The Angel's Nature

Chapter 9

Cosmo took a box of cookies and ran onto the porch. Sitting down, he watched the sky fade to purple again, soon to become indigo. He pulled his hand into the box, taking a cookie out.

Then he heard a quiet sound, like the ruffling of leaves. Probably the wind, he thought. Or Willow running around the house.

Then it happened again. This time, Cosmo was calm. These were just the sounds of nature.

The sounds got louder.

"Willow, is that you?"

"Me what?"

"There's some sound there!"

He came running, his feet bare, wearing home clothing.

"Hear that?"

"That's the wind."

"I know. But it's so loud."

"Is that your pretending again? Like in the forest?"

"Might be," he pulled the box over to Willow, who sat down on the porch and put his hand in.

"Then there's something wrong with you."

"Willow, I'm sure there isn't. It's just that it's hard to get used to the silence. We're alone here, after all."

"Or maybe not."

A smile appeared on Cosmo's lips.

"Willow, don't say such silly things. Look at this place. Does it look like someone lives here?"

Willow stayed silent.

"Exactly," Cosmo continued. "I'm sure all of this will disappear over time. It will."

He stared deeper into the forest, searching for something unusual. There was nothing. The forest was in the state they first saw it in – quiet and empty. Nobody was there, no shapes, just darkness and silence.

"Maybe you should go to sleep," Cosmo pointed out.

"And you're not?"

"No, I'll stay here for a while."

Willow nodded and got off the porch. The sky was a darker purple now, the color of ink. The half of the moon was hanging there already.

Cosmo saw the lights go out in the entirety of the house as he turned around to see them fade. Willow walked to the bedroom loudly and awkwardly.

After that there was silence. He listened in for more sounds. Nothing. Everything he heard was imaginary again. He stood up and walked inside the cottage. His eyes were used to the dark, so it was easy to find his way to the room.