The Madness Within ✓

XVII.

„Sorry, I might've angered him," Chris stated as I was getting in the car next to him.

„It's okay, it's not your fault," I responded and closed the door behind myself, then took the note from Chris' hand and looked at the name and address one more time.
The name of the woman was Lydia Rosemary Alexander. Her name, Lydia, reminded me of a woman grandma used to mention. Lydia used to be my grandma's good friend. Grandma told us about how they'd always drink tea in the afternoon and talk about everything together. They knew every aspect of each others' lives, even their deepest secrets. It is safe to assume that they were best friends.
If my grandma really did end her own life, Lydia would probably be the only person who knows why she did it.
Deep inside I really hoped that the Lydia on the note was the same Lydia that my grandma used to talk about. She could tell us more about grandma and what happened to her. But of course, just like John said, we shouldn't go there until we learn 'the truth,' whatever that is. Maybe once we know more about it, we might be able to tell what it means exactly. And then we can finally go see her.

„Clara?" Chris interrupted my thoughts. I turned my head to face him and smiled lightly.

„Hm?"

„Do you feel more.. safe now? We can go check out the forest next, but only if you're comfortable with it. I don't want to force you."

The light smile slowly faded from my face. I definitely felt more safe now, and I didn't mind staying in the village, but moving this fast towards the forest might be too much for me.
But then again, I'll have to return to that forest no matter what. It's where the house is, after all. Right in the middle. It would be better to go explore it now and then I can finally relax.

„We can go there now," I responded after a short while and nodded. Chris smiled and nodded back at me, then started the engine and began driving away from the village.
The villagers that were outside at the time stared at us once again, but their stares were just as insignificant to me as before. Instead of worrying about them, I smiled back at them instead.
I will find out the truth. And I'll face everything I'll have to face in order to find it. I will fight for it. And I won't give up until I know what happened.

After a few minutes we passed the 'Willowlake Village' sign and entered the deep forest. The uncomfortable feeling that I had when driving to the village was now back. The forest always managed to make me feel uneasy, but at this point it was something that I had to get used to.
Still, the endless trees reminded me of that time again. That time where I ran through a forest that felt like there was no end, that time when I escaped the strange creature that wouldn't stop following me until I reached the house.

However, that made me wonder: why did it not attack me when it was in my house? It was the perfect time to attack. Sure, the repairman was by the door, but if I wouldn't open the door, he would simply leave and go on about his everyday life. And even if he would somehow get inside the house, I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time he'd seen a dead person. Even the story that the old lady that I visited showed me a tale about a man that paid a price for his curiosity. I don't know what was stopping the creature from killing me, but maybe I should be glad instead of pondering over it.

„I'll drive us back to the house and we can start from there, alright?" Chris said, to which I responded with a nod.

I looked out of the window, the anxiety within me slowly swallowing me whole. I tried very hard to ignore it and calm myself down, but there were moments when it was winning over me. Many thoughts roamed my mind, thoughts that tried to stop me, that tried to scare me off. I looked down at my lap and bit my lip, trying to think of anything else but those thoughts, yet they still wouldn't want to leave.
And it seems like Chris must've noticed, since he suddenly struck up a conversation with any topic he could think of. We talked about music for a while, then we moved on to movies and shows. Eventually we even complained about how difficult being an adult is, which definitely made me feel calmer and more relaxed.