Filling The Gap...

Katie

When I first step into the forest it takes a lot for me to not turn back and run inside the house. The trees themselves were giving a dark and scary vibe, fallen leaves covering the entire ground. The mud soft and wet under my shoes when I follow behind William, him looking back every so often. Shivering when the wind blows on my exposed skin around my neck, zipping my coat up completely.

We carry on walking in silence for what seems like hours. Until he stops and holds a branch back for me, the trees getting more closer together.

"We're nearly there."

He tells me quietly. A twig snaps, causing me to jump and move closer to him.

"Relax. It's only a monk jack."

My heart beating so fast that I can hear it even through my eardrums.

"Why did you bury your stuff out here?"

My body starting to shake. I thought I could do this, I thought I was brave and strong enough to deal with this. I feel one of William's hands slowly rest on my back, he waits patiently for me until I slowly nod and release a breath that I had not realized that I had been holding in.

"No one will come this far in here. I can't leave my stuff in the house, someone could find it. There are things in there that are- irreplaceable."

He guides me slowly forward, his hand never leaving my back.

"And the bodies? Who are they?"

Needing to know everything before even thinking about helping him. If there were bodies out here, then I needed to call the police. I can't just walk away.

"They are to be none of your concern."

His voice now being cold with me. The sun slowly starts to go down the later it becomes, turning around his body bumping accidently bumping into mine.

"What if these bodies are the thing stopping you from going? Who are they William?"

I can see the internal fight he is having with himself. Deep down he knows I'm right. He can't hide anymore.

"My grandfather and grandmother, I found them both dead out here. Their bodies completely frozen from the snow, it wasn't long after I had died in the fire that I had found them."

His grandparents. Hating myself right now. He had found them out here dead, not being that much older than me. He really hadn't had an easy life. I don't know why or what possesses me to wrap my arms around him which causes his body to stiffen suddenly.

"I'm sorry William."

His arms remaining at his side. His body not containing the warmth a normal person would have, but his clothes smelling of him. Which was surprisingly nice, being a mixture of vanilla and old spice.