Short Story - Sworn to Secrecy (Part 2)
Sirens scream louder and louder as they get closer and closer to the cabin. The chill of the forest showed no resistance to the police as they searched for Billy. The helicopter’s pulled off the station leaving police officers with flashlights, spotlights, and hound dogs as guides looking for any type of footprint or sign that Billy might have left.
His ability to navigate through the forest came from his time growing up following his mom to these late-night gatherings where he sat quietly from afar, taking in the sights of his mom and her new friends. Billy would watch these ladies dance and howl at the moon all night, but never did he see the claws or snots of a werewolf. He saw a group of women living in a way that gave them the power to be wild and free.
Balled up like a cocoon with a quilt staring at the fire, her hair black as the night with no moon and shined like glass as the light from the fire reflected off it. He fell in love with her at first sight from the moment their eyes met in the woods as a little boy. She casted a spell on him, one that kept them connected, powerful enough, that it left him unable to love anyone else. Never did he know her name, as she would not share such information, in his eyes, she was the warlord that stole his heart. Billy takes a deep breath trying to find air, regaining composure from his sprint through the woods, and now in shock at the sight of the lady who once wore a golden dress lined with silver. Her hand slides out from under the quilt patting the floor, signaling him to come to sit next to her, she still hasn’t said anything else to him, and without any hesitation, he slowly walks over and sits.
She looks at him, grabbing hold of his hand that rests on his crisscrossed legs, “It’s been a long time,” she squeezes his hand, digging her nails into his palm and sending a jolt of pain through his body, paralyzing him. Her fingernails inject a magic potion that sent him into a wanderlust. His body slowly melts to the ground unable to move, she whispers into his ear, “This is for your protection.” He can feel his lungs inflate and deflate against the wooden floor of the cabin. The ceiling begins to spin, she places a blindfold over his eyes, and his world goes dark. The fire cracks and pops, sending him deeper into a trance. He can feel her energy as she walks around the cabin, the closer she gets the stronger it becomes. He starts to see memories of him and his brother on the cinema screen behind his eyelids.
Jake is running through the woods, and Billy chases him, both are barefooted jumping and ducking around tree limbs, rocks, and creeks they cross. Billy does not recognize the forest he and his brother sprint through and has no idea why they are chasing each other. Jake says nothing at all, he just keeps running, and Billy shouts, “Jake, Jake, Jake,” but he never slows down or answers him. Billy continues to run after Jake, the sky above is blue as can be, the sun shines bright, and the elephant ear leaves provide a canopy of shade giving depth to the world he is in.
Billy stops chasing Jake, he starts to look around, he sniffs the air, looking for any familiar scents, and he listens for any sounds he might recognize, but nothing comes to him. He loses sight of Jake and no longer hears his footsteps pounding against the yellow, brown, reddish gold leaves that blend into the cobblestone and roots. Billy sits and listens a bit longer and notices the trickling of water to the east of him. He gets up and starts to move towards the sound, as he gets closer, he notices the creek made of rocks and sticks. He takes a knee, cupping his hand scooping up water to drink. As he sips, unaware of his surroundings, a pair of beaten feet appear next to him, he turns and looks up, a small short man with a sun-beaten face, skin leather brown, a pair of black pants, and a gold belt buckle, dark green jacket, and black top hat swings his fist hitting Billy across the temple, knocking him out cold.
