Haunted

"Never go in the dark forest," my elder sister, Margery, has always told me, "If you ever go in there, you will never return. The evil spirits might capture you. Or the undead. Or even the mud monsters. I'm not trying to scare you, but I just want you to know that I love you, and I can't have anything ever happen to you. For you are the only family I have left in this world."

I know Margery tells me this not to scare me, but for my own safety. Our parents died when we were little. They disappeared. How? They went to go gather supplies from another village for our beloved king, and never returned. We believe they went into the dark forest somehow where the evil spirits took them. Margery says I was too young to remember them, but the only thing that she and I have left of them are the charms they gave to us. We wear them around our necks on little rope. Wearing them reminds us that they are still here with us and right beside us. It's just been Margery and I ever since. Two sisters.

Every morning we wake up and do our normal everyday jobs. Pick blueberries, or any other fruits or objects that anybody would be interested in buying. We stand in the middle of the dirt roads, with pleading looks, begging for money. It's the only way we can really get money. The jobs in our village really isn't the greatest, especially for women. All the men grow crops, blacksmith, tailor, trading, etc.. That's why ever since we've been selling blueberries and other items to make money and a living. "Rhoslyn," Margery whispers in my ear, "the sun is rising. It's time to get up." We sleep on very little straw and one big blanket. As we walk out of our petite, straw hut, people start to wake up from the sounds of the pigs, roosters, and sheep. The sounds were waking up everyone. Margery grabbed two buckets, one for her and one for me. She lead me to where our village ended. A couple of minutes away, are blueberry bushes. Margery and I begin to pick. Picking the berries are my favorite. If I accidentally squish them, then I'll lick my fingers and eat the berries. Every time we go there, I can hear awful noises. We hear them every day. The more I hear them, the more I think to myself: What's really in the woods? Why is it so terrifying? Why is it that nobody ever returns? Margery is busy picking the berries. Tip-toeing, I place my bucket beside me and walk away.

Whenever I turn around, Margery isn't there. She might still be busy picking at the berries. Honestly, I don't care that much. I'm alone, and free. No begging today. In the glimpse of my eye, I see a figure. What was that?  I think to myself, Maybe it was an animal. Suddenly, I saw it again. Curious to know, I start walking towards the strange figure. The trees look darker than usual. They have no leaves. As best as I could see, the branches seemed to be moving. I shook my head. No, this is crazy, my mind is telling me. The figure is gone. I am lost. The sounds of hoeing, crackling, and screeching filled the air. Where was I? Could I be in the dark forest? No, I couldn't be. All of a sudden, a howl. I jumped and ran as fast as I could. My hands kept my dress up as I ran. 

That's when, my feet got caught in mud. "Ew!" I scream. The mud was too deep. I needed to go around it. Too late, I've tripped. Now I'm covered in mud. My hands are deep in the mud. Out of nowhere, I see something in front of me. Something brown, something wet, something spooky. Some mud got in my eye. I can't clearly see. Once I wipe it away, my nightmares have begun. It was mud monster. I am in the dark forest. My throat squeals in a stentorian way. With all the strength I had, I climbed myself out and away from the mud monster.

Covered in mud, my feet swept off the ground. My heart is now in the middle of my stomach. Beeping so fast that I can't even breathe. I halt into a tree. I'm in the dark forest! I don't believe this!  My head begin to spin. Now I'm never going to return to Margery! She's going to be miserable for the rest of her life! Tears develop. In the corner of my eye, I sa a figure. I quickly lift my head up. It was something ugly, something chimerical, something spooky. A woman. She was dressed in black, had scraggly, gray hair, pale, blue eyes, and wrinkled skin. "Hello there little girl," the woman says to me, "What are you doing out here all alone in the dark forest?" "I-I'm lost. Can you p-p-please help me?" I ask, I can hardly speak. I am trembling. "Don't worry, little one, I can take care of you. I'll keep you safe and sound. I'll even keep you close to me. So don't worry, let your fears go, and come with me." She reaches her hand out in front of me. I step back. "No thank you," I say. "Come with me," she says in a harsher voice. "I don't trust strangers, especially witches" I reply. "Come with me child!" she cries. She grabs for my arm. "Let go of me!" I screech. "You're coming with me!" the witch howls.   

As feelings of scared and nervous streamed in my veins, I kick the witch in the leg. "Ouch!" she screams. Quickly, I run away. I wasn't going to let any mud monsters get in my way, or any witches, or . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Rhoslyn," Margery says, "Rhoslyn. Rhoslyn, it's okay." My eyes open. I feel a bit sweaty. Margery is right next to me, grasping my arms. I'm in my straw bed with her. Was I dreaming? Possibly. "You're okay. I'm right here, you're alright," Margery comforts me. She strokes her hand against my cheek. "Was I dreaming?" I ask. "I suppose, you were wrestling in your sleep. You must've had a nightmare," she answers. "I think I did," I tell her. "Do you want to talk about?" she asks me. I look around the house. I sigh and say, "I think you would find it very crazy." Margery smiles. "Well, it's a new day. It's time to get up and do our daily work."

Once we leave our hut I remind myself in my head, Don't go into the dark forest. Don't leave your sister. Be a good girl.

I obey and I don't leave my sister's side. Not once.