Eternity

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Eternity

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued

Dust of Snow- Robert Frost

        I gathered my things quickly and looked around the room for anything I might have forgotten. They had brought my bag in and it was lying against the bed. I stuffed my clothes in it and headed towards the door.

          Dalacie burst in at that moment and pushed me out of the way.

          “Stay down!” She hissed. I remained standing, shocked.

          “What? Why?” I stuttered. She ran to the rug and shoved it aside to reveal a trapdoor. Dalacie hurled it open and looked to me.

          “Please, get in now. You don’t understand-I’ll explain in a moment. Just hide!” The look on her face was what finally convinced me. I had never seen anyone that scared. I grabbed my bag and hurried down the ladder into a dark room. She peered down to look at me.

          “Thank you,” she whispered. The door shut and I heard the rug slide back into place.

          The room was pitch black. I remained on the ladder, unsure of what was surrounding me. Everything was happening so fast. I still had no idea what was going on.  My heart was beating so hard it hurt, and I felt claustrophobic. My breath as coming out ragged; I wasn’t sure how long I would last-

          A loud knock came from upstairs and cut off my thoughts. Dalacie answered the door and a gruff voice came from above me.

          “What do you want?” Dalacie’s voice sounded nervous. Heavy footsteps pounded on the floor.

          “Mrs. Fore, there have been signs of human presence in the Eternal Forest and around this area. We have been ordered to examine your home after your history with humans. May we?” The voice asked. I guess Dalacie nodded or they just didn’t care for her answer because more footsteps came in and roamed around the house.

          I started to realize what was going on and silently climbed down the rest of the ladder. I stood far away from it where I couldn’t be seen and sat down on the cold earth floor. My body was shaking and I silently prayed no one would move the rug.

          A hollower thump sounded above, and I realized one of them must be standing on the trapdoor.

          “Well, I guess that’s it Mrs. Fore. We will be back.” The footsteps marched to the door and it slammed shut. Upstairs went silent.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I whispered. The trapdoor opened and Dalacie’s pale face peered down.

 “Hanne?”

“I’m over here!” I replied shakily.

“Come on up. The coast is clear.”

I hauled myself up the ladder and swung my bag over. Dalacie helped me out and shut the door. By then she was crying, big tears sliding down her cheeks.  We sat together on the floor.

“What did they want Dalacie?” I asked softly, knowing fully well they wanted me.

Letting out a shuddering sob, Dalacie spoke through her tears. “They wanted you, just like they wanted Bluze. That’s why I wouldn’t let you leave yet. I knew they would come.” She broke down again.