Tales Of The Squeaker ~ Fifty thriller stories in one book

Tale Eight: The Forgotten Path

Kettlewood, an old town deep within the forest, had winding streets like forgotten memories. An indomitable grandma named Victoria lived in this tiny location, where secrets were spoken through the leaves. Her eyes told memories for a lifetime, and her heart carried the weight of a missing piece—a grandson named Oliver.

Oliver had left without a trace on a rainy night, leaving only a cryptic message: " Follow the forgotten path". The townspeople rejected it as the musings of a disordered mind, but Victoria knew otherwise. She had reared Oliver and witnessed his development from a curious child to a challenging teenager. He was her entire world.

Victoria set out on her mission, determined to solve the mystery. The hidden road took her through dark forests, where ancient oaks whispered secrets and shadows swirled. Each step brought her closer to the truth, yet danger lingered in the shadows. She felt eyes on her and unseen hands brushing on her skin. The jungle held its breath and waited.

Victoria stumbled upon an abandoned cabin, a relic of the past. Its wooden walls were scarred, and the air smelled like decay. Inside, she discovered an old journal with brittle and yellowed pages. The author described a hidden world, a parallel reality accessible only via a forgotten trail - a place where wandering spirits sought redemption or damnation.

The whispers became louder as Victoria went deeper. She saw a short sight of Oliver—a shadow sliding between trees, distant laughter booming through the pines. Was he alive? Or did the jungle claim him? Who separated this bond between a grandmother and a grandson?

Victoria discovered a midnight ritual that serves as a gateway to the other side. On the eve of the full moon, she followed a path into a clearing. Bathed in the silver light, she sang ancient words, her voice trembling. The ground shook, and a fissure opened, leading to a place beyond reality.

Oliver stood before her with empty eyes and transparent skin, resembling an angelic, human-like spirit. He mentioned a bargain he had made with the woodland spirits in exchange for forbidden knowledge. But the price was high: his memories and compassion. He'd become a nomad, adrift between worlds.

Victoria faced a difficult decision: either accept Oliver's fate or resist the one who took him away. The thought of losing him again was unbearable. With tears in her eyes, she whispered a spell, infusing her life essence with his. Suddenly, the trees shook, and a radiant Angel in the form of a woman materialized before her. Oliver regained his true form—the grandchild she remembered. However, the Angel presented a condition. She would return Oliver to Victoria only if she agreed to the Angel's request. When Victoria inquired about the request, Angel explained that she needed Victoria to join their Angelic army by signing an agreement. Victoria accepted and signed the deal. As morning approached, she brought Oliver back to the forgotten path. Then, the ground pulled her as the sky opened, and strong winds carried her away. Her parting words echoed, "Remember me."

Oliver cried, torn between gratitude and despair. The forest closed its maw, leaving him all alone. The forgotten path faded, and Kettlewood resumed its slumber.

Oliver lived, but he retained with his granny, Victoria's memories: the flavour of her sacrifice and the warmth of her love. He searched the woods, seeking answers, plagued by her presence. Sometimes, he heard her whisper on moonlit nights: "Remember me".

The townspeople never mentioned Victoria again. They only held her proudly in their hearts, but the forest remembered. It whispered her name through the rustling leaves, in honor of a grandmother who had sacrificed herself for this unconditional bond.

As a result, the forgotten path remained concealed, waiting for another brave human to follow to join the Angelic army—a journey of sacrifice, redemption, and unexpected ends.

The End

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