The Whispering Woods

Chapter Three


Bella sat in the middle of her backyard on a waterproof blanket the next morning, sunbathing. A rarity in the middle of winter. She still had to wear a sweater to keep from getting too chilled, but the sun was warm on her skin.

Her father, Charlie Swan, the Chief of the Police, would soon leave for the day. Until then, she had a part to play: to let him think she had no plans to go out, would stay home and have a lazy Sunday.

She wanted to get through the day without a lecture.

Several minutes after he left, she made her escape and walked into the woods behind her house. Her nosy neighbors would tell her father, if he asked, that her car remained in the driveway all day.

A well-organized backpack with all the essentials would be her only companion until she reached the outskirts of a meadow at the end of one of Crescent Hill's trails. It would take well over an hour to reach the place, but it would be worth it.

She intended to explore the caves she found days earlier; no one had ever mentioned caves before. Something told her, she wouldn't be the first to explore them. She refused to believe she'd find remains there.

Absolutely refused to believe it.

.

.

.


Edward woke with a start, sweat beading across his brow and chest. The itch to get up and go made him do just that. Yet, sleep still lingered, the remnants of the dream did, too. He was losing the images: the girl he'd seen the day before in the moonlight, naked under a simple, white nightgown, walking beside him in the dark, dark woods.

Bella, the whispering voices told him was her name.

They told him she was waiting. For what, he wasn't sure, but it was imperative he joined her.

The last time he ignored his dreams, his parents died. Bella, if that really was her name, wouldn't be another stain on his conscience.


AN: Thanks to MC. Let me make it clear, Edward and Bella are NOT cousins, in the previous chapter, he mentioned his "adopted" parents dragging him to the tiny town. Someone had some concerns if this would lean toward horror, there will be moments but it leans toward another genre which I will not give out just yet. Thanks for reading, see you Thursday.