The Moonlit Path [short story]

Part 1 

 

   The leaves rustle as she walks past, the trees dancing with every step. She steps up to the clearing, pausing to take a deep breath and observe around her. The circle of trees seem to pulsate; constricting, contradicting her vision. The trees push ever closer each breath, squeezing her tighter and tighter. She walks to the center of the clearing and raises her arms, her breathing turning to short gasps of distress. She collapses, her lips and fingernails blue.

 

    I woke with a start, scared for the girls life. When she walked in she was so lively, energetic, but that changed. As she was walking the trees were closing behind her, trapping her in their depths. I’d had this dream three days in a row now, why won’t it go away? I close my eyes to go back to sleep, praying the girl would leave me alone.

 

    The girl walks to the clearing again, but something is different this time. I can feel what she feels, the pointy bushes scratching my legs, the pine cones cutting my feet. I run my hands through the trees on either side of me. The wind pushes me forward, forcing me to a sprint so I don’t fall. Upon reaching the clearing I collapse, unable to stand from exertion. “You have  arrived,” the wind whispers in my ear. Dread fills my body, he’s found me, I think to myself. How? He leans close, “Finally you’re here, we’ve waited for so long,” he says even quieter, like a secret between lovers.

    “N… No,” I force myself to say. She’d been hiding for an eternity; how could he get to her now?

    “Yes, my dear,” he smiles cruelly, “But you must get going, you’re waking up now.” He disappears, seemingly forgotten.

 

    My eyes force themselves open. I’m terrified, but why? I check the clock, 3:32 am. How had I only slept for half an hour? I sigh to myself, realizing I won’t get any sleep tonight. I turn on my computer, deciding to surf the internet until it is time to go to work.

    I arrive at work, just beginning to feel the effects of my sleepless night. I go to check in and find that I had already standing at the desk. “Ann, you alright?” Amy, the secretary asks me.

    “Yeah, just a little tired” I sigh and walk slowly to my cubicle. I sit down and realize I forgot my coffee. I hurry to the break room and pour myself a cup, the steaming liquid splashing on my sleeve. I whisper curses, trying to get it out before it stains. I walk back to my desk to see my boss waiting impatiently. A feeling of dread fills my stomach. Why today? I think to myself. I walk slowly to my desk, ready to face the impatient man.

 

    This time the girl is at the edge of the forest, pacing nervously in an attempt to keep her cool. She notices me, or where I seem to be, her face filling with apprehension. “You have to remember what I’m about to tell you, your life depends on it,” she rushes out, talking almost too fast for me to understand. “You MUST remember!” I try to respond but find myself unable to. “My name is Hendarr, I am from a place you’ve never understood. Some call it Heaven, some call it Hell, some don’t have a name for it.” She stops to take a breath and slow down so I can understand her. “It is not a good place. It once was almost good, until he rebelled.” She stops, seemingly trying to figure out how to say something. “He is after me, and you by proxy. You see, I am you.” Hendarr’s words repeat in my mind. I am you. What does she mean? “I was the one that stopped him from destroying my home, he will do anything he can to get back at me.”