CHAPTERTEN
1047 Words
Three weeks ago...
Dr Julia Johnson was no stranger to solitude. As an archaeologist specializing in ancient civilizations, she often found herself in remote corners of the world, piecing together fragments of forgotten histories.
This time, her work had brought her to the dense, uncharted woods of the north, where rumors of an ancient antique had lured her with the promise of discovery.
The forest was alive with whispers. Leaves rustled underfoot, and the faint songs of birds filled the air as Julia adjusted her pack and consulted her map. The locals had spoken of this place with reverence, warning her of strange occurrences and vanishing trails. She dismissed the stories as folklore, the kind that often grew around mysterious places.
But something felt different here.
The deeper she ventured, the more the world around her seemed to shift. The trees grew taller and denser, their bark marked with symbols she couldn’t quite decipher. Julia paused to sketch them into her notebook, her fingers brushing over the rough grooves as if the trees themselves were trying to communicate.
She was so engrossed in her work that she didn’t notice the figure watching her from the shadows.
"Interesting, aren’t they?" a deep voice said, startling her. Julia spun around, clutching her notebook to her chest.
The man stood just beyond the reach of the sunlight filtering through the canopy, his presence almost blending with the forest. He was tall and lean, with sharp features softened by a calm smile. His dark hair was tousled, and his clothes, a simple, earth-toned tunic and trousers seemed oddly out of place, like he belonged to another time yet this man looked oddly familiar.
She stared at him, looking at the face she hadn't seen in twenty five long years. Fear overtook her, he was dead.
He couldn't have come back, he was dead.
"AJ?" She called out slowly. Maybe this was his ghost, maybe he had come to haunt her.
"Oh, you have got the wrong person," the man replied, stepping into the light and Julia's fears went away at once.
"Who are you?" She demanded, regaining her composure.
The man stepped even closer, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "My name is Jeffery but you can call me Jeff. I didn’t mean to frighten you."
"You didn’t," she lied. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to see your interest in the markings," Jeffery said, nodding toward the tree. "They’re old. Older than you might think."
Julia narrowed her eyes, curiosity piqued. "And how would you know that?"
The middle aged male hesitated, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Let’s just say I’m familiar with this place."
The woman glanced at the symbols again, then back at him. There was something about this man that didn’t sit right, an air of mystery that both intrigued and unsettled her.
"Are you a historian? A guide?"
"Neither," he said cryptically. "But I can help you, if you’re willing to trust me."
"You're not going to kill me, are you?" She asked skeptically and he laughed.
"If I wanted to, I would have when you were distracted." He replied and she nodded in agreement so she decided to follow him.
Jeffery led her deeper into the forest, to a clearing where a stone altar stood, overgrown with moss. Julia’s awe was palpable as she studied the intricate carvings. Jeffery explained the legends surrounding the grove, of ancient guardians and the connection between the natural and the supernatural and also warning her to forget about the antique.
As they talked, the sun began to set, casting the grove in a warm, golden light. Jeffery leaned against a tree, watching Julia’s focused expression as she sketched.
"You’re passionate about this," he said suddenly.
The female looked up, surprised by the shift in his tone. "I wouldn’t be out here if I wasn’t."
Jeffery smiled. "That’s rare. Most people don’t care about things they can’t see or touch. But you… you’re different."
Julia felt her cheeks warm. "I’m just doing my job."
"No," he said, shaking his head. "You’re doing more than that. You’re trying to understand. And that’s… admirable...?" He looked at her questioningly.
"Julia. My name is Julia."
The woman wasn’t sure how to respond. There was a sincerity in his voice that caught her off guard.
Jeffery straightened, his expression softening. "This might sound strange, but…would you let me show you more of this place? Not as part of your work. Just… for you."
Julia blinked. "Are you asking me out?"
Jeffery chuckled, the sound low and warm. "I suppose I am. Call it a… unique first date?"
She hesitated, her mind racing. He was mysterious, almost too mysterious, but there was something about him that made her want to say yes.
"I don’t even know you," she said finally.
"Then let’s change that," Kael said, his smile widening. "How about we start with dinner? There’s a spot not far from here with the best view of the stars you’ll ever see."
"I have a grown daughter." She quickly added.
"And I have three grown sons," he replied before adding, "I don't see a ring so I'm guessing you're not married, right?"
"I'm not. Three sons and no wife, what's the story?"
"Dead."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that."
"Oh, it's fine. So what do you say?" The man waved his hand around before asking in expectation.
Julia glanced at the altar, then back at Jeffery. Against her better judgment, she found herself smiling. "Alright. But if this turns out to be some elaborate ploy to steal my research, I’m not above using this notebook as a weapon."
He laughed, the sound echoing through the grove. "Noted. I promise, you won’t regret it."
As they walked deeper into the woods, the strange, ancient forest didn’t seem quite so daunting anymore. For the first time in a long while, Julia felt like she was uncovering more than history. She was uncovering possibilities.
How could she have mistaken this fine sweet man for Julia's father?
AJ had been anything but sweet but Jeffery was all different.
Three sons? He must have had a hard time raising them all alone.
Maybe, just maybe, Jeffery could be a potential father for Demetria.
- Writer
