Sort Of(Completed)

I Get A Hatred For Scary Forests

I felt like we were in a zombie apocalypse. Everything was a complete mess. I had to crawl over cars and busses. Overall, I didn't like it.

Thomas cleared his throat. "Entrance to the town should be just over the hill. Get the book ready, Cricket." I nodded, and gently shook the book out of my backpack. I held the book firmly in my hands as I mounted the hill.

When I got to the top, my heart fell. All I saw were trees. Giant, dark, awful, and I certainly wouldn't go in it. Mercury sighed. "Let me guess. The entrance is-" "Right in the middle." Thomas facepalmed.

Radar looked at me. "Cricket, who should read the spell? Who here has the loudest voice?" Everybody automatically looked at Mercury. Mercury rolled her eyes. "Are you guys serious? Is this how I'm labeled? Fine, whatever. What's the spell, Cricket?" I hesitantly brought the book forward.

Mercury skimmed it over. She could touch it, unlike Thomas for some reason. Mercury nodded gruffly. "Okay. Hand me the book." I kept my fingers laced onto it. And then I shook my head. Mercury looked confused. "Why not? Are you alright Cricket?" I nodded, and pleaded with my eyes.

I don't know why I wanted to hold onto the book so badly. I had grown attached to it. I felt if I let go, I might not be able to see it again. It was a weird feeling, but I didn't want to ignore it. It made my insides all icky.

Mercury shrugged. "Alright, whatever you say...I mean, do, Cricket." I felt a little grateful Mercury somewhat understood.

I held tightly onto the book as we approached the forest. It didn't look too big. It was actually pretty small, forest-wise. But it was dark, and the branches and canopy of the forest looked cruel. I certainly wouldn't want to go in there. Everybody stopped.

Radar swallowed. "Are you sure about this, Cricket?" I did nothing for a moment. I just stood there. Only staring. And then, I nodded.

I stepped in first, my shoes cracklings the dark leaves. I shivered a bit. The forest was pretty cold. Then again, I was only in a nightgown. The rest followed, and the trees grew thicker with every step. All of the sudden, I was thrown forwards.

I yelped as I was tossed through the trees, and hit the ground hard. The wet smell of the ground hit me all at once, and my vision swam for a bit. I turned behind me, and saw my friends. The trees were coming to life. They were making a barricade.

The branches were twisting and interlocking, making a wall. Radar was trying to climb it, but he was promptly thrown off by a branch. Mercury reached through a small hole, but she retracted her arm when the hole filled up. Soon, a solid wall of wood stood in front of me, blocking me or my friends from getting to the other side. I heard Thomas' voice: "Cricket! Are you alright?"

I knocked on the wood a bit, to show I was there. I picked up a large stone, and threw it at the wood. It only made a small dent. I looked around at the wooden wall. There had to be a way out. Finally, I saw a gap, but my heart fell. It was only big enough to maybe put an arm through. I suddenly realized why my friends were blocked.

You can only do this yourself, Cricket.

That's what Heather had said.

I peered through the gap, and waved my arm through it. Only my hand and wrist could get out of it. Radar, Mercury, and Thomas came. I had to stand on my tip toes to see them.

I turned towards the deeper part of the forest, and pointed.

Mercury looked stressed. "Cricket...you can't go any farther! You don't know what's in there!" Radar nodded. "She's right, Cricket. I don't like to admit it, but Mercury's smart! She knows what to do. I only say useless facts! And right now, we need that. You could get seriously hurt, anything could happen."

Cricket caught Mercury blushing, but at the moment, she ignored it. Thomas reached a hand through. "Cricket, stay here. Help us find a way, and then we can fix the town!"

I had a decision. Stay here, and get the help of my friends, or do something crazy. But what if I did help them? Would they just be stopped, over and over again? I couldn't take the risk that they would be in trouble. I made my choice.

I grasped Thomas's hand. I didn't like to speak, but I felt I needed to finally let my, even stuttered, voice be heard.

"D-do it o-o-on m-my o-own. D-don't w-w-worry about m-m-me. I-I love a-all o-of y-y-you. Y-you're g-g-good f-friends."

I shakily let go of Thomas's hand, and held the book confidently. I turned around, and walked deeper into the forest. It was agony ignoring the yelling and protests of Thomas, Mercury and Radar.

I knew I had to destroy this curse, not only for the town, but for my friends now.

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Sorry, I made this chapter a little emotional.

-Clo