Foggy sunlight by walyir.

The Otherworld

Traci Kenworth

 

 

What was this strange world we’d landed in?

Kay and I stared around the dimly lit, foggy forest, half-expecting a ghost to come out

any minute. The pitter-patter of rain hitting the leaves and us could trigger a military campaign such did is shatter the silence. So many wonderful smells reached out at me, pulled me into their midst. I opened my mouth to a raindrop. Its cold, alien touch surprised me and I shrieked.

            Kay laughed. “Belinda, you’re getting too involved in the game.”

            I hugged myself at the beat of wings somewhere around us, imagining a big, black bird coming to take us to its nest to feed its babe. “It’s just so-weird here. I can’t help it.”

            She giggled. “Fifteen-years-old and you act as though you’re five.”

            I frowned at her. “Can’t you feel it? The forest calling out to us. Wanting to pull us in?”

            She shook her head. “All I know, is we’re playing a game of suggestion and you’re teetering over the edge of oblivion.”

            “No. This is real. I’m not imagining it. It’s-calling us home.”

            “Silly. Forest’s don’t talk. Much less drag unsuspecting victims into its lair.” She turned to go. “Let’s find Simon and the others.”

            I felt rooted to the spot. “I-can’t move.”

            She sighed and came to get my hand, breaking the hold of the woods.

            I felt disoriented. Dizzy.

            On shaky legs, I followed her deeper into the trees.

            She called out for Simon and the others while I listened. To the moan of the trees, the cries of the wildlife, the crinkle of the leaves, and the whistle of the wind. Why couldn’t she hear it? Nature calling out to us? Wanting to bring us back to where it all began?

            Where what all began?

            I trembled.

            What was I saying?

            Had I gotten too caught up in the tale?

            A story of long ago. Of dark nights like this. Creatures. Sacrifices.

            I shuddered. Had they really brought children out here? To appease nature?

            Pine needles scratched me as we continued to walk. The sap of the tree rubbed off on my coat, burning it in its intensity. I saw smoke smoldering where it had touched and screamed. Ahead of me, Kay turned.

            “Oh, Belinda. Quit frightening yourself.”

            “But don’t you see?”

            “What? Beasts following us in the undergrowth, waiting for their chance to snatch us away?”

            Shivering, I glanced around and did see the very things she said.

            “I want to go home, Kay. Right now.”

            “As soon as we find Simon and the others.”

            “But they can be anywhere.”

            “Oh, they’re just ahead. Promise.”

            The heart of the forest branched out before us. I could hear it pumping, waiting, eager for our blood to travel through its veins.

            The crack of branches turned us both toward a huge tree.

            On either side, Simon and two boys and a girl stepped out.

            I breathed a sigh of relief.

            The nightmare was over.

            He smiled at us as he came closer, passing Kay, and coming to stop in front of me. “Simon says: how did you like our little game?”

            “I didn’t,” I mumble.

            He held his belly as he shook with laughter.

            “Silly, the shadows can’t really eat you.” The other children came up behind him, Kay in their midst. Smiles curved their lips. “As keepers of the forest, that’s our job.” He stepped closer. “It just picks clean the remains.”

©Copyright 2010, Dec. 12, tlc.

 

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