Lovers of the Woods

0. Canineburgh

"Here in this place, everything gets creepy with a snap of a finger. The whole neighbourhood is quite scary to even play in the evening. Yes, Canineburgh creeps out the whole province of Jarreltown. Not only does it have a lesser population or has dense forest range, but it has more abandoned houses within these dense forests. People here have always lived cautiously to avoid certain things. One might think of it as problems caused by gangsters or traffickers, but they try to avoid death at all costs. Death from an unknown source."

"JU !!!!! Come down for dinner !!!" I get freaked out as my mom calls me through the silence. " Yes, mom!!" I shout back because I don't want to get myself scolded again.

I ran down the stairs to witness my family already finishing their dinner. "I'm dead", I mumble to myself. "It's okay, mama. I can serve myself" I get the plate from her to show that I'm really concerned. " Be sure that you finish your dinner at the table, not in your stinky room", she warns me with her detailed French accent. " Sure, mama," I secretly rolled my eyes.

As my father and sister moved to the sofa in the living room across the kitchen counter, I occupied one of the chairs. I nibble my food, scrolling through my phone. One message gets my attention. "Get your ass out of your home! Right now!" I understand that it's from Iris without even thinking. I rush out to see where and why she is here.

" Hey, dumbass, I'm here." she indecently calls me, leaning on the light post at the end of our lawn.

" Why are you here? Get in, at least. Embarrassing me out here. " I frown. "You know why I don't wanna come. I don't want to act in front of your parents. Your mom especially. Ask her to stop asking me whether I'm secretly dating you. Then, I'll enter that house." she fires at me. "Okay, I can't refute that. I don't know why my mom acts like that either."

"Whatever, I wanted to ask you whether you have started the draft." she eyed me. "Don't look at me like that. I have already started the first chapter. But are you sure? Will people really believe our findings?" I ask worriedly. "They have the brains to believe all the tales. They should believe in original research," she replied to me in frustration.

"Just finish the first chapter and send it to me. Here are the other photos I took of the abandoned houses near the lake. Keep it safe. I don't want my parents to find out about this. Understand?" she asks me with the death threat in her eyes. I just nod in reply.

"You should go home early. It's already nine past ten." She scrunches her nose cutely and carelessly walks along the pavement. I suddenly remembered and ran back to my house to finish my dinner.

"Mama, I have work to do. So I'll go to school tomorrow with Iris." I informed my mom. "You need not lie to me. You can just tell me that you are having a date with Iris. Why is it hard for you to accept it?" she hits my arms. I automatically have a disgusting face." Mama, for years I've been telling you. Iris and I are just friends, Best friends. Don't say that again. When my time comes, I'll bring my love to you. I won't hide it. So please don't scare her" I say and run upstairs to my room.

Only then I realise what I have said. My lover? Will I ever have one? Even if I have one, will I be able to show my family proudly?

With these thoughts occupying my mind, I continue my story. I check the photos I got from Iris. This girl indeed is bold. Nothing, literally, nothing scares her at all. Eleven years ago, Iris's grandfather, Mr Jamie Francoeur, became a victim of the mystery at Canineburgh. They never found his body. Some said that he ran away and some believed that he was indeed killed by the mystery in the woods.

No one was sure until one day Iris's father found that Mr Francoeur Sr. was trying to prove that the mystery in the woods was werewolves. It seemed like he had done his part of the research ever since he was in his teens. This angered Iris's father so much that he voluntarily gave up searching for him. But Iris could never give up on her grandfather.

As her best friend, I decided to help her in this mission of hers. Once our work is published out, we will have assistance from ancient researchers and experts. Although everyone can sense that there is something wrong with the forests of Canineburgh, nobody seems to care. That is what I find abnormal apart from Iris's grandpa. No one ever takes much effort. It is like they are made to forget what has happened. Magical yet scary. Even the town's name, Canineburgh. How can I not overthink this?

Our work will not only help our families but hundreds of other families in Canineburgh to have a peaceful life. I don't care what kind of creature is lurking in the woods. I, Jupiter De Lange, have the rush to keep my family safe.

---------------------------------------------------------