between the shadow and the soul

Forrest Andrews. Twenty-six. Photographer. Working for National Geographic. Currently in Barton Hollow, Louisiana. "Te amo sin saber como, ni cuándo, ni de donde, te amo directamente sin problemas ni orgullo: así te amo porque no sé amar de otra...

[forrestandrewss-blog]

At first, he got everything out of photography, the Barton Hollow series in National Geographic becoming an article that happened with every issue. They allowed him to even write a few of the articles, taking his many degrees into consideration despite none of them being in writing or journalism. And Forrest fell in love again with the town he had grown disillusioned with, fell in love with the people he’d watched tear each other apart. It was liberating, and with Sarai he settled down, the two of them living in a cabin, though thankfully one far away from Sarai’s uncle, at least for their own privacy. There’s no rings on their fingers, but no one contests it. Since the moment she pressed that knife against his throat, since the moment they first kissed in the woods, they’ve belonged to themselves and each other all at once. Both independent and yet both needing the other. She was his fire, and he was her water. Their souls are married, their everything is one, and Forrest and Sarai go to sleep next to each other every night, and with both of them finally being able to sleep through the night.  Now almost 40, Forrest has accepted that he has held a resentment over his parents, which had held him back from doing something he really wanted to. Academia has always been home, and Forrest took a position as a adjunct professor at BHU, teaching both language classes and photography classes. It comes naturally, the years spent watching his parents prepare for lectures. But Forrest takes it further, asking his students to come out with him into the forest, bringing them to the place he fell in love with here in this swampy town. 

[idunn-svensson-deactivated20150]

Idunn smirked, “The animals already took care of them, nothing is left but bloody clothes and disassembled body parts. I would have gotten to them first but it seems that I was too busy, so they took care of the ordeal themselves. It might be a little before the simmer down, so I would just avoid them at all costs today.” She glanced around her, wondering where she should guide Forrest and if there was anything else he needed to know about the woods today. “If you go that way,” Idunn pointed in the opposite direction of the malevolent creatures. “New flowers bloomed and the moss on the trees look rather extra green today.”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

His eyes widened only slightly hearing that, but some part of Forrest was desensitized to it. Maybe it was the massacre of the parade, or the fact that he knew these woods now, and he knew their ruthlessness, had fallen in love with them and with a woman just as wild as they were. "Well, as a human thats good to know," he said, trying not to make a nervous laugh, although a small one came out. Rubbing the back of his neck with his good hand, Forrest sighed softly but then looked back at her as she spoke. He glanced in the direction she pointed in, and nodded lightly, before he smiled and said, "Thank you. I'm sure you're busy, though."

[idunn-svensson-deactivated20150]

Idunn rubbed her arms, her focus was on Forrest, watching how he glanced over whilst making humming noises. The way he stared at her before dropping his gaze. She pursed her lips, temporarily upset he wouldn’t make eye contact with her. “Well, word around the swamp is, someone was messing with their homes - resulting in malevolent behavior on their part. I didn’t feel as too inclined to help them out considering their intentions were to harm our home.”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

He blinked, looking down at the forest ground, before he shook his head. Looking up at her, this time he met her eye and spoke what he considered to be out of turn and a little too forward, as if she were a normal human and not a creature he respected immensely. "But shouldn't you try to find who did it? Or even perhaps get them to settle down -- if they're hurting the forest, someone should stop them."

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & Forrest

[stubbornsarai]

His gratitude caused Sarai’s lips to curl upward. Rather than any conventional method of acknowledgment, she only blew a shock of hair from her eyes and murmured “Don’t get used to it,” as if to say that she understood his desire for independence. Funny how she didn’t care to help him, but she would’ve been fiercely opposed to the same treatment if she was the one in his position. A moment should have been taken to ponder such musings, but Sarai opted instead to follow him to the kitchen.

"I’m always working on something," she pointed out, "but none of it’s that important. Not as important as your trigger-finger, anyway." And though there was something lingering behind her thoughts — an investigation she couldn’t quite tie together — Sarai remained, for the most part, silent and smiling.

Falling into familiar conversation with Forrest was incredibly easy, and Sarai found her spirits lifting almost immediately after he had entered her home. For him to joke about her inability to be as graceful as he was enough for her to let out a laugh and give him a nudge. “Excuse you. It’s not the ground I’m worried about. You never know what’s waiting, so it’s better to make them — or it, or whatever — feel like they should be scared of me.” And perhaps they should have; she was, after all, quick to draw her gun or axe. 

After finding herself a spot atop the counter, Sarai hummed thoughtfully under her breath. “So,” she breathed, studying him as one might a fine piece of art, “how long before both arms are fully functional?”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

He gave her a small smile back, seeing her own and acknowledging it. He knew she did it out of caring, it was the same reason he did it even if she would glare lightly for a second before letting him. In that way they were the same, two very independent people who happened to fall in love, working together in sync as if that had been what was supposed to happen all along. Forrest didn't believe in fate, but sometimes when he thought about meeting Sarai and coming to Barton Hollow -- he did. "Is the life of a lumberjack so busy?" he asked, in half a tease, half a serious question. Forrest looked over her shoulder, unable to notice anything else going on behind her thoughts, and letting it go.  Laughing as he opened the fridge, he took out a pitcher of water, and gave her a look for permission before he moved over to the cupboard to get a drink. He thanked his height, making reaching and grabbing for things with only one arm sufficiently easy at least, for the most part. Putting the glass by her, he placed his good hand on her thigh as he said, "Yeah, but the whole thing about taking photos in the forest is that if they hear you, they run away." Giving her knee a squeeze, he leaned back as he said, "Plus, I think most of the forest knows to stay away from Sarai Isaacs by now." Forrest let the question hang there for a moment, as he did his best to pour himself some water, thankful that the pitcher wasn't too full. He managed to do it without too much spilling, and moved to put it back in the fridge before he answered, "Two more weeks. I just need to be careful once the cast is off."

[idunn-svensson-deactivated20150]

She knew who he was of course, he would always enter home with his camera to take photos. He was one of the few humans she knew of that truly admired the beauty of her home. Idunn rarely talked to him, sometimes it was just a small greeting before walking off to watch over him from a distance. “Don’t go that way,” She pointed to the left, “The animals over there are angry at the moment and I wouldn’t want them to harm you.”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

Forrest looked to where she pointed, making a small humming noise as he did. He wondered what had happened, and part of him wanted to go that way just to see what the fight was over. Turning back to her, Forrest met her eyes for a second, before dropping his gaze slightly, as if looking for too long would scorn him. "Do you know what happened?" he asked, nudging his head in their direction.

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & OPEN

[stubbornsarai]

Without missing a beat, Sarai made her way to Forrest and knelt down so she could swat his hands away from his shoes. “I’ve got it,” was all she mumbled as she made quick work of the laces, untying them in a show of affection that was a privilege belonging only to Forrest. 

It wasn’t shocking that he made an attempt to venture out into the woods, but it was an action that Sarai would have deemed stupid if it was performed by any other person. Forrest, though, was considered a dreamer and completely devoted to his photography. He was special.

"Take me with you next time? You don’t need to break your other arm." She paused, taking time to rise to her full height. "And, I’m getting better at the whole ‘not destroying the forest every time I take a step’ thing."

[forrestandrewss-blog]

And although she meant it in the best way, and he smiled at the little swat, something felt off. Forrest didn't have people do things for him. Fiercely independent despite being quiet to a fault, Forrest found it strange to have someone else do things for him, especially something as simple as untying his shoes. Yet still he let out a breath, and smiled softly as he said, "Thanks." He ran his fingers through his short (though admittedly growing longer) blonde hair, before standing up after her. Forrest towered over her slightly, but it never really felt that way. "You were working," he said, with a small apologetic shrug. "And it was fine, I just mostly couldn't.... get everything to work." Same thing as always, now with the cast. He hadn't taken a proper photo in weeks. " Not that I wouldn't want you there." Forrest laughed though, before he shook his head as he walked to the kitchen, "It's not that hard once you realize the ground isn't trying to hurt you... most of the time."

[idunn-svensson-deactivated20150]

"What are you doing here?"

[forrestandrewss-blog]

Forrest looked at her, and blinked lightly. Of course he'd seen her before, but aside from a conversation here and there -- little else had been exchanged. Clearing his throat, he gave a quick, soft smile and answered, "I was going for a walk, trying to take some photographs." He ignored the cast still on his hand.

[stubbornsarai]

Sarai & OPEN

"Wow. You look like shit."

[forrestandrewss-blog]

"Well, thanks for that?" he said, laughing as he put his backpack down. Trying to take off his shoes, he struggled with only one hand as he added, "I tried to go out into the forest today. Probably not the best idea yet."

[matron-marilyn-blog]

  Marilyn stopped atone of the tables, picking up a strange ornament and setting it aside so she had room to sit. Crossing her arms, she continued to scrutinize the man with a piercing gaze. “I understand,” she said blankly.

  As much as Marilyn wanted to be indignant for being approached in such an unprofessional manner, she couldn’t help but find sympathy for the man when he explained he needed to sleep. Though, her compassion was reined in by a thread of incredulousness. “You’ve tried other remedies before? Medicine from doctors or things you can get over the counter?” she asked. Supernatural intervention was one thing, but if one could solve their problems with a pill or a prescription, Marilyn saw no use in it. “It is a potion you’re looking for, then, and I can easily get that for you.”

  “As far as price goes then…” her voice faded. Sleep potions generally didn’t cost her much, and she readily had them in bulk (thanks to her efforts to curb her night terrors), but people seemed to always think things she made were going to cost an arm and a leg. It went back to the desperation, of course, but Marilyn always enjoyed how valued her services were—as they should be. “Money is boring, but if it’s all you have then it’s all I’ll take. Photography would be… interesting, but if you can’t, you can’t,” she tilted her head “Is there anything else you’re willing to give me?”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

She was everything he'd thought she'd be, and Forrest had always thought he'd be a lot more intimidated than he was now. But maybe it was Barton Hollow, and maybe it was the fact that he was learning how to cope with all the people and the dangers and the horror. Or perhaps it was the heaviness in his eyelids and the sharp emptiness he felt. "They don't work for longer than a day or two," he said, nodding at her answer. Putting his good hand in his pocket, he went on, "And the pain meds I'm on for my hand keep me up more, though I figured I could stop taking those." If only just to sleep he thought to himself. Forrest had gone days without decent sleep, it was the condition he'd developed while in graduate school. He just needed some release now. Hearing that though, Forrest took a step forward and stopped himself, before he nodded and said, his tone small but even, "I'd appreciate it." He waited a beat, before he sighed. "I can, just... once I'm better," he said, looking up at the witch, their eyes meeting. Forrest held the gaze as he went on, "It's all I can really offer, other than my knowledge. But I doubt I know anything you would want to, or anything you don't already know about town. My photography and education is all I have." And one of them was gone. He was useless in Barton Hollow, where power ruled and humans were helpless. But she was asking for more, for another offer. Lowering his head, he stared at the scuffed wooden floor for a moment, before he straightened up. "A favor and my time? I can only offer myself, in anyway you need me. Within reason."

[thelittle-raearchived-blog--blog]

“Thank god!” Ariel was relieved, truly relieved. Her mind travelled back to the age of 6, she was fairly tiny and probably even more of lightweight she is now, but she remembered that one time very detailed. The one time she was too happy to think that maybe she could push someone by accident. It was a staircase, for crying out loud, why didn’t she stop and think. Yet, she didn’t seem to question how harsh she was with herself, must be the habit. As she fell, she dragged one of her classmates…this ultimately made her seem too clumsy to hang out with the cool kids. It was alright, Ariel didn’t even understand what was so cool about the cool kids. Shaking her head again, this time to get out of memory lane, she was back at the coffee shop where the cool kids weren’t a thing anymore and she wasn’t clu—well, she was a bit more careful in life. “It was a caramel macchiato, I’m very boring with coffee…” she wondered, to herself of course, what it meant being boring in such a trivial subject. “What was your order?”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

"That's not boring," Forrest said, shaking his head as he reached for the couple of dollars he had in his wallet. Now was when he was thankful he wasn't one to spend any real money unless it was on equipment, seeing as with his arm still injured he still couldn't exactly work. Still, he had savings account and a cup of coffee wasn't going to make him lose all his money. "Anything with an added word other than coffee is pretty fancy," he added, purposefully trying to lift the atmosphere, something he was learning to do just from being around Sarai. Ironically enough even if she was the more outgoing one of the two, Forrest was typically the more approachable. Whether he wanted to talk or not. "One Caramel Macchiato please...," he said to the barista, turning to them. Looking upwards, he added, which answered her question as well, "And I'll have a dark roast. Small." Handing over the money, Forrest answered with a glance, "I hadn't ordered yet."

[matron-marilyn-blog]

   Marilyn couldn’t help the sardonic smile that grew over her chapped lips. If only she had a dollar for every time she heard such a phrase uttered by hopeless souls who were resolved to seek-out the powers of the mystical to find peace. Most of them had the courtesy to come in when she was open, but, like the man had said: he was desperate, and she’d accommodate for emergencies.

   “If it’s one thing… well, I suppose I have time for one thing, but that’s it,” she wagged her finger at him, moving further into the shop. Of course, if he was asking for the power resurrect or some kind of exorcism—he’d have to wait until morning, no exceptions. There had been the occasional patron who stumbled in late at night to ask for something extravagant, and while it was well within Marilyn’s power, she really had no interest spending her off-hours tending to work.

   Placing her hands on her hips, she studied the man with a few glances. “What exactly do you need from me? A potion? A spell? A charm?” her gaze lingered on the cast before meeting his eyes with hers “If it’s not one of those three I’m not willing to help you until the store’s open.”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

Forrest couldn't help but hang his head in apology, or shame, but he sighed and met her eyes, his lips pursed into an apologetic smile as he stepped further into the store. It was rude, he knew that, but things blurred, and he hadn't realized the time. Things  were difficult now -- things were different now. "I didn't realize how late it was," he offered as an apology, guessing she wasn't one who wanted to hear apologies, nor did they have the time for one. "A potion, I guess?" Forrest said, his voice trailing higher at the end in question. He didn't know the first thing about magic, his fascination lying in nature and animals, not in spells. What he knew came from things Aiden told him, small things the man let out when they went out to drink on nights where Sarai stayed home. He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair with his good arm as he said, "I can't sleep. I've always had... difficulties with it, but it's worse with my arm like this." Forrest looked up at her, and swallowed for a moment, before he nodded. Stepping closer, he slipped his hand into his pocket as he said, "I can give you something in exchange, to make it worth your while. You help me, I help you. Anything you need." Glancing down at his injured hand, he added with a sigh, "Except for photography. I can't do that yet." He wasn't one to barter, or set up deals, but in desperation Forrest found himself doing a lot of things he wouldn't. And if he couldn't feel whole, at least he could sleep.

[thelittle-raearchived-blog--blog]

It would be nothing to say she was horrified as soon as she saw his cast, perhaps she was being over dramatic but the guilt struck her right away, hitting her hard. She didn’t care that much for the money, or the coffee but if she were to pick what to get back would be the coffee, she needed the caffeine and was certainly thirsty. She shook her head, closing her eyes, he couldn’t be talking the blame for it “No, no…it wasn’t your fault at all!” she insisted nervously “It was all me, I’m sorry…I’m really clumsy” About to reject his offer, she stopped right away as she realized that it would be rude, and just mindlessly inappropriate. She should at least let him have that, as he clearly felt guilty too. “Ah, sure….Thank you! I’ll get this clean up real quick first.” as she nodded, her eyes shifted to the kitchen’s door but she stopped and turned to face him “Uhm….Did you get anything on your cast?” Please, say no. she silently freaked out waiting for his answer.

[forrestandrewss-blog]

"It's alright, really," Forrest said, shaking his head and letting out a soft sigh. But he managed a smile, trying not to make her feel small or like he didn't care. He just saw no reason for her to panic, seeing as there wasn't any further damage that could be done to his arm than what was already done. "It takes two to tango, don't blame yourself," he replied softly, before putting the plates that had been in his good hand down on the table to brush off his shirt. When she accepted his offer, Forrest smiled, and nodded as he reached into his pocket and moved towards the bar. Looking over his shoulder at her, he looked down at his cast, before he smiled again, "It's fine, you didn't get the cast." Only there was a little bit of coffee there, but Forrest wasn't going to ruin her day. "What did you order?"

[thelittle-raearchived-blog--blog]

It had been a great day, perhaps she was tired but it had been undoubtfully a good day. She was looking for to jump into her pajamas and sleep but as always she had to stop by the mystique time, have what she called a little me time. She ordered her coffee a Caramel macchiato and a sandwich to go with it, how happy she was when everything was going her way. Everyone, everything seemed brighter , humming her way to a table she felt something going so wrong “Oh my—-” before she could finish her sentence, her coffee was already all over the place “I’m so sorry ” desperately she looked for anything she could clean with in her purse “Please forgive my foolishness, I really neeed to be more careful…are you okay?”

[forrestandrewss-blog]

The coffee had thankfully spilled mostly on the floor, a few on his shoes, but Forrest was just glad it hadn't gotten on his cast. He shook his head though, remembering that coffee having spilling meant more than just he was a mess, or that it was a trouble for him. Or how much he wished he could take a picture of the running brown liquid moving over the wood floor, as if the floor was melting. It meant someone had just spilled the coffee they paid for. "It's fine," he said, as quickly as he could in his usual slow drawl. Looking down at Ariel, he smiled softly before he nodded, "I'm fine, don't worry about me." Reaching down, he picked up her cup with his good arm as he said, "It was probably my fault. I'm clumsier without my other hand." As he stood up, Forrest glanced at the counter, and back at her as he added, "Let me buy you another cup."

[matron-marilyn-blog]

   The incense had burned through its stalk, leaving the shop with an aromatic musk that seeped into every crack and crevice. It was ritual for Marilyn to burn a few sticks as she fretted around the tables and shelves lined with strange commodities after closing. Often enough, she’d burn the late night hours she had to herself making potions and other remedies that had been commissioned from her—there was a never ending pool of clients who needed some sort magical intervention in their lives. Whether it was the innocuous luck charm or potions that diluted the afflictions of the supernatural disease, Marilyn offered her services to those who sought her out.

   It had become laborious to create sets upon sets of potions for other people, but Marilyn knew it was altruistic work. It was her job, and she always received compensation in one form or another for her elixir’s—whatever a soul could pay for, whether they be unfortunate or well-off. She was not a charity-worker, but she was well aware of the woes that plagued the world and its inhabitants. Every living soul was a victim, but Marilyn, in her power, was in a position to help. What greater reminder to power was there to know that others depended so heavily on her agency? In a practical lens, she perceived her clients as strings she could tug if need be, but it was such callous thinking. There was no reason to preemptively think ill of others.

   The chime of bells indicating the front door swooping open startled her from her trance of thought—had she forgotten to lock up when she closed the shop? Taking a few moments to murmur an enchantment over the brew, she stood up from the small crafting area and stepped into the main floor of the shop. “The shop’s closed right now. You can’t be in here—,” she commanded, but with a short sigh she added “—unless it’s an emergency, you need to leave.” 

[forrestandrewss-blog]

Forrest knew it was late. But that was one of the problems of sleeping habits that were wrecked beyond repair -- he had no real sense of time, the watch his parents had given him as a present when he finished his doctorate barely more than something he put on each morning out of ritual. It was better when he could sleep, Sarai there or not to sleep against, but during those days where dreams and rest eluded him, time stretched out and disappeared, and the hours gone without sleep were simply spent in a zombie like familiarity of clicking his shutter and going home when his memory card was full. It made sense. But it was easier when Forrest actually had his camera to distract himself. The painkillers only numbed the pain, and instead he was left awake staring up at the ceiling, his am still in a cast. They'd let him take off the cast, but he'd learned that the plaster of it was just as difficult for properly taking pictures as having one hand completely immobile. Try as he might, and still unable to set up a proper system until his arm recovered, Forrest still couldn't take any photos, and it left him annoyed and quite frankly, restless in more ways than one.

Which was why he was at Marilyn's, the sign popping up on his way back to his cabin as if it were a godsend. And it was that exact blurring of days and hours that made him careless enough not to look at the time, or the sign on the door turned to 'closed'. Instead he opened it, the bell ringing as the smell of incense hit his face. Forrest closed his eyes, and sighed out, his good hand touching a shelf of candles as he looked for what he wanted. But instead he heard her voice, and blinked as he looked at the witch. Forrest bit his lip, glancing at the door, before he looked back at her and said, "I promise I just need one thing, and I'll be gone the second I can. I'm sorry, I'm just a little desperate right now, and thought you could help." It was more upfront than he usually was, but he felt a whole lot less right lately.

[forrestandrewss-blog]

thisisadrianalennox:

Adriana wandered the streets of Barton Hollow as if in a state of utter shock, the destruction and death only barely registering behind her blank eyes. She never knew what to do after catastrophes, always trying to look either far forward where things will be remedied or far back, when nothing had happened at all.

This time, she couldn’t. All she could do was walk, let her tired legs carry her aimlessly through the streets. Her fingers trailed the police barricade that had been set up, as she tried not to think about what was behind it.

She looked past the blockade to see a slumped figure sitting over the curb, one arm secured in a sling. She recognized Forrest’s shaggy blonde hair, and made her way over to him quickly but quietly. After calling his name and receiving no response, she lay a light hand on his uninjured shoulder and sat down next to him, spreading her legs out in front of herself and wincing at the bruise at the back of her thighs. “It’s good to see you.” She breathed. Every time she saw someone, she was relieved to see they were alive.

His other hand, his good one, played with the gravel on the side of the street. He wondered if it had always been there, or the feet of stampeding people had carried it along, the people that had eventually pushed him down. With a heavy sigh, he rubbed brushed off his hand, before looking ahead, not hearing his voice being called out.  But then he felt her hand on his shoulder, and he barely jumped. So much bad had already happened here -- Forrest doubted something worse would. He wasn't the jumpy type either, and instead he moved his head to look up at who it was, half expecting Sarai, but seeing Adriana instead. He smiled though, watching her as she moved to sit down next to him. With a nod, he said, voice slightly hoarse, "It's good to see you too." They both knew what they meant, and Forrest sighed again. Turning his head to look ahead again, he sighed before he said, his voice even, "My camera broke. I had been taking photos of everything, and my camera broke."

[forrestandrewss-blog]

natalie-hayes:

          After everything that had happened the night before, Natalie had no idea why she was back in that place. The memories of the night before only flooded her head and nothing good was coming out of it. But yet, she just couldn’t stay away. It was almost morbid of her to just be there, staring at the blood on the cement. Maybe she was there because she was crazy, or maybe she wanted to know it wasn’t a nightmare and it had actually happened. Or it could simply be that she wanted confirmation that the faeries hadn’t had a thing against her in particular. 

            She only noticed someone else was there after a paper fell out of his pocket as he sat down. Natalie stopped, wondering if she should interrupt the man who seemed to be deep in thought. Letting a sigh out she approached him, just to let him know in case the paper was something important, though she doubted it. It could be trash for all she knew, but still, she wanted to make sure it wasn’t. "You dropped something," she quietly said, kneeling down to pick up the piece of paper. He seemed to not realize she was there, or maybe he was ignoring her. Nat extended her arm, waving the piece of paper in front of his face. 

Forrest didn't realize she was speaking to him until she literally had a paper in his face. Furrowing his brow, he lifted up his good arm, and reached for it. It was the list of pain killers he needed for his arm, and he sighed before he smiled up at her. "Thanks," he said, his voice soft as he tried his best to fold the paper again with one hand and put it in the pocket of his hoodie. "I wasn't really paying attention." Which is new for Forrest, someone who paid all too much attention, sometimes more than people wanted him to. But maybe that had been because of the camera around his neck. Sighing softly, Forrest looked up again at the girl. She looked unharmed, and he smiled at that. "Are you okay?" he asked, running his fingers through his hair with his good hand. "I mean, you're not hurt from the other day, are you?" So many people hurt, so many people dead. And no evidence of any of it by him.

[forrestandrewss-blog]

The taste of his own blood was vivid in his mouth, alongside with the raw images of the town, the screaming. He'd taken pictures the whole while, running up and down the panicked streets, looking for Sarai who had been at his side, but still ever poised with his camera. But seeing a child caught under something that had fallen over them in the chaos, Forrest had let the camera fall back onto his neck, helping. In the brief moment of heroics, while he got that child free enough for her to run, he was thrown down. Feet trampled over him, and for minutes all he felt were rough, rough steps over his body. They gave him the camera in the hospital, just after he found out his arm was broken badly. Two things broken, and all the footage gone. And yet he was still walking down the streets, which had not yet been fully cleaned. Dried blood in the cracks on the sidewalk, and this wasn't even the worst of it, that area closed off by police. Forrest's body shook as he leaned down onto the curb, and sat down with a heavy sigh. The sling on his arm made moving hard, and he said nothing, staring blankly ahead, and not hearing the person speaking to him.