The Forest

Chapter Eight

She had to call Maria to bring her the key. She didn`t want any of this in her life.

`Well go on, call them. ` said Caddie trying to see what she was doing on her phone. Fortunately, she couldn`t reach it.

` I sent them a message. They`ll be here soon. ` said Tilia, staring at two identical texts she sent to her friends. She didn`t tell them anything specific, just to come and bring the key. She wondered how they would react to this story.

Half an hour later Maria and Philip came in with smiles on their faces which slowly faded. Tilia got butterflies in her stomach at the very sight of Philip and she tried to swallow them back and make them go away. He was wearing his uniform which was clearly too big for him. Maria on the other hand wore her pink blazer and yellow pants which matched perfectly with her red purse.

` Hey Tili. What is going on? ` asked Maria looking confused when she saw the worst neighbors anyone can have together in her best friend`s apartment.

` Hey. These are Mr. Cross and Mrs. Caddie. `said Tilia, smiling at her and trying to contain the laughter when she saw Maria checking out this old lady in red and that same old lady checking out Maria`s outfit of the day.

` Yes, I know who they are. What exactly are they doing here? `asked Maria.

` Now that`s not very polite, darling, is it?` said Caddie sitting back in her chair and looking satisfied with what she saw.

` They kind of kidnapped me.` said Tilia realizing that the very sentence would make this situation even funnier.

` Kidnapped? Do you want me to call for back up? ` said Philip, reaching for his gun.

` No, no. It`s okay. They just want the key. `said Tilia.

` The key? Why?` asked Maria acting protective as if it was something she cherished more then anything.

` Well it sort of belongs to them and since we… `Tilia started to talk.

` Belongs to them? `Maria asked covering her red purse with her hand.

` Yes, and if you could just give it to them so we can move on and they can go. `Tilia continued.

` Why would you kidnap her? ` asked Philip. He leaned on her dresser and watched Cross carefully, not realizing that Caddie is the dangerous one even though Cross did slam her head twice.

` You see, we thought that she killed the mayor and…`Cross started to explain but he was interrupted by unanimous:

` She didn`t. `

` We have established that already.` said Cross. He was appalled by Maria`s outfit and maybe a little horrified that so many people shared the same space.

` What do they know about the book, or the key? `asked Maria eagerly.

` More than we do.` said Tilia bowing her head down.

Then she started to tell them the story of an ancient town of Linden and the creatures. Cross and Caddie jumped in every time she would make a mistake. Maria and Philip couldn`t believe what she was saying. They opened their eyes in wonder and Tilia realized that the story she was telling didn`t scare them or make them less into the investigating Grimm`s murder but even more so.

` All of this sounds made up. `said Maria out of spite to Caddie who she didn`t like one bit even though their fashion sense was pretty much the same.

` That`s what I said.` said Tilia.

` But it isn`t. You young people - you don`t believe in anything. Well, who am I to correct you? Just give us the key and we`ll be on our way.` said Caddie almost screaming.

` No, how do we know you are not going to tell the police? ` asked Phillip.

` We`re not. Come on, rainbow, give it. ` said Caddie to Maria who looked as offended as ever. She gave her yellow pants a quick look and looked at Tilia.

` Tili?`she called for her.` What about our investigation? ` Maria asked.

` I decided to let it go. Who am I to go around thinking that I was some kind of detective? It`s best to just give up.` said Tilia, tired and sleepy. All she wanted was to crash in her big bed and sleep for as long as she can.

` Okay, if that`s what you want. ` Maria looked angry. She wouldn`t look at Tilia.

` It is. ` Tilia said trying to meet her eyes.

` You have to understand.`

` I don`t, okay?` she yelled.

` Farewell children, off we go, Gabe. Would you like some tea? `said Caddie, putting the key in her pocket and her hand around Cross` arm. They walked out chatting about a key, not seeing the damage they created. A fight between best friends. Philip sat there quietly and tried to say something that could fix it but he couldn`t.

` What were you thinking? ` screamed Maria.

` What? `asked Tilia.

` This is not fair and you know it. `said Maria, closing her purse and standing up.

` Well I`m sorry if I don`t want to risk my life to go have some crazy adventure. ` said Tilia.

` It`s not about that. It`s just… we were both ready to risk our jobs for you. And you just let us down. `said Maria waving her hands until finaly putting them down in disappointment.

` Look, Mar… ` Tilia tried to say something.

` I have to go. ` said Maria and stormed out slamming the door behind her. That sound echoed from one wall to the other. Tilia just stood there unable to find words or the strength to stop her.

` She`ll come around. ` said Philip.

` Do you want some coffee?` asked Tilia. He nodded and she went into the kitchen not caring about the mess or anything else but about just happened. She never had a fight with Maria. Maybe an occasional quarrel about something mundane but not this serious. There was never yelling and screaming. This was new and scary.

And why did she care about the key and the book so much. It didn`t have anything to do with her. Sure she was bored and wanted something like this to happen for a long time but she should have understood. Tilia hated the very same thing she loved. It was not fair.

Steaming coffee and that magical smell made her feel better. She lit a cigarette and threw herself in a chair where Caddie used to sit.

` She doesn`t understand, I hate all this. And to do one more thing that will compromise my peace is just ludicrous. ` she said to Philip, breaking the silence.

` It`s okay, you don`t have to do anything you don`t want. ` he said. ` But isn`t it awesome that your grandma was a witch?` She thought about it for a moment, staring at Caddie`s window now brightly lit. She saw Cross` tall figure walking around slowly. And then she said:

` Kind of. It`s funny you know, all my life I`ve been reading about having an adventure and now that it`s right in front of me, I say no…`

***

Attic in her parent`s house was always full of stuff.

Small stuff, huge stuff, books, furniture, her art, toys, games and even more s**t that no one ever saw since it was brought up there. Most importantly there was a lot of things her grandparents left there or her grandpa left after his wife died. There must be something there that could help her understand better.

She searched and in that search, she got lost in all of her old things.

Her tiny baby outfits, her dolls and toys, her picture books, her early stories, her old bed and sheets and blankets. There was so much of her there that in the end she started contemplating herself and who she was.

By the time she got to her grandparent` s things, she already had to turn the lights on.

She saw all of her grandma`s notebooks and clothes. That woman had style. Her handwriting was elegant and gentle, her jewelry was the same. She couldn`t find a single connection to the messy, all-over-the-place thing she had going on in her notebooks and jewelry box. Not to mention the clothes.

And then, among all of those pretty notebooks and things, she found one note, written in such a hurry and unusual fashion for her grandma that she stopped to actually read it. And it said:

Patty,

I know you are probably angry that I hid the book from you, but that`s how it should be. I feel darkness coming and I needed to protect it. I need to protect my heritage. The book is now sealed and can be open only with my blood. Give my family a chance.

I know you hate me and I hate you too.

Magda.

She didn`t know what to think about it. But she was right about one thing - they really did not like each other.

Later that night she was walking down the Main Street with only her grandma`s note in her mind. What did she mean by `sealed with blood`? Why would she do that?

She was grateful at the same time that her grandma thought about her and her mother and wanted them to carry out her legacy. At the same time she felt embarrassed that she refused to do that.

`Hey Tilia!` he yelled across the street.

` Oh, Ethan… Hi. ` she said, confused to see him and unsure what to do. Last time there was a desk between them and now there was nothing.

` You seem happy to see me.` he said with disappointment in his voice.

` Sorry, it`s just, you know, everything. ` she said, waving the bad thoughts off.

` I get it. This situation is not pretty even for me.` he said. ` Hey, how about that coffee? Wanna go now? ` She smiled to his beautiful face and got lost in his eyes.

` Sure, why not? ` she said.

` So, how are you? ` he asked.

` I`m fine, considering I might get thrown out of the town. You?` she laughed.

` Good. I had a reporter come over this morning. ` he said. That immediately sparked her interest. That could have been Maria.

` Really? ` sheasked ` Yeah, she was nice. Asked some funny questions. ` he said.

` For example? `

`Well she wanted to know what was my grandfather`s favorite room. I mean, what doesn`t that have to…`

So it was her. She wanted to go on on her own. Tilia wondered what could she find there. It would be nice if they had something. And then she remembered that they had a fight and that she said that she didn`t want to investigate anything anymore. Maybe it was a good decision but if it was, why did it feel so wrong? Why didn`t she enjoy it more?

She bowed her head and looked at the wet road beneath he feet, thinking what would have happened if she kept the key.

` Hey, are you okay? ` he asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

` Yeah… yes, I`m fine. ` she said with a smile on her face.

` You always say that. ` he said, touching her cheek with the tips of his fingers. She got shivers and butterflies and crocodiles an every animal there is.

` What? ` she asked, glancing at his big, shiny eyes and falling into them like in an ocean, and swimming deeper and deeper.

` That you`re fine but I can see that you aren`t. ` he said and then he kissed the girl lost in his seas straight on the lips. She closed her eyes and kissed him back, enjoying every touch of his soft lips. His hands slid off her shoulders and wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He tasted like honey and happiness. His skin was gentle and her fingers enjoyed the pool of his cheeks, gliding across his neck and onto his strong, wide shoulders.

She wanted to do this for such a long time.

And as she did it, her animal kingdom disappeared.