Forever Forest

Chapter 17

Down a never ending path, in between mushroom and fungi homes, stuck in the never ending woods with a strange blue haired boy with strange intentions. Terra followed Reuel as the homes became lessened, the road was not as kept. Now it was more of a dirt path with nothing but trees and homes for bugs and beetles.

"We are almost home my darling." Reuel hummed.

"Do not call me that." she grumbled as they approached an old stump.

Terra barely remembered waking up. The vines had seemed to completely wilt off of her body and could be seen spread across the floor next to her bed. She had slept possibly the best sleep she had ever had in all time. Which was incredibly worrying considering how she had ended up sleeping so well.

To her surprise, She had also woken with a note on her bed.

I have chained myself inside room -45 as a promise that I did nothing  but drug you to sleep. I look forward to seeing you, my savior and hero. I do hope you slept well.

~Your love, Reuel

Terra nearly gagged at the note, though she couldn't help but believe him. Especially when Boonie came down to unlock door -45 and Terra entered the room to find Reuel leaning against a wall sitting slumped on the floor, chains heavily decorated across his body. How he had managed to tie himself up so thoroughly, Terra couldn't possibly imagine. Blue hair covered his face as he snored quietly.

It was an oddly satisfying sight for Terra to see. The temptation to leave him there and return home to her father was dreadful even after Boonie who suddenly appeared by her side whispered to her, "Key?"

Though she admitted she needed the damn blue haired fool to fix her damned ears. And so, Terra grudgingly snatched the key from Boonie, attempting to touch the strange woman as little as possible, and shoved the blue haired man awake.

Now, Terra stood beside that very same strange man who grinned at her as she stared at a curved and ancient tree stump.

It was a fairly large stump at that, a few feet taller than her and Reuel.

"Welcome Terra, to the Sunken palace." Reuel smiled casually.

"Is it hidden under this stump?" she scoffed sarcastically.

A small twig stuck out from the side of the stump. Reuel walked towards it and snapped it off. After a moment of two, the world began to grumble.

"In fact, yes."

Terra stared at the twisting stump dumbfounded. Of course it was.

The forest shook, trees whispering with their leaves as the stump turned and rose revealing a lantern lit entrance, a hollowed out portion of the tree. Reuel stepped inside.

"No." she managed.

"No?" Reuel asked. He moved his arm into her view, the arm layered with more of the vines he used to leash her. The vines danced and slid around his arm as though to intimidate her.

How he had managed to find more of the wicked plants, Terra had no clue.

She glared at him and stepped inside, arms crossed tightly to her chest.

"You will pay for this someday, Reuel, for all of it."

"I'm sure I will." He smirked as the world shook again and the stump they stood inside began to lower. Down, down, down they went. She crossed her arms tighter. Something about the hollowed stump reminded her of the memory which she would much rather forget. Though the cavern was lit with lanterns, it was too tight, too closed off from the forest and open air. The lower they dropped, the faster her heartbeat sped.

The loneliness, trapped, with no one to save her.

Afraid.

A hand lightly touched her back, surprised and willing herself to appear calm, Terra uncrossed her shaking arms and let them lie at her sides. The hand traveled to hers.

Wordlessly traveling down further and further, Terra felt her face redden shamefully as she stayed hand in hand with the strange blue haired man at her side. 

Her arm had finally stopped shaking. 

The stump suddenly stopped as well, revealing a long cavern tunnel lined with moss, vines, flowers, and lanterns to illuminate the dense cavern in a warm glow.

Terra's eyes widened in awe. For a minute the cavern seemed more beautiful than frightening.

Drops of water could be heard creeping down the cavern walls and off the shards of rocks upon the ceiling.

Reuel, to her own agitation, was first to drop her hand from his grasp and stepped into the tunnel.

Tentatively, she followed.

They walked down the path and Terra studied the flowers. Each and every kind except daisies. A tiny part of her wondered why. Another tiny part of her wondered if Reuel stolen them. She hid a small smirk.

"Now, a few rules for this place, though I know you'll go and break them anyways."

Terra couldn't help but smirk at him.

"No speaking to anyone besides me," she rolled her eyes, the first rule was already ridiculous. "No touching things, nor stealing, and most importantly..." he stopped abruptly in front of her and turned his head with a smile. "No killing."

"I thought you said nothing here dies. These rules are stupid."

"You may choose to follow them or not. Though I suggest you should do exactly as I say."

"Or else what." She snickered as they walked on.

"Or else you'll find yourself situated in unfortunate circumstances."

She rolled her eyes.

The path began to grow wider, a soft glow of many colors ahead as the path curved and hid the source from view.

Reuel tentatively tried to sneak her hand into his again but this time she snatched it away.

First it was the smell, flowers and sweetness, lavender and pine.

"I'm not afraid." she sneered.

Then a soft sound of music and chatter, almost drowned out against the increasing roar. Terra couldn't place that sound until the two turned the corner.

"If you say so." Reuel chimed.

A massive cavern, illuminated merely by a city, a jagged ancient looking palace, and many, many waterfalls.

A Sunken City.