| Creatures of the Knight | Tom Riddle

5: Forbidden Trail

1945: Death Awaits Darkness

Elizabeta Lestrange:

It was like a dream. I've been here before, but I can't think where I am. Surrounded by massive trees, hundreds of them. I followed the path set out for me. The path my mind took me. I knew I was conscious but it was like I am trapped behind my own eyes. Watching my own body move without being in control of it. I screamed at myself to wake up.

But I was already awake.

Every step I make was sluggish, as if I was moving through water. Panic starts to set in when I realise I am in the Forbidden Forest. Why? How? My movements take me through the trees, away from the original path that people who traveled through were supposed to follow. It was forbidden for a reason.

My limbs feel heavy, disconnected, like a puppet with invisible strings. My heart races, but my body ignores it, carrying on as if it knows something I don't. It's unsettling, this loss of control, like my mind is no longer my own. I want to scream but I physically can't.

I got deeper into the forrest, I knew it was night time. It was dark. Thick fog creeping up my legs as my body moves. But I don't remember how I even managed to get here. My panic rises, I don't remember anything prior to these trees. My mind won't let me. Wake up!!!

As I screamed again it released me. Whatever it was. I heard myself now let out an absolute horrifying scream. It made my ears ring.

Nothing but silence surrounded me now as my scream didn't even echo, the sound for my ears only.

I quickly looked down at my hands as a slight sensation of pain became present to my nervous system. My finger nails were all bloody as if I was scratching at something, clawing at something.

I glanced around at my surroundings. All I could see was trees, rocks and dirt. Glancing down at my feet at my black school shoes, dirty. I must have wandered a long time. I wasn't wearing my robes.

Where's my wand?

I heard its screech before I saw it. I held my hands over my ears. It was loud. Whipping my head around towards the direction of the sound. A whirling wind came towards me, I stood ready to attack.

I tried so hard to ignore my pounding heart. It distracted me from my thoughts. My mind started racing with confusion, trying to work out what spell to use. I could master only a few offensive and defensive spells without my wand but I knew it wouldn't be enough.

I stared in the direction the wind came from. I could feel its presence. Dark. Death. I've seen one before. In the forest outside my mansion. I never went back.

I knew they were fast. I was ready to run. Knowing it wouldn't help, as its scream would put me in a trance that could slow me down. I had to confuse it somehow.
I frowned at the thought of using the Confundus Charm knowing it would be useless on a non living thing.

A chill ran down my spine. It was behind me. I stood still, knowing any movement I make it would attack without a second thought. I was alert, how did it creep up on me so quickly?

The beasts breath felt like ice down my neck. It spoke. The banshee spoke. My own breath caught in my throat. I never knew they could. I've read about them, and nothing about them speaking. Its voice creeped into my left ear, tickling at my brain.