Forest of Fear (On Hold)

Forest of Fear chapter 2

I flung open the door, a backpack slung over my shoulders and the note clutched tightly in my grasp. I started to run, as fast as I can to the forest. I was just on the street past the toy store before bumping into someone. It was a woman. She was a little shorter than me but still tall. She had short and curly red hair, her eyes were a pale shade of blue. She wore a heavy coat and knee high boots. She was rubbing her arm where I accidentally bumped into. 

“Sorry about that, but I gotta’ run,”

“Marshall! Don’t you even remember me?”

I was running, heavy footsteps beating down on the pavement were following behind me. I had to try shaking her off, so I took the paths with very sharp turns. 

“MARSHALL!” She yelled again. I didn’t dare stop running. I was running, as fast as I could. Until there it was: the entrance to the forest. The trees towered over me, the leaves were rustling and flying as the wind howled. 

“MARSHALL! STOP RUNNING AWAY WHEN I’M TRYING TO TALK TO YOU, DAMMNIT!” She was running in my direction, nearly knocking me down as she approached me with a great punch in the arm. She looked up at me, furious, then eased up when she saw the entrance to the forest. It took me a while, but I finally recognized her. It was my best friend, Morgan. We had been friends since childhood, and she remembers the kidnap. She remembers when I went to her doorstep to tell her about the disappearance of my family. She was the only person, of my friends, that ever saw me cry. I felt guilty for not recognizing her. I patted her head. 

“Sorry…I’m in a rush. But Morgan, you can’t come. I’m already trying to save MY ass. I don’t want you to get into what I’m going through.”

“Oh, don’t give me that. I’m going wheather you want me to or not.”

“Morgan, I’m trying to be nice, I’ll explain what’s going on when I come back, but please, I beg you, DON’T.FOLLOW.ME.” She crossed her arms and gave me a glare. 

“Fine, I won’t come!” She said reluctantly, walking off back to the streets. I sighed. I looked at the note. 

“Now, after you’ve found your destination, listen closely.

There will be a tune. It should be familiar to you.

Here, you should follow where the sound grows strongest.”

That was my first clue. I stepped into the forest, and everything was covered by shadows. I walked into the nearest path, where I heard a noise. A noise, I thought, but not a tune. I walked farther down the path, feeling more ost than ever. It would be ages until I found the noise. I walked back out of the path and followed a different one. I had a strange susspicion that someone was watching me. And to put it in the best way possible: freaked the crap out of me. I walked deeper into the forest, and the footsteps came closer. My walk broke into a jog and then into a run. I was breathing heavely, my heart beating so loud, I could hear only the strong beat in my ears. I wasn’t looking where I was going and eventually, ran into a tree. I looked up at what could have possibly been stalking me, and nearly slapped it across the face when I found out who it was. 

“Morgan, you son of a-never mind. Morgan, what the crap were you thinking?! I told you STAY, OVER, THERE! And naturally, I picked up a sign that says,  ’Follow me children!’ to you.”

“Dude, calm it. I still didn’t get my explanation. Now I want you to tell me, what’s going on?” She huffed, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.

I sighed, I seem to be doing that more often than I’d like to recently. I gave her the explanation and told her everything. The note, the clues, and most importantly, the task of finding my family. She put her hand on my shoulder. 

“Don’t worry bro, we’ll find them. And I’ll help. Promise!” She told me calmly, holding her right hand up as to give me her word. I chuckled.

“Okay, come. But you have to be careful.” I instructed. She rolled her eyes.

“Oh dear Marshall, I am in danger! Please save me from this horrid agony!” She joked, looking annoyed. 

“I’m not a dumbass in need Marshall, I know what I’m doing.” She said to me, lightly punching my arm. I heard a tune then, soft and…nostalgic. Morgan was about to say something but stopped when she also heard the sound. I grabbed her by the hand and ran to the noise, following wherever it grew stronger. The music, undoubtedly was the song my mother used to sing to me when I was smaller. I ran, Morgan’s hand still in mine, and couldn’t stop. When I found the place where it grew the loudest, I looked around for a clue. Nothing was there.