Let the Darkness In
Nine

I took a moment to centre myself, slightly alarmed at the vast spaces around me. From my high vantage point, I could see a copse of trees ahead. Beyond that the land seemed to vanish beneath what looked like a soupy fog. Very faintly, I could smell something bitter and nauseating. I shuddered as I realised my way forward lay with that stink.

Shouldering my satchel, I scrambled down the small slope, kicking and dislodging scree. I nearly fell a few times but my body kept me upright. I slid all the way down to where the ground vanished into the darkness of the trees. Peering through, I tried to discern the nature of this place. It oozed secrets and enmity. I placed my hand on one of the great trees marking the entrance to this place and let it feel my presence. A pulse raced through the forest, making the leaves whisper.

The way was poorly lit, a path of shadows and roots. Patiently, I waited. The forest would let me know if it welcomed me. Then I felt a surge. The way before me opened and I was pulled along in a sickening rush to a place hidden deep in the mass of life.

A place of death and violence greeted me. Tree stumps littered the area and in many places, blackened twigs and charred roots heralded the story. I could see tell-tale glimpses of blades hidden in the earth.

My stomach revolted and I ground my teeth together, not caring if they snapped. Here was another trademark of humanity. Taking what they wanted.

“I’m on my way to stop this. They will pay,” I hissed into the trees around me.

My senses snapped back and I found myself standing as I had been, to the entrance of the tunnel. This time, the trees and bushes had twisted and warped back, leaving a wide path. I thanked the spirits and stepped inside.

The bitterness in the air intensified as my nerves came alive with the emotions of every living thing around me. There wasn’t much wildlife to sense. The animals had probably been killed off long ago and the hate locked up in here was enough to turn the sensible away.

As I walked through the path, I could almost feel the trees goading me, urging me to move faster. I could have sworn I felt the push of a branch firmly on my back but when I whipped around, there had been nothing. I welcomed the thrum of power that had been absent in the mountains and fields. I felt my body tingle, replaceing its way back home.

Darkness had fallen but for the first time since I had left Ysymay I felt like nature was once more on my side. My eyes grew warm and heavy and my legs throbbed. It was just as I begun to consider searching for a place to rest that the path seemed to change, leading me up to a great oak. As I watched, the trunk twisted open revealing a space large enough for me to step into. There was no mistaking the gesture. I crawled into the space, which closed around me like a cocoon. I said my thank you, and slept soundly.

The next day, the trunk opened. Before me lay fallen apples still juicy and ripe, and some berries shone on bushes like jewels. I feasted until the juice ran down my chin and my mouth ached with the sweetness.

It took me another few days to make my way through the forest. It welcomed and guided me, urging me on. But then the mood changed: I saw the remnants of camp fires, of personal belongings left in a rush. My foot stumbled over an obstacle and looking down, I saw a human foot, the rotting scraps of leather falling off. A part of me shuddered and I was glad of my roots. Nature was dangerous and it seemed to me, humans had tried to shrug of its power, outlawing anything they couldn’t fathom. Things like me. I shuddered and I felt the trees around me hiss, reading my thoughts.

Finally, I felt the trees thin around me and the invisible sphere of the forest wane. My heart began to thump and my throat felt raw. I knew, having poured over the map most in the last lights of the day, that beyond this copse,, only a few ploughed fields separated me from my goals.

I paused for a moment, leaning my hand on the comfort of a gnarled bark. I could feel the spirit inside reading my palm, my intentions. It latched on to me, urging me to not go but at the same time, shoving me to keep on, to avenge every creature, the ‘other ones’.

I steeled myself, looking down on the scar. I had made a promise. This was not only a promise made to me, this was a promise to everyone. If I failed, it was death. I may not ever succeed, but I had to try.

My fingers left the comfort and once again, the trees thinned.

Finally, I left my refuge.

Ahead of me, were the fields as drawn on the map. But where I saw black lines on white canvas, the scene ahead of me was far from monochrome. In the morning light, verdant fields stretched before me. Whereas the grass of the plains before me had been wild and raw, these fields were tended, ploughed, furrowed, providing food for the people.

Beyond that...beyond was my destination. A massive grey shape of turrets and walls, stretching miles high and miles long. It was the biggest thing I had ever seen and I knew I had to go into this prison for my prey.

Small dots marred the landscape and I ducked down, not wanting to be seen lingering. Somehow, I had to get past those people. With no splint and the birthmark visible, I didn’t have the tools at hand to hide them.

Heading slightly back into the forest, I crawled in the dirt, replaceing small sticks and tossing them aside. They were too short, too thick, too spindly for the purpose I had in mind. Finally, I managed to replace two sticks of equal length. I rummaged through bushes and scoured trees to replace something that wouldn’t snap with any strain.

I was offered a long strand of ivy by an extended limb of a tree. I took it and wrapped it around the sticks I had aligned. Standing up, I gave it a tentative step. The wood and ivy casing creaked a little but it didn’t show any signs of snapping. It would do.

Next, I had my face to think of. There was very little I could do about that. Sighing, I hunted around for some wet mud that had recently seen rain. The dense trees had meant that very little rain had reached me as I walked under their protection but after some searching, I managed to replace a small puddle. The mud squelched under my fingers as I scooped it up. It slapped against my cheek with a damp splat.

I caked it on, desperate to hide any evidence of my deformity.

I walked back to the edge of the forest, my eyes surveying the scene in more detail. For now, workers were happily moving along their strips, planting. Perhaps, I could get away with it.

My ears pricked up at the sound of wheels moving quickly. I glimpsed a thin, dirt track just a short distance away from the treeline and a cart coming along it. The open back showed bundles of goods - I couldn’t see what it was from here but I could see that the bundles were stacked high.

I gauged the speed of the cart. It was moving slowly, slow enough for me to catch up if I timed it right.

Taking a deep breath and knowing this was the moment, I moved amongst the cover of the trees. The cart passed inches away as I reached the last tree before the woods opened to the path.

I dived forward, only just catching the open back. Using all my strength and trying not to cry out with effort, I managed to swing my leg over and haul myself in. To my relief, I discovered that the bundles were some sort of cloth or hay, and I was able to nestle under with relative ease.

Peeping out of an eyehole, I breathed out. The driver had turned around but hadn’t spotted me, returning to guiding his horses.

I took a deep, shuddering breath in.

Soon I would be in the city.