Chapter 1 - That Forest

Amelia's point of view:

The sounds of the forest surrounded me once I stepped through the tall trees. There were crickets chirping, dry leaves swirling around in the harsh wind blowing occasionally and owls hooting somewhere hidden in the trees.

I ventured further in the forest filled with vicious vines untangled together. Some branches kept weaving inwards the further I went deeper in the dense forest.

Everything felt eerily odd and ghostly.

The atmosphere was just way too tensed. I definitely knew something was wrong.

My gut was twisting and clenching. It almost felt like someone was squeezing me while trying to pry me of my life. Why I felt like that? I would never know but one thing I can be sure of is the fact that I should not be here.

Maybe something is warning me to back off, to run away while I still can but what and why? My legs were inching to step back and get the hell out of here. But at the same time, something was pulling me in, like luring me in but what?

What should I do?

Why do they forbid people from going into that forest?

First of all, why do they call this forest that forest?

As if it's that frightening.

But from the looks of it, it really does seem scary.

The hairs on my arms stood straight when that thought crossed my mind. I rubbed my arms to get rid of the goose bumps and tried to calm that weird inner gut feeling.

Even if I want to back off, I want to know what was there behind those intimidating trees. From all the fake stories that all the nearby locals from around here are telling, I'm even more curious to know the truth.

Well, I was always among those types of people who would go all the way just to find the truth. There's no changing that.

I guess you haven’t been told yet that curiosity kills the cat. My conscience taunted me.

I’ve been told so but it sucks to be you, I’m not a cat. I cheekily argued back.

Are these stories just some myths or are they real? Is it true that there are monsters residing in the depth of the forest or is it just some made up stories? What if it's true?

I came to a complete halt once that thought struck my mind. No! I need to get back, like right now before it's too late.

What if I disappear like all those people who have never returned back home but were seen going into this forest? What if there's really an old pervert psychopath residing in this forest like one of the inhabitants had suggested?

Maybe he's the one who captured some of those young girls who's gone missing?

Will I become one of them but what happened to them? Will I face the same circumstances that they faced when they went missing? Why weren't they found later on even though they died? Are they even dead? Or are they still being tortured?

Just when I took a step back while shaking my head negatively, completely forgetting the idea of satisfying my curiosity, I heard a fierce noise from behind.

Almost like an animalistic growl!

I felt grim all of a sudden, my lips set in a straight line. I desperately wanted to spit out the acidic taste on my tongue. I felt all the hairs on the back of my neck standing up and felt a chilling sensation go down my spine. I shivered.

What was even worst was that the sound sounded so close to me, like it was warning me to dare take another step back. I dreaded from turning around and to face the owner. Is it the end of my life? Am I going to die in a forest, in the middle of nowhere where no one will ever find me?

Or will I die slowly while the animal behind me feasted on my body? I don't know what was worst, the fact that I will eventually die or the fact that I will scream till my body give out. Well, I prefer the former one. I know I will die either way but I prefer dying a natural death. Dying in a grave accident is much better than dying in such a way.

I began hyperventilating as those thoughts filled my mind. There were too much unanswered questions zeroing around in my head. I fisted my hands tightly together.

I gasped when I heard some rasping and more growling from behind. It was too close to me. Too close to me. Isn't it satisfied that I was frozen on spot and that I was no longer retreating backwards?

I could feel it approaching. Slowly, slowly, slowly!

Without thinking twice, my instincts kicked in and I twisted around but regretted doing that almost immediately. I heard a loud bloodcurdling scream from around me and, then realized that the scream came from me.

I couldn't stop screaming because of the thing that was right in front of me.

I took several steps backwards, in a desperate need to get away from the dog that seems to have gotten rabies. What was even worst was the fact that this dog was enormous. It was so huge that it could reach my neck.

Like a giant dog. I don't know why but the image of Scooby-doo crossed my mind, like seriously.

My arms brushed against many pointed vines which were sticking out but I couldn't care less. I did not feel any sting. I did not feel any pain from being scratched by them. Maybe it was the adrenaline kicking in that I couldn't even make out where I was going, in which way or if it was even the right way?

But all I know is that I'm being pushed further in the dense forest. I think I almost saw a wicked grin forming on the face of the approaching dog. Am I imagining things?

Am I dreaming or is this really happening?

The dog was watching my every step closely. It was pinpointing my every action and reaction like those dogs that are trained by police officers.

However, what it did next was uncalled for. It crouched itself downwards before jumping high up in the air, coming straight at me. I screamed in fright and felt my legs weakened.

No, no, no! Please!

My stupid little ass chose this specific moment to kiss the ground.