Forever Forest

Chapter 13

Terra's eyes were wide and tracking the forest around them as Reuel dragged her along. Her bow and arrow was lost behind and she cursed herself for dropping it when Reuel's vines tangled themselves around her wrists and mouth. 

Though she still had the quiver of many more arrows slung tight against her back, half hidden by her long curly red hair.

A secret she would save for later.

Reuel was silent for most of the trip. Silent until the trees started to become thicker and more twisted.

"I should warn you. The Forever Forest is about to get quite a bit stranger. Especially for a..." 

He paused and turned to study her. 

"Dumb girl like yourself."

She growled through the vine wrapped across her mouth, thinking how lovely it would be to sock him if her wrists weren't tied that very moment.

"Don't worry, focus on me. It will make you feel better." He smirked and turned to continue dragging her along. Her face heated. 

The forest could not be near stranger than the man before her.

Her feet obeyed his tug yet again. What was wrong with those stupid feet? She wanted to kick him, to turn and run, to bolt back home, though her limbs were not at her command. She glared at them, eyes darting for an escape.

The two walked on for miles. Miles until it became dark and shadows began to reveal themselves. Her teeth clenched around the vine. When would they stop? Reuel always seemed so afraid of the forest at night, and often told her to stay inside when it came. 

Her memory flashed to when she was rained on by acorns. 

But that couldn't have possibly been real could it? 

Her eyes darted to Reuel leading her and she let out a loud grumble for him to hear. He paused and turned his head with a smile. "What? My little daisy needs more attention?"

His 'little daisy' was livid. The second she got out of the cursed vines she swore to rip Reuel to shreds until he never again saw the light of day.

Though currently, the two of them had worse problems. Including the fact that the forest was slowly and surely growing pitch black and quiet. Too quiet.

She rolled her eyes around to indicate the forest around them with a few impatient growls. 

"Fine, we will stop here for the night." She let out a panicked shriek as he looked around for shelter. "Oh don't worry." Reuel grinned. "I'll blind fold you so your scent of fear will not wake the night time dwellers." 

He led them to a trio of trees providing a small area of shelter and sat her down. Her legs folded instantly until she was sitting on the grassy floor beside Reuel. 

"Stay still." She leaned away from him and up against the tree as he gently wrapped thick strands of vines around her head to cover her eyes.

She could feel his warm breath as his mouth drew close to her ear. "Try to lie still as you sleep tonight and nothing bad will happen to you." She could imagine his smile as he leaned against the tree across from her. She took that as a sign to rest and lay on her side.

Just as she could no longer control her limbs, she could not control her fingers that trembled as the forest became deadly silent. She shook and shivered, feeling the pit in her stomach grow along with the memory that was the cave. 

She felt just as trapped now as she did then.

A tear dropped to the ground, and another, and another.

After the fifth tear a form surrounded her. 

Reuel. She felt him move behind her and lean against the tree closest to her. He moved her head gently to rest atop his crossed legs, and to her silent shock, stroked her head ever so delicately.

Her shaking slowly ceased, mind exhausted from panic and fear, and she rested. Asleep with no sound. And no monsters.

For now.