Only halfway through her mountainous plate of food, Renee felt completely re-energized. Her stomach was utterly satisfied. She looked down at the plate, guilt suddenly filling her for overstocking it. Somehow Renee’s new friend approached her at the perfect time. The woman was now standing by Renee’s side, a look of concern again shining in her lovely eyes. “What troubles you child?”
“My mother and my father both always taught me to finish all my food….not to waste a single shred….but I'm so full....” Renee dropped her eyes in shame, guilt again filling her. If just her father consistently said the dreaded phrase, ‘your eyes should not be bigger than your stomach,’ then she could easily toss the remains in the air for all she cared. Unfortunately, this was one issue her mother also consistently addressed, so shame consumed Renee. Mom would be so mad at me…She started to slowly take another bite, prepared to force the food down the hatch.
“Wait.” The woman’s eyes were soft as ever, another sparkle residing within them. “Though I believe your mother only wanted the best for you, we function differently here. Follow me.” She led Renee to the corner of the room. Here, a large cut was placed in the wall. Well that’s certainly odd…
“May I see your plate?” The woman reached out her hand and Renee passed it to her without a fuss. The woman took the fork and slowly scrapped off the remaining food through the hole in the wall. It appeared to fall to nothingness, and Renee wondered if this was merely a secret way to waste food. “Would you like to see where it goes?” The woman must be a mind reader. Renee was almost certain at this point.
“Yes, please.”
The woman placed the plate under a mini waterfall like sink where it was instantly rinsed and preceded toward the entrance of the hut. Upon exiting, she turned toward the right and then disappeared around the next corner. Renee paused a moment, debating whether it was safe to follow. “Have I lost you, child?”
Renee turned the corner as though in response and discovered a set of gradually descending stairs wrapping around the next bend of the hut’s exterior. Like the ones she entered this strange place on, a white fog mysteriously hung over them. Luscious grass stretched out to the left side of the steps leading over to the next hut beyond. In front of Renee, the lovely layer of greenery covered the slightly inclined hill that led to forest trees straight ahead. To the right, the side of the hut blocked Renee’s view of what rested behind it. This concealed area was precisely where the steps led. Renee proceeded down them, continuing to follow her guide. As she rounded the next corner, she could see the destination of her leftovers. She stopped in place at the sight as the woman continued on.
In front of her was a giant trough, filled with food. It was placed precisely below the hole she previously saw from inside the hut’s walls. Surrounding it was the most incredible variety of wildlife. There were tigers, giraffes, penguins, wolves, cats, dogs, and many others all eating from the same trough. Their various animal noises chimed together in an almost song-like laughter. Every one of them seemed to be the best of friends. It was like a dream come true. Renee could barely believe something so incredible was actually possible. The woman stopped ahead of her now and was facing one of the giraffes. From Renee’s perspective it almost looked like she was whispering to him.
Her attention was then drawn to one creature above all others as he began flapping her way. “Little guy!” Renee could not contain her excitement. She grew quite close to the winged fellow on their journey to Neveah. Even now, she could hardly believe he led her to such an amazing place. The cardinal chirped as though in response, only this time instead of landing on a nearby branch, he landed directly on Renee’s shoulder. “Well hello there, officially, I mean.” Renee giggled at herself, joy overwhelmed her. She was so worried something happened to him during the crossover to Neveah that seeing him flapping and doing well brought her a world of happiness. All the while, the woman stood there watching, seemingly contented by the sparkle of joy coming to life in Renee’s eyes.
Suddenly, another noise resonated throughout the forest. It sounded like something was rushing through the air, something massive. All the animals froze at the clatter as they looked upward towards the sky. The mood instantly shifted to a more intense state. What the heck was that?…..uh oh…I knew this was too good to be true, there’s always a catch…She felt disappointed with herself for believing everything could be so perfect.
“My dear, there is no catch, simply an enemy.” The woman was facing Renee now and her words sounded with a resolute truth. Uncertain how to react to the answer of an unspoken question, Renee followed the suit of the animals and simply looked towards the sky. Suddenly, she saw it.
A ball of flames flew through the air with a life of its own. It appeared to land on trees in the distance. Another moment raged on and a separate ball of flames was suddenly heading straight towards them. Renee was just about to run for cover; but, somehow, the woman traveled the ten feet towards her in a split second. She grasped Renee’s hand and let out simple instructions. “Stand strong.”
Stand strong? This woman is insane….we’re about to be roasted humans…Renee squirmed for freedom and the woman immediately released her hand. Renee bolted toward the bottom of the hut. She assumed the fetal position along the ground, terrified of what was about to come next. She closed her eyes and braced for impact.
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15. Principles
Ms. Morrison made her way through the halls of the old school. Almost nothing changed since she attended there herself so many years ago. The same gray lockers she employed as a child still surrounded its sides. Their worn metal exteriors had clearly seen better days. Despite their rough condition, Ms. Morrison normally found their structure and consistency to be rather comforting. In this moment, though, they felt more like raging storm clouds. Her stomach started to churn. A fear of failure rose within its acidic chambers. What if he denies my request?
Ms. Morrison was disappointed with herself for even having the thought. After all, Principal Herbert never failed her in the past. He was always supportive of her decisions and concerns. She knew she should feel her typical confidence as she approached his office door. She didn't. Fear violently rose within her as sweat beaded on her palms. I have not been this afraid since…
The door swung open, nearly smacking her directly in the face. “Oh, Ms. Morrison, I am so sorry. Are you ok?” The older man’s voice was comforting as he expressed genuine concern for her. Ms. Morrison half expected someday he would ask her to fulfill his shoes, when the time came, of course. Now was not the time for thoughts of succession though; she came here for a purpose.
“Yes, I am fine, thank you.” Composing herself, she gathered her inner strength, took a deep breath and proceeded with her request. “Actually, sir, I have something important to discuss with you. Do you have a few moments?” She wondered if he heard the waver in her voice. In her mind, it was all too obvious.
“Sir? Oh dear, I know when you use that tone without children present, it must be a serious matter. Absolutely, I can spare a few moments, come on in.” He politely held the door open for her and took a step back, allowing her a more reasonable amount of space to pass him. As Ms. Morrison stepped through the door, her hands were shaking. She so desired to be completely honest with him regarding her concerns. I cannot risk my entire career over this. The thought locked in her resolution. No, she would not tell all, but hopefully her logical points would suffice to alter the principal’s decision. “Take a seat, you are no stranger here.” A gentle, welcoming smile stretched across his face as he took his seat across from her. He could likely sense the cloud of anxiety surrounding her.
The oak desk separating them seemed to stretch a mile long. The small office started closing in all around her. Ms. Morrison shut her eyes for a moment, silencing the anxiety of a million thoughts. Collecting herself as much as possible, she opened her eyes and proceeded with her intention. “Well, sir, I will get straight to the point. I would l
ike to request the cancellation of next week’s field trip.” The words came out more composed than she expected. She straightened her posture in the chair, a small sense of pride rising in her, granting her some relief from the gripping hold of her apprehension.
“Why?” Principal Herbert was clearly confused. He always knew her to enjoy getting the children out of the classroom and into ‘real world’ environments.
“I feel it is far too dangerous. I realize there will be several assistants and parents there; but, nevertheless, this is the infamous Hacker’s Forest. In light of what happened several years ago, I do not feel it is a safe place for my class.” Her resolution was absolute; yet Ms. Morrison could not definitively disguise the twinkle of fear in her eyes.
“Oh yes, it was certainly a very tragic event indeed.” The principal leaned back in his chair, clearly deep in contemplation. “I was told that you knew the child.” He added, looking her directly in the eyes as though studying her response.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Ms. Morrison wished she could revert to a child-like state and run. Instead, she maintained her composure, as much as possible. “Yes…we....we were friends.” Pain filled her at the memory. Her mind still held so many unanswered questions about the events surrounding the death. She determined long ago that what she wanted to believe was true, but doubts still arose in her. Her emotions were charging up like a ticking time bomb.
“I am very sorry, Ms. Morrison. I wish you would have come to me regarding this sooner.”
“I tried! I meant to….I mean…” She felt silly for cutting him off. It was becoming all too apparent that her emotions were getting the best of her. “I am sorry, sir, please continue.” She lowered her head in submission; the feeling was likely similar to the one her students experienced when she lectured them.
“This is not like you, Ms. Morrison. Now, I know you have personal, logical reasons for your request. Unfortunately, I have already sent out all the permission forms and assistant requests. I have not had any complaints or comments from parents expressing any form of worry. Instead, the response has been extremely positive. We have several volunteers offering to assist with the journey, including Danny’s father, Mr. Whitfield. I hope his presence, that of a police officer, will help ease your discomfort.” He could see the disappointment in her eyes. “If you would like to sit this one out; I would have no issue approving the time off request for you.” He paused a moment, examining her expression. Then gently placed his hand over her own resting on the desk. Ms. Morrison was looking away now. She attempted to distract her mind by staring at the books on a shelf to her left. She noticed a small tiger figurine resting on the top shelve. She examined it closely, allowing old memories to momentarily pour in. The principal continued on. “It has been over a decade, though, since that tragic loss. I know if you choose to, you can overcome this terrible fear of that forest. I will support you either way though.” The principal was absolute as he removed his hand and bound it with its mate. His fingers intertwined with each other as he held them to his chest. His sternness threw Ms. Morrison off guard. He always seemed to want the best for her though.
Perhaps he is right…maybe I need to push past this. After all, if something happened and I was not there…No, she would not allow that train of thought. Lifting her head back up to look at him directly, she finally responded to his implication. “I cannot allow my class to go without my guidance. I will still lead the field trip.” The words sucked the strength out of her and she pulled all her inner resources avoid a breakdown. She stood up and approached the door like a zombie, eager to escape the office.
The principal’s voice caused her to stop dead in her tracks. “One more thing, please do not refer to it with the old name. It is the Elder Woods now.”
“Yes, sir.” With that, she rushed away before he could speak another word. Defeat filled her.
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16. THE STRANGE TOUR
She could see nothing, but felt her body rushing down a smooth surface not unlike a playground slide. It turned and twisted so many times she could not keep track of the direction she would be facing. I think I’m going to be sick. Bile rushed to the forefront of her mouth. Emily held it in and maintained her cool. Finally, she reached the bottom with a forceful plop straight onto a gravel surface. “Ow! You couldn’t have let some soft grass grow here at least?” Her irritation was blatant.
Ethan shunned his giggling. He was clearly on the verge of making some undoubtedly rude comment when he paused and composed himself. “I’m sorry about that. Some food should certainly help you feel better though.” Something about his smile now seemed completely pasted. What is going through his head? If he wanted to make a rude comment, why not proceed? He owes me nothing…instead I owe him for assisting with my injury, if anything…..unless he has some other reason to impress me….hm…Ethan helped confirm Emily’s suspicions as he reached out a hand to help her.
“No, thank you, I am perfectly capable.” Emily struggled to push herself up with one good arm. It was certainly not the most flattering sight. Nevertheless, she managed and stood to her feet, sweeping away the mess of her now tangled black locks.
Again, Ethan appeared to suppress a torrent of laughter. “Perhaps after we get you some nourishment, would you like to meet my stylist? She is excellent in matters of hair and will give you a more manageable look.”
A more manageable look? Who the hell does this guy think he is? “What exactly are you trying to imply about my hair?” Now Emily was truly on the defensive. She may have her insecurities, but she always adored her long, dark hair.
Ethan must have sensed the fighter in Emily and realized it was time to back off. “I meant no offense. It is simply that she can do wonders to even the most lovely of hairstyles. Nevertheless, we can certainly proceed through the tour of Luthania without a visit to her.”
Emily’s stomach grumbled loudly again, reminding her of the current necessity of her tour guide. “I am sorry; I am just extremely hungry. Will you please lead me to the food and we can discuss other aspects of the city later?” Emily put on her cute face and tried to seem as genuine and innocent as possible.
“Absolutely! Right this way.”
He bought it. Ha. Time to eat! It was now Emily noticed the scenery surrounding her. In front of her rested the white, relatively plain house. Only something about it was different. The music that so loudly expressed itself from the speakers stopped entirely. In fact, the poles where the speakers rested were gone. What the hell…how on earth is that possible…they were right here. Emily could not wrap her mind around the concept. She was just about to question Ethan when she realized he was already several feet ahead of her. She jogged to catch up to him. Everything else about the scene remained the same. Emily looked back to her left to ensure the glass house was still there too. It was, but there was no sign of the mysterious red haired woman. As they continued ahead, the gravel path transformed into a cobblestone road.
They continued to proceed further into the city. Emily could not believe her eyes. She allowed her mind to let go of the strangely disappearing speakers. Instead, her fascination was now fixated on the scene in front of her. On the left, there were three townhouse-like structures stuck together. Their bricks were worn and the window dressings had to be a century old, if not more. Beyond these, a very modern skyscraper stood towering above the city. The strangest distinctive factor about this structure was its lobby. Like the house, it was composed almost entirely of glass and she could see directly in. There was only a single desk that stood in the middle of a pure white room. A woman sat there rapidly typing away on a lone computer. Elevators were tucked away in the corner of the floor but, beyond that, it was blank. There were no decorations, no other people, just the one woman working away at her desk. That’s certainly odd. “Ethan, what is that building…”
HONK!
Emily jumped out of the way as a convertible passed directly through her recent path. The veh
icle’s occupant continued at his accelerated speed, headed straight forward, as though nothing happened.
“That was rude!” Emily yelled, half hoping for a reaction. The driver most likely didn't hear her as he continued on his path.
“Are you alright?” Ethan grabbed her good arm and pulled her to the side, close to an entirely different type of structure. Emily’s eyes examined the building thoroughly. It was not unlike an upscale apartment complex. Taking a closer look, Emily realized the structure actually looked like something transported directly from New York City. As a matter of fact, it looked almost identical to a building she saw on a post card some years before. That’s freaky…She continued to stare at it for some time. The bricks that comprised it looked brand new and large windows and balconies lined the side facing them. “I’m sorry, I should have warned you. The cobblestone here is not only for individuals on foot, but also for traffic.” Ethan’s voice drew Emily from her trance.
Just then she looked down by her feet at the stone surface below. She was shocked to notice there was absolutely no definition in the road, no painted lines, just a consistent array of stones mortared together. These directly stretched from one building to another. “How is someone supposed to know where it is safe to walk if there is no sidewalk?” Emily was now befuddled by this odd new discovery.
R.E.M.: The Hidden World Page 8
