The Madness Within ✓

XXVIII.

It all finally makes sense.

Yet no sense whatsoever.

I shook my head and looked down at the ground, using my hand to lean against the wall for support to prevent myself from falling. It was all too much to take in. Did all this really happen? Was the young girl my grandma? Did she really start all this? It can't be, right?

„Are you okay?" Chris asked as soon as he finished reading the text, to which I nodded and took a deep breath.
„It's just.. a lot to take in."

Chris nodded and looked back at the book.

I'm sure we both had mixed feelings about all of this. Learning the whole truth was such a relief, yet such a burden to bear at the same time. The text was written in a way where you can see just how much the villagers believe that the things they were promised are actually being granted. The joy, is it really a gift from them or is it just a placebo effect? Are they really getting what they asked for? Are they really willing to sacrifice everything just for something where they aren't even sure that they're getting it?

„It's stupid," I mumbled and closed my eyes, trying to piece everything together to fully understand the situation.

„Did they do it for the boys?" I suddenly asked.
„What?"
„I read a bit about what happened here in the past. Three children got lost in the forest a long time ago. Is that why they wanted joy and health so bad? Do they not realize that it was the creatures that took their children?!" I raised my voice, unable to control my anger any longer. How did they not realize? How could they just listen to these terrifying creatures and obey their every order?

„That's possible," Chris mumbled and nodded.

We both stood there in silence for a moment, thinking about everything once more. The silence in this situation was very comforting. All the thoughts in my head just flew around in chaos, trying to find the meaning of all this.

„Hey, we got a note with an address, remember?" Chris suddenly interrupted my thoughts. I nodded.
„That's right, we need to go visit her."

„Yeah. Let's go."

We both walked out of the basement and went towards the car, immediately going to visit the lady. She had all the answers we needed. She knows the whole story. Surely, she'll help us.

Chris started the car and began driving towards the address.

Once we arrived, we were welcomed by a tall house, decorated with all kinds of plants and flowers under the windows or hanging from the fences. It was clear that she loved flowers - and probably taking care of them as well, as they were all in great condition.

I got out of the car and Chris followed. While walking closer to the home, I realized just how many plants there really were. The interior is probably filled with nothing but plants as well.
I walked closer to the door and knocked three times, then took a step back next to Chris and waited for someone to open the door.

Eventually, an old lady appeared by the door. She seemed to be as old as my grandma, or at least around the same age as her.

„Oh, hello there," the lady said and smiled at me, then at Chris.
„We.. learned the whole truth now. We want to ask some questions about it," I said, feeling my heartbeat get faster each passing second."
The lady looked at us for a moment, then nodded and stepped back.
„Please come in."

We both nodded and followed her inside. I was right - the interior was, of course, full of plants. There were plants on shelves, by the television, in pots on the ground. I wonder how she manages to take care of them.