Divided Hearts

Through the Woods

     Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Rory! Happy birthday to you!
I smiled at my phone as a video of my friends singing Happy Birthday played on my phone. I was grateful for the sweet message. I replied with a thank you and stashed away my phone as I approached the local gas station. It was an old building, formerly a breakfast joint before going out of business. Wires hung loosely from the top and there was nothing that wasn't covered with grime. I grimaced as I gripped the handle and pulled the entrance open. The store was fairly empty, with two men in mid conversation at the back to accompany the store clerk and I. I walked to the alcohol section and pulled a bottle of cheap wine out and a case of beer. I snapped a photo and sent it to my mother.
This lowly old gas station happened to be the only place that sold alcohol within 20 miles of our small town, Ivesville. It was my 21st birthday and my first, and only, present from my mother was cash thrown in my face and a demand for alcohol as soon as I got off work. The woman I called mother, not mom, was laid off of her job eight months prior and had no intentions of finding another. I was the sole provider for the two of us, which meant working two jobs just to scrape by.
I set my items down on the counter and handed the clerk my I.D.. I thanked him and took a seat at one of the slot machines close to the entrance. I pulled up my friend, Leo's number and hit the call button. The phone gave two rings before a loud "HELLOOOO!" from Leo.
"Leo.... I can't do this?"
"Do what, sweet pea?" I could hear the loud thump of a bass in the background.
"I can't enable her. I can't keep giving her what she wants"
I shoved my head in my hand, gripping my hair in frustration.
"I'm telling you Ror, you just need to come live with me. Your spirit is going to keep wilting if you stay in that house with her."
"Ha. She would never allow that. Adult or not, I'm her prisoner. Plus.... she's my mother. I can't just abandon her."
"No real mother would put her daughter through what she's put you through. You need to stand up to her."
"I—"
Ding, ding
I pulled my phone down to see a text notification from my mother that read "I have eyes on you."
I froze in terror.
"Ror? Rory? You still there?" Leo questioned.
I slowly turned around to see the two men that were there before me staring at me with beady eyes.
"Leo, I really have to go."
"Wait, Ror—"
I hung up and shoved my phone into my jacket pocket. Leaving the booze behind I bolted for the door and headed for the forest behind the station.
The air became chillier the longer I ran, but my forced adrenaline wouldn't let me slow down. The trees multiplied in number and I could hear the faint rustling of my mother's henchmen behind me. Exhaustion took over and I began to look for a place to hide. One of the larger trees held a hole large enough for me to fit and hide without detection. Heavy footsteps came closer and closer and I fought to keep my rapid breathing as silent as possible. I peek out through a smaller hole at the two men from before. The lankier man hunched over with hands on his knees, gulping in air.
"Shit," the man huffed, "let's just forget it. The stupid brat isn't worth it."
"Nate, Cynthia will have our asses if we don't bring her back to the house."
"She really is nothing without that girl. If she wants her so bad, tell her to get off her ass and find her."
The men trudged away, departing back to what I assumed would be my mother's house. I knew her reaction to my escape and disappearance would not be a pretty sight to see.
I gave myself a few minutes to recompose and to make sure the men were long gone from the area. I dusted the wood chips and debris from my clothes and continued on. I walked on for a mile or two until I saw a flickering light in the distance. As I moved closer, I could make out the silhouette of a small cabin. My heart started to race and I began to sprint towards the warm, yellow beacon of hope. I just needed a safe place to gather my thoughts and find a plan for my future. I obviously couldn't return home. That option was shot dead the moment I ran.
Exhaustion crept in again and I realized the distance between me and the cottage had not changed. It felt like I was on a treadmill, running myself to death. I stopped next to an old oak tree and slumped against it. The world was fuzzy and my muscles ached.
"Just one minute." I mumbled to myself as I let sleep take its hold.
The crackle of a fire awoke me and I breathed in warm air. I was laid out on a plush love seat, covered in a cream colored wool blanket. I pushed the blanket away and I stretched myself out. I looked at my surroundings: A mighty fireplace ablaze, dark wood furniture sprinkled with trinkets and whatnots. The room itself wasn't very big; no larger than an average classroom. The lack of tidiness in the room made it feel even more minuscule. Although the place was foreign and unfamiliar, the aura of it was warm and welcoming.
I left the warmth of the small room and headed outside though the front door. I was met with the frosty chill of the outdoors and pulled my jacket closer. From the front porch, I could see the tree I had passed out against, my phone laying in the grass next to it. Why had it seemed so far away at the time? How did I end up in the cottage with no one else around?
My head began to ache and I rubbed vigorously at my temples. I noticed a small dirt path that led from the front porch, straight ahead into the forest.
"This must lead to the main road" I thought to myself and started ahead.
I got about 10 feet away from the house before I was thrown back with an electric shock that coursed through my body.
What the hell....
Hesitantly I reached out in front of me, only to be met with the same powerful shock. I shook my head in annoyance and headed back to the cottage. I took a left at the front of the cottage and stopped in front of a wrought iron gate. The gate was ajar, seemingly held open and in place by thick, lush ivy vines; our town's crowning glory. These vines sprawled across the walls over every building in town. The green tendrils seemed even more vibrant against the shabby colors of the worn out buildings. Strangely enough, the growth stopped right at the edge of town; not a single vine grew over the border.
I caressed one of the velvet soft leaves between my fingertips before entering through the gate. All sorts of flowers were strewn throughout the yard. Their petals seemed almost iridescent, captivating. A small pond sat about a yard away from the large oak tree, much like the ones in the front yard, that stood tall and proud in the middle of the garden. I walked toward the tree to a small glass birdbath, decorated with colorful stones that shone in the moonlight. Inside the bath laid a small silver key, topped with a bright blue gemstone. I gently took the key and stowed it away inside one my my jacket pockets.
Riiiiiiiiiiibit
I whipped around, trying to find the source of the noise.
Riiiiiiiiiiibit
A healthy sized frog leaped up onto the birdbath and stared at me with large eyes and a swollen throat. The air around the animal and I became warm and a dense fog set upon us. Through the fog, the frog's eyes began to glow an unnatural gold color and I stumbled back. The ground gave way and I fell into a dark abyss.

A/N: heyyyy... I know it's been over 3 years but I'm backkkkkk! I've decided to give this story a second shot because I can't get it out of my head! I'll try to put another chapter or two up by the end of the week. Stay tuned!