The Uncharted Forest: A Short Story

Exactly 10 years ago, I escaped along with Gaea to the Uncharted Forest. We found an abandoned home from the Unmentionable Times. I still remember the time I saw the Unspeakable Word, and I cried out of happiness when I grasped the meaning of it. I took the name Prometheus and I took the name Gaea for my beloved. Since then, we have established a self-sufficient home and we have been living according to our desires. Gaea gave birth to two wonderful kids: Leon, our eldest, and Leona, our youngest. I talked to Gaea last night about a plan that I have been thinking for a past few days. “Gaea,” I said to her before we went to bed. “Why?” “I was thinking of going to the city tomorrow to bring some people home.” “What for?” she asked. “I told
you when we arrived here that we will establish our own society. Now is the perfect time to do that.” “What about our kids?” “You can take care of them tomorrow.” “But I’m scared. I heard they tightened up security in the city after we left. What if you get caught?” ‘Don’t worry. We will be fine,” I told her, and then I received her blessing to go to the city. I woke up very early in the morning to start walking to the city. I remembered the time escaped out of the city. I walked through some of the spots where I slept when I escaped. Eventually, I reached the city, and I immediately went to my secret underground tunnel. The tunnel looked untouched, still full of objects from the Unmentionable Times. I looked around to see if there are any guards, and I proceeded cautiously to the Home of the Streetsweepers. Outside the building, I saw my friends Fraternity 2-5503, Solidarity 9-6347, and International 4-8818. “How are you gentlemen?” I asked the three guys. “Who are they?” Fraternity 2-5503 asked back. “I am Prometheus, and I am here to allow you to escape to the Uncharted Forest.” “They are unreal, for we are not allowed to have names other than the ones assigned by the government,” Solidarity 9-6347 said. “Perhaps, they are out of their mind. The Uncharted Forest is dangerous. We remember someone called Equality 7-2521 who escaped to the Uncharted Forest, and they were never found,” International 4-8818 added. “Have no fear my friends, for I am Equality 7-2521. I am still alive. I want you to follow me to the Uncharted Forest. Gaea and I established our own home in the forest. We are allowed to do whatever you want.” “Before we ask you anything else, can I ask what these words that are from your mouth are? It is unheard of in our city,” Solidarity 9-6347 asked. “It is the Unspeakable Word. This word that has been taken away from humanity; I am here to deliver it to you.” “We shall call the Palace of Corrective Detention! They are crazy and they need their help!” Fraternity exclaimed, frightened by my words. “You shall not call the Palace of Corrective Detention!” I answered back as I escaped them. I never sensed so much hostility from these people, and I felt sorry for them. If they are not willing to join me, I am not willing to persuade them into doing it, for I face the fear of the city finding out about our actions. On my way back to our home, I encountered a couple in the Uncharted Forest. I decided to approach them to persuade them into going to our home. “Who are they?” one of them asked me. “I am Prometheus, what are your names?” I said as a reply to them. “Our name is Prosperity 5-9312,” the man replied. “And our name is Unity 3-4691,” his partner added.
“We have been here for a couple of days now, and we were thinking of going back to the city. We escaped to the Uncharted Forest because we committed the Transgression of Preference,” Prosperity 5-9312 told me. “I have my wife with me, Gaea, and we also have our children Leon and Leona. We live in the middle of the forest, in a home from the Unmentionable Times. Do you want to join me?” “We would gladly so,” Unity 3-4691 answered, and we started our journey home. By the time we arrived at our home, it was time for dinner. Gaea and the kids happily welcomed us and we joined them for dinner. After we ate dinner, Gaea and I spoke to Unity 3-4691 and Prosperity 5-9312 about our plans. “Welcome to our family,” said Gaea. “We would like to know what these new words that they are saying. We have never heard of these words and we are curious to know what they are.” “It is the Unspeakable Word. Since we are not part of the city anymore, we are allowed to say it whenever you want. Because of this, you will also need new names, which we will provide,” I answered back, and they were delighted when they heard these words. “Unity 3-4691, from now on, you shall be named Agatha,” Gaea told to Unity
3-4691. “And you, Prosperity 5-9312, shall be called Alexander,” I told the other. “Agatha and I gladly accept our new names. We also shall have a name for our society,” Alexander told me. “We shall, and coincidentally, I have found a perfect name for our new home,” I exclaimed to them, “it shall be called Jericho.”