Ghost in The Night

Chapter I. Lost in The Woods Night Falls. I know, it's a pretty weird name for a small, quiet town burrowed faraway deep in the woods, but wait.....it gets even better. This town is totally off-radar, no tourist spots, no events, a perfect place to hide from awfully nosy and persuasive parents who wants you to be a lawyer. But that's not the point and not really the number one reason why I'm lagging behind me a trolley bag full of clothes, a phone with low battery and no sense of direction in the middle of a forest. Before I start off by telling my tale, let me tell you the tale of this town. I only stumbled upon its name when I researched on the public library about the places where criminals can hide and can't possibly be found. The results showed small towns that weren't really visible on the map, any one of those can do, but what really piqued my interest on this place was the news.... Missing girls. No suspects. Now, why would you be attracted to a place where it has a lot of red flags and reeks of danger? The reason why I'm completely lost inside a forest, with parents probably looking for me by now, is because I didn't want to be a lawyer. I want to be an investigator working behind the scene. The female Sherlock Holmes, the Nancy Drew, the smart Velma in Scooby-Doo. Ever since I was little I had a knack for solving mysteries: missing shoes (under my brother's bed), the-who's-behind-this game, who stole my sister's money in school, who's hacking into my brother's account. I was the mystery-solver in our family. Everybody says I was clever, smart. Not the type to be fooled easily. Mom and Dad were always proud whenever a neighbor would come by our house to ask for my help, be it a hacked account or stolen vases (who the heck steals vases?) Anyone can see I wanted to be an investigator but my parents....they wouldn't have any of it! They want me to be a stinking lawyer, in a stinking gray dull suit with a stinking monotone boring life. No offense... I want thrill and action, not papers! "Stupid Mom and Dad who wouldn't listen to me. 'Oh no, Cara, you have to be a lawyer bleh-bleh-bleh.'" I imitated while pulling my trolley bag. My legs are killing me, I've been walking for hours. "Stupid useless phone." "Stupid endless trees!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and heard birds take off from a nearby tree. Oh god, what if there were cannibals here and I just gave them a signal to come at me? I slumped on the dirt, exhausted and tired. I already ate every piece of the biscuit I brought with me, my water bottle is only half empty now, and I was completely, and utterly.....lost. I may not have thought this through. If only Mom and Dad hadn't persisted on sending me to law school, I wouldn't have ran away. It's their fault. Why don't they become a lawyer if they want it so much? Just let me live my life the way I want it! I groaned again and looked around....just more trees, one dirt path, and the sun setting low behind the trees. This isn't good....once the sun's out I'm doomed, I'll never really find my way and I'll be wallowed in complete darkness. Then the wolves will mangle my lost body. "Okay, Cara. Stay calm....we can figure this out." I assured myself loudly, my chest heaving unsteadily. "We gotta think this through. Now....how did the map go again..." When I searched about this Night Falls town, the map only indicated that there was only one path in the woods and just straight on. But I've been walking for hours and not a single soul even crossed my path, it was becoming creepy. "Okay, another option....wild life instincts." I fumbled through my thoughts. "If night comes and I still haven't found the village, what should I do? Turn back...or just keep moving forward?" I bit my finger....what about light? I know how to make fire, Dad taught me that when we went camping but then wouldn't it attract any source of life around me? Like wolves or cannibals? Snakes? I groaned loudly. "Why did I pick a town in the middle of the woods? This is insane!" Then I clamped my mouth shut thinking someone or 'something' might hear me. I screamed on the inside out of frustration. And so, I kept trudging forward with heavy feet. I really didn't have a choice, if I turn back I still would be caught up by the night. The path seemed to stretch, the trees all look the same. Twisty trunks and dark green leaves that seem to turn even more darker as the night approaches. Minutes later of walking, I am being swallowed in darkness, I couldn't see very well by then, and when I look up I see countless stars unlike in the city. My skin would always jump by mere noises, like when I step on a twig or leaves that would rustle nearby. I almost screamed when I heard a frog croak from somewhere. I stopped only for a second to light a fire on a stick I just found and soon I was yielding a torch to my path. Never mind if something sees me, I'd rather have a chance of knowing where to run if I get chased. Sadly, my water bottle was now empty. I downed the whole darn thing after an hour of trying not to drink it. And now, I got nothing. I was even tempted to just leave my bag be because my arm is killing me. My body swayed a little as I walked. "Where....the hell....is it..." "It should be here....somewhere.. " Oh, god, why did I do this? I should've just stayed home, in my cozy bed, drinking hot cocoa instead of running away boldly with no food or water.... Now that I'm in this kind of situation it all seems senseless. I was going to die before I can even start on changing-my-parents'-decision plan. After a few more steps, I gave up for the night and sidled down next to a tree. I released my breath when my back hits the trunk and my eyes closed. Tears started to form and I couldn't help but cry. I'm sure they would've been laughing by now if they saw what kind of situation I'm in. Maybe they're even waiting at home, waiting to see me walk through that door, surrendering and looking defeated. It all seems so silly now. Now, I'm going to die in the middle of the woods and no one would know. Not even my scream can be heard by anyone even if I scream now. I'll just be another missing person before I can go to that village. With all these thoughts, I wasn't able to pull myself from falling asleep, wishing I was already near to that goddamn place. *** I woke up slowly to the rising sun, the rays hitting me in the eye, I squinted. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, my body ached from my sitting position, my stomach is grumbling and I have no biscuit to munch on. There weren't even fruits hanging from any tree I passed. Stretching, I looked around. In daylight, the trees looked less menacing. It didn't look like a forest under the sun, just trees. I sighed....I still have to walk more just so I can reach atleast anywhere. It doesn't have to be that stupid town anymore. If I get to any place at all and see a phone booth, I'll call statight home and ask Mom and Dad to take me home. And yes, I'll agree to their stupid conditions. I'll let them take me to that stinking school. I just want out of here.... With a new plan in mind, I start to march off again under the heat. A few minutes later, my knees were already wobbling when my ears picked a different sound from the usual rustling of trees. I stopped and listened hard. A stream....water...I hear water! I start to look around, listening closely to the sound. It seems near. My thirst led me to run all the way to the sound. I entered the thicket of trees and the sound becomes clearer and louder. Water...water....WATER. A few more steps around towering trees and I found it. A stream below! I slid down clumsily, not a care if I get a scratch on my bare knees. I get near to the stream, saw the clear water and my thirst rallied against my rational thoughts. Before I can even think if the water is clean, I kneeled down, scooped the crystal water in my hands and drank from it. I moaned and scooped some more until my dry throat and empty stomach was satisfied. I pulled my water bottle and put it under the stream to fill it in. "Poor girl....you must've been really thirsty." I gasped and stumbled back from the stream, and looked around and just noticed a woman standing on the other side of the stream. My heart thudded loudly. I didn't see her there when I neared the stream. I didn't see her at all....or maybe I had been too focused on the stream I hadn't noticed her. She has a kind smile, she looked like a woman in her twenties. Petite face, blue eyes, blond hair in a messy bun, wearing a pale blue dress. She's really pretty.... I watched her, stunned by her sudden appearance and disbelief that there's an actual human being in this forest after a whole day of walking. We continued to stare at each other. Me on the ground and her standing on the other side. "I'm sorry if I startled you...." "Oh..." I collected my bearings and stood up. "No, it's okay. I'm just...really jumpy." She smiled more. "You're not from around here, are you?" "You can tell?" I asked. She chuckled and walked ahead of the stream. "A bit. You look like a lost lamb." I started to walk too across from her after pocketing my bottle. "And you...you're from around here?" "You can say that." "Great!" I exclaimed, hope surged in me. "Then do you know where the Night Falls town is?" Her steps stopped, and she looked at me. "Why? Do you have any business there?" I tried to shrug, like it was no big deal. "Nothing, just you know....sight-seeing around this place." I waved around. She continues to walk, her steps more careful and slow. "Night Falls is a dodgy place....are you sure you yoy want to go looking for a place like that?" "So, you know its reputation too, huh?" I asked. "Are you from there?" She paused before answering. "Not anymore." "Oh, are there other towns nearby too?" She shakes her head. As she walks her dress sways by her legs. I noticed they were a bit dirty down the edges. She was barefooted too. "Oh, okay..." I deliberated before asking. "Can you show me the way?" "I can." "Really? Thank you so much---" "But are you sure you want to get involved with that place?" she stops walking again and looked at me, her face turned seriously grim. "There's still a chance to walk away." "I'm sure I can take care of myself, ma'am." I answered, not flinching from her stare. She shakes her head. "You don't know what you're getting into..." "If you're talking about all the missing girls and the killer on the loose, I'm in on it. Believe me....I know perfectly well what I'm getting into." I say with conviction. "That's where you're wrong...you don't know half of it." My curiosity got stronger. "Then maybe you can tell me." "All I can tell you is run away as fast as you can, don't even try to enter that town's gate.....it'll be too late once you set foot inside that place..." "And what you don't understand is the more you sell me that mysterious warning, the more I buy into it.....the curioser I get, the more I'll be determined to see that town with my own eyes. I have to see it." "Your curiosity can get you killed." she gave me a side-ways glance. I can't stop looking at her eyes. Dull blue, but they tell a story. My curiosity burned inside. "I'm not afraid." I say bravely. Then I just had to ask. "Why are you walking bare-footed?" She looks at her dirty feet in a daze. "I lost them..." Upon closer look, she really did look dirty. Her dress was actually torn at the edge, frayed. Her messy bun had a dry leaf sticking to it. There was dirt on the side of her face. And under her fingernails, there were dirt. She looked like she'd been playing on the ground or something. She was silent now. I introduced myself just to fill in the awkward silence. "I'm Cara, by the way. What's your name?" "Emilia." "So...Emilia...how far is this Night Falls town?" "Not far now..." "Where do you live now?" She didn't answer and just continued to walk. There wasn't a smile on her face anymore. "Oh...sorry. That must've been a nosy question, you don't have to answer that." "Do you really want to know where I live right now..." I looked at her and I mean, really looked at her. My steps slowed. There's something off about her. Now that her smile is gone, she looked a bit sinister. Scary even. I started doubting my choice of following a stranger in the middle of the woods. I gulped. "Where?" Then she smiled. To my astonishment, she stepped down the stream and slowly walked towards me, her dress dipping down the water. My feet are glued to the dirt even when my brain is sending me a signal to run from the nearing woman. Finally, she reaches me and stands in front of me, she was a a head taller. Closer, she looked even more untidy. I gasped when I zoned in on her face I realized it wasn't really dirt on her side of her face. It was dried blood. I wanted to step back but I feel so immobilized from the sudden closeness. She leaned down and whispered. "There..." "Huh?" I looked at her and she smiled. With her finger, she pointed on the ground. "Down there..." This time, I really took a step back. My hand shook from my sides. "I live down there." I didn't wait for her to say another word. I bolted right out of there. I kept running, never looking back. She's crazy, she doesn't know what she's talking about, or she's just giving you the spooks. Never talk to strangers in the middle of nowhere. I looked back and saw she wasn't following me, I was now very far from the stream, in the middle of the freaking forest. Panting, I dropped on the ground from wobbling knees. I could still hear her whisper in my ear. "Down there." I shivered uncontrollably. She's just a crazy lady in the middle of the woods. Maybe someone else would help her, unless she doesn't scare the s**t out of them first. Heaving a few more times, I stood up. Then started walking back on the path I trekked. But that woman must've been in her right mind after all because a few minutes later, I stumbled upon a giant wooden sign above. NIGHT FALLS DO NOT ENTER There was a big red X across the town's name. The paint was so red, it looked like it was just freshly-painted. But instead of getting scared of the warning, I couldn't help but scream hallelujah in my mind. Finally, I found it! "Woo-hoo! Thank you crazy Emilia wherever you are! You're freakishly creepy but THANK YOU!" I screamed at the wind, I could've sent her a flying kiss if I could. I was like John Cusack in the movie 1408. The more I was warned the more I bit into it. I walked past the sign and the town loomed in front of me. My steps begin to fasten, couldn't wait to be met by civilization after 24 hours without it in the forest. "Thank god!" I exclaimed. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" My voice must've been loud because I can see people from inside glancing at me. I waved my hands in the air. "Hey people!" Then they panicked. My steps slowed as I saw them taking off to the side of the gate. I even heard people shouting. "Hey...wait a minute.." I walked faster and saw what they were doing. The gates were being pushed to close. What the hell? I started to run faster, waving my hands in the air to get their attention. "Hey, stop! Don't close it, please!" They weren't listening, the gates are about to completely close. "Please!" I shouted running faster. "I mean no harm!" I reached the gate but it has been completely closed. I thumped my fists on the wooden gigantic doors. "Let me in please!" "Visitors are not welcome in this place!" A strong voice of a man said behind the doors followed by other people's murmur of agreement. "Please, I want to help!" "We have all the help we can get. Please! We beg of you, it's for your own good too! Get away from here!" a woman shouted. "But it's not your decision to make! I had trouble coming so far to this place, you have to let me in!" I pleaded desperately. "I said no!" "But---" but whatever reason I have say was cutted off by the low growling behind me. I gasped and turned around. There weren't any wolves. But a gigantic bear was standing right behind me.