Hail White

Chapter 4

I keep on running, my bare feet sting with every branch, thorn or rock I step on I try to null the pain, hundred of feelings and thoughts running through my mind. Desperately trying to get away from the place I once called home. My lungs are burning, and I need to stop to take a breath, bad idea this is when my surroundings take shape. The forest loomed before me, - its twisted trees like skeletal fingers reaching towards the sky. The air was heavy with an eerie, unnatural silence, as if the very trees themselves were watching and waiting. The moon filtering through. The trees seemed to lean in, their branches tangling together to form a canopy of darkness, filtering out most of the light casting shadows that dance across the forest floor, like malevolent spirits lurking just out of sight. The wind whispered an unsettling melody, its sighs and moans echoing through the trees like a chorus of restless spirits.

A sense of foreboding hung over the forest, a feeling that something ancient and evil lurked just beneath the surface. The trees seemed to exude a malignant presence, as if they had witnessed unspeakable horrors and were determined to keep their secrets buried.

Despite the sense of danger, the forest seemed to exert a twisted allure, drawing the brave and the foolhardy deeper into its depths. I wasn’t neither of those but had no choice and keep on going until it ends, or it kills me. I got a feeling that those who dared to enter the forest were forever changed by the experience, their souls scarred by the darkness that lurked within. As the sight settled in, so did the dread and fear, and the little bravery I felt when I first set foot in this place left me.

I started running again sure I needed to get out of here, dried branches ripped my already torn skirt I felt I could go faster than I usually would my sight was becoming clearer as time went by, I could hear even the faintest of the sounds. Everything adding to my panic of not knowing what laid in the shadows or what or who could be chasing me, that’s when the tears started rolling fogging my eyes, but I didn’t slow down. Not until my foot got caught in a root and I was sent tumbling down a small hill, I could feel my body start to fill with cuts and bruises until my fall was abruptly stopped by one big boulder. As I’m trying to sit up I feel something hot and sticky run down my head and neck and my vision starts to blur. I try to keep my consciousness but I fail to get my mind alert and drift of to the darkness for the second time in one night.

I don’t know how long I’ve laid here but it’s almost noon, the sun is shining high above, and my body feels sore all over. I touch my head looking for the injury but find it completely healed, dried blood covers the area, and I search the rest of my body looking for the cuts only to find none, some very small bruises, that I assume were really bad ones.

The forest doesn’t look that menacing anymore it’s dried and dead and still, but it’s not trying to swallow me anymore. I can hear a river running somewhere and follow my enhanced hearing to it. I sit down in its bank and wash my self of all the dried blood from my body and wash what I have left of clothes. The skirt is not a skirt anymore, so I rip off all the pieces that are hanging and at the end it reaches mid thigh, better than nothing. With all the fabric I make my self some bandages for my feet and hands and tie up what’s left of my shirt.

I need to get to the other side of the river, walking down its edge I look for the thinnest part. I walk a few feet backwards “here goes nothing” I take off at a run and jump…

What I didn't prepare for was the landing, my legs give up and I end up drifting a few feet away from the shore. With new scraping and bruising I get up. Since I got to the river the trees and foliage seemed more plumpish and not so dead. I keep on walking towards the sounds of animals in hopes of finding something. After I don’t know how long the sun is starting to set behind me, I come across a clearing.

There in the middle of the clearing was a camping site it was a serene, natural haven, nestled among trees, a soft, emerald-green carpet of grass covered the ground, dotted with colorful wildflowers that swayed gently in the breeze. Scattered across the site were 7 tents, their neutral colors camouflaging to the surroundings. They were sleek and rustic, with worn, canvas exteriors and wooden poles. Outside each tent, there had set up some own personal spaces, with chairs, tables, and all manner of supplies. Some had even constructed makeshift shelters, using tarps and ropes to create cozy, shaded areas.

Nearby, a babbling brook provided a soothing background melody, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sun's warm rays like a shimmering mirror. I could see they had set up fishing rods along the brook's edge, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive trout that darted through its depths.

At the center of the campsite, a large, stone fire pit stood like a beacon, surrounded by a circle of weathered, wooden benches. You could tell here the occupants gathered to share stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy the warm, golden glow of the campfire as the stars began to twinkle overhead. I approached calmly and making as much noise as possible making sure if anyone was here, they could hear me and not think I was trying to steal. I check tent by tent, by the looks of it they haven’t been here for a few days don’t know if they would come back. It’s already late and the moon is making it grand entrance, I take some of the spare bedding and go find some fruits I saw on some of the trees on the other side of the clearing. Light on the camp fire and spread my makeshift bed next to it. After all this running and falling and losing consciousness I’m tired, and it takes me no time to fall asleep.

Two days have gone by, and no one has appeared to claim the camp. I’m starting to feel at home, I’ve fixed the fishing rods and nets and now they are usable and working, I’ve caught some fishes and at least I was able to have a decent meal, not far from here there is a small patch of herbs and spices, and some of the trees around have fruit in them. I have recovered and had some decent rest even though I am awake really early every day.

I guess I will be showering and washing my clothes, found some soap in one of the bags so it will be enough for now. I will have to move on in a few weeks to find some kind of town or something, can’t live on fish and fruits.

As the moon and stars shine in the sky and I’m eating my dinner, some fish and berries, I think of all that happened in three days and how my life changed. At least the way the Evil Queen treated me gave the tools to live on my own. But there are to many questions in my head.

If she did kill my mother?

Would she really kill my father? She claimed she loved him.

All of what she did to me and said to me was always a charade to keep me from fighting back and realizing the truth,

Why does everyone is so scared of her?

And how am I going to avenge them if I am so weak, I need to find the truth and then someone who would take care of her, even though I would gladly do it with my own hands.

I make my self comfortable again in the little cot I made of sticks and the spare sheets, I haven’t touched nothing from the tents in case the owners come back. And fall asleep gazing at the stars that seam do dance in the sky.

The sun is already up when I wake up, I overslept I never do that, when I open my eyes 4 figures are hovering over me.