The House in the Forest

“Come out, come out, come out wherever you are little Blue Cap!”

The dark voice boomed out as she ran deeper into the dense forest bush, deeper than she’d ever been before for the second time that night.

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒈𝒐 𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈?! She screamed internally as she ran. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏?!

“What are you doing after class?” Miyah’s roommate questioned as she watched her trying on clothes.

“I don't have classes today! I'm going back home to see my best friends and we're going out. How about you Hope?”

“I was gonna go into the woods.”

Miyah stopped and turned around to look at her roommate with a perplexed look, “By yourself? Why?!”

“Well there are local urban legends and I want to check it out.”

“I don't see the point in it.”

“What?”

“Chasing myths or urban legends on Halloween no less.”

Hope played with the silver fairy pendant that hung around her neck saying nothing back.

“Why don't you come with my friends and me?”

“What exactly are ya'll doing?” Hope questioned softly.

“Doing a little get-together at my house. Dressing up. Playing some games. Drinking.”

Hope bit her lip making Miyah sigh and shake her head.

“I mean I could always go some other day,” Hope said timidly making Miyah turn around and look at Hope with excitement.

“You mean it? You'll come?!”

“I mean yeah. It'll be fun.” Hope gave a smile.

“Bet! Alright well start digging in the closet and see what you find.”

“I already had an outfit. I ordered it from SHEIK.” Hope got up and walked to the entrance of their dorm room and picked up the package that she had left there days prior.

She held three bags, “This is it.”

“Open it up and let me see!” Miyah excitedly said.

“Laterrr. You'll see it when I put it on later.

Miyah pouted at her words but nodded.

“Well then help me find something. Please.”

Hope placed her stuff on her bed and nodded beginning to pull things out before finding things and getting ready to go to Miyah’s house.

“I wasn't really planning to wear it. I just got it just it along with the other stuff in case.” Hope said as she stepped out of the bathroom.

It was a blue privé ombre one-shoulder ruched side split thigh mesh overlay dress with blue pointed blue butterfly sandals with thin heels and lace-up straps and she had a set of blue and clear fairy wings.

“Hope this is so cute! Okay, that's actually perfect on you!” Miyah cooed looking at the girl.

The pair had found a pink multicolored allover print halter top and flare-leg pants. Miyah had shades and black heeled boots on with silver bangles on her wrist.

“Come on Hope lets go my friends outside. I'm so excited for you to meet my friends!” Miyah squealed excitedly.

The night was alive. The air was so thick with lights and smoke they could have been underwater, if not for the roar of the crowd and music that thrummed straight through the bodies surrounding you and into your eardrums. Sweat flicked up into the air with the start of every dance move, and wet hair bounced back down with its completion.

Hope was sitting on the couch next to Miyah with a slight pout on her lips watching Miyah talk and laugh with other people.

Hope fixed her face when Miyah tapped her leg.

“Having fun?”

“This is not what I thought you meant.”

“Neither was I, but come on smile. You look like you want to bite someone’s head off.”

Hope said nothing at first before sighing and cracking a small smile making Miyah smile as well.

Miyah’s smile momentarily disappeared as someone leaned down and whispered in her ear before she smiled again and nodded her head.

Miyah looked at Hope, “Wanna take a walk?”

Hope nodded and got up following after Miyah and Miyah’s friends. The four of them left the house.

Finally escaping the loud noise and people Hope let out a sigh and a smile was on her lips.

“Oh, so you can smile. Nice to know.” Malik teased with a smile on his face.

“Was my face really that bad?”

“Yes.” the three of them agreed as they walked further.

Hope laughed and shrugged, “Oh well. Where are we going?”

“There’s a spot in the forest that we used to go to and smoke. You can see the moon clear as day.” River said as they started lighting the joint up.

Hope nodded as she followed them.

“This is beautiful!” Hope gasped out loud as they reached their destination.

They walked down the path into a clearing with two trees with branches intertwined with shrubs, flowers, and greenery all around. There's a body of water with a darker-looking forest with the moon shining brightly, there were fireflies dancing around the night sky as well.

The four young adults sat in between the two trees. Miyah, Malik, and River were all smoking and passing it to one another while playing truth or dare as Hope looked across into the dark forest.

“What's wrong now Hope? You haven't played with us once.” Miyah questions with a pout on her glossy lips.

Hope turned to Miyah and shook her head, “Nothing. It's peaceful and I'm just looking across the stream.”

“Since you're so curious why don't we cross the river and see what's over there?” Malik questions with a big smile.

“I heard there's an abandoned house on the other side. I dare you to spend the rest of the night there.”

Hope looked at the other side her curiosity and an opportunity to satisfy that curiosity gnawing away at her.

The trio was still smoking now watching Hope as she thought about it.

Hope took off her heels and put them on the ground where she was sitting as she walked down to the water she dipped her toe in and jumped back slightly.

“You guys will meet me here at 6 am?” Hope yelled loudly as she walked back up to where the trio was sitting.

With a chorus of approvals from the three of them, Hope looked back up and saw stones leading to the other side of the body of water.

‘Fuck it.’ Hope sighed and inhaled deeply.

“I'll do it,” Hope announced.

Miyah coughed as she looked at Hope.

“Are you sure Hope?”

“Yea! What's the worst that can happen?”

“After we finish smoking we’ll guide you to where we heard it is.”

Hope nodded as she sat back down playing more truth and dare with the others.

As Hope waited and noticed how the joint lowered and lowered she began having second doubts asking questions and trying to slide out of this only for the three friends to disregard it.

“Remind me again why I'm doing a dare in the middle of the night on Halloween night?” Hope asked the trio of friends, narrowly avoiding a puddle of mud as she walked on the shoreline.

“Because, historically speaking, people tend to see things on Halloween, so who knows what you'll see. And plus weren't you the one who was curious?!” River questioned.

“Yea! You talked about exploring for urban myths and legends earlier before we left earlier today.” Miyah chimed in.

“Yea, that was before. There was daylight and that was also before I knew I wouldn't be spending the night.” Hope gulped as she looked across the flowing water.

“Plus it's Halloween! Everyone is entitled to one good scare.” Malik added as he looked at Hope.

All four of them walked over to the stream and looked at it.

Hope knew it well as the boundary between where it was acceptable to play in the woods, and where was off limits.

Everyone made sure to tell and remind Hope every time she walked into the forest.

She had never been this far and she typically stayed on the marked path. They warned her of spirits dragging people down deep into the water, spirits dragging poor, innocent souls into some far-off lair and feasting on their flesh.

The stories and warnings that everyone had constantly drilled into her head since she arrived in this small college town left her memory as she leaped onto all three rocks before reaching the other shoreline. The other three quickly followed after her helping Miyah with the last stone as she almost fell.

Hope swore the air temperature increased by a few degrees as she made it.

“It's warmer over here, right?” Miyah questioned and everyone agreed.

“I thought I was going crazy,” River said as they turned to look at the denser bush, “Well let’s go and carry on!” Rivers exclaimed walking forward.

Hope sensed that something was so...off. Wrong. But she couldn't figure out what. The moon was still as full as ever, lighting their way as the four of them walked.

This place was cursed.

There was no denying it.

How could it not be?

No crickets singing, no owls hooting, not even the rustle of a field mouse in the grass. The woods were completely silent, filled with nothing but the sound of their breathing and the group's footsteps as the group walked.

“It's too quiet,” Hope said as she walked behind River.

“Were you expecting to hear car noises and sirens out here? It's a quiet town, Hope.” Miyah gently chastised.

“No Miyah. It's too quiet. There's no noise whatsoever.”

That's when everyone stopped and listened and their faces slightly dropped as they realized Hope was right.

“We should not be here,” Malik said as he looked around.

“Well, we’re already here,” River said and everyone dragged their eyes to where their finger was pointing seeing a light in the distance.

“Fuck.”