The Secret Forest

Chapter 1

The birds had stopped their merry tunes, and a low humming noise filled the clearing. I turned to face the source of the strange sounds, and ended up face to face with a great beast, with eyes as deep as the ocean and as golden as the sun. As I stared into its eyes, i could feel it's warm breath against me, it's fur moving with the breeze blowing through the trees. The humming had stopped and the world seemed to stand still for a few moments, at least until a sudden darkness swept over the glade.

"Phoebe? Phoebe stop daydreaming, your father is speaking to you."

This daydreaming stuff has been happening to me for quite a while, it almost seems real, and it's always the same dream, ending exactly as it gets dark. One day, I hope it will continue and i can finally see what happens to the strange beast. I looked up from the exotic carpet towards the frowning faces of my parents, understanding what conversation was about to happen. I sighed and rested my head on my hands, trying to stay awake.

"Phoebe, please take this seriously, this is your future we are speaking about here, me and your mother only want what is best for you."

"Father, if you wanted what is best, you would not be forcing me to marry someone who is at least ten years older then me, I am not even sixteen yet. Mother, please talk some sense into Father, you must understand how I feel."

"Your father is correct Phoebe, marrying Ezekiel is the best thing for you, he can take care of you in this world, much more than we ever could. He is a very successful man also, and can treat you to many treasures that you desire. please understand that we just want you to have a happy future, dear."

"Mother, I am happy here with you and father, I don't want to marry Ezekiel at all, I don't even know the man. I will not marry him, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

I stood up, pushing the chair behind me as i rose. The floor creaked harshly as i ran towards the front door, passing many family members here to celebrate my forced engagement with Ezekiel Coutts, a rich powerful man with a long history with my home town, Swanford. I looked away from their disappointed faces, I could feel my eyes beginning to tear up, and i didn't want to upset then all more then i already had. I picked up the keys from the white stone bear statues paw and unlocked the door. I paused, no one is supposed to go outside during the dark, it's one of the main rules here. No one really knows why, but all the people who have stayed outside after sunset disappeared and never came back.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped outside, closing the door behind me. The silence of the house is quickly replaced with the high-traffic noises of the night. I could hear my parents talking to the guests and I couldn't help the feeling that I should not have done that, but there was nothing I could do now, i had to go.