself to stand up,
forced himself to confirm the knowledge, even though he truly didn't want to.
No one Jack visited every friend, coworker, and acquaintance he knew.
Not a single one of them knew who he was even his own mother just
smiled politely and asked if he had placed an order. When he reached the
shop and stared at her, his home where he'd resided for nearly a decade,
a different family inside of it. He stood outside, an overwhelming emptiness
spreading from his chest and filled up his whole body as he watched a family
he didn't know play and sing in his home their home. By that point,
he had accepted that the thing in the woods must be linked to this,
somehow, it must have done this to him. Out of options and
desperate, he rented a room in the local inn to rest. The next
morning, he returned to the Silver Flagon. I'm sorry, he said right
away, putting up his hands. I know you told me not to come
back, but I need to talk to you. I swear I'm not trying
to hurt you. Amber blinked, setting her book down. I'm really sorry,
But do I know you? She asked, just as genuine as she
had asked the same question the day before. That was it? That was
the catch. They didn't just forget him once, They would forget him again
and again and again. He stumbled back as the realization hit him in waves
there was no way to fix this. No matter how many times he reintroduced
himself to everyone, they would forget him again. The moment he left their
sight, Jack took small, feeble steps backward, perhaps it mindedly pawing at
the front door, and stumbled out into the busy, wet street. He
stood and looked out at the town, and as a gentle rain fell on
his head, shoulders, and back. He watched his children ran by playing
a game of tag. He saw a woman wave down a carriage and climb
aboard. He saw friends laughing at some funny story they were telling. Walking
by him. He gave him a slight nod and said hello. Jack had
never felt more alone in his entire life. He was nothing but a stranger.
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