Into The Forest Of Secrets

Chapter 4

Laxy POV

I walked into my house, welcoming the warm air surrounding me, closing the door behind me. I took off my coat, letting out a sigh, making my way over to the couch. The Elhorn book was still on the table, so I picked it up. I had left it unread after the storm, never picking it up after finishing reading, yet I wondered what the page with the keyhole held.

The page held a keyhole, and writing in a language I didn’t understand, I opened the book to the page where the keyhole once was. My eyes widened; the keyhole was gone! A page that held a few words like it did before, but the keyhole was missing. I flipped through the book, searching for the keyhole; I must have gotten the page wrong. I searched, leading me nowhere; I turned back to the page it should be only to realize the page was ripped off.

I stared at the book, dumbfounded, wondering how the last page could have been ripped from the book. Closing the book, I looked around for Tiger. If an intruder broke in, Tiger would be on high alert; I walked into my room to find him peacefully sleeping. Tiger didn’t look tense; he didn’t flinch when he heard me enter the house. I looked around my room, and nothing touched or moved. My thoughts were a mess.

I walked back to the living room, slumping onto the couch, exhausted from all the events that happened. My eyes felt heavy, yet my mind refused to let me sleep. I turned my attention to the window; a black figure stood there staring at me. A loud shriek left my lips. The black figure had no eyes; a formidable smile had formed. It stood silently staring at me as its head tilted to the side. Fear became a real, living force that crept over me like some hungry beast, immobilizing me, my brain, holding me captive. The figure started moving its lip as if it were trying to speak, but I couldn’t hear anything. As if time has stopped.

I felt Tiger l*****g my face as I snapped out of my state, blinking a few times. My attention turned to the happy cat, a smile formed on my lips, scratching behind his ear. I looked back at the window, and the figure was gone, yet my thoughts were still a mess. I stood up and walked over to the window to look at the forest, the forest was still angry, but I couldn’t help but feel the forest pointed the anger towards me or the book. My eyes widened as my head snapped towards the book. Ever since I got that book, the forest has been nothing but angry. I raced over to the couch, opening the book to the ripped page.

The only page that was ripped out, the keyhole, yet the writing was still there. The Elhorn were connected to the forest; the keyhole had something to do with the forest’s wrath. I looked at the next page, clearing the rest of the dust.

“Τα μυστικά του δάσους είναι μέσα στο κέρατο”

I stared at the words, a language I didn’t understand. This book holds a connection to the forest, lifting my gaze to Tiger, someone who has been to the woods, a guide. The forest let out another thunder; Tiger got on his feet, growling at the forest.

Yet my mind started to wonder how I could enter the forest if I were merely a human. I was defenseless against something that mythical creatures lived in. If the forest remains a secret, mythical creatures will continue to go extinct just like the- my eyes widen in realization, and the Elhorn didn’t just go extinct; the forest has them! The forest was holding these creatures.

I turned my gaze towards the forest. Determination filled my eyes, and I wanted to find out what hides in the woods. I walked to my room, grabbing a bag for supplies. I put the book in the bag just in case I needed it.

“All right, I need food, water, and most likely a weapon,” I started talking to myself.

I walked to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water; a sandwich seemed like the best option for a meal right now; I packed three sandwiches and an apple. I opened drawers looking for a knife to use; I have never faced a mythical creature before, nor have I learned self-defense. The odds are significantly against me, but it was best if I carried a weapon than nothing. I honestly think I’m crazy, a human going to a forest with mythical creatures, with no self-defense, and no idea what she is doing. My mind is the only thing thinking right now telling me to stop, but my heart is deciding against it, and apparently, I am dumb enough to be against it as well. 

I zipped my bag closed before throwing it over my shoulder. There is no going back once I step out of this house, opening the door as I walk out. I called for Tiger to be my guide; he walked out, letting out a big yawn. He started towards the forest as I followed him. The closer I got to the forest, the more weight I felt on my shoulders. It felt suffocating; I was afraid. I have never been outside the comfort of my home other than going to Aiden’s house. On the path leading to the forest, the once blooming flowers were now dead from the storm.

I looked at the forest, trees that could reach the skin, and the void deep in the forest, nothing but darkness. What I didn’t know was that my life is about to change when I enter the forest. 

I turned my gaze to Tiger, who was excited to enter the forest. “Well, it's just you and me, buddy” I reached over, patting his head.

Tiger looked at me with wide bright eyes, and he was happy and couldn’t wait any longer. I looked back at the forest. There is no turning back now. I took a step into the forest to start my adventure.