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. She 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. 

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?

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.

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. She assumed it was merely a star at first though It flared brighter as she focused on it, 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. 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.

The candlestick was 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. 

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

Though she wouldn't for fear of the beast before them, watching them within their small ring of candle light. It's body still in half from the candlestick Reuel swiped at it. A shadow man, made of mist and darkness though very much alive. 

It's eyes and smile gleamed at them in promise before it slowly retreated into the dark forest beyond.