The Forest (Complete Unedited)

The Forest Chapter 30

AIDEN

It's nice sitting next to Alice outside the hospital. I lean back against the tree. I feel so free, I have one hand around Alice and one on the tree roots. This oak tree feels like a friend unlike the ancient forest guardians. They are family, like wise grandparents. I chat easily with this tree, it shows me all of the images it remembered over the last few days. The spirits of the people that pass by, and things that happened that were interesting. One particular spirit stood out from the rest. The tree found it very similar to the Rowan trees. You could say it found this funny.

It would be interesting to meet this person. As he went into the hospital before we came and had already left I decided to have a quick skim over the minds nearby. I spot the man from before, I'm happy he's locked up now. Alice should be safe from him. I delve a bit deeper and find his intention to hurt her whole family. I'm sorry to say I got a bit angry and acted on impulse. I regretted it after, just because of his bad intentions I shouldn't hurt him. I've pulled back just in time. I apologise to my friend for using it for this purpose.

I'm surprised by it's reaction. It is amazed by what I can do, even when I'd done something similar when we just met. The trees can see all these things but they are unable to do anything about it. It really looked up to the ancient trees who can control animals to a limited extent. It's happy to help me, and thankful for what I've done to help it. I check on the man to make sure I've done no permanent damage. I'm relieved, I don't want to become like him.

Alice waited patiently for me, she had important things to say. As I listen I focus on her memory. I see the spirit's viewpoint layered under the dream. I can't see the energy of the other people in the dream, only that of this spirit. It would help to know who the other two people were.

When Alice talks about my hair getting cut, her mind says so much more. I didn't realise but I can hear a lot more now that we are close. My wife tries to hide how happy she is with the ribbon in my hair but I easily spot the thought. In the beginning I could only share my thoughts and hear her spoken voice, I had gained a lot more power since I'd left my comfortable prison.

I can feel how much she loves me, I relax now that I realise what she said to that doctor earlier wasn't a joke. The feeling of being loved is nice. The feeling is amplified by my link with the tree. I can suddenly see even more. My view spreads out covering the hospital and over a few miles I can see isolated clumps of trees.

My view shrinks again when I recognize that Matt is driving towards us. He reveals more than he realizes. He regrets missing his chance with Alice, but he has given up already. He has decided to be a good friend. In a deeper thought he thinks about a story told by his grandmother. I suddenly link the pieces together. He must be the great grandson of the girl I'd helped. My view of him changes instantly.

Alice is surprised that I want to share my secret with him. It's fine, she will come to understand. But I'll still keep my eye on him. I'll not give him the chance of stealing her away.

We get to go back in Matt's car, I'm ok with it now. Sometimes it goes a bit fast but I need to get used to how things are. When I first rode in my uncle's cart it had also seemed fast and dangerous.

The dinner Matt had made on the first day had a lot of meat, now it was all vegetables. I was finding it difficult to eat meat, he had noticed and made all this. Matt's food was delicious, but it made me feel bad. I should be providing for my wife.

When we went to bed I just wanted to hold Alice tightly. We sleep early.

In the morning we were both up early too. I wanted to help too, so Alice helped me get ready. My leg only aches a little bit now so I don't need the medicine anymore. I would like to take a look back in my forest. The hospital tree is not strong enough to look at medicine. I laugh, that's a bit funny.