There was only one word even close to capable of describing my journey down the Red Path. Boring.

As I had begun walking, I noticed that the ground wasn't as even as I had initially thought, there were some places it slipped down so far I couldn't see the black tree in the distance. Each time this happened, I held my breath and hoped something new and exciting had appeared. But lo and behold, nothing ever granted my wishes.

"Why me? Why me?" I muttered. Of course, there could be a million answers for this that I was simply unaware of due to my amnesia. But I pushed that aside.

As I trudged forwards, I noticed that my legs never grew tired, and my breathing never labored. Perks of being dead I suppose. There really is a bright side to everything.

The landscape never changed, just the same deathly pale wheat stalks on either side. The drab and gray landscape made it easy for my eyes to blur and become bored, leading me to drift across the path.

Slowing into a stupor, at one point I stumbled off of the rock entirely, landing in the rows of straw. As soon as I made contact with the dirt, intense fear and unease filled me, shaking me to my core. At the same time, shuffling noises arose behind me and I jolted up onto the path.

I could have sworn I heard a disappointed growl as I continued forwards.

When this happened the second time, I knew something was off and put all my focus into not drifting away. But damn my impertinent little brain (did I have a brain anymore?), I could not stay focused for the life of me; no pun intended.

"How long is this hellish road?" I said. The tree in the distance had grown no closer and I was beginning to think it was all a wild goose chase.

Whine.

I stopped. There it was again.

Whine.

"That sounds like..." I took a step towards the edge of the path.

Through the tall stalks, a pair of kind eyes made contact with my own.

"Hello." I cocked my head, "Who are you?"

A small dog limped forwards, her steps careful and cautious.

I knelt down, arms spread wide, "I won't hurt you girly. Come here."

She stepped onto the road in front of me, keeping me in her line of sight the entire time.

"It's ok," I coaxed her, "You're safe."

At the word safe her ears perked up and her whole demeanor relaxed. She trotted over to my side, still cautious, but not looking as though she would bolt at any moment.

She was a smallish border collie, with black and white matted fur. Her big eyes smiled at me, one a shocking electric blue and the other a cool sea green.

"Well aren't you a pretty pupper? Huh?" I reached my hand over her head. She let out a low growl, her teeth poking out from her lips.

"Easy girly." I soothed her. Placing my hand gently on her head, I began rubbing it back and forth, loosening some of the tightly matted fur. She leaned into the touch, letting out a contented breath, almost like she was sighing.

"I bet that feels real good." I chuckled, "Now what's a pretty doggo like you doing out here all alone?"

She panted happily, her tail wagging slowly. My hand suddenly slipped through her head, leaving it tingling.

"You're dead." I said, like the idiot I was.

I scanned her for any wounds, anything that would clue me into her cause of death, but she seemed perfectly healthy. Just dead.

"Huh." I tried once again to pet her, but this time my hand went straight through, "Why can I only feel you part of the time?"

She barked as if to say, "Beats me, but keep trying."

"Weird." I said, "Well, I should probably keep moving on. See you later pup."

I turned and started walking again, although I had only made it a hundred paces before I heard the same whining noise again. I turned around and laughed when I saw her, tail bouncing up and down as she followed me.

I laughed, "Want to keep traveling with me? I don't have any treats or food, although I'm not entirely sure ghosts eat in the first place."

I stood up and began walking, not surprised when she quickly followed. I wouldn't want to be alone out here either.

"I guess I should come up with a name of some sort." I hummed thoughtfully as we walked, "Colbie? Ryan?"

She sneezed. "Alright so not those..." I trailed off.

A faint whisper of a memory stirred across my mind. Glittery brown eyes and a name. Callie.

"What about Callie?" I suggested.

The dog spun around in a circle, barking happily.

"Callie it is then." I grinned. I remembered something! Of course, I didn't know who the memory was about, but that seemed insignificant in the moment.

With that settled, me and my new friend trotted down the path, both feeling much better.

~~~

I wasn't sure how long it had been since we first started off, but after a while, both me and Callie were drenched in our own ghosty sweat.

"How is this even possible?" I panted, "I'm a freaking ghost! I feel like that should get us a pass." I looked at my companion, who was just as out of breath.

It was odd; I still had plenty of energy left, but my body (soul?) felt like I had just done 100 marathons.

"Let's take a break." I stopped and laid on the path, staring into the gray sky.

Callie plopped down next to me, curled into a ball, and began snoring.

I sighed, "So much for companionship."

Soon enough after though, I drifted into a light dreamless sleep of my own.

BANG.

One eye cracked open. Silence. Entirely disoriented, I wasn't sure of what had woken me up. Shrugging it off, I turned on my side and tried to talk back to sleep.

CRASH.

This time, both eyes shot open. Without moving, I scanned the field in front of me, searching for any movement.

woosh.

A subtle movement in my peripheral vision. I hear Callie wake up and begin moving around.

"Shh!" I whisper yelled at her. She stopped. I turned my head to look over my shoulder, making eye contact with her.

"Stay still." I mouthed. She laid on her stomach, head on her paws, and froze.

"Good girl." I nodded ever so slightly.

Moving as slow as possible, I inched my way onto my hands and knees.

Woosh.

There it was again. Moving a bit faster, I was now kneeling on the Red Path.

There! Another movement off to the right. No, wait, it was on the left?

My blood seemed to freeze as the realization hit me. Whatever these were, there was more than one. And they were hunting us.

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1177 words

And the plot thickens *cue evil author laughter*