“What.”
I’M SO FUCKING DEAD.

“I said that I have been anticipating you.”

I’m definitely gonna be killed.
Even then... something doesn’t feel right here.
A feeling of bravery begins to well within me.
“Is something wrong?” the voice asks. “You are not moving.”

“...Who are you?”
“Pardon?”
“I said,” I say as I begin to face the voice, “who are y-”

My heart catches in my throat once I see who or what I’m talking to. That bravado I had has completely evaporated.

HOLY SHIT WHAT AM I TALKING TO.
This thing practically TOWERS over me.
Its body is like... pure black. Whatever light my phone shines on it just gets entirely absorbed. It has white hair too. Long white hair. It looks like it’s... glowing??
And its face... there’s nothing there!
Jesus Christ. Am I talking to an alien?!
That might just explain what’s been happening with me...
But there’s no way in hell I’m dying here.

Taking a step back, I end up tripping again. Despite this, I take out my knife again; hands trembling.

“Why must you fear me? I serve no possible threat to you,” the figure says while taking a step closer.
“S-stay back! I don’t want to have to use this!” I manage to yell out.
“Are you... afraid of me?”

“Obviously!!” I reply, plenty agitated, “you literally came out of NOWHERE in the dead of night in this godforsaken forest! How the hell am I supposed to stay calm?!”

“Well... I would be remiss to say that the cause of your fear is not due to my appearance...” it’s voice has a hint of remorse in it. It moves its head to the side, shuffling anxiously. “I had forgotten how an appearance like mine might... frighten someone; please forgive me.”

I’m quite taken aback at the figure’s sudden penitence. The mood of both fright and agitation that I had worn takes a complete one-eighty.

I lower my knife.
“You’re... apologizing?”
“Yes, although... I do not expect to be forgiven. Humans value how they feel greatly and I had completely forgotten that.”
Jeez, now I feel kinda bad.
“Uh. Yeah, we do. ”



...



The silence between us is palpable.
I don’t really know what to say... I don’t think it knows what to say either. I can’t stand how quiet it is, though. I should at least like, forgive it. It doesn’t seem like it’ll do anything to me and it seems like it’s actually sorry.
Should at least get up before I do this.

I begin to pick myself up, not without trouble though. The figure catches onto my struggling, reaching its jet black hand out to me. I’m surprised at the gesture, but with a bit of resitance, I reach my hand out in return. We clasp eachothers hands, its hands feel... different.

The feeling is indescribable. The tickling feeling of our hands grazing against eachother, it’s almost euphoric to me.

So I just stand there; absentmindedly rubbing my thumb into the figure’s palm, stunned at what I’m feeling. I’ve never felt anything like it.

I can’t believe this...
I’m holding hands with this... whatever this thing is. And I’m enjoying it. Like what happened to me being scared to death like a minute ago??
I can’t say that I mind it, though.. The way its hand feel is completely otherwordly.

Gosh...
What am I gonna do...?

After who knows how long, a certain voice brings me back to reality.

“Excuse me but...” the figure speaks, “what are you doing?”
My body freezes up. “Uhh... n-nothing?” I sputter out, trying (and failing) to cover up my embarrassment over my previous action.
“It does not seem like you are not doing anything. Tell me, your actions have me curious.”
God damn it, I got caught. Might as well fess up. “... Fine,” I sigh. “I was feeling your hand. It feels... weird.”
The figure tilts its head in confusion. “Weird?”
“That’s what I said. It’s just odd, the way your hands feel. They’re... unlike anything I’ve felt before. It’s kinda nice.”
“Th... they are?” the figure stutters out, contradicting its previous demeanor.
“Yeah...” I answer back, scratching the back of my head. “Sorry. That was probably stupid thing to say-”

“No!” the figure interupts me.

I stare at the figure in astoundment. Its grip on my hands has firmed up, its thumb mimicking what I had done to it before.
“I... I do not mind.”
I feel my face heat up a bit. “Oh... well, it’s just how I feel. It ain’t anything special.”
“How you feel...” The figure seems to dwell on what I said.

A question comes into my mind in the moment,
“...How do you feel?”
“H-How do I feel?” the figure repeats to itself, taken aback at my question. Its grip on my hand tightens.
“I feel... happy. I had never thought I would be doing this again, it has been so long...” the figure turns its head to the side, bringing its other hand up to it as it speaks.

“But... I suppose you will not forgive me for what I have done to you.” The figure speaks with a meek voice.
“It’s... whatever,” I manage to mumble out, “I forgive you.”

“Y-You do?” the figure responds, suprised that I had returned any forgiveness.
“I mean, yeah. You seem like you’re being genuine, so I’d feel bad just stomping on that,” I respond back, scratching the back of my hair.

Suddenly, I feel my body being lifted up. The figure has wrapped its arms around me. It’s kinda tight...
“Oh... I am so glad to hear you say that. I truly did not mean to frighten you.”
“Yeah, I uh... I get that now.”
Eventually, I return the figure’s sentiment; hugging it back.



Another moment of silence passes. It comes to an end with the figure speaking up, “I believe you were asking who I was, correct?”
“Yeah. I hope you’ll answer me this time, I didn’t come out here for nothing.”
“Yes, yes. I intend on doing just that. It is the least I can do,” the figure speaks, placing me back down on the ground. “I believe your kind once called me ‘Selene’. Although, it has been such a long time since I have last been awake; I barely remember anything before I had fallen asleep.”

“Oh. Weird. My name’s Knight, by the way.”
Selene lets out a laugh, “Well, I suppose it can be percieved as unsual to you; considering humans tend to rest for shorter times.”
“I mean, yeah. Do you like, sleep for longer??”
“Well... the amount of time that passes varies heavily between each instance, so I am not sure. Although, if I had to guess; I believe it has been about two-hundred years before I had awakened 58 days ago.”

SELENE WAS SLEEPING FOR TWO-HUNDRED YEARS?! I’m kinda jealous but oh my god.
“Is that right.”
“It... might be. Again, I can not recall it well. Do you not believe me, Knight?”
“I mean- this whole situation is a lot to take in, y’know? I gotta process it all. Like what did you mean by you ‘anticipating’ me?”

My question had seemed to make Selene realize another thing, “oh my goodness- I had almost forgotten why I had approached you in the first place!”

No idea how it could’ve forgotten something like that but okay.
“Well, what was it?”
Selene shuffles in place, “Well...” its voice nervously trails off. “During the time between my awakening and tonight, I was...” Selene’s voice trails off again.
I reply, “Well...?”

“I was... watching you. In your dreams.”
My eyes widen at Selene’s admittance.
“In my dreams?”
“Y-Yes... I am sorry.”

My mind begins to piece everything together. “Wait. wait-wait-wait-wait-wait. WAIT.”
“You’re telling me. That you’ve been in my dreams. For A WHOLE MONTH?!”
“Correct...” Selene’s voice has a hint of worry.
“Welp. At least I know why I’ve been having those dreams now. But what the fuck.”
“Are you... upset at me again?” Selene asks anxiously.
I take a deep breath. “A bit. But like, why? Why do that in the first place?? I have been so confused over those dreams ever since I started having them!”

Selene shuffles in place again. It takes a moment before it speaks again, “I... wanted to learn what it was like to be human. Being what I am, it is hard to truly comprehend the inner workings of your kind.”
“So you chose me to learn off of?”
“Correct. Please forgive me, Knight. I would not have done it had I known it would cause you so much distress...”
“You’re fine, dude. Not like I could’ve really done anything about it. Just, don’t do that sorta thing again.”
“... Understood.”

...

“So... that was you singing? In my dream, I mean.” I ask.
“You had heard that!?” Selene replies, shocked.
“It’s hard not to hear it.”
“Goodness... I had not thought that you would hear it.”
“It’s hard not to hear it... your singing’s beautiful, Selene.”
Selene jumps in place a bit. “Do you... truly think so?”
“Mmhm,” I hum out affirmatively.
Selene fidgets with its hands. “Well, I am glad you enjoy it so much. Even if I did not intend for you to hear it.”


“Selene, what are you?”

“... Are you sure you want to know?”

“I did ask, didn’t I? Of course I wanna know.”
Selene laughs a soft laugh. “Well, if you are so eager to know, then I will tell you.”

Selene brings out its hand to me.
I take it.

Then, Selene lowers its head to mine, nearing it towards my ear.
It whispers into it...

Everything makes a tad more sense to me now.

“Huh. Cool.”
“Are you... not surprised? Is this not a revelation to you?”
“I mean. Considering what’s been happening and what’s happening now, it’s hard not to infer it.”
“Oh. I suppose that is a fair assumption to make,” Selene says with a pinch of embarrassment.
“At least I know now, I thought you were some sort of alien at first!” I laugh out.
“Me? An alien? How quaint!” Selene laughs in turn.

We share a laugh together. It’s nice.
I never could’ve thought I’d be laughing with a literal god of all things. It’s surprising, what occured tonight. I went from scared shitless of Selene, to holding its hands. I don’t know if it’s the all the handholding talking, but I think I feel a bit of a bond between the two of us.

A comfortable silence falls after we’re done laughing. The moonlight illuminating both of us.

It’s strange to look back on it now, even though it happened...
Wait.
How long has it been??

Using my other hand, I go grab my phone.
But I can’t feel it. It’s not on me.
“Shit.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I don’t have my phone.”
“Phone...? Oh, might it be that shining device over there? Next to that black object.” Selene says while pointing behind me.
“Whuh?” I peer over my shoulder. I spot a light on the ground a distance away from us. “That must be it!”

Somewhat regrettibly, I retract my hand away from Selene’s in order to grab it.
I walk over to the light, grabbing it. It is indeed my phone, I had left the flashlight on. The bag of snacks I had taken with me was lying not too far from it, I grab it as well. “Must’ve dropped these when I fell on my ass earlier... At least nothing’s ruined, phew!” I sigh, relieved.

I press on my phone’s power button, turning it on. The time reads: “4:03AM.”
“Oh, that’s late. Wow. I should probably head back.”
“Oh... are you going back home?”
“Yeah? It’s pretty late, and I’m already way off what I had originally planned to do earlier. Not that I mind, or anything.”
“Ah... well. Goodbye, Knight,” Selene says with a forlorn tone.

Selene sounds... sad. I suppose tonight was pretty new for both of us, so I don’t blame it for being all glum.

An idea pops into my head.
Oh, what the hell.

“Yo, Selene.”
“Yes?” Selene replied eagerly.
“You said you wanted to learn more about humans, right?”
“Correct...?”
“Do you maybe want to, I dunno, come over to my place?”

“Really!?” Selene replies with an extreme and half-expected enthusiasm.

...
Selene makes a sound like its clearing its throat. “I-I mean... are you sure? Even after what I have done?” Selene responds again, hesitant.
“Well, I wouldn’t be offering if I wasn’t, now would I?”
This makes Selene chuckle a bit. “I suppose not...”

“Okay, Knight. I shall be there!”
“... Are you not coming with me?” I ask confusedly.
Selene nods. “I do not think I will be able to come with you due to my current appearance. But do not fret, Knight, I will be there when you are.”
“If you say so. Alright, I’ll see you there.” I say as I start walking away from Selene.
“Wait!” Selene calls out.
I look over my shoulder. “Hm?”
“You will get lost out here, let me guide you out at least.”
I turn back around. “Oh yeah, huh...” I reply in realization. “Thanks, Selene.”
Selene laughs a bit at my . “It will be my pleasure, Knight. Come along now.”

Selene reaches its hand towards me again.
I take it, again.

Selene begins leading me out of the forest.


...


Eventually, we reach to where I had originally entered the forest.
And after waving eachother off, I begin heading back towards my apartment.

I’ll ask Selene about the note later, if I remember anyway.