WormWood

Into the Forest

I was still shaking from Malcom's attack on me. I felt repulsed by his actions and I wanted to breakdown and cry at that moment. But I didn't know what could be in here and I needed to remain focused and keep my composure.

Once I finally realized there was no going back, my mind shifted into survival mode. I dropped to the ground and began to empty the satchel I had brought with me. I knew I didn't have all the supplies I needed to be here but, I was sure I had at least a knife, a few snacks from my previous trip to Cedarwood and the book the witch had supplied me with. I pulled the knife out and kept it in hand and began to stuff the rest of my belongings back into my satchel.

The forest felt eerie. I didn't feel a sense of calmness like I thought I would upon entering. I remember reading that Death's flower could be found deep in the forest. I knew this wasn't going to be an easy trip, but if I at least had the supplies I needed, it would make it a bit easier. I planned on grabbing the axe we use to cut wood to bring in here as a better weapon, but having a small knife would mean I'd have to get in close contact with anything that might attack. I hesitated to move forward, scared of what was to come. I had a feeling I would not be the same after this journey.

After a few deep breaths, I began moving my feet. I looked around carefully and tried to keep myself fully alert of any sounds. My uncles had taken me hunting before, much to my father's dismay, but my mother's family did things differently from the rest. They taught women to hunt, track, gather food and everything inbetween so we could survive in moments like these. I looked for prints left on the ground. I wanted to avoid anything that might've been in the area recently. I noted large fresh prints and went the opposite way from them.

I kept this up for what seemed like hours, keeping my eyes at ground level, scouring for prints and Death's Flower. The forest had darkened and it had become even colder than earlier. I wanted to stop and make a fire but I was scared it might attract the creatures in here. I knew I couldn't go on because my vision would become worse, as it became darker. I began looking for cover. My best bet would be to get inside a cave or possibly a tree that was hollowed out. That would at least keep me from enduring the cold wind that was currently whipping throughout the forest.

I used what light was left to search for anything that might get me out of this cold, but my search came to nothing. The wind had at least died down but I was still shivering. I knew my only choice to make it through the night would be to start a fire. I began to set up camp near a stone wall. I wanted to be able to keep my back up against something so nothing could sneak up from behind. I gathered twigs and branches and got a small fire going. I sat up against the cold stone and used my cloak as a blanket. I kept my knife in hand and pulled the book out of my satchel. I used the light of the fire to begin reading. I noticed this wasn't a regular diary but a journal filled with entries about recipes for healing and life in the forest. I gathered this must've been from one of the natives that once inhabited Wormwood, possibly a witch or healer.

I stumbled across an entry that intrigued me, "The forest is changing. Ever since the Prince came back there have been otherworldly creatures showing up." I continued reading. "Giant wolves with red eyes, humanoid creatures that lurk around preying on the children, ghostly women that draw our men in." I felt my heart rate quicken as I read on, "Some even claiming to have seen Beelzebub. I no longer feel safe coming here, the forest that was once my home is filled with monsters. I guess this is my goodbye to the place I once used to laugh and play in. I'm no longer safe, I'm no longer welcomed by the forest. I'll miss it here." I finished reading and immediately put the journal away. I clenched my knife closer and wrapped my cloak tighter around myself as if it would protect me. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep. Why did I have to read that entry?

I ended up falling asleep for a bit. However, I began to awake from a noise coming from the bushes across from me. I fixated my eyes directly on the spot the noise was coming from and slowly got up and readied myself for an attack. A tall creature with white soulless eyes and pale-grey skin made its way though the bushes. It looked right at me and began snarling. I froze for a moment. I had never seen a creature like this before.

It terrified me to my core. I had no idea how I would take on something like that. The creature gave a loud snarl and advanced towards me. I began running around it, nearly missing the long claws it had swiped at me. My satchel and cloak were on the ground where I had been lying. I needed to grab those before taking off, but the problem was the creature was now standing where I once was. It was looking at me again, probably trying to judge my next move just as I was doing the same for it.

The creature advanced towards me again just as I thought I had safely gotten to my things. I felt blood trickling down my arm. It had sliced me with its claw and I suddenly felt my body go numb. "NO NO NO NO!" That is all I kept shouting in my head as my body dropped to the ground paralyzed. I could hear the creature making its way back to me, tears were falling down my face, my vision becoming blurry. "I'm sorry I failed you, mom." Was the last thing I said to myself before blacking out.