The Ash Tree

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I followed her directions and took the path where the fog got thicker. I am unsure for how long I ran, it only feels like minutes but it could be hours or only seconds. The fog became so thick I could only see the ground beneath me.

How am I to find Alice in this fog?

I ran until the pain in my sides were unbearable and I could barely breathe. I felt light headed and somewhat dizzy. I kneel down trying to catch my breath.

I need to rest. I begin to close my eyes.

No! You need keep going, you need to find Alice.

I stood opening my eyes and panic starts to fill me. Which way did I come from?

The fog became too thick, all I can see is this silver mist. I sprint forward hoping I am going the right way.

"Alice!" I screamed, hoping she is not far. "Alice!" No reply. "Alice, please Alice can you hear me! Alice!"

I continued to scream her name as I ran blindly in the fog. I never got a reply. My sides were burning and my legs were beginning to shake.

Come on Ward, fight the pain. Find Alice.

I pushed through it once again and continued to call out for her.

"Alice!" I yelled, my throat now dry. I was dragging my feet along, too exhausted to run.

"Alice" I called one more before my foot hit something hard. I fell to the ground unable to rise up. I am in pain and I am exhausted. Slowly my eyes began to close.

* * *

I felt my body being moved side to side. "Oliver." A faint voice spoke. "Oliver!" It yelled, my eyes snapping awake. I slowly pushed myself off the ground, my body aching in protest. I stood and looked around. It was no longer cloudy, the fog was only crawling on the ground. I looked to my right and there was Alice.

"Alice." I breathed smiling. "Alice!" I yelled running towards her. I wrapped my aching arms around her and spun us around. I pulled my head back to look at her face only to see a great deal of sadness and fear. "What's wrong?" I ask confused.

"Oliver I...I am unsure how to say this-"

I cut her off before she can continue. "Then let me speak first, there is something I need to ask of you." I removed the band from the cord and kneeled. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand. "Alice, I have been waiting my whole life to ask you to be my wife. I have spent so many years without you in my arms, so many years trying to find you; and now that I have, I do not want to lose you again. I love you Alice, and I want to spend the rest of my days with you and only you. Would you do me the greatest honor of all and say yes?" I stared in her beautiful pale blue eyes.

Alice is crying. She knelt down in front of me and hugged me tightly, her body shaking. I hugged her back, becoming nervous.

"Is this a yes?" I asked hopeful. She pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"I love you too Oliver. And I have always dreamed of us being married and raising a family and growing old." I smiled and put the band on her finger, the previous one gone. She took a deep breath. "But it cannot be." she chocked, breaking my heart.

"Why Alice?" was all I could say, my voice tight and my chest aching.

"When I arrived in Ashton, I traveled to the castle to talk to Lord Burch. But, the-the guards did not see me, at first I thought they were ignoring me, then Lord Burch arrived. He started walking towards me, he continued and was uncomfortably close. He-he walked right through me Oliver." she cried.

That-that is impossible. No, she probably only though or... no that did not happen.

"I began to panic. I ran around asking people if they could see me, and they responded by walking through me. I walked around for days trying to understand and find out what happened to me. I started to feel hopeless and depressed. Soon I gave up and laid down by the trees. I closed my eyes and slept, but my dreams were all memories. I do not remember everything though. The last thing I remember was sneaking out of the castle. The moment I entered the woods, it is a blur. I know not why, but you are the only one who can see, hear and touch me since then." I sat down, frozen. Unsure what to say or do. "I had dreamt of you calling my name, you sounded terrified and in pain. I opened my eyes and found myself a few feet away from your body on the ground. How did you find this place?"

"A maiden who is a servant to Lord Burch. She said she knew you and that you were waiting for her to bring you supplies. She gave me directions and told me I would find you by this tree."

"I did not meet with..." he face went blank and pale.

"Alice?" I asked alarmed. I touched her arm, it was icy cold. "Alice?!" Her eyes closed and she fell into my arms. She stayed very still at first, but then her body flinched as if she was in pain and she began to shake. "Alice! Open your eyes! Alice please, wake up!" I hugged her closer. She gasped and breathed heavily. "Alice, you are as cold as death. What happened?" She looked me in the eyes, completely crushed and terrified. She tried to speak but a sob only came out. She held me close and cried heavily. It hurt me to see her like this.

"C-chr-chris-t-tine. Sh-she-told-m-me-to-m-me-meet-h-her-here. Pr-promising-to-bring-me-su-supplies." her body shook violently. I hugged her closer. She took deep breaths before she finally stopped shaking.

"I thought- I thought I could trust her." She took another deep breath. "Oliver, I am dead. I have been for a while."