Hard ground beneath him, grass and mud, different from the weird terrain of the demon realm. Andrew sat himself up and rubbed at his temple, feeling like he'd crash-landed here like some out-of-place alien. Well, the former part of that statement was certainly true — he was unwanted everywhere. Everywhere but with her.
Ugh. Okay, what did Lord Unknown say? Something about... being free? Hah! As if that would ever happen. Wait, but... was it a deal he'd made? Argh, why couldn't he remember all the details? Well, whatever, it would come back to him in time. Probably.
He pulled himself up, managing to get into a standing position despite the throbbing in his head. Green eyes take in his surroundings, noting that he was in a forest. Which forest was anyone's guess — there were a ton of wooded areas in his state. If that's even where he still was.
With nothing else to do, he began to walk, keeping an eye out for any branching trails that he might have to use later for whatever reason. It was a fairly uneventful exploration: stick, stick, slightly larger stick, a branch (that still counted as a stick), and oh hey, a wooden plank! With his track record, he'd definitely need that later.
After about ten minutes of shuffling through undergrowth like some drugged-out zombie (he hadn't realized how hungry and tired he really was), he spotted a path that looked more man-made. Heading along it, Andrew tried to keep his mind focused on this sole task and not on the demon and whatever deal he vaguely remembered being offered to him. Nor did he think (or at least try to) of Ashley and how much she'd be freaking out when she realized he was gone.
A house appeared through the trees. No, it didn't actually appear out of thin air, although nothing would surprise him anymore. It was just there, built in a clearing like some modern retelling of Hansel and Gretel with the human-eating witch.
Except I'd be the one to eat whoever lives there...
No, there would be no human consuming today. Or ever again. Making the last stretch to the house, Andrew noticed how quiet it was. It didn't seem run-down, though. If anything, it appeared well looked after, even having some furniture and debris outside as if someone was in the process of moving things around. Maybe a rennovation?
He should move along; he knew that. Don't get too close to anywhere that might have people. Which would be real fucking difficult considering he'd have to buy essentials and all that, but if he could just stay as far from humankind as possible, then that would be the best outcome. For all of them.
But he was never one to listen to his own logic and trudged up to the door, legs weary and stomach growling. The door was locked as he expected, but a window around the back was cracked open enough for him to hoist himself up and slide through. Or more like half tumble through — he'd never been all that flexible. If anyone came running, he'd have a reason ready, a backstory, an excuse for being a creepy weirdo breaking into their home. It didn't matter who the other person was; Andrew could adapt his demeanor and story accordingly. For maximum manipulation! Wow, wasn't he such a swell guy!
