Light of the Unexpected Adventure

Chapter 10 Should I Go?

Gabriella's POV

I hear that same sound again, but this time I can hear the pain and agony streaming through the trees, that sound alone is automatically pulling at my heart strings, making me instantly ache to wander in and possibly help. The pull deep within me is like some sort of rope that I cannot see but is somehow tied to me, and I am being pulled into that place without even trying to enter myself. I have a calling within my heart saying I have to go in. Why would this place be calling me if it wasn't meant for me to go in and help? Not everything in this world is a trap and my heart is telling me just that. It is saying to follow the sound and help. Who am I to argue with myself? I want to go in. No, I think I need to go in.

I take one step closer to the edge of the forest as my friends start to panic behind me. "No Gabby.. don't.. You don't know what could be in there." Merida declares as Grace states, "You don't know what could happen to you if you go into that timeless place." I shake my head as Victoria states, "We cannot go into there behind you, you would be alone if you went in. Please think of what repercussions could occur from your actions. We cannot get you help without getting ourselves in trouble as well. That could be some sort of trap." She states with panic.

"I have this feeling.. Inside of me.. It's telling me to go in.. I cannot explain what it means or what this could do to me.. All I know is that I feel the need to go in and help." I say as Victoria spats back at me. "How would you help? You don't know how to do anything that could help someone hurt, you are not a medicine woman, witch or anything like that." I nod my head understanding their worry. "I know that, but I cannot leave whoever is hurt in there alone. What if it was you in there, begging for just one person to be there to help you? Wouldn't you want someone to come to your aid? I know I would, so I can't, with all good consciousness, leave whoever is in there alone." I say with all the strength I have mustered up.

"Fine, do what you want.. But we're going back before we get in trouble.. We won't be roped into entertaining those thoughts of that horrid place with you." Grace states with anger and impatience in her tone, so I nod at her because I never asked for that either. "I understand. I really do. You can go." I reply with all the understanding that I can project to them, just in hopes they won't blame themselves for my actions. I watch as Grace instantly nods with Merida following right behind her, but Victoria looks worried and questioning which way to go.

"It's ok Vic.. go with them and I will come talk to you in our room once I get back." I instruct her to do this, just to make the decision easier for her to leave. So she won't hate her decisions she made because I made it for her. "What.. What should I say to Mother Ann? She will be furious to find you not there." She squeaks this question out nervously as I shake my head. "Tell her you don't know of my whereabouts.. That I stormed off with anger and that's all you saw of me." I state as she nods slowly as if she is not convinced, but she has no other choice as of right now.

"Please don't worry.. Everything will be as right as the rain.. You know me, I am too stubborn to be taken out like this.. I will just wander in for a minute then come right back. I just need to see what needs helps, if anything needs help. I might be hearing things and if so, then I will be right behind you. So try your best not to worry yourself with what I do, I will be fine my friends." I declare before watching them nervously nod, as if they are trying to believe me but still having a hard time doing so.

I notice as Victoria looks back and forth between us before she runs over to me to wrap me up in a suffocating embrace. "Please be careful, I don't want anything bad to happen to you, I love you sis." she whispers into my ear as squeeze her just as tight before responding. "I love you too and will see you soon." She reluctantly lets me go before turning to walk away. I made sure that they stayed safe as I watched them exit the area through the tree. Every last one of them mare out of my sights before I turned back to look into the darkness, only letting the indecision beat in my mind.

I know I shouldn't go in there for so many reasons, but I cannot leave without regretting it wholeheartedly, wondering about 'what if I would have went in' until my last days. I know that I am a better person than that, and I don't know if I could live with myself if I didn't at least try to help. I lean in, still scared to cross that threshold. That deep and dark forest is a place none of us have been to and for good reasoning, so it's terrifying to even consider going into there. So maybe I need a convincing reason as to why I should step into there. Maybe another yell again to confirm the need for my help. Something to show me that I am not wrong or idiotic about this idea.

So I strain my ears to try to figure out what may be out there or what may be happening in the depths of the forest, but all that is heard in the distance, just between the gusts of wind and the leaves fluttering, is just pure and utter silence. I hold my breath just wondering if I am being too loud to hear anything, just hoping my anxiousness is what is making it so I can't hear it again. So this time I strained my ears again, just hoping for anything to erupt within the darkness to tell me if I should step forward or back.

Only silence consumes the area, feeling heavier the longer I sit in it, causing me to instantly huff out. I am feeling idiotic for even staying for probably no good reason. I am going to be in trouble for being late already just to find out it is for nothing and that I just wanted something to need me to feel useful... right? I was probably just hearing things and wanting a reason to stay away, but now that there is nothing here, I immediately regret this.

I let out my deep breath while shaking my head at the darkness that seems to have nothing but deafening silence seeping through its branches. The leaves cannot even be heard as I watch one then another slowly drift from the branch and to the ground. I turned around faced towards the large brick wall, and as I take a step forward, like clockwork when my foot is placed on the dirt, I heard another groan, but this time followed by a squeak of pain. I heard it clearly this time, shooting through the darkness and straight to my ears.

I turned to face the darkness as I feel my heart picking up pace just at the idea of going in there. But I know I have to, or I would never forgive myself. "I really hope I don't regret this." I say under my breath, using all the strength I have built up within myself to take that first step. My foot placed in front of me seems like something small but for me in this moment makes me feel strong but that strength is hand in hand with fear. I know that I need to fight that terror before it takes over, making me immobile and useless with fear.

I nod to myself, stepping forward a couple more times before the momentum kicks in and I am quickly walking through the trees, not knowing where I am going and with no candle or torch to light my way, which scares me even more. Especially since the further into the trees I get, the less I can see. I automatically start following the sounds of pain that keep coming straight for my ears, as if they are calling to me specifically. My arms are extended out, bracing myself as much as I can for anything in front of me, just to lead myself through the greenery as best as I can.

My eyes cannot detect a thing, but my feet and hands can see what I cannot. I feel the soft but still damp dirt under my feet, the smell of the leaves and wet soil in my nostrils along with the leaves and branches caressing over my extended limbs. This helps me to direct where I am going, but it cannot tell me about the things that I cannot smell or feel. So, I trip and stumble here and there on something that my feet can't help but to get intertwined within, maybe a weed or root. I pull my feet, getting them unwrapped before continuing on. I keep going until I trip, falling forward and into a tree, catching myself on the gripping bark as the panic starts to set in.

Breathing heavily, I instinctively took in the strong dirt and mossy scent, trying to help myself calm, even though not being able to see a thing is starting to get to my mind. This makes everything so much harder, frustrating really, but there is nothing that I can do about it. My head turns back and forth, continuing to look all around as if I am supposed to see something. But who am I kidding? There is nothing to see, at least that my eyes can make out from where I stand. I push myself off of the tree as my arms stiffen, still being straight out while drifting all around me as I hear another groan but much closer this time. I get excited but terrified all in the same breath.

I keep reaching around until my hand hits bark, I squeak out, being startled by this discovery since I thought this is where the pained tones were singing from. Gently reaching out again, I use my palms to feel all around the tree, using it to guide me as I walked around it before I heard the sounds getting louder, showing how much closer I am to whatever needs help. A part of me wants to yell out at whatever it is.. But what if it's something evil that could ultimately get me killed? That fear rings strong in my head, not wavering for a moment as I continue to inch closer until I see something glowing, but only slightly.

That light is directly where the sounds seem to be coming from, so it is easy to assume that whatever needs help has the light.. So with this realization, it is hard not to run full speed for the little bit of light in this incredibly dark place. But I need to think about this, so I don't hurt myself because what help could I possibly be if I, in return, hurt myself before I can even help? Not much of a savior in that light.. I'm just trying to help.. Nothing more.. I take a weary step forward as another groan emerges, sounding deep as if it's coming from so much anger, maybe pain.

I freeze in place, wanting to turn around after that sound, but for whatever reason I can't seem to turn around no matter how terrified I am in this moment. I can feel my hands trembling, with my breath wavering as my heart is beating out of my chest as if it is a drum. But there is that same pull as before, it's pulling from within me and is telling me to keep going towards whatever is hurt, but I am even more fearful than before. I swallow the lump in my throat, as I keep going forward until whimpering is heard as I finally get the guts to say something.

"Hello? Is someone there? Are you hurt? Do you need help? I came in here to help, just tell me what you need." I ask with absolutely no confidence in my voice as it shakes coming from my lips. "Yes.. I am.. please... help.. ugh!" this woman whom sounds aged, groans out even louder in pain, as if talking has put her through even worse pain. I feel bad because I'm the one who caused this direct pain by asking many questions at once. The guilt fills me up as I quicken my pace to her, knowing this isn't smart, but something is wrong, and I have to help. I can feel deep within me that I need to do this, whether I understand it or not.