The Edge Of Town

Chapter 3

The screaming in my ears stopped after a while. I was still shocked by what I heard, I laid in bed for a long time, worrying about whether I should do something or not. Finally, I went to sleep afterwards and dreamt of my mother, finding her within the trees. In the dream she was living in a little cabin, all alone but she was happy. I was mad at her because she left and I told her about the whispering that I hear everytime I walk by the trees. She told me it was just her trying to talk to me, she needed me to save her.

I woke up covered in sweat, and I opened my window to let in some cool air. It was already morning so I got up and got ready for school.

"Hey dad, I'm leaving! I'll see you later tonight...I'm going to a friends house." I tell him as I put my coat on.

He peeks his head out from his office with a concerned look on his face. "What friend is this?" I can tell he didn't get much sleep last night, the bags under his eyes looking darker than usual.

"She is in my science class, she's my partner for a project, I'll be fine don't worry."

"Okay, just keep me updated. I have my phone on me so if you need anything just let me know and I'll come right over there, Willow."

"I'll be fine dad, but thank you. I'll see you later, love you!"

"Okay have fun, love you too." He watches me for a few seconds like he's unsure whether he should tell me that I can't go to my friends house, I need to come straight home. I take my time to give him a chance but he just returns to his office, keys already clicking after a few seconds.

I close the door to the apartment behind me and head to school. I hate lying to my dad but that's the only way I'll be able to check out the trees. The voice told me so I have to go. Who does the voice belong to? It's a woman but I don't know who. Could it be my mother? Maybe the voice and the dream were meant to happen together. She probably is living in a cabin all on her own, happy. We could be a family again and be happy, my dad would lose all of his anxiety and depression and my mom would be there to greet me when I got home and I could have her warm embrace again, the sweet smell of strawberry in her hair.

I turn the corner and see the trees towering over the sidewalk. I cross the street to walk next to them and to avoid the students that are ahead of me. The whispering starts again and I can hear the woman's voice. She's telling me to walk into the trees, the voice being so much clearer now, saying the same thing over and over that I'm waiting for something new. I finally snap back to attention having heard my name from across the street. Whoever said it sounded hesitated, like they weren't sure whether it was my name or not.

One of the boys cups his hands around his mouth and yells at me, "I'll give you ten dollars if you walk into the trees!" I stop in my tracks and turn to face the group that is laughing and encouraging him.

"Deal!" I yell back. Slowly they all start to quiet down, staring at me in shock. They didn't expect me to say anything. "After school I'll walk into the trees and show you there's nothing wrong with them!"

The boy nods like he doesn't believe me and then continues to laugh with his group. I shake my head and continue my walk to school. I'm taking a big risk but whether I get the ten dollars or not, I'm still going into the trees.

* * * *

I go through my seven classes at school and then head out towards the trees. The group stands on the other side of the street, laughing at something one of the girls said. I walk up to them and stand there for a few seconds, waiting for one of them to notice me.

"So are we going to do this or not?" I ask, trying to raise my voice. A couple of them notice and they all turn around to face me.

"What?" one of them asks.