Something in the Forest

1- The Town Reaper

TOBIAS

The concept of death is. . .unfamiliar. My family has been free from such tragedies for as long as I can remember, and all my friends have either parted ways with me or are still friends with me. Someone close to death that I know, though I'm not close to, is Lily. Strange things always seem to happen near her. Birds break their necks flying into windows, or cats get hit by cars(especially black cats), or people get hit by cars. . .she's never far from the next day's 6 o'clock news.

Both her parents are dead, and she moved to live with her grandmother before the crone passed of natural causes. She currently lives with her aunt, who is a miracle in human form. Why a miracle? It would take one to allow her to live this long. It's been eight years without a single accident. It's something that warrants an investigation, to be frank.

Before you think of me as a stalker, let me tell you one thing. I'm a private eye. An amateur at best, but still. Lily intrigues me. Not to mention I was hired by her cousin, who she lives with, to investigate and see why "death's cold, sweet embrace is never far from her presence," to put it in Raini's words.

People with poetic touch have always fascinated me. There's something so enthralling about having a way with words. You can make lollipops form on the tip of your tongue and whisper syrup into a sweet woman's ear. There's something beautiful about that quality. It's always so interesting to see children begging for a new toy in words they shouldn't know yet, or see an old woman butter up a young man into giving her a little extra change with her bread and milk. I think that's why I fell into Raini's grasp.

Working for Raini has been an. . .interesting experience. She always seems to bring home injured animals or runaway children and rehabilitate them before sending them. . .wherever she thinks they need to go. She's usually correct on where they need to go. Sometimes they need to go home, sometimes to the forest, and sometimes to a foster home. Often to a foster home, my correction.

Something about both members of that family has captivated me in different ways. I suppose I can never be too careful, though. You never know what to expect in my line of work. Anyone could ask for anything, though usually, it's "I lost Boots again, can you find him?" or "Do you find jewelry? I've looked everywhere."

I guess that's why Raini's request stuck out to me. I rarely follow people to find out more than just infidelity. Lily's case is strange and deserves at least a look. I'll follow her around for a week or so and report back. I might find something huge or an unlucky girl with a penchant for being followed by death. I suppose I'll find out when I start this job tomorrow. For now, I'll get some sleep. I'll record anything new tomorrow if there is anything.

LILY

My cousin has always been a worrywart and very superstitious. Raini has always been a caretaker of all things, even those that don't need her help. Things like me.

Ever since I was little and I came to visit for the first time, she has constantly had a watchful eye over me. When I was younger, I thought it was simply because I was a few years younger than her and needed to be watched over. I thought she felt responsible for me. When I moved in with her and her mother, the situation changed in my mind. She was always cautious around me, even before I lived with her, but this was different. I couldn't touch any of her things or go into her or Aunt Blair's room. Raini's words, not Blair's. I guess I know why now.

As I mentioned before, Raini is superstitious. Naturally, because of my parents' accident, she thinks I'm a witch who cursed my parents and killed them. If only that were true. But nope, perfectly normal car crash, a drunk driver swerved into the other lane and. . .well, you know the rest. At least then, I would know if my parents' deaths were my fault. 

Well, whatever. She's been acting weird lately. Raini's been leaving the house at odd hours, changing her phone password at least twice a day, and being incredibly secretive about everything, even what she does at school. The stuff she used to be okay with me knowing, you know. I wish I could figure out what's going on. I miss my cousin.

When people act secretive towards each other, the shunned person's immediate reaction should be suspicion. Mine was sadness. She's been my friend for more than five years, no matter how suspicious of me she may be. I just wish we could go shopping in the mall in the next town over or hang out at the cafe together again. When your only ally turns on you, you know true sadness. When you feel so alone that you feel you would be better off dead, you know what it is to be me. I've been ostracized from the moment I moved here. Everyone heard what happened to my parents, and at first I would get pitying glances as I walked down the street, but now all I get are disgusted ones. I just wish I knew why.