The Mystical Forest

Chapter 2

The video can be background noise to the chapter ^^

The frigid air sliced through the cracks in the shacks walls. It had recently rain and the mist was retracted into the forest. The sweet sounds of winter birds could be heard chirping in the trees. It's hard to believe I've been living here for 9 years living on only the mushrooms that grew near the shack and rain water that collected in an old coffee can. For the last 9 years I have sat in this shack for someone I could barely remember, I was wasting away and I was tired of it. Today I am finally going to find someone, anyone, as long as they could talk like the people on the radio. All these years the only thing that kept me sane was the old ham radio that sat in the corner. It's rusted knobs and constant static sound calmed me and the few conversations I could have with people helped me feel normal again.

With a heavy sigh I pull myself up from the cool floor, cracking my stiff joints. Looking at my hands as I pack my few belongings into an old backpack I notice small light colored patches have begun to appear. It's been years since I've looked at myself in the mirror, am I still the same full faced hazel eyed girl or had I changed to have these patched there too? My once caramel skin was now patched and sprinkled with these lighter patches. I found them beautiful, I can't remember ever seeing someone with these patches. Once over the radio when I first noticed them I had asked if anyone knew what it could be. Fear coursed through me at the possibilities. Was it something from the mist? As is a disease that could kill me? But as I asked around the channels a man claiming to be a doctor told me it was most likely Vitiligo*, a condition were the pigment in your skin dies. I found the dusting of color beautiful as it was like I was painted and unique.

As I finished packing I pulled the large hunting coat over my small frame, it almost engulfed my whole person. I debated hooking the radio onto the bag but the thought of the weight hung on my mind. No matter, if push came to shove I could always ditch my stuff and run.
Peaking out from the creaky shack door  the mist was nowhere to be seen. The trees were swaying in a smooth breeze that could cut right through you. The sky was a dreary grey from the previous rainstorm, but the birds still chirped away just beyond the tree line. With a deep breath I left the shack and moved to the tree line. About 3 meters away the looming trees seemed to scream at me, 'stop, go back, this isn't the place for you' . My legs shook in anticipation. Can I really do this? Everyone says to avoid the forests where the mist and creatures lurk. My palms feel clammy as the anxiety of my adventure hits me before it even starts. With a quick shake of my hands to calm my nerves I dive into the forest.
'Maybe if I don't think about it I'll be ok?' My fears came to a halt as I moved deeper into the forest.
The fresh smell of the pines and the vibrant greens of the leaves after the rain enthralled me. The forest was to beautiful to put into words. My limited vocabulary had never made me so mad. The towering trees held flowering vines that seemed to twist and flow endlessly. The canopy of leaves allowed for streams of light to catch the glistening raindrops on the moss covered floor. A road of many types of mushrooms seemed to drag me deeper into the forest. The call of birds and crickets was like a song from a fairytale. Carefully crawling over fallen logs and mossy stones, the road of mushrooms twisted and turned through the forest. The many colors and shapes were like a scene from Alice in wonderland. Some even seemed to glow in the shadows of trees. Before I knew it a song began to play in my head. It was a smooth melody that a mother would sing to a child. The tune seemed to hum in my whole body bringing me peace. No words came to mind on the the soft tune, like a whisper of the wind or a soft touch of a wave.
'Where did this song come from?' It was a fleeting thought as I followed the mushroom path past a steep rocky incline. The rush of the wind blew my dark curly hair into my face, blinding me for a moment as I accidentally inhaled it. Coughing and pulling the hair out of my mouth I tripped on a mossy stone.
'Great now I look like an idiot! And here I was trying to be brave and look cool in the middle of the forest alone' I hugged to myself standing up and dusting off my pants. After inspecting my minds and body I realized that the mushroom path was actually a few meters to my right.

The beauty of nature had captivated  me beyond belief but now I realized the canopy had become thicker and the light no longer streamed in. Not even the birds made noise. Only the rush of the wind in my ears was heard.
When I thought back to the tune that was just in my head nothing comes to mind.
'This doesn't feel good' I groan aloud to myself, 'they even f*cking warned me' I felt like a complete idiot! I let my guard down just because of some pretty plants and singing birds. Looking around there was a small path cut into some brush, it looked like an animal had nested there. Moving closer I took out the radio and tried to find a signal.

'You idiot how do you expect to get a signal surrounded by trees' I slumped back into the brush path and laid my arm across my eyes. With the radio in one hand and my ears listening to ant sign of movement I huffed out a sigh and waited.  It was a good ten minutes before there was slight static though the radio. With a gasp I bolted up, excitedly.

"Hello?! Hello is anyone there?" There was slight desperation in my voice making me cringe slightly. I was meet with only more static. Trying again was only as successful as the first time, the damn static was never so annoying. What was I even expecting? Someone to come get me? Slumping back into the brush I decided to wait just a bit more.

Jolting from the brush, my heart racing at the mist that was slowly creeping in. I must have fallen asleep as the brush now held a star shape from where I had lain sprawled out. I quickly grabbed the bag and clutched the radio to my chest. I began racing through the forest as twigs and branches grabbed and cut me.
"Oh sh*t, oh f*ck" I cursed when I looked back to see the mist crawling through the brush and over the trees. At this point a panic attack had set in, I stumbled through the brush gasping and clutching the radio harder to my chest.
The static of the radio sounded like the emptiness of my head as I blindly moved through the forest. Only when a soft voice, neither masculine or feminine, called over the static did I stumble. Shock shook my system at what it said.

"You'll be okay. It's not the mist you think it's only the beginning. Just follow the mushrooms on your left to the clearing" The voice was like a savior. It forcefully calmed my system and put thoughts back into my head. When the static of the radio began again I moved to the left looking for the mushroom path. This path was smaller then the first but it never went out of sight. The thought of the mist growing closer pushed me to follow.

The path seemed to grow before my eyes crawling through the forest before me and disappearing behind me. The mysteries of the forest and the mist would always scare and enthrall me. Every once in awhile the voice would call out through the radio again banishing my unease and fears with the calmness of their voice.  When the path came to an end at the clearing only emptiness waited for me. The dark over hang of clouds refused to let any light in and the creeping mist stopped at the tree line once again. With a sigh of relief I turned to look at the surrounding area.

"You've got to be f*cking kidding me" I groaned out at a tall lurking shadow engulfed me and the dark prevented me from seeing anything but the shadow.Fear was the only thing to passed through my brain.
~~~~
*Incase anyone was wondering what the skin condition the main character has looks like:

Its like this. I think people should appreciate every look no matter what ♥️ body positivity only >.>

Also for anyone wondering our main character will be getting a name soon \o/ She's just been living alone for so long she has forgotten it along with many things ^^ I hope you all enjoy the story!