A Maiden's Nightmare

Chapter 1

Theodore's life after that day drastically changed. He spent lots more time at the church praying for his mother and father. He also started training in order to become a priest himself. He spent 20 years at the church before he took over. This is when he started noticing that he was ageing much slower than everyone else. He still looked like he was 18 when he turned 20.  Most people just assumed he had good genetics, others died before they could see any of the affects of his anti ageing. 

Theodore had made a good life for himself at this point. He had a funeral for his mother after the priest had died. Which of course, no one else attended since she was considered a witch. It did make him sad seeing how his mother that raised him on her own was hated by a whole kingdom but there was nothing that could be done about it. Theodore was also now living in the priests old living quarters, they were much more luxurious than his old ones. He was gifted fresh bread and other meals by the kind people who came to mass every sunday. It was all very nice but theodore did miss eating fresh rabbit and deer after long hours of hunting. the fruits of his labors always tasted better than anything the people had made him. He also noticed that his once strong and steady arms were now much weaker. he could not draw his bow anymore (not that he needed to) and lift very heavy objects. it was a bitter part living in the kingdom. The taste of mothers fresh bread had also left his tongue. Although the bakers bread was very good it would never be the same as mothers in the woods.  

Not all of his and mothers traditions were gone though. Right behind the church there was a forest where Theodore would set out to get a pot of fresh syrup and boil it, dipping fresh fruits and bread into it after it had cooled a bit. The taste brought him right back to the small cottage in the forest during the cool nights of spring, him and mother leaning over the pot eager to dip whatever they had in the sticky syrup. 

As more years passed, rumors started that Theodore was a witch himself because of his non aged appearance. People said that he was just like his mother, her and her wicked ways, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. His attempts to address the roomers only made them much worse.

Theodore became an outcast and eventually was exiled from the Sepenate Empire. With this Theodore moved to a different kingdom. The journey was long and hard but he eventually made it. He pretended to be a traveling trader and set up a small stand and sold things he had found on his journey. When inventory got low he would set out again to find more things. This went on for twenty more years before he was kicked out again for witchcraft. His curse was now becoming more prominent. 

Theodore spent the rest of his time during the medieval era as a traveling trader, Buying and selling almost anything and everything he had. While he traveled he only kept three personal things, the book his mother had given him, his horse and a broach a woman had given to him. 

For a while Theodore spent lots of his time looking for a reason he didn't age. Many years past as Theodore searched for an answer asking many different people while he traveled about spells and curses but came up with nothing. It was horrible, everyone he talked to thought he was crazy. This led to Theodore questioning his own sanity.  With his mental health declining Theodore set out to the woods again, he missed his old simple cottage life.  He traveled deep into the foliage where he was sure not to be found and began to make a home for himself. It took him 2 years almost but he made a home for himself. 

Loneliness was a feeling that Theodore became used to, when he lived with mother he has someone to talk to. To rid some of the quiet Theodore started talking to the trees, while farming he noticed a bunny stealing veggies from his garden. Instead of setting a snare and killing the bunny he decided to befriend it. Theodore made a separate section with veggies the bunnies liked and kept it well taken care of while the bunny ate what they wanted. After a while of this the bunnies built a small den close to the small veggie garden. Theodore was able to pet some of the bunnies now too. as time went on the bunnies had babies. The baby bunnies where very friendly and eventually had names, Lilly Kara and Tom.

While exploring farther into the woods Theodore discovered a stream. The next day he brought a makeshift fishing rod. For dinner that night he had steamed carrots and fish. he threw the bones out for animals. 

It was now the renaissance era. Music and art was abundant. Theodore of course was completely oblivious to what was happening. The newest thing in his life was a cat that he had befriended. He had named it Cloud since its soft white fur reminded him of the clouds. The cat had been eating all of the old fish bones that Theodore had left out. when he first saw the cat he decided to catch a few extra fish and feed it. From that day on the cat became his friend. It would wander around and be in and out of Theodore's house. It ate any old scraps and the occasional cooked fish when Theodore had extras.

Life was good for Theodore again, He was lonely but the cats and bunnies kept him company. He had, food, shelter and fear of being exiled was no longer a worry and his body was back to being steady and strong.  

Late one evening though Theodore had a strange encounter with a "thing". After letting Cloud in for the night Theodore, as usual, covered his window and crawled into bed for the night. Drifting off to sleep was usually no problem but tonight was different. A knock at his door stopped him from drifting off. Cloud jumped and was scared, she ran under the bed and didn't get out. Theodore ignored the knock thinking it was just an animal and went back to sleep. 

"Hello?" 

Theodore immediately woke when he heard the voice. Fear ran through him as he heard another knock. He couldn't decide whether to stay in bed or answer the door. Another knock made him get out of bed and open the door.

-next chapter coming soon-

If there are mistakes in spelling/punctuation please do tell