The Woods

Chapter Two | The stranger?

(884 words)

After working in the garden for hours, me and Eva Mae headed into the house. It was about 7:00 P.M. so she started cooking, I offered to help, but she said I should 'clean up' before dinner, and pointed me towards the bathroom.

"There's towels in the closet!" She chirped, as she stirred a pot filled with lentil soup. I walked to the bathroom, pulling out a lilac towel, faded from years of being used. The bathroom was clean, and I needed a nice hot shower to get my mind off what I saw earlier.

As I entered the warm pour of water, my mind was almost filled with more thoughts of the boy, 'Who was he?', 'Why was he in the basement?' 'Is he still there?' my brain screamed at me with these thoughts. I tried to relax and just get clean, but the cuts I had gotten the night before burned. My showers never burned, bet I guess they would for a while now.. Maybe I'd get used to it.


I emerged from the shower about 20 minutes later, all clean and warm. My feet touched the bathroom rug, which made me feel the comfort of home. Of Mom..

"I miss you Mom." I said to myself as I went to my room to get dressed, I didn't have any clothes so I worried for a second, until Eva. Mae knocked.

"Dear, there's some clothes in the dresser, I don't know if they'd fit but I hope they do."

Weird.. It's like she read my mind..

"Thank you!" I called out, before reaching for a dresser drawer. I expected like old grandma clothes, that didn't look good, or fit good, but I was wrong? Somehow it was stuff I'd wear, and it fit perfectly! I put on something to sleep in and just went out for dinner.




As I walked out a bowl of lentil soup and a nice cup of iced tea were set out for me.
I sat down, grabbing a spoon and stuffing my mouth.

"This is so good!~" I said as I took another bite.

"Thank you dear." Eva Mae muttered, before sitting across from me with her own bowl.


I ate quickly, the warm soup felt warm in my mouth, and the sweet tea cooled it all down.
After dinner I decided to go to sleep, I thanked Eva Mae for the food and said goodnight.
But as I laid in bed the thoughts of the boy never left, it was one, then two, then three, and the next thing I knew it was four in the morning. I crept up, the floor creaked gently, I tip toed out of the room and to the basement door. I jiggled the knob. "Locked." I whispered, I tip toed to the door, gently opening it without waking anyone up. As I made my way out to the garden I looked around, the once inviting and peaceful garden looked more.. creepy at night. I way outside the window, I kneeled down and knocked, then tried to gently open the hatch, which was weirdly on the outside. I saw the boy appear in the window, It almost scared me and I saw him snicker.

"Who are you??.." I whispered as the window opened just a bit.



"My name's Dawn, but uh, who are you?? The witches grandkid or something??"

"Grandkid? Uhm no, she randomly found me, I've been staying with her. My name's Eleanor, but call me El."

"El.. I like that.." He grinned, and spoke again. "Hey, mind helping me get out of here??"

"The doors locked, how will I??" I asked, looking around, I felt some weird eyes on me..

"Listen, either you go find something to open the door, like a crowbar, or you grab a rock and break the window."

"Break the window?? Wait.. Why are you even locked down there?? The witch?? What??"

"Listen to me, just get me out of here and I'll explain. You aren't safe El."

"..I'm so confused."

"Please, we are in danger." He looked at me, his expression solemn. I knew he wasn;t joking, but he HAD to be lying..

"I'll help you.. Only if you tell me who the ''witch'' is." I moved back a bit, dirt getting on my knees which made them sting.

"The witch?? How do you.. Oh It's Eva Mae.. That lady?? She locked me down here.."

"But she's so sweet!! How could she?? She wouldn't" I realized how weird I sounded, like someone was talking for me. I only knew her for a day!!

"If she wouldn't then why am I locked down here?" He gave me a look. It kinda opened my eyes.

"Fine.. Step back.." I whisper as I grabbed a rock, a smooth gray one.

I didn't see his face, or him at all, so I threw the rock, the window smashed. I leaned in and  reached for him "Dawn??"He grabbed my hand which scared me, I had trouble pulling him up, and when he was finally up I jerked back, and he fell on top of me for a moment. Which stunned me for a moment.

"Right, lets go, quickly.." He stood up, reaching for my hand, acting like nothing happened. It took me a moment but I grabbed his hand and let him help me up. He looked terrified..

"Dawn, what's wrong??" I asked, a little concerned, but I heard a familiar voice behind me..


"Eleanor.. What are you doing up so late.."

Eva Mae.