Quinn - A Tuatha Dé Danann Novel

Chapter Two

We didn't stop in the village. Instead, we drove well past its borders deep into the forest. The car rocked from side to side on the uneven gravel as it eased its way through the woods. Darkness crept its way around us the further in we drove. I looked through the window for some sense of a hidden house or a clearing, but found only thick, dark trees. A canopy of leaves stretched over the path, cocooning us from the rest of the world. Something wasn't right. Where was this guy taking me? Before I could voice my concern, the car stopped.

"Okay we're here," said the driver. A wall of trees blocked the car on three sides. The only way out was the way we came.

"Where is here? We are in the middle of nowhere."

"This is where I was paid to drive you to. The Tomnafinnoge Woods." His long finger pointed to a screen in the dashboard with a GPS map. I hadn't seen him turn it on, but sure enough, there was a red arrow in the middle of the screen representing us, and underneath it were the words: You have reached your destination.

"Are you sure you're GPS is working then?"

"Of course it's working. I used it all day yesterday without any problems." He tried to smile, but it came out more of a crooked grin, making me more uncomfortable. "I know it's weird but here is where you get out."

I was beyond confused, and yet he was acting like this was a normal occurrence. I guess in Ireland driving someone out into the middle of the woods and leaving them there by themselves was normal. Well, not where I came from.

"This is madness." I was yelling now. "You don't find it weird you're leaving a kid in the middle of the woods? There's no one here to pick me up. I don't know where I am or where I am going. And yet, you seem perfectly okay with this. What is wrong with you?"

"I was paid to do a job. This is one of the least crazy jobs I've done in a while. Money has a way of making things that are unusual seem quite ordinary." He fumbled through his glove box. Great he's gonna kill me. Probably searching for a gun. I thought, but instead of a gun he pulled a small envelope from the stack of papers and garbage crammed in the small space. "I almost forgot I was suppose to give you this before you've left."

I took the envelope. It was similar to the one I received a week ago but smaller. I opened the seal and tried reading from the page, but the words were scrambled in a language I'd never seen before. I blinked a few times to get my eyes to adjust to the low lighting, and the words rearranged on the page. It was perfectly legible now. Great now my eyes are playing tricks on me too.

Dear Henry,

By now you are wondering why a strange driver has decided to dump you in the middle of the woods. I'm sorry for all the secrecy. All your questions will be answered when we meet. For now trust me in knowing everything I do is for your safety. Enclosed is a map. Follow the route carefully. There are many hidden dangers in this forest.

Eamon.

While I read the letter the driver pulled my two suitcases from the trunk. He was now standing on the side of the car holding the door open for me. He tapped his foot and looked at his watch, but still smiled at me with his crooked grin. I wished I had a cell phone to call for help, but my mother thought I was too young for one. I knew the real reason. We didn't have money for a cell phone.

"Are you ready to go sir?" The driver's smile was gone. "I have other appointments scheduled for today."

"Give me a sec." I didn't know what to do. Should I just ask the driver to take me back to the airport? Would he even take me back? If I got out of the car I would be alone? Something about all this just didn't add up. Why all the secrecy? Who was this Eamon that he needed to do all this just to see me? My curiosity got the better of me. I stuffed my books in my bag and got out of the car, determined to see this through. If for nothing else than to yell at Eamon for making me go through all this and demand I go home - the proper way.