The Forest (Complete Unedited)

The Forest chapter 13

AIDEN

I feel the sap moving. Spring is coming so I check on her. She breathes slowly. Her body is healthy. I need to see her, so I uncover my eye, blinking to clear my vision.

I expose her face and look at her. She's so pretty! A coil of shining chestnut hair flows across the roots still holding her. Her oval face is so pale from the lack of sunlight. Her skin is smooth and unmarked, just a single scar on her forehead from the accident. Hopefully this should fade, it's not so bad though.

She's much slimmer now so I need to feed her better. I just didn't want her to get hurt in the winter. Because I slept, she didn't get enough care from me. I feel terrible, I'll have to make sure she's fully recovered first. I can't let her out of my protection yet.

Soon I will have to let her go, this makes me sad. I start to grow a larger bubble of wood and branches. I can delay her, she won't leave yet. It's not a cage, I'm protecting her. Taking my time, I grow the smooth wood. It's like the room in my old cottage.

There is a sleeping area and a chair. Though these are alive and connected. The leaves allow a small amount of light to enter. Finally finishing I sense the oaks around me, they are awake.

~Spring has arrived, she must be released.~

~She needs to return to her own forest.~

*I know.*

~Why do you trap her?~

*You are right, I will let her go but she is weak. When she is strong, she can leave.*

They are quiet. Sensing I'm not telling the truth. They withdraw their attention. Focusing on their new spring growth. I gather my courage and slowly stop the sleeping chemicals. I remove all the branches and tubes and lay her gently on the sleeping platform. Now I wait. I am looking only as the trees, my eyes closed. Slowly she stirs.

"Put off the alarm!" She shouts.

A woodpecker is tapping in the distance, she must be waking up. I don't understand what she's saying but she's half asleep. The light her spirit gives out is so bright. She can recover quickly, maybe in days. But I don't want her to go. She's sitting up.

"Hello, is anyone there? Where am I? Is this heaven? Did I die?"

She's standing and touching the wood. She breathes deeply.

"The air is so fresh here! This is amazing! it's a bit dark though."

I respond by moving the leaves.

"Oh did the trees just listen to me?"

She walks around the smooth room. She sits in the chair. I adjust it to fit.

Jumping up, she turns and touches it.

"Wow is this a dream. It seems a bit Disney."

Sitting down she looks around. If I opened my eyes I would see her expression. I shouldn't though. Not without her permission.

"Why am I here? Why do I have scars on my body? Why am I naked!"

Oops I should make her a dress. I will make it as a gift. She will look pretty. Then I could open my eyes.

She starts pulling at the branches, does she want to leave?

"Let me out, I need to wake up!"

No she can't, not yet. She's screaming trying to break her way out. She starts to sway, she's falling. I catch her in quick growing roots. Carefully sitting her back on the chair. She stays, sitting still.