Cotter Woods

Part 18

I saw Camila grab her rifle when the woman approached.

"Who are you?" Dallas asked aggressively.

"I could ask you the same question," She smiled. "Come in." She turned and began walking back in the cave. 

I shrugged towards Dallas and led the group in. The cave itself was small, but the woman led us down a flight of stairs towards the back of it. At closer look, I saw the woman was about in her thirties. The dress she was wearing was white, but a layer of dirt made it look ashy. Green and blue flowers were sprinkled on the top and bottom of the outfit. The dress ended just above her knees, and she had ruffled-ankle socks on below it. She was dressed like a child.

I had no idea what was going on. I moved to this town not even a month ago, had my first day of school two days ago, been chased in an asylum by a crazy woman yesterday, and now, I was following a woman down a staircase inside of a cave! "You said 'She won't hurt you' outside, who? Do you know who we're talking about?" I asked. The stairs stopped and led to an entire house underground. We were standing in a room that had lanterns as lights, a table and chairs in the corner and a couch near the stairs. Everything was either wooden or torn leather and obviously many years outdated. The woman ignored my question and smiled at us again. 

"Would anyone like some water? We've also got leftover rabbit and some roots if anyone is hungry." We all stood staring at her, "Well, at least sit down! I'll grab some more chairs." Awkwardly, Aiden, Camila and I took the couch and the boys sat on the chairs that the woman quickly moved over. Herself, she brought out a rocking chair she kept in a closet near the table, and sat across from us. Now that I looked around, I saw many doors around the place. They all brought me some curiosity but one stuck out. The door that was farthest from us. It was the widest out of them all and had a lock on the handle. "So! What brings you out in the woods?" She asked us.

"We're looking for our friends, Avery and Diego," Camila began, "I saw something take Avery. Something that wasn't human, miss."

"Tell me more. What do these two look like?" She leaned in to listen. The more I saw with her, the less scared of her I became. She was still young and she was kind. It is definitely odd to have a cave-house in the middle of the woods, but other than that, she seemed like a normal woman.

"Well Avery is my height, she's got brown eyes and black hair. Oh! But, there's a few brown streaks in it," Camila started.

"She's wearing a pastel-pink shirt and light jeans today. She has a backpack with her." Aiden added.

"We saw her last by a stream, miss. Have you seen her?" I asked.

"Well, I haven't been out as of today. It's early, isn't it?" She scratched her head. "It's what? Eight? Well, what about the boy? What's he look like?"

"Dark brown eyes. Black hair. He has on a blue and gray shirt, and gray pants with it." Asher told her.

"I'm afraid I haven't seen either this morning. We can go out and look if you'd like. The woods is big but I'm sure we'll find them." She said hopefully. "What do you think took your friend Avery?"

"This may sound crazy," Camila began.

"Please! I live in a cave! Crazy is what I live for!" She laughed and listened.

"Something picked her up. Something invisible. She floated away in mid-air, kicking and screaming. I don't know how else to explain it. It was just air!"

The woman's face darkened. "We will need help. Don't think just because I live in a cave I don't have neighbors,"She let out a fake giggle. "We will find your friends, I promise."

"Thank you!" We all said.

"Tell me your names, kids, please?" The woman got up from her rocking chair and stood behind it.

"I'm Summer! This is Asher, Dallas, Camila and Aiden." I smiled at her.

"Nice to meet you all, very nice." She said, "Second offer on water? I am going to get some myself right now." 

"We have water, thank you though." Aiden said nicely.

"What can we call you, miss?" Asher asked as she walked away.

"Well, Miss. Lines is good, if you want to keep calling me a miss!" She laughed.

"Lines... that sounds so familiar." I said smiling.

"Familiar and boring, yes. You guys can just call me Layla." She said before entering a room and closing the door behind her.