Auld Lang Syne

We're out camping

Me, Matt, John and Luke

Mark's not here now.

Hasn't been since...

Wait, how long has it been?

I ask John and he just stares at me

"Why are you doing that again?"

I ask "doing what?" and John just sighs.

"I'm off to bed"

Good night, John.

Where are you going?

"I have to take a leak first."

Watch out for bears.

...

It's odd.
I can't remember what Mark's voice sounded like
even though I talked to him the other day

Funny, I can't seem to recall where I talked to hiGAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!

"Relax, it was just John" says Matt laughing.

Goddamn asshole, I'll stab you in the eye!

Luke laughs too, although his laughter seems a bit weak.

I know he got scared too.

Damn those two, I say to Luke.

He doesn't answer.

And I can't see him.

What the fuck is going on?

Where's Luke?

Matt throws a glance at John.

Well, I think Luke's out to take a leak as well.

I'm so glad Matt, Luke and John still take me with them.

The whole affair with Mark's... incident was a bit weird.

It was a few years ago, right here where we are camping now.

It's a bit spooky, come to think of it.

That we're camping here still, after Mark...

Well, I don't want to concern the other guys so I don't say a thing.

I take a flashlight and head out to answer the call of nature too.

Maybe I had one beer too many?

Feels kind of unreal.

Oh gooodddd, it feels good.

Whew, maybe I should drink less.

I come back to the campfire and put the flashlight in my jacket's pocket.

I sit and look at Matt.

He's a bit pale.

"I think I'm off to bed too."

Matt and John, heh, they do everything together.

Best friends forever.

I still remember when they scored with the same girls in college.

It's weird, but they work well as a team.

Me and Luke on the other hand...

Wait, where is Luke?

He's still not here.

I turn to ask Matt but he's inside the tent now.

John's just going in too.

It was nice of John's uncle to borrow his army tent to us.

We could all fit in there and have plenty of space too.

Yes, it's a bit cold sometimes.

Especially nights like this.

Goddamn, it's chilly.

I say to the BFF's through the tent canvas that I'm heading out to look for Luke.

They wish me good luck and laugh.

Assholes.

I head out to find Luke.

The moon shines bright.
...

No sign of him.

I head back to the campsite.

No sign of Matt or John either.

Those sonofabitches took the tent with them!

I feel cold, they took out the fire.

I sit on the log and reach for the flashlight.

Now where is it, it was just in my hands.

What the fuck is going on.

The stones are mossy and the trees seem much taller.

Is this even the campsite we were at?

I seem to have torn my clothes badly while searching for Luke.

I barely remember him.

What the hell?

How long was I out there?

They better come back soon, Matt and... what was the other guys name?

The trees grow taller still.

I stand up and step on something.

A flashlight, covered in dead leaves and dirt.

But I just put it there?

I feel only tattered rags on me,

no forest anymore.

Was the sense of loss earlier my...

It can't be...

The trees grow taller still as I realise I never talked to Mark.

I recall lost memories.

But I knew Mark better than anyone, how can it be?

The moon doesn't shine on me anymore, it is but a distant memory now.

The shock hits me as I realise Mark never was my friend.

I AM MARK!

The trees grow taller still.