Short Stories

The Waters Call

The forest is the only place where Emma felt calm. She would wander for hours on end. She lived and breathed the forest.

Emma walked along the small trail, littered in patches of small wildflowers and large, kelly green bushes, barefoot taking in her surroundings. The air smelled of flowers and dank patches of moss that grew on the large oak trees. The Earth felt cold beneath her feet. Birds sang their evening songs and small animals skittered across the trails at random times on Emma's walk, seeking shelter for the night. She sighed in content.

"Why would I ever want to go back to the city? The pure, raw Earth is all I need. I..," Emma paused, she saw something she's never noticed before. A small gap in a large hedge. The hole was about the size of her, in fact, it was the exact size of her. She's has walked this narrow, secluded path hundreds of times and has never seen this small gateway to mystery. Curious, she cautiously walked over to the opening and stepped through.

A dream right out of a fairytale is how Emma would have described the scene. The greenest grass imaginable. Fireflies filled the air, giving the illusion of fairies dancing through the air. She stepped onto the plush grass in awe.

"This can't be real. I must be dreaming!"

"Of course it's real my dear, why would it not?" said a wispy, female voice. Emma jumped.

"W-who's there?'

"It's me."

"Who's me?"

"A friend." Emma frantically searched her surroundings. Nothing. No one. She was all alone.

"Where are you?"

"Here." The water in the pond nearby bubbled. Emma jumped again. She slowly made her way towards the deep blue waters.

"I can't see you."

"You need not see me at this moment, my dear. In due time you shall see me. In due time. Now come, sit by the waters, tell me what ails you." And so, Emma did. She told the voice of her problems. How the lights of the crowded city bored her. How she was unable to relate to anyone at her school. How she wished she lived in the beautiful, lush forest on the very outskirts of the large city. Emma sat for hours, talking to this mysterious voice. The voice said nothing but an occasional sound of affirmation.

***********************

Emma opened her eyes. Her room. Same as always. Dull beige walls, sad cream carpet. The usual. She swung her legs around to the edge of her bed and proceeded to dress herself and go on with her day.

The same old routine: wake up, eat a bland breakfast, have a miserable day at school, and come home only to repeat this endless and hellish cycle. Except for one change one that would stay till the end. The forest. Her own secret world where nothing else mattered. Yes. That is the only place she would ever want to be.....

..... and so she went.

***********************

"Hello my dear, how are you?" the woman's voice called out to Emma.

"As good as my life can be. You know.... With how shit it is everyday."

"You could always stay here. Bask in the sun by the water all day and sleep in the soft and plush grass at night. You need not go back, my dear." Emma smiled. I really could stay here, she thought. She looked at the blue waters, small lights danced on its surface. It truly was beautiful.

"Could I really?"

"Of course my dear," said the voice," but you may have to learn to adapt to living here. We live do not live like you."

"For you and to live here I would be willing to do anything," Emma sighed.

"Anything?"

"Yes. Anything. I'd kill my own family to get away, of course, I wouldn't actually, but you understand. I just can't stand the city. It's crowded and boring. The forest feels right for me. The green trees, the soft ground, and the cool, blue waters. It's so... free."

"Yes, yes, my dear. You may stay as long as you want. You could even live with me."

"Live with you?"

"Yes, my dear. I've had other like you and they've stayed with me. You would not be lonely. They felt just the same as you feel."

"Really where are they?"

"Here with me dear."

"Where is here?" said as she whipped her head about to try and spot her mysterious friend.

"Here, my dear," said the woman. Fireflies scattered from the water's surface, taking their light with them. Emma was left in almost complete darkness and terrifying silence with only a small beam of moonlight shining on the dark waters. Suddenly, Emma heard something rustle. She frantically turned around only to be met with a dimly lit bush as a group of small, black rabbits scattered into the line of hedges. She sighed.

Splash. Emma cautiously turned around. Nothing. She was puzzled. What had been that splashing noise? She slowly made her way over to the water and stared at the crystal clear depths.

"Hello?" Emma called out.

"Come dear, it's time to go home." Splash.

"AH!" Emma shrieked as a feminine, taloned hand broke the surface of the water and gripped Emma's ankle with inhuman strength.

"Dear, please stop struggling. It's time for you to come home. We're all down here waiting for you." Emma looked down at the hand, attempting to pry it off, but to no avail. Then she saw them. The woman's friends.

In the clear, blue waters around the figure which produced the taloned hand, lay dozens of white figures in the sediment of the bottom of the pond. Skeletons. Emma shrieked again. The hand began to tug on Emma, pulling her towards the water at an alarming rate.

Splash.

"Welcome, my dear."