The Forgotten Forest

Chapter Seventeen- The Tree

I heard Lucy gasp.
"You're crazy!  Why would you want to have your memory erased?"
I whipped around to look her in the eye.
"My life is a lie.  I don't think I can put up with the fact another universe is out in the world.  I need everything to be gone,"  I growled.  No one here could understand.  No one could ever understand.  I'm an outcast, and not just in one world, but two.  I needed to forget about the Forgotten Forest, and the sooner, the better. Lucy looked close to tears.
"But Kira!  What about me? What about everything we did together?"
I felt no guilt in replying to that question.
"I want every last memory of this place gone.  Including you.  I don't care if you were my friend, I need this place out of my mind."
Lucy eyes started to water, and she bolted out of the room, her sobs echoing.  She should've known better.  If she wanted to actually be my friend, this was not the way to do it.  As much as it might seem like it, this was no fairytale.  Not everybody can turn on each other, and eventually become friends afterward.  No. 
My respect was to be earned, I need to know I can trust people. I turned to Mike, my rage building up even more.
"Just get out of here," I glared at him.  He hesitated for a second, looking as if he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.  He backed up and sprinted after Lucy.  Then I turned to Charlie.  He hasn't said a word through all of this.
"Well?" I threw my hands up.  "Are you going to help me or not?"
Charlie still didn't said anything, but he got up and motioned me to follow him. He walked slowly to a window, watching the sun's rays shine for the last time that day.
"If you follow the stone road, and make a left at the well, and continue heading left for a while, you will eventually stumble upon a tree.  You will know what tree it is as soon as you set your eyes on it.  It is the tallest tree in the forest, taller than any other by almost twice the height.  It has the darkest colored bark, almost a pitch black.  Go up to this tree, and climb it to the top.  Get a good view of the forest.  Then you will find your way from there."
He turned to look at me.
"Are you sure this is what you want?"
I nodded, knowing that I couldn't go back on my decision.
Charlie nodded.  "You know, you shouldn't be mad at Lucy or Mike. Yes, I know you have a perfectly good reason to hate them, but they just wanted the best for their family.  Lucy wanted the best for you.  And if you think about it, you are doing something very similar to what Mike did. But, it is not my place to make your decisions.  Good luck, Kira, and I hope you find what you are looking for."
He gave me a hug, which I didn't return. I started walking away when he called to me, "Do you wish to say goodbye to Lucy or Mike?"
I hesitated.  This was my last chance to make things right, to say I'm sorry.  This was my chance to let things go back the way they were, where we were all friends. 
I sighed. "No.  That would makes things worse."  I then ran out of the castle, and out of the gates.  I ran down the stone path, until I reached the well.  I collapsed, letting all of my emotions take over.  I cried, hugging my knees, hoping I was alone out here so no one could see me.  I knew  I was starting to regret my decision, but I could't head back now. 
As the tear dried from my eyes, my tough, angry wall returned. This was the only thing I could do! I could never turn back. Everyone abandoned me, lied to me, or tried to kill me.  Those people were not worthy to hold a place in my heart.  I needed them out.  I looked up at the sky, realizing the only light was from the moon, which was not enough to guide me through the tangle of trees. I decided to lay on the stone ground until the sunlight came back.  I didn't think that it would be comfortable, but I was wrong.  After a day like this, I think I could've slept on a bed of nails and would've found it just as comfortable as a bed of feathers.  I closed my eyes, and sleep came immediately.  I was finally able to take a break from this crazy world, and fortunately, this time I wasn't knocked out.

I woke up, sunlight streaming on my face. MY back was sore from sleeping on the hard ground, but I would just have to deal with it. The thoughts from yesterday came tumbling back into my head. I couldn't get rid of their voices.

"We can get our revenge."

"What about me?"

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

I shook my head, trying to escape from all the noise. This is why I wanted it all gone. I got up, pain shooting up my spine. I was starting to regret sleeping on the stone ground, but what choice did I have? Holding on to the side of the well, I looked down it. It wasn't until then I realized how hungry and thirsty I really was. I hadn't eaten for a long time. In the well, there was not a drop of water. Great. I should've asked for some food before rushing off. Maybe I could go back.

I shook my head. No more turning back, no more going back. If I wanted to forget about this place, that was my first step. I look down the well once more before heading off in the direction Charlie told me to go. I just hoped there would be food wherever I was going.  Walking through the forest, I let my mind wander.  What are my fake parents doing right now?  Are they looking for me?  It didn't matter if they were or weren't.  I'll end up back with the again, and then I won't have to worry about any of this. 

I stopped walking and looked up.  A tree, climbing higher than the clouds passing through the sky, stood right in front of me.  I looked as far up as I could, but I still couldn't see the top.  The trunk was so thick, my arms couldn't even reach halfway around the tree, but the bark is what stood out the most.  A color so close to black, but not quite there.  The darkest shade of brown you can imagine, that was the color of the bark. Not another tree in all the forest was anything like this tree.  This had to be the tree Charlie was talking about.  Now all I needed to do was climb it.

I circled the tree twice.  The lowest branch reached at least ten feet above my outstretched arm.  There was no way I could climb this.  I walked around once more, but I could see no visible way of climbing this.  I groaned and leaned up against the tree.  Charlie led me to a dead end.  Of course he wouldn't help me, why should he?

All of a sudden, I felt the bark I was leaning in give way, and I started tumbling into the tree. I gave a startled Yelp as I fell onto my back, onto a dusty ground. Then the tree bark that had made me fall down into the tree closed back up.
I stood up confused. This wasn't actually a tree. It was some sort of secret room. I turned to where I fell in from and pounded on the door. Looks like I wasn't coming out from that way. I looked down and realized there was only a staircase leading into the darkness. This is where Charlie wanted me to go, but why did he say climb to the top? I let it be and decided to follow the stairs. I kept walking, and kept walking, feeling as if they didn't stop. The only light there was was the dim light of torch from the very top of the room, and with that, I could barely see. I was squinting to see when I finally felt no more stairs. I took a couple steps forward when I heard a quiet laughter, I backed up nervously, when out of nowhere, light flooded the room. It took a couple seconds for my eyes to adjust, but when they did, I saw a hooded figure standing on the middle of the room. I didn't make a sound, but my heart was pounding. The figure let out another laugh. It then started talking with a voice that seemed like it hadn't been used in many years.

"Kirana Tamleroy. After all these years, we finally meet. I'm sure you don't know who I am, but I know who you are. You are the one who the queen loved very much. You are the one whom she loved so much, she gave up her entire fortune for. You are the one who gave me wealth I had. But, as you know, it was taken away from me, as well as my powers. Do you know who I am yet?"

I refused to say a word, but I knew exactly who it was. He laughed even louder as he took another step towards me.

"That's right Kira. I'm the sorcerer."

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