30 Dawns Till Dusk

.First page.

I walked through the meadows near my house. I've never been one for sorrowful walks through somber woods.

These trees never gave me that peace that other people tell you about on Instagram or Facebook. How eerie. Each tree had wooden eyes, and they all stared at me.

Of course, none of them actually had any eyes unless you counted the graffiti ones that some bunch of high teenagers did for a prank they had coming up for the next unfortunate kid to walk into these woods drunk at night.

I live in a small town within the corners of Brazil. If I didn't know where my own home was, I dont think I could find it on a paperback map. Not very many people live here, and most homes are older than my photo printed stashes.

I am a fairly basic guy. Brown hair with brown eyes. About every high school girls dream boyfriend height. 6 feet. I'm a middle-aged man, yet I've heard comments about how I look a little older than twenty.

Crack

"Huh?"

I looked around the seeming wall of thick bark. What caused that noise? It was loud. So is it near me? Maybe it's just a happy rabbit hopping into its burrow. Or a bird with a hurt, broken wing? Either way. It made my skin crawl.

I looked around, spotting a small, fully black cat with amber eyes. Its fur looked like an abyss. No end to which it reached skin. Its eyes saw through my soul. How disturbing.

Meow

The cat spoke out. Its voice ranged probably reached to someone who smoked a pack of cigarettes for 50 years.

"What."

I muttered under the breeze. The woods didn't help make this cat look any less disturbing. I felt as though my soul was being picked apart for judging.

What is a cat doing out here? Should i be afraid of it? Is it going to attack me? These thoughts ran through my head like an ocean.. Calm before the wave of intense and cold thoughts.

The cat had human eyes. Have you ever seen yourself in someone or something and shivered at your reflection? Staring into these cats' eyes gave me the same kind of feeling.

"What do you want from me!?" I opened my mouth as words fell out, a bit more Angrier than I wanted it to sound.

Meow

"Answer me!!!" I yelled at the cat.. Why am I yelling at a cat? It can't speak English. It can't speak a human language. What a pathetic creature.

I scowled at the small, furry creature below his feet. Why was it here? Was it a stray?

I picked up the cat and threw it into the forest mossy trees to move it out of my way. I hate cats. Especially Black cats. Disgusting.

I continued walking through the forest. I felt my skin crawl. Like ants crawling on my back or maggots wiggling within my skin.

I wanted into a bit more of an open plain within the brush.

A lady with a silk black clost filled my vision. I couldn't tell much of her appearance from our distance, but I was mostly attracted to get cloak. It matched the emptiness of the black cat from earlier.

"YOU DARE TOUCH MY PET!!!" The lady screamed in such an ear piercing screech, her hands waving by her side as black sparkles of magic flowed through her veins. A witch.

I stood in silence, the air from my lungs. I could feel it being pushed out of me. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see the things around me. What is happening to me!?

"You hurt the forest and things within it. You will pay with your blood!!!" She screamed as she approached me.

"N-no! I apologize!" I called out in fear as I felt that same soul picking glare down my spine.

"Hmm... Fine. But you will not go unpunished. Her voice pierced my eardrums. It was so cold.. Her breathing was as cold as ice. "30 days your will spend in this forest. 30 days, your soul will belong to the forest. But everything you lay your pathetic hands on will die."

I went pale.. Everything I touch will die!? No! I don't want that at all! I wanted to tell her to go throw herself off an endless cliff. But my words fell short at a puff of heavy air..

"Everything I touch dies!?!" I spat the words of my despair to the lady wearing a silk black Robe, her foul smile twisting her uneven skin.

"30 days you must endure. Dawn till dusk."

"NO! STOP THIS! I DONT DESERVE IT!" My tears welled in my eyes as they began to trickle down my pale thin cheeks. Was I really going to have to go through this!? What if she decides to keep this foul curse on me!?

I looked down at my hands, and my hands were cold and pale. Skinny with open bone. I could see every vein, every bit of muscle, and tissue.

And just as fast as she entered my vision.. The faster she left. She was gone. I was alone..

How pathetic. A curse? Everything I touch dies? Hilarious. What sort of Halloween costume prank was this!?

Whatever. I am going home.

My cold hands went into my pockets as I walked away to return to home. I couldn't wait to sit down, sip coffee, and watch my favorite television shows.

I reached the end of the woods. I took my last step to leave.. but something was in my way. I couldn't see it, but I could feel it. A field. A force field holding me back from my home.

"What on earth!? Why can't I go home!!??" I yelled

Then.. I remember everything that stupid witch said. 'Your heart belongs to the forest.' What does that mean!? Am I now a part of the foul creatures that eat each other in order to survive!? Where will i live..?! This.. I have 30 days.

I saw clouds form over the horizon. Rain fall is coming, and i haven't found any shelter. I must find a cavern or cave. And fast.

I walked over tall rocks and thick brush. How degrading. I hate the forest, and yet I have to live it in now!?

I finally found a hole in the ground under a pile of heavy rocks. I dropped into the hole and kicked myself into the dark corner. The only light i had was the hole in the ground. I laid my head on my should, leaning back as I fell into a dark slumber in hopes this was all a faint dream.