Under The Oak Tree Ch 1 Novels & Stories

I turned left, and there on the ground was a tiny old book that described the path the old woman had told me about. Quickly, I began to trace it, following the book's guidelines. I had walked a little farther, my feet aching and my body growing more exhausted, when I finally saw it—the Whispering Oak standing tall, its bark twisted into faces, whispering softly as though alive. And there it was—the veil. I pressed it, and it opened slowly, creaking like ancient wood. Before long, I was inside the oak tree. The wind had stopped blowing. Everything was suffocating—dark and scary.

He lunged for my hand. The Oak moved first. One of its dead branches, thick as a man’s leg, creaked and dropped fast between us, slamming into the ground right at his knees, kicking up dead leaves in a violent spray. Kaden scrambled back, terrified. No, a voice said. Not Mara’s. Deeper. Older. The tree itself, vibrating up through my feet, through my hair, through the mark on my neck. No second mark in my circle. Mara nodded, like this was expected.

she asked for the third time, curiosity evident on her face. “Be patient, my dear,” I replied with a smile. “Just a few more minutes.” “You know I'm not good at being patient.” “Oh, I'm well aware,” I laughed. “Remember when you were waiting for the results of the Elder Council's test? You paced for three hours.” “That's different!” she protested. “That was about our future as—” She stopped as we rounded the last bend and the view spread out before us. A small meadow surrounded by tall trees, with a small river flowing on one side. In the middle of the meadow stood a huge, ancient oak tree—its branches spread wide, creating a perfect natural canopy.

Chapter 9: A Dweller Named Sprout Cory had incited the Omniscient Oak Tree to provide its tenth answer in the last thousand years and every creature of the jungle seemed to instinctively know this. The moment the burning five-word message had appeared etched into the bark, the jungle sprang to life. Wild cats growled, birds squeaked, the leaves of every nearby tree rustled. The air grew inexplicably warmer. Cory felt flushed. She was drained but deliriously happy. Even though she could not fully make sense of her answer, she had done it. She had asked the right question.

The canopy overhead swallowed most of the moonlight, leaving us moving through patches of silver and shadow. And then I saw it. A break in the trees up ahead. A clearing. But not just any clearing. The ground was blackened, scorched like a fire had raged through here long ago. At the center stood a single, twisted tree—its bark charred, its branches bare. The fire inside me pulsed wildly. This was it. “The next flame is here,” I said, stepping forward. Lena gave me a skeptical look. “Where? Because all I see is a creepy dead tree.”

I knew he was supposed to be here. Thinking he was yet to come, I sat under the oak tree and waited for him. I kind of see why he liked this place, the cool breeze brushing against my skin was so calming, and the leaves on the oak tree rustled with the wind. I closed my eyes, breathing deeply, enjoying the calm environment. I think I was too engrossed in how good I was feeling that I did not know when I fell asleep. I don’t know how long I had slept, but when I woke up, I was moving in the air, my eyes immediately flew open, scared I was being kidnapped.

I’ll bring you back, even if it kills me. The witches followed in silence, the faint glow of their runes lighting the path. Above them, the moon was pale and full, and somewhere in the distance, an owl cried — the sound hollow and foreboding. None of them spoke again until the towering silhouette of the Old Oak appeared through the mist, ancient and alive, its roots sprawling like veins across the earth. And that’s where they stopped — at the mouth of something ancient, waiting for the next chapter of horror to begin.

How am I going to get out of here? Suddenly rain starts to fall. The flaming garden around me is filled with life by the water falling from the sky. I look to my left and notice a large oak tree with the biggest leaves I have ever seen. It looks exactly like the oak tree on our property. I feel a strange pull towards it almost like this tree knows who I am. Before I have a chance to get to the tree, I am awoken with a startle, my heart pounding. I am drenched in sweat.

Leonardo provided. "The oak tree in the midst of the pines," Hazel muttered as a memory flashed in her mind at those words. After a few minutes of pondering, her eyes widened as she realized what the clue was. "It's the oak tree in the middle of the large pine field, horses' hooves printed on the soaked ground on a rainy day, blood-red moon. The earth has been hurt, or is Mother Moon mourning for her dead children?" she began. "While many sleep, the earth weeps. What a sorrowful night. As the unknown enemy works in the darkness of the night. Under the large oak tree lies the secret to her salvation. But then again, it also holds the power to her damnation."

After taking a deep breath and glancing around my room one last time, I made my way downstairs, ready to leave. The drive to Oak Mountain School was peaceful, and once we arrived, my mother and I exchanged goodbyes before she departed. As I entered the large building, I was greeted by a friendly young man named Lewis, who offered to show me to my room. "Here’s your room, Olivia. Your roommate has already settled in, but I have a feeling she’s a nice girl. She can help you with anything you need, or you can always come to me." Lewis said with a warm smile as he handed me the keys to my dorm.