Don't Go Into The Woods

Chapter 38

"Where to? It is already dark outside!" Carmen was against the entire plot.

Unfortunately she could not change my mind. I had my mind made up. It was dead set on leaving. I honestly could not fathom as to why I had not left already. I didn't belong here. I never did. I knew this from the moment I had put my foot in this place. Fortunately I had woken up from the slumber just in time to correct the huge mistake I had made by staying here. I filled my rug sack with the basics which included the framed picture of my dad and I. There was no way that I was going to be leaving that here of course. I turned to face Carmen once I felt I had packed in enough of my personal belongings. She looked distraught. She would feel this way for now, but will soon come to realize that I was right. I didn't belong here.

"I would highly appreciate it if you said nothing about my whereabouts till the morning. I will contact the school myself and inform them." I said. Carmen could not bring herself to saying anything. She just sat there, staring down at her knees without even looking up at me. I stood firm and did not waver on my decision. "I will try and send someone as soon as possible to come and collect the rest of my things." Carmen just nodded. I am not sure what had happened to me. A very familiar dead feeling had returned to me and I kept wondering how on earth did I ever allow myself just to give in to feelings and all sorts of emotions. Feelings and emotions were for the weak and I was not weak.

Not anymore.

Not ever again.

I gave Carmen one last glance before turning on my heels and storming out of the bedroom, closing the door behind me. I could swear I heard Carmen start to sob the moment the door was closed. With a very deep breath, I continued on, walking away from the door. She was better off without me. Everyone was better off without me. I was a ruined soul. Probably destined to end up like my dad eventually. Locked away and moments away from committing suicide. I used the secret pathway Dimitri had showed me just this morning to make my way secretly downstairs without getting caught. From there, I managed to find a door which lead outside and exited the school without a second thought. The cool breeze from the winter night hit my face, revealing to me how hot my cheeks had become without me realizing it before. I took in a deep breath before opening my eyes and staring directly ahead of me. The woods stood there in the night staring back at me. For a moment, all I could do was stare at the woods. And than this uncontrollable urge surged through me.

The urge to re-enter the woods.

I took one step forward. Another breeze blew over my face and through my hair.

Savannah!

I could hear my name being called. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but before I knew it, I took another step forward. That first step was followed by another and than another. Suddenly I found myself running towards the woods with my rug sack bouncing up and down at my side against my hip. I knew I wasn't thinking straight, but I didn't care. There was no purpose for me anymore. There was no reason for me to live anymore. My dad killed himself. My mom is more concerned about staying wealthy than remembering to care for her daughter. I had just been dumped by the love of my life and I had just thrown away the only friend I ever had. So what if I were about to take the last few steps of my life? So what if I was never going to be seen again by anyone? Dimitri would definitely not care. He told me to stay away from him! And Carmen was better off without me anyway! I was doing them all a favor! Even my mom. At least now she wouldn't have to worry about some miserable daughter getting in her way of pure happiness!

With tears trickling down my cheeks, I entered the woods. This sudden rush washed over me. My foot hooked into what I believed to be an uprooted root from a tree. I was sent crashing to the ground hard. Fortunately I was not knocked out by the fall. I was however hit pretty hard during the landing. My body felt sore as I pulled myself up to my feet. I dusted myself off and had a look at my surroundings.

Turning around and around, all I could find were trees and their shadows. I took a few steps forward. I could no longer see the school or even the entrance to the woods. Just like before, I found myself standing deep in the woods. Another breeze came blowing over my face and through my hair.

Savannah!

I heard my name being called once more. It was followed by the urge to follow whoever was calling out to me. I decided to not just stand around here like a fool and started walking steadily forward. I moved slowly, using my hands to help feel my way through as I was walking in the dark. All I had guiding me was the breeze which trailed off with my name each time. I wasn't sure for how long I had been walking before I was made to pause in my tracks by the sound of a loud wolf's howl in the distance. I guessed it were no ordinary wolf. The wind around me started to pick up suddenly. Blowing more fiercely till the point where I was pushed backwards by it. I stumbled over and tripped over a rock of some sort. I wasn't sure as to where I was falling, but when I had hit the ground I felt my back hit something which felt similar to bark from a tree. I opened my eyes and felt around to see where I was as not even the moonlight shown here. But what I could feel, I had fallen into a tree of some sort. Suddenly I was interrupted by the sound of shuffling. It sounded like feet or maybe even large paws shuffling through the snow. I stopped moving at once, keeping dead still. I even tried to lower the sound of my own breathing as it came across as far too loud for me. I won't lie. I was afraid. I didn't want to be caught out here. Especially since I didn't know who or what would be finding me here. I kept still till I could no longer hear the shuffling noises. During that time the wind had disappeared too so I made the decision to remain where I was at least till morning when there was enough light for me to see where I was going. I wrapped my arms around my legs, lifting my knees up so that they touched my chest. I remained there in that position, listening out for any sudden noises till eventually my eyes could no longer stay open and I forced myself into a deep and restless sleep, there in the hollow bottom of the tree I was hiding away in. For now, I felt safe.