The Day When Darkness falls

The Day when Darkness Falls 5

Wonder of the Woods

                                We both, my mom and I came across a house, a twin house which was half way through the forest and I thought it was somewhere in the middle of that jungle. Even if the vegetation was so dense we did not see any animal throughout it during our walk except that bloodthirsty wolf which attacked us in that god forsaken house. We met an old man who seemed to be decaying out of his own body. He was to be in his 90+ which I guessed out of his dragging walk and crooked back. He led us into a room which was better lighted and was placed deep inside the manor. Warmth swept over me slowly as I sat on the stool which that old man offered us to sit. The hearth at there was burning slowly giving out small bursts at random timings, clearly heard at the silence that prevailed currently in the room. Old man himself broke the silence. He called out to someone in an unclear voice which I cannot understand.

                                I followed the direction where footsteps came from. Someone came running with soft footsteps. It grew up a little on the wooden floor. Out of the shadow came a little figure wearing a native people dress with lot of tribal beads and dead animal teeth around her neck and arms. Old man asked her to give us something to drink. She took the kettle which was hanging above the hearth over the fire and poured something on to two glasses which were like antiques. When she came near me, I had a clear look at her since she was always between me and the fire; silhouette was mostly what I got from her. She was around my age and had really big sparkling blue eyes looked like it was carved out of diamond. Her hair was long for her age. I took a sip at the cup when the old man waved his hands gesturing us to drink. It was some kind of herbal tea. It should have been made from the herbs in the forests. Despite the hunger the tea was soothing to my dry throat and it eased down through my gullet reaching my stomach which eagerly awaited something to prevent it burning in hunger. Mom got my cup too and placed it on the table before us.

                                Old man started speaking to us. He enquired about us. Who were we and what were we doing in there? Mom started explaining the incidents which continuously happened within a span of one year. How my brother died in a bad state and her husband that is my father in a worse state and she started sobbing thinking back as she had no power to cry out loud. Old man told that they two were the only ones who lived there and it was forbidden for outsiders. He did not try to convince her instead he was continuously starring at me. Once I was aware of his stare I could feel a cold pain throbbing me and now travelling through my arm. I understood that he was staring the family ring which I recently obtained after the death of my father. He started speaking in his own groggy voice. He asked what is that and where did I got that from. My mom took over the question and answered him that it was our family ring and it was amongst our family since 300 years. He thought for some time and called Kachina. Yes, Kachina was the name of the girl. She came near him while he took her arm and rose at the firelight to have a better look and it. I was not sure what he was up to…… Few moments ran away in silence. He gestured me to come over to me, I was little scared and hesitant to go and looked out to my mom. She nodded that it was ok to go and she guided me to him. What I saw there was unbelievable!

                                The girl……! She was wearing a same ring as mine. It was nearly the same as for the fact that that it had a blue stone instead of red which I had. Later I found out that it wasn't the only difference between those. There were also differences in the markings. Embossed images of wolves in my ring were engraved in hers' and the engraved image of bats which was in my ring was embossed in hers'. There she stood when I looked directly at her eyes and she looked back at me into my eyes. I did not move my eyes away from hers' nor did I have power to move. They were gleaming as the fire sparkled I could see the same in her eyes. She lowered her eyes with a disappointment in her face which was like I failed to understand what she spoke through her eyes. Old man raised his voice and announced that we can stay there. I cannot believe my ears, he was the same old man who said this place was forbidden for the outsiders. We both felt happy; at least we have a shelter now. I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned back but there was no one….. Again I felt a tap and this time it continued 4 times. I was not sure what was happening…………..

To be continued......