What A Girl Vants

Chapter Four

The ground was still muddy from the rain the night before. The minute she stepped in in Silvia's heel began to sink. She quickly pulled it out and jumped back on to the cobblestone. They were on the edge of the campus where the bright orange and yellow leaves trees transitioned into twisted trees all bare and grey.

"Now what genius." Bridget has her hands on her hips. "How are we supposed to get there if we can't even walk in the mud.

Jamie screwed his face up in concentration. "Give me a minute I'll come up with something."

Silvia looked around, the campus had opened up for some kid friendly trick or treating. The little shops that decorated the streets had opened up and were brightly lit handing out candy to little boys and girls dressed up it costumes.

Where they were standing a few feet away there was a hay ride station. Little kids were handing the driver tickets and getting on. The sign said A Hay Ride Through Beverly, Over The Hills And Through The Woods. "Hey Jamie look." Silvia got his attention.

Jamie looked over a smile broke out of his face. "You're not seriously considering this are you." Bridget asked in an exasperated voice.

"It's a sign Bridget." He grabbed her hand and dragged her over to the ticket booth. Brandon and Silvia followed. They waited in line for their turn and handed the man their tickets. He  gave them a confused look but accepted them and they squeezed into the too small tractor trailer.

They were sitting in the middle of a group of kids who at most were only about 8. One girl dressed as a witch told them they were too old and a little boy dressed as a fireman sneezed and used Brandon's cape as a tissue. "I hate this." He grumbled.

"Oh come on." Jamie as usual was trying to make the best of things. "It's not all bad."
Bridget rolled her eyes. "We've got crisp air, nice scenery, and a ride." He smiles at them all who in return frowned back. "It's kind of romantic." He nudged and wiggled his eyebrows at Bridget trying to get her to smile.

A little girl who was about 6 wearing a Cinderella costume was staring straight at Jamie. He saw her and smiled politely. "I love your costume you look very pretty." Bridget smiled softly at his interactions with the girl.

"You look ugly." The little girl blurted out. Jamie was still smiling in a shocked state, mouth hanging open. Brandon started laughing hard, doubling over. Bridget looked away not wanting Jamie to see how red she was getting from trying not to laugh. Silvia laughed too, just as hard as Brandon.

"Alright how the hell do I get off this damn ride."

They drove for a couple minutes more Jamie was now sulking but the rest of them were in a rather good mood. Then they began to slow down in the middle of the woods. The man on the tractor began to tell them of the history of the woods, like Jamie's tale of vampires but more kiddy friendly.

"Psst." Jamie whispered to get their attention. Silvia and Brandon's heads snapped up. Jamie jabbed his head behind them and they turned to see a cobbled path that lead further into the darkness of the woods. The cart was slow enough for them to jump out and they got the message. Brandon jumped first and landed safely, Silvia next then Jamie and Bridget.

Once they were all out the began their descent down the road. The big woods at night were as terrifying as they were in stories even without any lurking vampires. They all huddled close together not wanting to stray too far away from the narrow path. After a while Bridget broke the silence. "So you even know where this path leads?"

"In all honestly no. I just needed to get away from that child."

"Jamie!" Bridget pulled away from him. "You're telling me we've been wondering for God knows how long down some random path in the woods. Do you even know if it ends up anywhere?"

Jamie scratched his head, messing up his slicked back hair. "Well I mean maybe?"

"Maybe?"

"It looks like the path my brother described."

"You are unbelievable."

"Look I'm sure it lead someone where they wouldn't have a path leading to nothing and Brandon! Will you get off me!" Brandon was practically holding onto Jamie from behind using him as human shield.

Bridget and Jamie continued to bicker as they walked down the path. Brandon every once in a while would turn around to make sure Silvia was still there. As she walked she kicked a pebble every step until she kicked it too hard and it feel off the path. She went to go get it but it was as if something was stopping her, she felt as if something or someone was starting at her. She looked around nervously before jogging to keep up with the group.

"I can't believe I believed your story about the vampire house." Bridget huffed.

"I know you're mad right now but you believed my story?" Jamie had a hint of a smile on his face.

"That's not the point!" They went back to arguing but this time they stopped to do it. Brandon was saying the should turn back and see if they could catch up to the tractor ride.

Silvia felt herself drawn to whatever lay ahead of them. She kept walking down the path, an invisible forth pulling her forward. She pushed past low hanging branches to where the cobblestone turned into a smooth paved path. For a moment she topped to appreciate what she had found. There was a large clearing of trees twisted almost like gates a couple feet ahead. The branches interwove with one another creating what seemed to be gates and patterns blocking the path. Entranced, Silvia walked forward holding out her hand, her heels clicking on the path. She touched the twisted oak and if it was like an unlatched door they swung apart.

Silvia watched the fog as it seemed to clear along with the branches. The path continued further down for a mile or so but at the end of it there seemed to be a house. But not the little house Jamie had described in this story. A manor easily the size of a castle towering high into the night sky and stretching long and wide. It seemed like a page out of an illustrated book.

Silvia turned back to her bickering friends. "Look." They all followed her gaze and they fell into silence.

It's real." Jamie whispered with a child like smile on his face.

"It's real?" Bridget and Brandon asked in disbelief.