Chapter One

I have always loved the forest, it is always so peaceful. So colourful.

I move around the beautiful path between the trees, with my arms spread out so I can feel the breeze flow pass me.

Each leaf has a different feel to it. It is as if I can communicate with each of them.

I smile at the smooth feel of the leaves on my small hands as they brush softly against it.

"I could live here forever," I think to myself.

"NOOOOO!"

I am suddenly brought back into reality with the piercing sound that robs peace from the environment.

"Where did it come from? And that voice," I ask myself, trying to connect the voice to a face in my head.

"No! Please!! Please!!! Leave my daughter! Nooo!"

That is my MOTHER'S voice!

I run with all my might, as fast as my little legs can carry me in the direction of my mother's cries.

As I get closer, I see the guards, holding her arms; forcing her to kneel, one is holding a sword at her. I bring my hands to my mouth to silence my harsh breathing.

What is going on?

Is this it?

Is this the moment she has always been warning me about?

Should I go now?

What will they do to her?

All these thoughts run inside my head but, before I can come to a conclusion with my troubled and confused mind, the one who is pacing says calmly, in a cold scary voice.

"For the last time, where is that witch you call a child?"

My mother only shakes her head wildly, tears and sweat dripping from her face. This makes him lose his patience and he gives her a slap, the sound echoes in the surrounding trees, earning a sob from my mother.

"FOR THE LAST TIME! WHERE IS SHE?"

She only whimpers in reply. Tears streams down her already bruised face.

"You do know I will find her where ever you might have hidden her, right?" he says, a sickening smile growing on his face.

"Please. I beg you. Please," she says amidst tears.

"Since you do not want to be useful-" he turns to the one with the sword in his hand. "-Thomas, end her pathetic life."

As he says that, the one who is Thomas, raises his sword to do as he is told.

At that moment, everything begins to transpire in slow motion. I look on in fear and shock as the blade of his sword moves closer to my mother's neck. Inch by inch.

Her eyes connects with mine and I feel every thing around me come to a stop; silence envelopes me. A small smile forms on her lips as she stares at me like a defeated hero, even the few birds around seem to have abandoned the area, like the life in my mother's eyes as the blade connects with her skin, sending her head rolling off the cold forest floor.

That's when my voice returns,"MUMMY!"

***

I wake up with a loud gasp; beads of sweat rolling down my face as I struggle to steady my rough breathing. The sharp pain in my heart makes it almost hard for me to breathe.

"Hey sleepy head, the nightmares are back?"

I stare blankly at my best friend's happy face, not being able to make out the right sentence to say. I nod my head in response and rub my chest with my hands, trying to ease the throbbing pain I can still feel.

Why can't I just forget?

Why does it keep coming back?

"Awwww, it must have been bad. No problems, I'll go make that special tea for you." She leans to me and ruffles the mass of blonde hair on my head, before marching out of the little room we share to get me the tea.

As I watch her leave, the memory of my mother's headless body twitching on the cold forest floor flashes back into my head.

Why can't I just erase that awful memory?