An Empty Heart; A Heavy Soul

An Empty Heart; A Heavy Soul

Nicholas cared for his sisters in Hart Meadow. They slept on grassy beds and bathed in Lovers Lake. Every day at morning, noon, and evening, a meal of fruits and berries and vegetables awaited them. They played with rabbits and deer and bugs and every night Nicholas would sing a lullaby.

Nicholas cared for his sisters, Grace and Lilly. He always had. There wasn't much he had to do. He watched over them, kept them happy, and made sure they followed The Rule. As long as they all followed the Rule, they could exist without trouble. The Rule kept them safe. The Rule: Never go into the Woods. Surrounding Hart Meadow was Bare Soul Woods, full of huge, menacing pines and dangerous creatures. Sometimes, Nicholas would notice a sickly-sweet smell coming from a particular path. Nicholas did not like the Woods. He never wanted to break the Rule. He liked staying in the meadow. That's why it was his job to keep his curious little sisters away.

Grace and Lilly were his twin little sisters, and they wanted to know about everything. Their favourite mystery was Bare Soul Woods, and they often tried to slip past Nicholas to explore. They never did succeed, however. No matter how clever the scheme they came up with, Nicholas was never fooled for very long.

That is, until today.

Today, the twins had perfected the formula for what they called a Sleep Potion. A new plant had sprouted within the Meadow, and it was the perfect ingredient to complete their recipe. They mixed the concoction into Nicholas' tea, watched him praise them and pretend to enjoy the drink, and danced in joy as they watched him slump forward, fast asleep. Grace took Lilly by the hand and they raced toward the most curious one: the sweet smelling one littered with patches of Begonia flowers.

It did not take very long for Nicholas to wake, but by the time he was fully aware, the twins' laughter was already but an echo down the path. Nicholas jumped to his feet and sprinted toward the flowery path, heart beating harshly within his chest. The twins had finally gotten the better of him. After so many years, he'd finally failed them. He quickly silenced the warning bells screaming in his ears and rushed down the path, calling for his sisters as loudly as he could. Their names echoed through Bare Soul Woods, bouncing off the trees that towered over him.

The girls were not so far away that they couldn't hear their brother call, but they couldn't go back just yet. There was still so much they hadn't seen! So many plants they'd never tested; so many new animals to play with! Begonia flowers were everywhere they looked. The smell was overpowering, and neither twin noticed the underlying stench of rot grow steadily stronger.

As they walked, the sound of Nicholas searching for them grew softer and softer, until it disappeared altogether. The Begonia patches continued getting thicker as they travelled, and quite a few were spattered with a red liquid. All sound within the Woods grew fainter the longer they walked, and then went totally silent when they came across a small stone cottage. The Begonia was especially thick there, and the rotting smell was finally strong enough to reach the twins. The scent made them pause for just a moment, wondering if perhaps they'd made a mistake, but then the door to the cottage opened, revealing a smiling, kind-looking old man.

"Well, it's been a while since I've had visitors. Are you girls lost?" the man asked. "Why don't you come inside; I just started lunch." The man was large and portly and his face was flushed with cheer. He gave off a vaguely fatherly feeling, full of joy and comfort. The twins felt safe with this man, and without a second thought, they followed him into the cottage.

Meanwhile, Nicholas was near breathless with worry. It'd been more than hour since the twins had run off, and the mixed scents of rot and Begonia was overwhelming. His mind was addled with panic; he didn't notice the trees rapidly shedding leaves, the animals crying out as their bodies deteriorated and crumpled in gory, rotten heaps. He didn't notice everything turn to ash as he ran by, all but the Begonia disappearing with an enraged hiss. Bare Soul Woods had chosen its next meal.