chapter six
844 Words
WE HUGGED FOR A bit as grandmum stroked my hair but pulled back as she felt the heat, "Violet, your hair." she rubbed her hand in her dress, "It's burning."
I nodded and sniffed, "I feel sick, my head hurts." I said before tugging at her arm, "Can we go now..please?"
Grandmum stared at my hair unusually long and I felt a tinge of uneasiness, "Grandmum?"
She snapped out of her daze and nodded quickly, "Let's go."
I raised an eyebrow then shrugged, "Okay."
By this time the grey wolf was long gone, and I didn't even realise it until I checked at grandmum's feet, "Where did he go?"
Grandmum shrugged it off, "Somewhere." then she pushed her hands in her dress pockets and began walking a little bit. The quiet soon being filled with her voice, "Violet. What did I tell you about going out here in the woods?" Her voice changed from worry to anger, "The woods are dangerous. You could've been killed."
"Could've." I kicked at a rock and pulled out my cigarettes from my bag.
"And," she glared at me, "You had me worried sick. Distressed. Y'know what's waking up to find you gone? Are you smoking?"
I bit my lip and hid my cigarette behind me, "No." I coughed
Grandmum stared at me and I rolled my eyes, "And.." I continued, "You were already awake, remember?"
Grandmum froze and let out an embarrassed laugh, "Ahh, yes yes I was." She looked around at anything except for me and blushed, "Keep smoking, dear."
My eyes widened and I let out a laugh, "You're supposed to tell me to stop."
Grandmum began to walk away without any care, "Well, you're young. You won't get pains like us oldies." she chuckled.
I dropped the cigarette and stepped on it, not feeling the need to smoke any more. What was up with my grandmother?
Instead of following her, I watched her walk away, she had a limp, which wasn't there before, and that dress she wore -which was florally patterned and orange coloured- was unfamiliar. And I knew her closet well, and she hates the colour orange.
Something in my mind told me this, the person who found me wasn't my grandmother. This person I didn't even know.
"Who are you?" I called out to the stranger that walked out before me, "And why are you acting so weird?"
She stopped and turned around, her smile menacing. "Weird? What are you talking about, dear? Did the heat of your hair get to your brains?"
I shook my head, "Carry me home."
━━━
During our journey back to the cottage, many things were left unsaid and topics were left untouched.
My eyes were alert, never leaving grandmum in case I got lost her again.
The walk, however, besides my fidgety fingers and thumping head, was peaceful. I don't know why my grandmother won't let me out.
But hadn't you learnt your lesson last night? my unconsciousness asked, and I rolled my eyes.
It was a lesson that went unlearned.
The wolves were nowhere to be seen, but I felt eyes all around me, but those eyes on me were my grandmother's.
I kept looking at her to see her immediately look away, pretending to hum and I hugged myself for some sort of protection.
When we made it to the cottage, I immediately barged inside, ready to take a nap, but the cottage felt quiet.
Too quiet.
I mean, the house would be quiet, but something didn't feel right...not at all.
So I started shouting. To get some noise.
Grandmum followed me inside and chuckled, "Dear, why are you shouting? We just got back home. Are you sure you're okay?"
Ignoring her, I made my way to my room and shut the door then locked it. Ignoring her question as she asked me if I wanted some tea.
The cottage felt chilly, and all around me felt ominous. I'm going back.
I'm going back to the woods.
Maybe not today, but I know I'll be going back.
I don't know if this person was my grandmother, or if I'm just hallucinating.
My hair started to burn again, and my head started to spin. Why am I hallucinating?
I felt literal gears turning in my brain as I thought of the earlier accident.
Grandmum said she wasn't awake.
Grandmum said...
"That she wasn't awake..." I whispered to myself as realisation now hit home. It hadn't registered in my brain before, but now...
No. Stop...
What if this is some sort of cancer symptom? That can't be.
Or maybe old age?
I picked at my nails, "If she makes any more mistakes," I got up and rubbed my forehead, "I'd have to keep quiet and act like a fool."
A knock was heard at my door and I rehearsed what I was going to say to this person, that'll make them unknown to my previous hallucinating session. I opened the door and stepped back.
Grandmum gave a warm smile and I felt myself mentally shivered.
"Yes?" I asked softly
"I was asking if you want tea." She looked around nervously and then her eyes locked with mine and she smiled.
I studied her eyes and showed her a smile back, but as I did so, I felt the air shift and I fell backwards into the door frame before blanking out.
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