The forest

Chapter 7

What the heck was I thinking saying yes to this stupid plan. Now I'm stuck going into a creepy forest with someone I just met. This is just going to be a ball of fun.

Yes I know I could've said no and avoided this whole situation all together, and I know that maybe in some universe I was probably able to convince Eric to abandon ship before we hit the rapids. But I didn't here, and now I'm going to regret it.

I'm currently on my way to the evil forest walking through town on the quickest route. Eric isn't totally insane for thinking we shouldn't go in the dark, strange things happen when the light is drained out from every inch of a place. Well I thought that maybe horror movies are based off of some truth and after watching Annabel I'm absolutely terrified of dolls. So if I'm correct, waking through a forest at night could get you mauled by a werewolf, or killed by a vampire. I think the daylights is the better option by far.

The forest is much bigger then I remember it being. I was only a toddler when my parents brought me here to the park right next to it. But it's just so big. It's very intimidating standing in front of it in anticipation of actually going into it. I just hope Eric gets here soon so we can get this over with.

" Heyyyyy you actually came!" I hear him shout from behind me.

"Yep." I reply turning around. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

We walk slowly into the woods excitement and fear bubbling up inside of us. What we may find in this strange place? I don't know the beginning of strange and unusual creatures that roam the land, or the different kinds of poisonous plants that lay untouched on the ground.  But what I do know is that we're not going to end up like those kids, we're going to come out.

The trees embrace us as we walk deeper into the thickest part of the woods. Nothing out of the ordinary has picked up my attention so far. The sun shines on the leaves and they glisten in the daylight light as we pass by. I don't feel afraid because I can see clearly where I'm walking and know what's going on around me.

The forest isn't as scary as I thought it would be. The tiny breeze from the wind rustling the branches is calming. In the sense that all of my worries are slowly fading and all I can focus on is the wind. I know Eric is beside me but he's a faint shadow blurring at the edge of my vision. Only a small blur of what he once was and I can't remember why I've come here with him. I'm in a strange daze that's soothingly strange, my surroundings seem to by shifting but staying the same. I know I pass by trees and maybe a small pond from the sound of trickling  water over rocks. But I can't tell where I am when everything is becoming fuzzy and my eyesight can only focus on my path in front of me.

The sound of a twig snapping jolts me out of my dreamy state and I quickly turn around. Eric's standing there observing a broken branch on one of the trees. He spots me looking and motions me to come see.

"It's like they didn't even try to avoid it?" He suggests.

The branch sticks out at an awkward angle downwards. I don't know why this brings an unpleasant feeling in my stomach but I have the urge to look around. To my disappointment I spot several other broken branches directly behind that one. Making a straight line leading somewhere deeper into the forest.

"Eric, look." I mumble pointing to the other broken tree branches.

"Oh..." Is all he says before walking towards the path.

It's probably the worst idea to go that way but we should find out where it leads. At least one of the missing kids went in that direction, leaving an obvious trail behind them. Without Eric noticing the broken branch we would've never found the path, so I guess we better see where it goes. This chance might not come again and we need all the information we can get about this place.

I walk alongside Eric through the thick clusters of branches and sticky mud puddles. Breaking much more branches then expected and making much more noise then anticipated. I flinch every time I hear a twig snap feeling as if someone might hear us. But there's absolutely no one else out here, and the loud noises we're making clear the eerie silence of the forest.

Once we reach the end of the path, well it wasn't technically a path more like a windy maze of trees with one strange broken thing about them. All lined up together to create one long line. I do find it odd that whoever came this way didn't bother to attempt to avoid the branches but instead plowed through them like they weren't even there at all. Who in their right mind would want to walk straight into a branch? I remember when I was a kid and I walked through the woods to either find a lost ball I've thrown in there or to find a rock to paint, and I would avoid all contact with the branches because I thought they were dirty.

I kinda wish I was a little kid again. Doing anything I'd like without a single care in the world. Everything was perfect for me and everyday passed by so quickly. Because now I only wish I would've attempted to remember more. Some of the days passed by like seconds and the years like hours and I can't remember somethings I did or said or saw. I only remember certain moments vaguely and only know of others from my parents telling me stories.

The trees open up to reveal a small clearing and I hear the loud thundering noise of rushing water. I cautiously walk out into the open and,

"Holy cheese and crackers!" I shout

It's a cliff, that's a cliff, what in the friken world happens to those kids! In front of me is this huge ridge dropping down hundreds of feet into a river. There's no where else to go, the forest opens up revealing this dangerous place that I did not know was here. Do those kids jump?! Did the person who broke all of those branches jump?! Why, why, why!

"Eric I don't like it here, I don't want to be here. I didn't even know there was a cliff in this stupid little town! How is that even possible!" I yell. What's going in this place.

He turns around. " If we just stayed a little longer."

"No." I cut him off. "We're leaving right now."

When he doesn't move I walk over and start to pull him by his arm. I don't bother to understand or listen to his protests and continue to pull him the long distance that we came. I don't stop until I yank him out of the forest with me. Then I decide to finally let go.

" What was that for!" He asks

"I didn't like one bit in there." I point towards the trees. "I felt like someone was watching us and hated feeling like you were going to get hurt at any second. Now you're going to go home and so am I we can discuss what we found tomorrow." I tell him

"But.." he starts

"But no, ok we're done looking at clues about this stupid forest. I don't know why those branches were broken and I don't know if I want to find out. So can we just leave it for today?" I ask trying to convince him to let it go.

"Yeah." He answers disappointedly.

The walk home couldn't have been more awkward. Me and Eric part ways once we reach his subdivision and I walk gloomily homewards. Well that couldn't have gone worse. Oh no I can't say that because then something bad would actually happen. It always does in movies.

I reach my door and don't even bother to attempt to stay quiet. Slamming it shut and walking inside grabs my mothers attention from reading her book on the couch. Well at least I'm home.

I don't look at her and walk directly to my room. I just want to get some much needed sleep and worry about everything tomorrow.