The Lost Princess

Chapter 5

I looked around at my surroundings.  Everything was quiet.  There was a boat parked in the harbor.  I thought about riding in it all the way back to the US.  But then the logical side me took over: I was not going to steal a boat!

My second thought: if all roads do lead to Rome, then at least I won't have to cross an ocean, besides, I've always wanted to see Rome.  Granted I would have to go the long way, through Finland, Poland, Russia.  Hum, Russia, I don't have a visa.  Maybe I'd get lucky and get deported.  Wow, never thought I'd say that.

There were two paths ahead of me.  One went straight towards the harbor, and the other went winding into the forest and mountains.  So naturally, I took the latter.

Off I went, winding through tree after tree.  It was very dark.  The canopy of trees blocked any light.  Left, right, right again.  My path lead me deeper and deeper into the woods.  

“Maybe I should turn back,” I thought, after all, this was starting to creep me out.  Almost every horror story starts with a girl alone in the woods at night. 

I turned around and started to walk back.  Soon I reached an intersection.  I looked left down a dark, narrow alley filled with trees.  I didn't take that one, the path was wider.

I looked down the right path.  It held more darkness, and more trees.  The path was much wider.  I didn't think the path was that wide. But if I didn't take this path, which path did I choose?  I turned down the left path and headed deeper into the woods.  Darkness surrounded me, making the path barely visible. 

Suddenly a piercing howl shattered the silence.  I froze in my steps.  The silence returned. 

My heart was beating fast now.  Of course my first thought was wolves.  I'm terrified of wolves.  When I was little I wouldn't go out in the dark, in fear of the "wolves" that howled every night.  As I grew older I came to realize that the "wolves" were really just dogs.  I outgrew my fear, but that didn't stop it completely.

I resumed my walk, going at a faster pace than before. 

"It's just dogs, Lisa," I told myself. 

Another howl returned, echoing through the woods.

My heart stopped for a moment.

"It's just dogs, it's just dogs," I told myself over and over again.  "It's just dogs."

I picked up the pace into a little jog.  The howls continued, each one setting my heart on edge.  I'll confess, I was terrified.  I couldn't remember a time when I was more terrified.  I was out in the woods all alone, in the dark, not knowing where I was or where to go. 

Soon I came to a point where the trees opened up to make a little grotto.  The moonlight filled the place with a milky white light.  The moon was no longer the erie, huge, ball staring down at me in this strange world.  It became an oasis, the only thing in my life that was consistent.  It gave me a strange sense of hope. 

Over at the far end was a little pile of rocks that seemed to form a seat.  I walked over and let myself fall onto it.  The rocks weren't comfy be a long shot, but it fulfilled my need for sleep.  I put my head into my arms as my eyelids began to feel heavy.  I let them close naturally, ready to drift off to sleep.

I don't know how long I was asleep before I heard a noise.  A twig snapped nearby.  This little noise was enough to tell me that I wasn't alone.  I sat up and looked around trying to decide if the presence was a threat.

All was quiet.  It was probably my imagination getting the best of me.  I laid back down and closed my eyes. 

The second after my eyelids had fallen I heard another noise.  This time it was some leaves crunching.  It came from the same direction as the twig.

I bolted up.  I knew I was being watched.  By what?  I did not know.  I stared straight in front of me, in the direction of the noises hoping to catch a glimpse of something. 

Now, I regret that decision.  In the woods I saw a figure.  A faint outline of some creature.  It was huge, at least six feet.  And the worst part was, I could almost feel it looking at me, staring deep into my soul.

So I did the only logical thing.  I screamed.  Louder than anything I'd ever heard before.  I let out one huge, ear piercing, deafening, scream.