Jeremy Heere ran over the green hills that covered the sunset to a giant oak tree atop one. He reached out for the old swaying rope and jumped, placing his foot in the hole, and then hoisted himself up.

He couldn't stand listening to his father ramble again so he just stood up and left.

The oak tree held so much to him that the size was tiny compared to the memories.

He remembered when he first reached the top of the 40 foot tree and how the wind crashed against his face with the cold.

Jeremy was forced to come down for safety reasons.

But also the time when his mo-

" Woah what the fuck? " A voice interrupted from above him.

Jeremy nearly fell out the tree as he jumped from the sudden noise but regained himself.

He looked up to only see basically a bright red sweatshirt, glasses, and some smoke in the dim night light.

" Uhh, hi? " Jeremy didn't know what to say in a situation when both him and a stranger were both in a tree together.

The person swung down from the branch they were on to the one across from Jeremy.

" I think I know you, you're in my grade, right?

" Wha? "

" Jeremy Heere? I always overhear Rich picking on you. " The person suggested, letting their legs dangle freely from the tree.

" Yeah.. And ' picking on you '? What are you dude? 7? " Jeremy teased with a short laugh following. It probably was the fact that Jeremy could barely see who he was talking to that he was having this sudden burst of confidence.

" Ouch. No, but I do get called that for how much I play video games. " The silhouette leaned against the tree and let a puff of smoke out from their mouth.

" Hard life. I do too, I'd say I'm a slighty-trained-but-not-so-professional one. " Jeremy watched the smoke fade away into the deep rich blue of the sky now.

" I'll teach you some day, young one. "

" Shut up. "

Jeremy heard the person laugh for the first time that night, the smoke coming out in weird forms from it.

" Alright, I'm Michael. "

" No last name? "

" Earn my trust. "

-

That day at school, Jeremy could've sworn he saw the red sweater a couple times in the school halls. Maybe even once in one of his classes.

-

Just as they had planned, Jeremy began to dash out again towards the tree with his phone on him this time.

He repeated the same thing as last time, stepping into the hole on the rope, and then pulling himself onto the lowest branch.

When he got there, Michael was already waiting with no cigarette this time.

" Took you long enough. " Michael looked to the boy who was just darkness with the contrasting sunset behind him.

" Sorry, had to convince my dad I was just going out to buy something. "

" You better tell him he'll be waiting for a long time then. "

" Too late. " Jeremy said with a small smile.

And then Michael and Jeremy talked.

And they talked.

And they talked.

For what felt like hours on end.

Michael suddenly spoke up during a silence, cutting it short.

" Do you know what that rope is there? " He asked.

" No, why? " Jeremy tilted his head out of curiosity.

" That rope was a noose they used to hang someone a long time ago, maybe 20 years ago? " Michael watched the weak rope move with the wind.

Jeremy stared, both shock and and urge for Michael to go on was inside of his emotions.

Michael looked to Jeremy, who was staring at him and then continued.

" He was hung for murder. They say he murdered three people, a man, woman, and baby. "

" They say? "

" Nobody knows what actually happened. But that's the most assumed thing. " Michael shrugged.

-

Yet again here Michael and Jeremy were face-to-face in a oak tree on the top of a grassy hill.

" Remember what I said about the guy yesterday? "

Jeremy nodded his head.

" Well, his wife would come here with a flower every day. She said she could still hear his voice. And that his voice was telling her to run. " Michael began again.

Jeremy nodded again, motioning for him to go on.

" But when she did hear it, she would always be drawn back here by midnight, just staying here for hours. " Michael stared at the green leaves that blocked the moon light from shining down on the boys.

" That's some creepypasta shit right there. Are you sure we're not like, cursed for being around it all the time? " Jeremy asked.

Michael replied with only a shrug of his shoulders.

-

" He knew he was going to be hung. The man tried to tell his wife to leave town and be free on her own. She still stayed though. "

" Find yourself someone as dedicated as her. " Jeremy let out a small chuckle.

Michael stared at Jeremy with a blank look on his face.

" Bad time for a joke? Sorry- "

But he was cut off by Michael bursting out laughing and gripping onto his branch for dear life.

" I like you, Heere. "

" Thanks, they say I'm quite the charmer. "

" Said nobody ever. "

" Aw. "

-

" One day she came up to this tree, the voice still telling her to run. But then she finally understood what it meant. It wanted her to run to her dead husband. To be free in the afterlife with him. So she took it upon herself to hang herself with the same noose as her husbands. "

" Damn, really? I thought she was gonna go marry Dora the Explorer. "

" Fuck off. " Michael managed through a snort.

" Got any more stories about this tree? " Jeremy asked.

Michael reached out and took Jeremy's hand in his own, rubbing his thumb over the top of it.

" Plenty more. "