“Why oh why didn’t I listen to Laura?” Cassie groaned to herself. Another noise behind her, she gasped and turned, her eyes wild with fear. Her chest heaved as she tried to pull air into her lungs. She swore there were tons of ferocious beasts ready to eat her lurking out there in the dark shadows. It had all started out in fun, Cassie and her best friend Laura were walking through the woods, chatting about this and that, when they stopped. They were in front of a creek, and the forest beyond was thick, dark, and forbidding.
“C…Cass, lets turn around.” Laura’s voice shook as she pulled on her arm. Cassie wasn’t listening though. Something about that forest was keeping her there. “Cass!” Laura grabbed both her arms “Please, lets get out of here!”
“Aww Laura, don’t be such a chicken. Besides, it looks really cool.”
Laura stared at Cassie like lighting was going to strike her dead. She took a step back, glanced into the forest, and back at her friend. Cassie was just staring into the forest. She just HAD to explore it.
“N…no Cass, who knows what’s in there, besides it’s getting late and…” Cassie, grabbing her hand, cut off Laura.
“Oh come on Laura, we’ll just go in a little ways, I promise.”
Laura jerked her hand away. “There is no WAY I am going in there.” Laura sounded braver than she felt.
“Fine then.” Cassie was not turning back. “Stay here if you want, I am going in.” She jumped over the creek and wandered into the forest.
And so there she was, in the forest, frightened, and terribly lost. Her thoughts were interrupted by a huge gust of wind. But it didn’t sound like any wind she had ever heard. It called her name. “Cassaaaaaaandraaaaa, Cassaaaaandraaaaaa!” Mesmerized by the voice, she followed. The voice lead her to a big mansion nestled in a clearing. There’s a light in the window! Cassie thought excitedly. She ran to the house and banged on the door. “Help! Someone help me please!” The door swung open, and inside was a woman wearing a dark blue dress, her shiny auburn hair pulled back into a tight bun, her face wrinkled and careworn, her eyes dark and cross. “What do you want?” She spoke harshly. It took a minute for Cassie to get her voice back.
“I….I beg your pardon ma’am, but I got lost in the forest, I was wondering if you could help me find my way back to the creek” Cassie’s voice shook. The woman studied her closely.
“Hmm, very well. You may come in Cassandra.” The woman stood aside from the door.
“H…how did you know my name?” Cassie asked as she cautiously walked into the house.
“I know many things Cassandra.” The woman’s voice was suddenly softer.
“Well do you know how I can get home?” Cassie asked.
“Of course I do!” She answered. “But first you have to play my game.”
“Game? What game?” Cassie asked.
“Inside this house is a very special maze. If you can get through it, you will find your way home.”
“But what if I don’t make it?” Cassie wasn’t so sure about this.
“Its either that or I send you back out into the cold with no way to get home!” The woman told her sternly.
“Alright! I’ll play your silly game!”
“Good!” The woman smiled wickedly. She walked over to a small door and opened it. “In there is the start of the maze! Good luck Cassandra, you will need it!”
YOU ARE READING
tickling birds
Humorticklish birds from a deviantart artist called alexthesuperwolf
