Falling for Midnight

Chapter Eight

"Not all those who wander are lost."

– J.R.R. Tolkien

I couldn't sleep. I was just in and out of the dream world and it was getting frustrating. It's been 24 hours since I went to school and my discussion with Anna kept replaying in my head.

My phone pinged and I reached for it to check what it was about and saw a message from Ciara, Amelia, and Chloe asking if I was okay.

They had added me to a group chat with Aaron as well. I told them I was fine and that I just felt a little sick then closed the group chat. Aaron had sent a private message which I opened.

''Are you okay?'' He sent.

''I'm okay just a bit tired.'' I sent it and placed my phone down. In not less than 4 seconds my phone pinged again and I picked it up.

Is he awake at this hour?

''Do you feel sick? I could get you meds if you are.'' He sent. I smiled a bit.

''Thank you but it's okay really,'' I replied. The text showed typing then it stopped and then picked up again.

''Do you mind if I came over tomorrow? Don't get me wrong I just want to be sure you're okay.'' He sent it with a smiley face emoji.

''Sure no problem. I could use the company. I'll text you the address.'' I replied. I sent the address to him.

If the old lady won't let me go out then she shouldn't mind if I had guests over.

''Awesome. See you tomorrow?'' He sent.

''Sure thing,'' I replied. He sent a thumbs-up emoji and I chuckled.

He's cute. I thought to myself as I stared at the ceiling until I slowly drifted off to sleep.

¬THE FOLLOWING MORNING¬

I found myself deep within a dense, shadowy forest. The towering trees are gnarled, their branches twisted like skeletal arms reaching toward the sky. The air is thick with a cold mist, swirling around my ankles, and every step I take feels muffled as if the forest itself is absorbing sound.

As I walk deeper into the woods, I begin to hear voices—soft at first, like whispers carried on the wind. They seem familiar, but I can't quite place them. The voices call my name, drawing me further into the darkness, beckoning me with a strange, almost hypnotic pull. 

Some are kind and gentle, speaking as if they know my deepest thoughts and fears, while others are more sinister, mocking me or laughing in the distance. It's as though the forest itself is alive, and every tree hides a secret.

I tried to follow the voices, hoping they belonged to people I knew, but every time I get close, they vanished, only to reappear somewhere else. The forest begins to shift, the paths winding and looping back on themselves, making it impossible for me to find my way out. 

The trees seem to close in, the mist thickening until I can barely see my own hands in front of me. Panic sets in as the familiar voices grow louder and more distorted, overlapping until they become a cacophony of confusion.

Suddenly, one voice stands out among the others—it's my mother's voice, calling for help. Desperation takes over as I run toward the sound, but no matter how fast I run, the voice always stays just out of reach.

 I trip over roots and stumble through the underbrush, my breath quickening with fear, but I can't stop. The forest seems endless, and the voices become a part of my mind, echoing my own thoughts and fears.