What Lies Behind The Forest

Chapter One

Wake up...

Can you hear me...?

I said, wake up...!

.

.

.

.

.

Where...Where am I...?

   I questioned myself as my eyes flicker.

Everything's...blurry...

   All I was seeing was a blurry bright light sky as I tried to get up. I looked around my surroundings to see a lot of green and brown. I rubbed my eyes as my vision becomes clearer, revealing the forest before my eyes and explaining the amount of green and brown I was seeing.

How did I get here...?

   I couldn't remember how did I end up in a forest. I look around to see where I may have come from but all I saw were no pathways and trees surrounding me. When I stood up, I saw I had a satchel on the ground and picked it up.

I think this is mine...

   I put it around my neck and held onto it, looking inside. There were only just a phone, a wallet and a book, nothing else. I tried to check my phone, it didn't work so no point in using it to call for help. There were no money or ID in the wallet either.

Did I get knocked out and robbed...? Why would anyone do that to a kid...Well not a kid, I mean I'm almost 15...

   I sighed and then looked around again, which then a pathway I didn't see earlier appeared. I don't know how I haven't notice it before. I didn't think I'd miss that if the path is huge.

Did...Did the trees move...?

   I walked down that path slowly and eventually I saw what I thought was impossible. The side of the forest I was at had trees all leafy and green, but the forest I looked at had pine trees and snow on it as well as on the ground.

   I curiously stepped closer, going inside and it was actually very cold. I got out again and felt warmer on the side I was on before. I wondered how was this possible. I thought that I should turn back but the path I was on was gone, as if the forest was telling me to keep on moving forward.

   So I did. I continued on walking into the sudden winter wonderland but felt freezing because my blue sweater was not enough for the cold. I stopped by a snowman which had a white scarf, looking as if it was holding it out to me. I went over confused but hesitantly took the scarf and put it around my neck.

"Um...t-thank you...?" I said to the snowman which didn't reply at all.

   I awkwardly left the snowman alone but I was grateful for the scarf. It matched perfectly with my blue sweater and black shorts. I smiled and walked through the forest hoping to leave or find an exit until I find a patch of white roses growing in the middle of the ground at the end of the path. I was surprised the roses were alive and had not died out.

   Right in the middle of the white roses was a silver rose which shone brightly under the light and was thornless compared to the other ones. I thought it was pretty and tried to pluck it but suddenly was pricked by the thorns that just appeared.

   I held my finger in pain and sucked on it to stop the bleeding. Suddenly some form of a see-through board had appeared, showing me some statistics as if like I was playing or that I was in a video game.

LV 1
HP: 19/20
ATK: 10 
DEF: 10 
MAG: 3 
SPD: 12
Armour: White Scarf
Weapon: –
Skill: –

What the...

"How dare you try to pluck me from the ground!" yelled out a little voice.

   I got frightened and looked around with no clue who had just said that. The board disappeared when I turned around.

"Down here!"

   I looked down to see the silver rose looking up at me with eyes. It was starting to get weird. First I walk into a forest that is somehow winter—having snow all over—and now a talking flower? I must be hallucinating or turning crazy.

"What the hell are you looking at me weirdly for buddy?!"

   I snapped back to where the silver flower was and it had a face, looking at me. It...It was alive?!

"U-Um, excuse me...?"

"You heard me right buddy! What are you doing, trying to pluck me out from the ground–were you planning to kill me?"

"N-No...! I had no clue you were alive...!"

"Geez fine, considering you're human."

"Wh...What are you?"

"You mean who am I, kid."

   I tilt my head, confused. It rolled its eyes and started to explain.

"I'm Rosey, Rosey the Rose. Do you have any idea where you're in for right now kid?"

"Uh, no...Rosey..."

"Well let me explain. Now open up your stats."

"My stats...?"

"That thing you opened up earlier when you pricked your finger, dumbass."

"I opened it o-on accident...! And that's m-mean..."

"Everyone's mean to each other, so who cares? But nevermind, look; try opening your bag for a moment."

   I listened, confused and the board came back again with my stats. All the same again, the rose looked at it. It sighs and shook its head.

"Look at your stats! You're so weak! Aren't you like almost an adult?"

"15. I'm almost 15."

"Anyways, that there are your stats of your health, strength, defense, magic and speed as well as your equipment."

"I have magic...?"

"Didn't you always? Anyways, LV stands for LOVE and your LOVE is very low. I'm able to give you a bit of LOVE if you want."

Does...Does this flower think I'm stupid?

"Uh sure."

   Suddenly everything turned black and we were entirely white. Rosey puts on a very big smile and became nice, which it was not at first.

"LOVE is spread through many different ways and my petals are a form of one! Go ahead and catch them!" Rosey spoke as it threw a few petals in the air and it starts to fall, slowly.

   They were white in colour as well but I knew there was no way this flower is telling the truth so I pretended that I avoided them on accident. Rosey looked annoyed but its expressions changed with a smile.

"Oh dummy, you missed them all! Try again!" It said and threw more petals this time.

   I avoided them all immediately which made Rosey mad that I was doing this on purpose.

"Why are you avoIDING THEM!? I-I MEAN, try again!"

   It threw more than the first two times and I avoided them all until I almost got hit with some sort of stalk or root, whatever it is. I managed to avoid them long enough thanks to the board with the exclamation marks. Is this flower trying to kill me?! Eventually I got caught by the root and it had thorns as well which hurt. I started to bleed as I brought close to the flower.

"I can't believe you thought you could outdo me! W h a t  a n  i d i o t ! " laughed the flower. " I ' l l   m a k e  s u r e   y o u  d i e  a  p a i n f u l  d e a t h ! "

   I close my eyes, getting tired as I continued to bleed. I wait for any sort of impact, knowing I'll be dying now. It did not come. I didn't know why. Shouldn't I be dead by now? I opened up my eyes and then I saw...