The Forgotten

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

Tony walked down the forest kicking leaves. It seemed this was the place where he could get a peace of mind. It wasn’t really a forest, but a place that had many trees, with little human ventures. All was silent and it was away from homes. Homes where he didn’t feel comfortable as any closed spaces brought back the darkness. Even staying in his room was bad enough that he’d come here to sleep sometimes. His uncle didn’t want to meddle with his idiosyncrasies no matter how odd they could be. He laid down, and it was then that he heard her. A soft sob, then something like a choked cough and then a louder sob.

Something inside of him was telling him to turn around but he didn’t want to listen. He wanted to ignore those sobs. But his whole body froze when he hit a realization. They sounded like his sobs; the sobs from the darkness. Sobs of helplessness, fear, and worry, but what he heard most was one that seems so helpless it was like it came from a cages bird but this was a human. Tony turned around slowly and walked towards the sobs. The branches he broke on his way didn’t move her as she was too focused on her crying. She sat leaning on a tree with a book pressed to her chest. Don’t tell me you’re crying over a book, Tony clenched his teeth and put a hood over his head. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to do. Right when he turn around, he heard a loud gasp from behind him that made him turn back around. “Who are you?” she had a look of fear in her eyes, but the way she clenched the small branch in her hands could have sent a smarter man walking away. Tony looked her over now he could see her face.

Veronica, he almost whispered it. Her father must have been angry about her being late.

“Who are you?” she asked again

“No one, I just heard you crying and came to check on you” he told her.

She picked up her bag and was turning to leave when he suddenly grabbed her arm. “Who are you? Who sent you?” he asked her

The way she swung her arm back and away from his grasp shocked him that he saw himself stepping backwards. “No one sent me, and it would do you well to stop following me because you will regret the day you were ever born if you try anything.” She paused “and for your information, I’m not scared of you” She started to step closer “this better be the last time I hear or see you around here, you got it?” such confidence and authority she had. But Tony didn’t flinch.

“No” he coolly responded, looking into her deep brown eyes. He couldn’t, for the life of him, find any words that could describe the expressions that crossed her face before she suddenly threw herself toward him and slapped him. Tony was shocked, annoyed, and angered by her now. Who the hell does she think she is?

Tony grabbed both of her hands and spun her around toward a tree. “I found this place first” he almost growled.”

Tears still streamed down her face as she bit his arm and punched him on his face and chest. He took the blows, though angered. He was to the point where he just wanted to strangle her, to shut her up. He spotted the book in her bag and took the opportunity he had while he was still on his feet and grabbed the book. It was like that single action calmed the wave in her because she froze and looked at the book, following the movement carefully as to not lose sight of it.

“Is this what’s making you so crazy?”

 “No. Just give it back or I’ll tell them of your whereabouts”

That made his raise a brow. So, someone did send her.

“who is ’them’?”

“The police” she replied.

Tony chuckled and gave her another look. She saw him as a wanted man, but he decided to leave it at that to see if she was smart enough to be afraid of him.

He handed her back her book “go home, it’s getting late”

She took it and put it back in her bag with a little too much care, and without a word, she was on her way. Tony watched her leave, a little amazed about how much energy she possessed. She was skinny, average height, with shoulder length brown hair. Amazing what anger can bring out in someone. Tony followed behind her, curious as to where she was heading. He didn’t care much if she fell, if some animal attacked her, or if it even ate her. He hated her from the moment she held that stick, threatening and challenging him like she owned the place. He followed her for a while until she stopped in a small clearing with green grass and no single leaf on it. It made him wonder how that area was so green and untouched by the falling leaves being brought down by the season of autumn. It didn’t take him long to realize that she had been here before. In fact, she may have found this place first. The clearing was more friendly and peaceful; a better place for him to sleep than his. He stood at a distance and watched her read the book, wiping some tears from her eyes ever so often. Cry your eye balls out for all I care.

He waited for her to be gone so he may stay there. He didn’t want to come in contact with her for any reason.

He watched her, seeing himself in her. The pitiful self he would never go back to. Then she fell asleep right there, with the book protected in her arms, and he was thoughtless. He was numb, blocked out from every thoughts and feelings. He fell asleep. But when he woke up in the morning, she was already gone.