Forever Forest

Chapter 11

The farther she traveled away from the sign, the quieter the forest became, the darker. 

Though she wouldn't allow shivers to creep over her skin. The twin points on either side of her head were far more terrifying. Terra refused to live life as a pointy eared animal. 

Especially not if her father found out. 

Who knew what he would think of her then. Perhaps she'd never be allowed into the normal world again because of the monster her dad already seemed to think she was.

Returning from the distraction of her thoughts, something caught the corner of her eye though she couldn't catch what. 

The forest was incredibly dark. Terra did not think it was night time, surely she had left no more than an hour ago. Nevertheless her father's warnings of the vicious animals that hunted during night hours haunted her.

She wasn't sure she'd even be able to see in front of her as the day went on. Reuel had said this was the direction to his home, why hadn't she found it yet?

Terra glanced up to the canopy where she found it nearly impossible to tell leaf from sky. Squinting, Terra realised with dread that she could not see a single star. Not even a trace of a dark grey whisp of cloud was above her. 

Terra had never seen a forest be so thick that its canopy blocked every ounce of light. though she supposed in this forest there would be a first for everything.

Perhaps she should just turn around now and show her father the monstrosity of her new pointed ears. After all, her father may know what to do about them. Why bother searching for the crazed blue haired boy at all?

The slowly silencing forest made her nerves spike.

Then Terra remembered.

The hope of making friends,  of being liked, and the dreadful consequence. At her younger age, Terra had no idea why those looks her classmates tossed her made her feel so small. Her father often told her it was good to be different however, sitting in that classroom Terra felt the opposite. 

Who knew what looks she would get outside the forest when her father allowed her to go to college.

She already almost died for behaving differently, who knew what the outcome would be if she looked different as well.

Terra stared at the darkness ahead but found she was used to it. The loneliness calmed her.

It seemed the loneliness did not want her, however, for there was something else in that darkness.

She stopped walking.

Something else, something other, stopped walking as well not far behind her.

Should she turn her head to look? Perhaps it was Reuel.

Her breathing was quicker now, heart pounding in fear of what it could be. It was so, so dark. She couldn't even tell what time it was, the canopy blocked all signs of light. So deep in the woods that perhaps no one would hear a cry for help.

At last she craned her head to look. 

No one was even there.

Somehow, that frightened her more.

She could not turn back now, for fear of running straight into the thing that had been following her. Her eyes desperately searched the darkness in front of her, limbs frozen in place in an attempt to blend in and not be eaten for dinner by the creature following her. Her eyes caught a bead of light through the trees. 

Another Cabin?

Though as Terra focused on the flare of light, she discovered it to be a candle on a long brown stick, protruding from the ground, wax dripping down the bark. It was an odd sight but there was something comforting about the warm glow.  As though it would somehow protect her from whatever was following.

She thought maybe she could run to it though the distance was quite far, the creature behind her was surely faster.

The air grew colder. And just as that cold air seemed to surround and lace its hands around her stomach she recognized that there was no more time left to plan.

Her gut would tell her exactly what to do.

Run.

Feet pounded against the floor, she shoved herself off of trees and made a run for the candle.

So close

Terra was desperate, mad with fear. Perhaps she could use it as a weapon against whatever creature was hunting her.

So close.

Gradually, silence seemed to outrun her, even as her feet pounded harder and harder against the forest floor, her footsteps began to make no sound.

Though she could hear the crackle of the candle's flame as she came within reach of it.

So close.

And suddenly she was flung away from it. She landed hard against the dirty ground. Her ears rang and she felt as though her body was sinking like quicksand. Terra couldn't move, limbs heavy like gravity had dropped to send her straight to the earth's core. A vague shadow of a man wearing a top hat appeared above her, she squinted trying to make out the details of his face until it opened a very wide glowing white smile and mouth. She thought she screamed but could not hear it. This delighted the shadow as it pressed closer against her. Surely she would die here, body never to be found, in the middle of this cursed monstrous forest.

But then there was light.

A warm light, not cold and blinding like the creature's mouth.

Terra could do nothing but watch in shock as the candlestick was suddenly slashed across the creature above her. Gravity returned and she bolted upright. A drop of melted wax burned against her nose and she screamed again. A hand, real this time and a silky pale shade she knew all too well, crashed across her mouth. She opened her eyes to see Reuel leaning over her, the candlestick in one hand, the other across her lips in an attempt to shush her.

And somehow- though he was handsome and had saved her- that made her want to scream more.

Though Terra didn't, for the beast remained before them, watching them a few steps away from their small ring of candle light. Terra could barely make out the fact that It's body had been separated in half from the candlestick. The creature did not seem bothered that fact, standing up with ease and smiling casually. A shadow man, made of mist and darkness though very much alive. 

The smile gleamed at them in promise before it slowly retreated into the dark forest beyond.