Badlands

The Shadow Before Chapter Sixteen

"What the hell are you talkin' about chum?"

"I think I saw something but you would call me crazy and I rather not have that image back into my mind. Yet I want to know if I do sound crazy or not."

"i'm sure you're not," Lucas says and puts his hand on Greg's shoulder, "lay it on me brotha."

"Promise you won't laugh," the tall skinny boy asks.

Lucas rolls his eyes and nods, "promise."

"I saw a demorgorgon."

There was no laughter. Instead there was complete silence. You could probably hear the town's church bell going off in the distance if you really paid attention. Although Lucas wasn't. Instead he continued forward onto the trail without saying a word to Greg telling him if he was indeed crazy or not.

Greg hesitates and then follows his best friend down the trail, "Uh are you not going to say something?"

"What do you want me to say?" Lucas asks and then throws the stick to the side, "do you want the truth or just want me to lie to you and say I believe it?"

"I mean at least you are not laughing," Greg states and then walks beside him.

"Why on earth would I laugh?" Lucas shakes his head, "it's crazy is what it is. It doesn't make you crazy. It doesn't. H-How do you know it wasn't some stupid costume from the Rolan twins."

The Rolan twins were known to play tricks and pranks on everyone in sight. Lucas thinks maybe it was these brothers that made Greg see this.

'I know it was real okay. I sa-I saw something," Greg kicks a pebble on the ground and then bites his bottom lip with his top teeth.

"Okay," Lucas stops walking and looks at him fully now, "what did you see that could be worse than a fake monster?'

"I know it's not fake because I saw it attack a dog," Greg says after a long pause.

"Really?"

"Yes it was Mrs. Susan's little Yorkee," Greg answers and then proceeds to walk again.

"Dear Scott," Lucas says in disbelief.

It was all true and Lucas knew. Just a few nights ago, Greg got himself a set off binoculars. His first paid binocular set. He wanted to explore and see what the puppies could do. He went out into the balcony of the house and then spotted something in the distance.

"And you are one hundred percent sure this was the monster and not something that was in your head?"

Greg would bet his left nut on it if he had the chance but he wasn't sure. He wasn't sure if he was reading bullshit stories and comics to much. Or even worse playing that horrid game his mother hated him to play way to much.

"Just ask Mrs. Susan."

The topic was done. Lucas believed. He didn't know how to believe into something so bizarre as this however Greg is the one that usually tells him nothing is real. And that the imagination of a fourteen year old shouldn't continue on through more years past.

If there was something out there how do they stop it? Why would Greg tell him something like this when he doesn't know for sure what happened?

Believing in something that was this crazy had to regard faith and yes Lucas had that when it came to his best friend. He had his back when he needed it the most. Some of the time Lucas deserved what was getting handed to him yet none of that mattered still.

Greg had his back so Lucas believed. Now they both can sound crazy.

"What do you think we should do about it then?" Lucas asks and then starts walking too. "Should we tell someone?"

Greg shakes his head really fast, "no we mustn't tell anyone. I told you because I thought-I don't know maybe you can work some sense into me somehow."

"I have a lot I have to work with dude. This isn't your every day hangout. Tell me all about it then."

"I shouldn't tell you here. In open range. It still gives me shivers just thinking about it. I am surprised I told you," Greg admits and then looks down as he walks along the path to the main road.

"Yeah me to."

Greg looks at Lucas and Lucas gives him a shrug, "I mean it seems like it startled you and your knickers probably had to be checked. I guess that's why I actually believe you."

"Don't call them knickers."

Greg smirks and Lucas gives a short and small smile as they got on the main road to the Krastersman's house.