Betrayed

        That day of October 4th was horrible - every time he remembered, uneasiness would wash over him. Graverville was completely covered in fog and the sun cast sharp glances at the poor townspeople. The wind blew faster and faster, causing their discomfort to grow as they glanced at the orphan's figure. His paper white complexion contrasted with the trees. The eighteen year old boy was heading in the direction of the forest. To them, it seemed to be luring him to go further, to see what was hiding inside...

         Singing bits of his favourite song, he didn't think twice about entering the place everybody trembled with fear at the mention of : the forest of lost souls wasn't spooky at all, no, if anything, it had become his trusty companion. Every day, Cyan would go further, exploring every corner. As he was walking down the beaten trail, though, he kept wondering about whom had helped shape it over the years. Could there be another visitor, a mysterious resident of the place he loved? Maybe they were watching over him silently, analysing, planning... The thought made him shudder, but he urged himself to go on. There was nothing waiting for him...

         Cyan sighed in relief as the familiar clearing came into view. He could relax at least. Dawn found him in the same spot, reading a novel. He was too enthralled by the book in his hands that the hours' passing away went unnoticed. Finally, the young man stood up and went towards the path back home, humming happily along an ancient rhythm coming from the swamp nearby. Cold sweat ran over Cyan's brow as realisation hit him : a song wasn't supposed to be coming from there. Curiosity took the better of him and he found himself changing direction to see what was up. He gasped as the figure of a petite girl came in view : she seemed lost in her own world, eyes shut in concentration and maybe despair. Her lips were moving slowly, mouthing the lyrics of a melody ; tears streamed her beautiful face and her dress was tattered. She looked so frail – Cyan couldn't help but feel protective, for she seemed as troubled as he was. She opened her eyes, sensing his presence and tugged nervously at her sleeves : 'W-who are y-y-you? Please...just leave me alone!' He felt his heart break for the poor girl : what had happened to her ? Drawing in closer, Cyan enveloped her in a tight hug, whispering soothing words by her ear as she finally relaxed. They stood like that until the sun went down and the stars made an appearance on the night sky. Only then did he feel her slowly kissing her way up his neck... The moment their lips met, a dreadful feeling came over him but he shut it out and hugged the girl closer against his body, letting the heat consume his every thought and action...

        Pale sunlight was tickling his eyes. Cyan groaned, knowing he still had to buy curtains, for he couldn't take waking up early anymore. As he opened his eyes, a frozen gasp made its way out: the view that met him wasn't the one he expected. Standing up, he fearfully observed how close he had been to drowning in his sleep – he had been napping near a lake. As he stepped over, washing his face, the water felt heavier in his arms and the feeling of dread came over again – this time, he didn't ignore it. Cyan watched his reflection as the skin started peeling off; next came his lips and then darkness – he screamed in agony as he felt his eyeballs roll out of their sockets and fall down next to his feet. Limping away, he tripped and fell to the ground. A cold, haunting voice kept repeating 'Poor foolish boy... They didn't warn you, did they?' and he felt unconsciousness there, waiting for him to finally succumb to it.

        Years later, there he stood : a loving husband, and the father of two beautiful girls. They lived in New York now... Cyan's wife and children knew nothing of what had happened in Graverville and he was glad they didn't – the neverending, grotesque nightmares picturing the evil, old tree nymph using his body for immortality would only haunt him and nobody else.