And there I was.

Back at my childhood home. Everything was just as I remembered it.

Large, dark, and complete. The forest surrounding the house seemed as full and flourished as I ever remember.

The lake was crystal clear as it always was. The island out in the middle still there, still mysterious.

Everything was quite surreal.

I was a boy again.

I hadn't thought about this place in years, never in crossed my mind.. Why now?

The interior of my childhood dwelling was the same. Large furniture sets, large paintings, high cathedral ceilings. Everything seemed so large.

My father in his study, my mother in the kitchen, me on the couch. My feet dangling, not even coming close to touching the floor. It was like nothing had ever changed. It didn't feel different at all.

Hours seemed like minutes.

I could even smell my mother's cooking.

"Vincent!" My father called out to me, "Come here, son."

Without hesitation I hoisted myself off the couch and strolled to my father's study.

I don't know what he ever did in here, always sitting at his desk with his glasses on his nose doing some sort of paperwork. Every day would go the same as the day passed.

Every day I'd be scolded for wondering what was on the Island on the lake.

Every day my father told me the island was off limits.

"You've been thinking about the island again, haven't you?" My father's voice was concerned and stern at the same time. It was chilling to hear it again.

"No." My boyish-self shot back without even thinking about admitting the truth.

His eyes left his paperwork and met mine. He just glared for a moment, his face expressionless, "You're lying to me."

I said nothing.

"The island is out of the question, son. It's for the best. Just ignore it and play with your friends."

I didn't have any friends.

However, I nodded and left his office.

Never once did I step foot onto that island.

Your father is god, you obey his word as I did.

Do you still obey when your father is deceased?

This was as real as it could be to me.

Upon leaving his study, I found myself in the kitchen with my mother. Who never spoke or turned to face me. She just slaved over the stove, despite my attempts to grab her attention.

I thought nothing of it, and I was outside.

The sky was a hue of orange and I could feel the slight breeze. The tree's sway'd back and forth. I could hear the leafs rustling, even though there were no leafs on the trees.

I found myself sitting on a swing that hung from an old tree out in our front yard, looking out at the lake. I don't think I blinked once as I strained to see what was on the island, but to no avail.

The island wasn't all that big, but it was thick with trees. More then likely, it was nothing but forest, but the sense of mystery around it would draw any child in.

It's like entering the Forbidden Zone.

Back inside the house, everything was quiet. My mother, my father, both gone. Where to?

I don't know.

They just weren't there.

I seized the opportunity.

I was going to the island.

I ran from inside the house to the lake, diving in without hesitation.

I could feel the freezing water.

It felt like I was swimming for hours. My arms even burned.

Once I reached the island, a panic immediately took over all my emotions. I knew I shouldn't have been here, but the deed was done. I had betrayed my father's word. I knew I should have went back.

But I didn't.

As I expected, there was just woods. Thick woods. Yet I found myself navigating through them, trying to find something, anything to make this worth my wild.

My heart was racing.

My hands were shaking.

Minutes turned to hours, hours to days, days to weeks, but the sun never set.

I lost track of how long I had been on the island, but I couldn't stop searching. There had to be something there and I was going to find it.

Then I did.

I had lost the feeling of panic weeks prior to finding it, but it all came rushing back almost paralyzing me.

I took a step forward, a twig crunching underneath my feet, as I inched towards the model house.

It was my house.

A tiny replica just sitting out on the island.

I examined it carefully.

The interior was furnished just as it was back on shore, and the exterior couldn't have been more precise.

I didn't understand.

SNAP

A small animal had broke the silence from the weeks of endless days and it startled me. I turned and tripped over the tiny replica of my home, I got up as quickly as possible and ran.

And I ran, and I ran, and I ran until coming back to the edge of the island and jumping back into the water swimming to shore.

I swam as fast as I could, I just had to get away from the island. I didn't quite understand everything, but I knew I shouldn't have went. I just knew it.

Back on the edge of the lake my father was standing there. I knew I was going to be in trouble for disobeying him, but all the tension seemed to fade when he came into my sight.

"You went to the island." His voice was filled with disappointment.

"No, Father. I was just swimming." I couldn't even look at him.

He glared down at me and shook his head.

"Son, you went to the island." He repeated, the tone of his voice not changing.

I didn't answer this time.

"I'm assuming you found it." He let out a sigh.

I looked up to him, my boyish eyes glowing. He knew about the tiny house.

"You found my blueprints."

I was confused.

"How did you know?" I asked.

He turned to face the house, and I looked passed him and was in awe.

"The tree in the front yard has been uprooted and the left wing has crumbled."

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