Chapter 98

The fog parted, revealing a sprawling Manor.

This was Ethan’s haven, the place his dreams always drew him to in sleep.

A creaking sound, like a rocking chair, echoed nearby.

Ethan’s face lit up, and he hurried inside.

At the entrance, a gray Ape lounged in a rocking chair, legs crossed, swaying lazily as if life couldn’t get better.

It wore a loud floral shirt, beach shorts, and flip-flops, with sunglasses hiding half its face, long eyebrows drooping to its cheeks.

One hand clutched a red wine gourd, tied with a cord looped around its wrist to keep it from falling, as it guzzled with loud gulps.

“Yo, you’re back?” it said, setting the gourd down and sliding its sunglasses low, revealing a face flushed like a baboon’s rear, eyes hazy with drink.

Ethan knew better. This Ape could down liquor from dawn to dusk without a flinch.

This was its first time speaking to him, though. No more pretending.

“Back,” Ethan replied, playing along, curious to see what game they were running.

“No welcome party after all this time?” the Ape teased, bursting into hearty laughter.

It sprang from the chair with a nimble flip, slipped on its flip-flops, and swaggered inside. “Come on in. We might clear up some of your questions.”

Ethan followed without hesitation. These were companions of over a decade; he trusted they meant him no harm.