The Forest

Chapter 3

I never saw that blonde-pig tailed girl again. It was as if the whole event didn't even happen. I tried to tell my mother what had happened, but whenever I started to speak the words never seemed to come out exactly the way I wanted them to. After that day the sheriff drove by the house from time to time just looking, like there was something to find. It became very uncomfortable after a while so I closed my curtains and stopped looking out the window, it's gotten me into enough trouble already although the screams in my head never stop.

My mother had made me wash the dishes. There could be so many chores to be done because of how old and uncared for the house was, but it felt as though it would more than likely never look the same as it did originally. From the kitchen there was a window that you could look out of into the garden in the backyard. It was old and had a crack in its right side, but you could still see if you squinted hard enough. Oh how my eyes hurt from squinting hard enough.

As I continued watching from the window I saw Sammy staring at the forest. He was so still. He almost appeared to be a statue in the middle of the garden. I wonder what could possibly be facinating him. It was like staring into a black glob of nothing. I did not like that. The darkness held so many possibilites, tricks, and horrors. It is not something I'd wish my brother to be looking for.

I don't think he saw me watching. I dont believe he was paying attention to anything. I stopped washing the dishes when I noticed his sudden movement. He was walking towards the barbed wire. I had to leave before something bad happened again. I walked behind my curious brother and caught him by the shoulder.

"Where are you going?" I asked. "Sammy, do you want to hear the story about the curious cat again?"

"No!" he yelled, "Can't I play in the forest?" he asked with his body facing the forest.

"No, you can't. That's an order." I said sternly.

"You sound just like dad" he responded sadly.

"Well someone has to act like your father right? He isn't here and I'm the oldest. I bet dad would've let you go to the forest - he always made stupid decisions." I said, venting out loud. "It's just not safe"

"Now you sound like sheriff.. when are you gonna sound like my brother?" he asked, still facing toward the forest.

"I am acting like your brother. I'm keeping you safe" I said, I wasn't being a horrible brother, was I?

"All those stories... do you believe them? I mean, the ones about the forest - Are they true?" he asked, with fear in his voice.

"I don't know... that's why you can't go in there. There's just somethings you can't unsee and for some people.. the things that roam the forest are the last things they ever see."

For the first time in the last 5 minutes he turned to look at me, "You mean.. they died?" he asked with an expression on his face that I couldn't comprehend. Fear? Sadness? Confusion?

"Yes. They died Sammy"

"But.. what if the people of the forest aren't..all bad?" he said

"They are Sammy. Sheriff said so, I mean he could be lying but I don't thinking taking a risk to find out is a good idea. We just have to think."

"Matt...I saw someone..in my room last night"

"You what?"

"I saw someone. They were in my room. There was a name on the wall..it said "Jasper". I asked him what he wanted. I asked him why he was in my room. He said he's seen you before...watching in the window "

"What does he look like?"

"He has dark, red eyes that jump out at you. He has dark black hair. He doesn't talk very much.. his lips are stitched together like a doll."

Three nights ago I couldn't sleep. The tempting feeling I got from the window was too strong. It took over me. Even in my dreams all I saw was the window although, in my dreams, it would burst open and the light from the room crawled off the wall sucking into a black hole of darkness. The air got thinner and I couldn't breathe. I would always try to close the window and as I reached to pull it down for dear life there was a man standing there watching me. His eyes were like a million suns burning me from the inside. And as he screamed his lips would tear open and the sound would explode from his mouth and it would be the scream from Elizabeth's throat. I couldn't sleep after that night.

"Why didn't you tell someone right away? He could've been a killer. Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?" I growled.

"No, he wouldn't hurt anyone"

"This is insane...Sammy everyone isn't safe just because you want them to be." I shouted. Then I had a thought. Was Sammy suffering from the distress from this new house? The insanity and the confusion? Although Sammy has always been creative. This could be a character in his mind. I highly doubt it now though because I am starting to feel there is more to this house than what I actually know...and that is hardly anything.

"I told you, Jasper wouldn't hurt anyone."

"Sammy you need to stay away from him"

"But- it's okay..I'm alright-"

"You can't talk to him anymore!"

"Why not?" Sammy asked, which sounded more like a whine.

I was beginning to become furious. What was he not understanding? What thoughts were put into his head about this "person"? Why was he denying the obvious?

"Because I said so. You're never talking to Jasper again! NEVER. Do you hear me Sammy? NEVER!" I screamed to the top of my lungs.

That night I sat outside of Sammy's door, I could barely sleep anyway. It was quiet all night. I remember what Jasper wrote about me...that he saw me watching. I heard heavy breathing on the other side of the door, I pushed the door open to a snoring Sammy. No Jasper.