The Forest Lives [COMPLETED]

Chapter 5 - The Inevitable

Lockwood's eyes widened in fear as the two security guards ripped his lab coat and badge off of him. He screamed in protest. "NO! PLEASE! I'LL DO ANYTHIN-". Suddenly, he was cut off by a wave of anxiety.

Throat swelling. Fingers numbing and violently shaking. Stomach muscles contracting inwards.

Looking to the guards, Lockwood saw that they could feel it too as they had begun to gently tug at their necks in discomfort.

After a minute or two of complete silence from everyone, a bright rectangular doorway revealed itself behind the silhouettes.

That was when Lockwood saw his true fear. Standing right inside it.

Him.

The silhouettes noticeably whimpered as the man stepped closer to them. The guards were also beginning to get nervous, becoming restless in their places.

He looked down at Lockwood spoke with a voice of silk. "Harry." He snarled, walking down the stairs towards Lockwood. "Your friend, Mr Poole, was right about you. You are pathetic."

Dr Lockwood felt his throat tightening, his stomach churning and tensing as he heard these words. "Mr CEO... please..." He begged, feeling the power the CEO had over him.

"I own you. You have disappointed me."

————————PRESENT DAY————————

Sasha and Red remained downstairs, Red having turned on the TV and Sasha staring at PAI, awaiting a reply from a reply from Jack.

'Jack? Is the forest conscious?'

'yes'

'evil'

'Does it talk to you?'

'yes texts'

Sasha pondered on Jack's responses, wondering how long she had left to save him. How safe he was. How safe she was.

'Is there anything in the forest that would try to kill you? Other than the forest itself?'

'yes'

'Like what??'

'people get stuck here long time'

'eventually something happens to brain'

'causes suicidal thoughts'

'if resisted then body turn into monster '

'creature tries to kill on sight'

"Red, read what Jack has just told me." She said doubtfully, frowning as she did so.

Red's face drained of all colour. "How... How come we didn't see any of these creatures?"

"I don't know, but I am willing to bet that it is one of these creatures that Caleb took a picture of... Although if they attack on sight it could mean he's seriously hurt." Sasha replied.

PAI had been paying attention to what the two were saying. His interface booted up with this."It is possible that it attempted to attack him but Caleb had a form of defence. Like a knife or gun of some sort." He spoke, his voice changing slightly in tone. "The creature may, upon Caleb defending himself, have fled. If this is the case, we may be able to find a blood trail somewhere in the forest that Caleb would have followed. This is only if our wood-gate takes us to the same place as his."

"Wood-gate?" Questioned Sasha, frowning at PAI sceptically.

"I am unsure why, but trees with a similar description to the one that took us to the Forest are listed with the name of 'wood-gate'." Replied PAI, confusion in his voice.