The Madness Within ✓

XVI.

I took a deep breath and took three steps closer to the door. I reached for the door handle and slowly opened the door. My heart began beating faster each second as I thought about everything waiting for me outside of that door, but with Chris' presence I felt more safe.
I pulled the door closer to me, opening it more and letting the outside world shine in through the opening.
Everything looked the same as before. The snow has now melted off completely and the ground was now instead covered with wet puddles of water and mud, all scattered around the area. I walked through the door and took my first step outside after 4 days of avoiding everything. It might not seem like a lot, but after all that has happened in this forest, seeing myself go back here was a big achievement for me. I can't be afraid anymore. Whatever is wrong with this forest, I have to fight against it. It could be somehow connected to the death of my grandma. And if it is, I'll make sure I find out what exactly happened.

Suddenly, a loud screech echoed through the forest, the flapping of wings following right after. It was right above the house, exactly where we stood.
Not thinking properly at that moment, I jumped and took a few steps back, frantically looking around the area, trying to see what the source of sound was.

„Calm down, it's just a bird!" Chris laughed as he turned to look at me. I shook my head and hid my face in my hands, sighing deeply at my own stupidity.

„Right, sorry."

Maybe this wasn't a good idea..

„Look, I have an idea. How about we go to the village first? I know that it's just as terrible as the forest itself, but nothing will attack you there, I promise," Chris suggested and I nodded.

„Sure. But where do we go?"

„I know someone we could go visit."

•

We got into Chris' car and drove to the village. On our way there, we came across my car that I left in the forest a few days ago. It was still in the same condition as before, thank god. I can go and get it back one day, hopefully.
We took a turn to the village and drove through the big sign that stood by the village's entrance and proudly stated the name of the village, 'Willowlake Village.' We then spent the next 5 minutes driving through the village, seemingly going to the very end of it. As we passed the villagers, while some ignored us, others stared right at us, a few even giving us chilling looks. Maybe they were wondering why we're here, or perhaps they wanted us gone.
But whatever they thought of us didn't matter. It was still better than having to go through the forest, where that thing could kill me whenever it wishes to do so.

Finally, we stopped by an old house at the end of the village. It looked small yet cozy, good enough for around 2 people to live in. The house was surrounded by wooden planks and a shed that stood next to it.
We both got out of the car and walked towards the door.

„So, who lives here?" I asked Chris as I looked around.

„A person who hates whatever's happening in this village."

Interesting. If they hate this place so much, why don't they just move out? Is there something that's keeping them from leaving?

Chris walked closer to the door and knocked three times, then took a step back and waited. There was no response for a moment, but after a few seconds, the door opened.
By the door stood a tall man, his muscles visibly showing through his shirt. He seemed to be in his 60s, but that could be because of his big, scruffy beard that made him look older.

„What do you want?" the man asked, annoyance seeping through his deep and croaky voice.

„We're not from the village. In fact, we wanted to ask what you know about the village, sir," Chris responded to the man's question, then explained our - or, well, my situation.
The man stared at me for a while, then looked back at Chris and sighed.