The Corruption of Innocence

Chapter 34

The raven sat on the tree took another branch and added it to his collection. There was an unusual glint in his eye and a hop to his step. Below, the rabbits in the burrow emerged without concern and played around the ancient trunk, whilst the fox around the corner sniffed the floor and sensed food. The fat, fluffy creatures were oblivious, something foreign shimmering in their black eyes and reflected in the eyes of the raven above. Then a twig snapped, and the rabbits' ears twitched, and the raven turned its head to the fox prowling towards them.

Suddenly, a strange wind whistled through the trees and the fox stopped in his tracks. The whole forest turned quiet and the raven looked to a strange figure walking through the forest path.

The singing was the sweetest sound the forest had heard since the traumatic screams of the little boy all those years ago. The rabbits, on the sight of the fox, should've run back to safety in the burrows, but an interest came over them and the fox too sat back and waited for the singing alien to arrive.

It was the first time Jack Edgar had stepped foot in Bowood Forest since that day back in 1866. Before, he would never have dreamt of going to the place where he had killed someone. It would have been almost like accepting and reflecting upon what he had done. It used to send shivers down his spine to think of it. But, as he forgave the one who had betrayed him and forgave the world, something light came into his heart and courage came along with it. Now, without feeling the cold and with an acknowledgment of the moon above him, Jack walked down the path where he had sadly and violently slaughtered Henry Smith.

The fox, rabbits and raven watched him as he turned the corner and saw them. The rabbits' stared at him but the fox looked slyly away as the ghost's eyes came to rest on him.

"Go on, get out," it was told. The boy smiled slightly as the red and white creature stalked off, not once looking back at the rabbits. Realising they were safe, the fluffy things hopped back down into their burrow, to their home, their loving mother and father, and the once harrowing thought of a loving family finally made Jack smile.

All was still and quiet after that, or at least for a while. The raven, upon sensing evil, swooped down and landed in front of Jack. There it sat croaking at him, hopping up and down like a mad thing. Seeing the boy squint in confusion, the bird flew up and past him and down the woodland path. It carried on squawking and the wind pushed Jack's soul forward, urging him to follow. Taking a breath, Jack readied himself and followed it into the darkness.

The water lay still and quiet, the moon shining its glory down on to it like a halo. In its reflection, two children walked towards it. One, in front, an all too familiar figure, Philip Device. Behind him, skipping along, was a pretty girl with black hair.

In the north, the raven screamed out madly, flying at great speed towards the direction of the lake. Jack was now running – he knew the sense of danger all too well.

"Come on, let's look at the water, come on."

Jack and the raven emerged from the trees and looked down onto the slope and the lake embedded in the green. Jack suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart and looked to two figures.

No, no, it couldn't be. Was it?
Holy shit, he thought. It was.

It was his friend from another life. It was Philip.

But that wasn't why Jack felt the pain he did. He knew the pain very well. Looking closer, he could see the black waves shimmering in the moonlight. It was. It was Henry Smith.

The boy shivered and covered his ears.

He thought when he forgave it would all be over. Why, then, did he get the bad feeling again like he did when near Henry Smith?