Don't Go Into The Woods

Chapter 42

An full hour had passed since our stand off. Or at least I figured it must have been an hour. I was very poor at keeping track of time during all that was happening. Left seated in front of the fireplace to warm up in Ms. Jennings cabin, I listened while Vladimir, Anastasia, Ms Jennings and Dimitri were in the kitchen area arguing about me and what they were going to do with me.

The cabin was small so of course I heard every word being said. It frustrated me that I was being made to feel invisible here. Like I didn't exist and even worse, like my opinion didn't count at all. This was me and my life that they were talking about here! I sighed heavily and sunk my chin into the palm of my hands. I wondered what was going to happen. Dimitri wanted me back at the school to pretend like nothing ever happened while Vladimir was scared of my life being in danger with the rebels who had managed to penetrate the school by posing as guardians themselves. Anastasia was caught trying to play peacemaker between her father and brother. Than Ms.Jennings decided to chirp in too, crying out that I should stay here. She kept repeating that the woods have called me for a reason and I need to stay here. Staring into the flames, I thought of Carmen. I could not stay here whilst she was at the school possibly in danger with the rebels being there. If the rebels knew what she knew, her life would be snuffed very quickly. A couple more minutes went by before I had finally lost my patience. I jumped to my feet and spun around to face everyone. They didn't notice me stirring in the naughty spot they had placed me in since returning back here. Despite the intimate gesture Dimitri presented me with earlier outside in the snow, since returning, he had been nothing but a cold fish cutting straight down to business which was deciding what to do with me.

"Can I have a say in my own life or are you lot going to insist in talking about me like I am not even in the room?!" I said firmly. "Or do I no longer have a say in what happens to me?"

Vladimir, Anastasia and Dimitri fell silent at once, giving me only concerned expressions as a reply. I knew I have made quite a few poor choices lately, one being coming into the woods, but I still felt like I had a say in what happens to me next. A very important say of course.

"Savannah. Of course you have a say." Ms Jennings said. She came rushing up to me, taking my hand and pulling me into her arms for hug when she reached me. It felt a little awkward hugging who I always knew to be my teacher, but I hugged her anyway. It was a little comforting to feel that someone cared about me amongst a room of people that I could not read properly. I thought Vladimir and Anastasia liked me. Now I wasn't sure of anything. Were they just pretending to like me in order to keep a better eye on me? Was that why Dimitri tried entering into a relationship with me before cutting me loose? All to try and keep watch over me? Was anything real? I wasn't sure anymore. I pulled away from Ms. Jennings. As I did so, my eyes met with Dimitri. His eyes were glowing a bright yellow-green color and I could not help, but wonder yet again what he was thinking and if any of his thoughts involved his love for me. If he had any love for me at all.

"I think you should stay here Savannah. You will be much safer here. The woods will protect you. After all. They called you here." Ms. Jennings said, sounding almost desperate to keep me here.

"With all due respect Ms. Jennings-" I looked straight up at her as I spoke. "-I think it would be best if I rather return to the school and pretend like none of this ever happened, like Dimitri said." My eyes darted over to Dimitri. He seemed please to hear I was agreeing with him.

Dimitri immediately stood up from the chair at the table he was seated at. "We should leave now than." Dimitri said.

"But the woods." Ms. Jennings muttered disappointed.

"I'm sure if the woods care so much about me than I will be just as safe right outside them." I said reassuringly. "I am human after all and my place is not here. I just want to go back to the school now please." And I wanted to see if Carmen was alright too. I could not be so selfish again and just leave her behind the way I did. I owed her a huge apology for that alone.