Into the woods

Chapter 1

I was walking all alone feeling so down. I really hate school. This means boring lectures, no friends and bullies. And oh, math too. But mainly bullies. God forbid why there are so many bullies at my school. They are wholesome stupid. I really didn't get to see their point in bullying. I mean, is hurting others really fun for them? Stupid isn't it?

I got to see the outside of our house. It's a white exterior medium size bungalow house with big flowery garden, definitely fitted for me and my dad. My father works at a local vet clinic as attendant. My mother died when I was 5. All I remember about her was that she's lovely and she loved me. She always told me that. Sadly I don't have siblings so basically I'm alone.

As I entered our house, i got to smell my favorite, pork steak and grilled fish. Damn, it always makes me hungry. I immediately went to the dining room.

"Hey pup, how's your day?" Dad asked me without glancing on my way. He's busy making the table. I sat right in front of him.

"The usual" I answered nonchalantly. I grabbed the spoon, ready to dig in.

"Wash your-- holy hell, what happen to face??" He was shocked to see a violet bruise besides my lips.

"Stupid bullies" I stood up to wash my hands.

"Nikolai Anderson, i told you a million times, tell me when you got trouble in school. I'm gonna talk to your disciplinarian tomorrow--"

"Dad please stop, Don't mind them, They're going stop when they're tired. I just don't want to make this a big issue, okay??"

He sighed in defeated. "If you finished this senior years, we're going out of town. I can't tolerate seeing you like that every day." I just nod.

We ate in comfortable silent. He then talked about his work, much on animals. I listened attentively as if I'm interested in animals. I'm no animal lover but I don't hate them. I'm more on plants and flowers. I love nature. It calms me.

After our dinner and clean up, i headed to my room. My room is not big. It speaks mostly of me. Light blue walls, study table, a chair and a mini bookshelf. I have few books; most of them are fictional ones. There is no big bookstore in this town. I still have to travel few miles to purchase books.

I changed my clothes from uniform to dark medium sized pants, blue plain shirt, a hoodie and my favorite pair of shoes. Yup, I'm small guy. That is one of the reasons Jeck and friends (the bullies) likes to pick up on me. I'm smaller for a guy of my age which is 17 years old, both in height and body built. I sneaked out through my window, knowing my dad would kill me if he knows I'm in the woods.

I wandered into the woods to my favorite spot, a mini lake. I won't get lost here, don't worry, I always come here. If life is giving me so much lemon in a day, this lake is definitely the lemonade. This place is part of the other town. Meaning, we lived at the very outskirts of the other town. I know I'm kinda trespassing the place but ever since I lived here, i didn't see any living soul in the woods. The first time I went here, I was so scared. I was only 10 then. My dad and I went to some argument because he went to our school for my bullies and I'm so embarrassed and upset about that. I cried and ran aimlessly until I arrived in the lake. I sat for like an hour, just crying. Then i suddenly realized I was like in the middle in the woods. The very woods that every human beings in our town used to call "the haunted woods". It was rumored to be the place for angry bears, venomous snakes, unsettled spirits and pack of wolves. So I cried again, this time for being stupid. I know, I know, they are so mythical but hey, I'm just a kid and kids believe in everything, real or not. But I tried to calm down and follow the faint marks of my foot step. I put some markings as well in case I needed a runaway again. I amazingly went home safe and the rest is history.