WormWood

A Memory Forgotten

It took Malcolm and I a bit before getting on the road. We didn't leave Wormwood until almost mid-day due to him running around and getting last-minute provisions for our trip. He talked for most of our journey to Cedarwood, it was all about himself. He's the most vain man I know. My distaste for Malcolm is well known throughout Wormwood. If I see him in town, I usually ask shop owners or the librarian to hide inside. From my understanding, he’s had half the women of Wormwood in his bed. He once tried his tactics on me and I respectfully declined. Since then, it seems he has an obsession with trying to marry me. He joined the church, started coming into the library and became close with my father. He has my father convinced I should be married off to him because he’d make sure I was always taken care of.

My father, of course, thought it was great that a man showed interest in me, but once my mother fell ill, my father's persistence in getting us together diminished, but he still holds out hope that we’ll marry. I’ve told my father time and time again that I do not wish to marry, I’d rather explore the world and make something of myself, but when you live in a man’s world, that concept of life seems unrealistic.

“We’re here!” I heard Malcolm shout as his horse slowed down. I nudged mine to do the same as we made our way through the crowded town and to the inn. Getting here took longer than I had expected, usually getting to Cedarwood on horse takes about three hours, but for us it took nearly five. There were trees down and we rerouted more than I would’ve liked to. “Let’s get to the inn and settle into our room.” Malcolm said. Clearly, he didn’t know that we wouldn’t be sharing a room. We approached a run-down building labeled The Cedar Inn and quickly dismounted our horses and tied them to the nearest stalls.

When entering the inn I could tell this was a lively town, there were more people in this one business than all of Wormwood. We approached the woman tending the counter, “One room please.” Malcolm said to the women, “Actually,” I interrupted, “We’ll be needing two separate rooms.” I said while smiling at the women. Malcolm looked at me annoyed as I pulled my coin pouch out to pay for my own room. We both thanked the lady as she handed us our individual keys. I bid Malcolm goodnight and headed off to seclude myself. Once in my room, I locked the door and threw myself onto the bed. I was exhausted from travelling and wanted nothing more than to sleep. Plus, I wanted to wake up earlier than Malcolm to go scouting for the witch. I quickly readied myself for bed and, before I knew it, I was out.

“Iris!” I heard shouted, I slowly started to wake and realized I was in the woods. “Hello?” I shouted back confused as to why I woke up here, everything was so dark and the only thing I could make out were the frames of the trees. I stood and began walking, “Iris!” I heard again, I started to follow the voice shouting my name. “Where are you?” I shouted in frustration. A man's voice from behind said, “I’m right here.” I was startled and stumbled back before I could trip or fall any further. I was quickly caught and set up right by a pair of powerful hands. The grip around my waist left too soon and I was craving for this man to touch me once more.

I turned to see a man with no face, it was blacked out. I would’ve been startled if I hadn't felt such a calmness when around him.“Why can’t I see you?” I asked in almost a whisper. “Because you can't remember me.” he said back almost jokingly. He began to walk towards me. I was scared at first and took a step back. I realized I was in no danger when he stopped in his tracks. It was as if he was apologetic for approaching me without warning. I made an advancement and he met me half way. We were only inches apart, he lifted my head ever so lightly to look up at him, the darkness around his face began to fade. Before it fully cleared, a loud crack of thunder woke me. I woke up drenched in sweat and a feeling of being unsatisfied.

An hour had passed, I was not able to fall back to sleep after being awoken. The rain was not letting up and the thunder was back to back. I tossed and turned, unable to forget about my dream. Was what he said true? I couldn't see his face because I did not remember him. The only thing I had forgotten in my entire life was my time in the forest. When I was ten, I wasn't popular among the girls in town. They'd often chase me around and tease me, they called me a freak, all because I liked to hangout with the boys. I was able to relate and get along with boys more than girls.

My father disapproved, but my mother encouraged me to be one of the boys. My mother often told me that growing up was much the same for her. She did her womanly duties but also was capable of doing the same things a man did. It's a miracle that my parents ended up together. They were complete opposites of each other and believed in different things, but no matter what, my father always caved in and gave her what she wanted or agreed with her on controversial topics. After being teased so often, my mother gave me an idea. She said, "Ask them to stop or make them stop." Asking them to stop was no longer an option. I had been doing that for so long, so I decided I would scare them off.

One day when I was headed to the library, they began chasing me once more. I knew it was now or never. I led them to the edge of the forest, "Leave me alone, or I'll get the devil out here to deal with you." I shouted back at them. They stared at me and laughed, "You won't do it!" one girl shouted. "You are the devil." Another yelled out. I had enough at that point, "You'll regret this." I shouted back at them as I stepped into the forest. After that first step in, I can't recall anything that happened. Any time I try to remember, it's like my mind won't let me. I was found by my mother. She found me near the edge of the forest. I was unconscious when she found me. She coddled me in her arms until I awoke and I just remember the tears that streamed like a river down her face. Not long after that she became ill. I always wondered if that day had anything to do with it.