The Innocent

Empty

Jon was frozen. Melanie turned her gaze to focus on the wall. Somehow it was that spot that had frozen Jon. She paused a moment preparing herself, then threw herself against the wall. She felt a slight breeze and not much else, yet she was through. Looking around Melanie couldn't see the wall or Jonathan. The forest was exactly the same as it always was. Tree after tree after tree going on and on. The end was a world away. Jonathan must have woken up and gone back to camp or something while she wasn't looking. Although that didn't seem quite like him.

Before Jonathan had touched the wall Melanie had disappeared. He paused, where had the girl gone. Leaving him alone to work it out by himself. He turned back to face the wall. It was gone. Perhaps whoever had sent the void had called it back or perhaps it had worn thin. Pity Melanie hadn't been there to see it. Jonathan shook his head and began a slow drift back to the camp.

Melanie wandered through the trees for a while wondering what her family was doing at that moment. Where her father was. What does a bad man think when they do bad things? Why do they do it? And who was to say that her father really was bad? Melanie was confused, she knew she had to help Auntie and Jonathan, but maybe her dad wasn't bad. Maybe he had a very good reason for doing what he had done. She flopped down on the ground and lent her head against her hands. Life is definitely not fair. Closing her eyes helped little. Her eyelids were invisible; she drew her head back and glared at her hands. The spirit world really wasn't as great as it seemed. She yawned; it was funny how everything had a different perspective when you weren't in a rush. She lay down on the ground yawning again. As her eyes fluttered uselessly into a closed position a stray thought crossed her mind. Where had Jonathan gone?

After travelling a fare distance back the way he had come, Jon panicked. He had found no trace of the camp or even the clearing they had been in. In an attempt to calm himself he reached out with his awareness looking for something, anything, himself even. There were a few bugs here and there overshadowed by trees. Reaching still further he found a peaceful area. Just feeling it made him want to sleep. Jon drew back, in all the children's stories he knew people who went to sleep in places like this often didn't wake up for years if ever. Not sure what to do Jon let his spirit wander. No longer worried about becoming lost because he already was. His aimless wanderings took him closer to the sleepy place. Curious now about what he had come across he glided as close as he dared. On the ground in front of him lay a small bird. At first he thought it was dead. His heart skipped a beat. He looked further. Scattered across the forest floor were many small animals. None of them were moving. A trill drew his attention. A small bird was flying low; its course was slightly erratic as it got lower and lower to the ground. Jon watched as the tiny creature landed, wobbled around on its tiny claws then keeled over with a soft thump. Jon stared at the tiny creature wide eyed. Did he really just see that? As he watched the bird it moved slightly and he noticed its chest was moving. Not dead then just a sleep. He soon realized that it was the same for all the other animals laying there, every single one was breathing gently. Bending down Jon slowly picked up the nearest creature. It was a small sparrow. As he brought his hand back towards him the sparrows wing fluttered, two beady little eyes were looking at him. The sparrow hopped up right on his hand. It held its head sideways enquiringly; Jon stared back into its eyes. The small bird seemed to know what he wanted. It cheeped softly then flew off. Jon watched it go.

The bird flew a few feet to the right. The boy stood watching it. It gave an impatient trill, hopping up and down on a branch. The boy stared at it strangely. Flying carefully the bird went back to the boy, landing on his shoulder. The boy reached up a hand and stroked the sparrow gently. The bird took off again landing on the same branch and waiting. The boy turned to look at it this time, but still he didn't move. The bird voiced a frustrated cheep and flew back over to the boy. This time when it landed on the boys shoulder it grasped a lock of the boy's hair in its beak and tugged. The boy jumped and the bird took off again, to land on the same branch. The boy took a step towards the bird. The bird twittered happily and flew on. Waiting patiently on another branch. Realization fluttered across the boys face and his steps quickened. The bird led him in a twisting line down the side of the place. The boys steps were sure now. He had worked out that he was being led somewhere. The bird flew around to another side of thicket. As the boy pushed after it the bird gave a final trill taking off into the air and spiralling upwards and away from the place. Leaving the boy staring at a girl lying peacefully on the ground.