Author's note
Hey, this is my first fanfic. I hope you guys enjoy and let me know your thoughts.
The soothing pitter-patter of the familiar waterfall fell into my sight: unknown to all but me, it was my safe haven; a place I could leave all my worries and be free. Surrounded by overhanging willow trees and large boulders, it was almost entirely invisible to all those that were unaware of its existence. I, on the other hand, has always known of its whereabouts; I had lived here since the age of eight, after my mother died. My mama had always been there for me, helping me navigate the maze-like undergrowth and understand the difference between poison and food.
She always used to take me here on camping trips, my mama. We spent half our lives here, as she passed on her knowledge of the hidden world of nature to me. I never understood why people chose to live in overpopulated towns and cities; even my small hometown just off the coast off Hawaii was too much for me. For whatever reason, whenever I found myself in the presence of other people, strange things would happen. Unexplainable things.
This was the reason I now sought after an isolated life away from civilisation. The sole reason I remained in the presence of people in my early life was due to mama. She managed to prevent the majority of people from being aware of my existence, but rumours in such a small town still spread like wildfire.
Whispers could be heard creeping through door cracks, slithering under fences. Whispers about the beautiful Olivia Garcia hiding her only child, only letting her out at night to go into the forest. Whispers about a young girl, just five years old, having anxiety attacks at the mere sight of another's presence. Whispers about a strange girl with her mother's platinum blonde hair and deep blue eyes, causing inexplicable things to happen to those around her. Whispers about a petite girl named Okalanae Garcia, hidden from the world.
Whispers about me.
People believed that I was a troubled child, and my mama was merely too embarrassed to admit to my existence. But they didn't know half the story. They didn't know how I begged to stay inside each day, no matter how much mama pleaded with me to go to school like other kids my age. People became curious as to whether their gossip was true, so they began knocking on our door with a number of excuses to come in, desperate to catch sight of me. But they never did.
Until one day. It was the day of my eighth birthday, and mama and I had spent the night camping in the forest. However, as we emerged from the trees, I tripped and fell over the root of a tree. Mama turned around to help me up, but was suddenly frozen to the spot when she caught sight of something behind me, in amongst the thickets of trees. Her features filled with horror, her mouth opening in an oh of terror.
"Don't move," commanded a voice coming from behind my back, amidst the silence of the deserted forest. " I know what you are, there's no use trying to hide it." I'd heard that voice befor. It was our nearest neighbour. His name had slipped my mind, but I could recognise his voice anywhere. He used to frequently visit mama's house in desperate attempts to see me. My hands began to shake, signaling an oncoming panic attack. Within seconds violent shudders racked down my spine. Terror of seeing people shot through my veins, as my uneven breathing pierced the icy air.
Mama seemed more concerned for me than herself.
"Oak has no part in this. Let her go." I was overcame with sudden confusion. What had I no part in?
As my eight-year-old self tried to comprehend the situation at hand, I became aware of the fact that our neighbour was drawing closer, his steps slow but determined. I glanced up towards mama in fear.
"Come quietly, and I might consider it." His voice didn't waver in the slightest, oozing confidence he knew she would be insane to defy. All of a sudden, the ground began to shake subtlely from beneath me, scarcely noticeable.
"No." It came out as barely more than a whisper, but all I was aware of was that this man was trying to take mama away from me. I dared to glance up at him: his stocky build, jet black hair and coal black eyes contained not an ounce of their usual warmth, instead replaced with cold and calculated malice.
"And what might you do about it, little girl?" His voice was devoid of emotion, his words threatening an unspoken challenge. The tremors in the ground grew more pronounced. His imposing figure swung around towards mama, and he pulled something from the inside of his jacket: a gun. He pointed the barrel directly at my mother's head, and her stature stiffened slightly.
"Stop that. Now." His previously calm and contained voice now shook slightly, sounding on the verge of eccentric. Why was he so afraid of a small earthquake? And why was he blaming mama?
"I'm not doing anything! Earthquakes happen all the time!" She stuttered, a hint of panic in her voice.
"Oh really? I'm not so sure about that." His voice had at this point regained its steely facade lacking a single emotion as he realised he was in control of the situation. The tremors had at this point increased so much that his gun had began to tremble.
"I swear, if you don't stop that in five seconds, I will shoot you. I don't care what trouble I get into." The tremors hadn't ceased in the slightest.
"5-" Aldrenaline pumped through my veins.
"4-" I gazed pleadingly up at mama.
"3-" I didn't want mama to go!
"2-" why won't it stop?!
"1-" BANG! I screamed. The man laughed manically. Mama fell to the floor. Crimson blood pulses from the fatal wound on her chest onto a bed of forest leaves. Mama was dead.
Everything from that point happened in slow motion. The tremors in the ground had reached a breaking point. A flockering golden orb shot towards the murderer's chest, seemingly floating through the air. He dropped to the floor. And I ran.
At the time, I hadn't processed what had happened. I believed that upon my return to the forest, mama would be waiting to greet me with her rapturous embrace. But running through the deserted forest, not the smallest trace of her could be found. Not the extravagant shine of her platinum blonde hair, nor the starry twinkle in her deep blue eyes.
Days, months, years flew by and I never left the comfort of the forest. I had finally accepted her death after another eight years, however, the idea of returning to civilisation was always too daunting; I often had panic attacks at the mere thought of it.
And so I began a life isolated from society, with no hope of my mama ever returning home.