The forest is never a good place for a young child. However, I was so young that I had yet to realize that. From the tallest of trees, to the shortest moss, I marveled at it all. There was so much beauty, so many colors and not just the burning white and black of a piano. Every time I came back here, with or without anyone else all I could do was look in awe at the magnificent woods. There was so many sounds and sights to take in, the songs coming from all the birds, the crickets chirping a melody. I could even faintly hear a nearby stream flowing through the woods. The trees loomed high above me and created small holes of light shining down on the ground. The deep red color of some mushrooms nearby contradicted all the greens and browns surrounding me. The area around me smelled of rain and there was a gentle breeze. Definitely the perfect day to play out in the woods.
I started walking again and I noticed there was some rocks scattered on the path. Naturally, I had to walk on them and avoid the 'lava' on the ground. I smiled and hopped from rock to rock without a care in the world. After a while of skipping there was no rocks left to be seen. I let out a sigh and jumped into the lava. To my surprize however, I was able to walk on it as if it was just normal rocks, so I happily continued on my way.
Skipping through the forest is one of my favorite things to do. You can go anywhere, do anything, and see anything you want. Everything is so peaceful and calm and there is never anyone around to tell you where to go, what to do, and most of all, what to play on the piano.
After a few hours of walking, I decided that I was hungry and thet it's time to turn back. I looked around one final time and turned to leave. All the sudden I heard rustling in the bushes. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge and I looked back to see what it was that was making the autumn leaves susurrus.
All that I could see was the bushes. Nothing more than a few butterflies and other insects could be seen. I softly sighed, it was probably just a rabbit, after all, there has never been someone else out here before. In fact, I'm pretty sure this is the Evan's forest anyways so no one is allowed most likely. Then another rustle came. I slightly tilted my head and started slowly walking over. A rabbit wouldn't stay in the bushes, especially when a human like myself was there.
I got to the bushes and slowly moved the branches away to see what was hidden. Down, kneeling in the grass was a sharply dressed man with slick black hair and bright blue eyes. He looked up at me and narrowed his eyes then opened them normally.
"Well hello there young man," He stood up normally and my eyes followed his as he went up. I noticed also that he was quite tall and thin, probably in his late thirties or early twenties. "Might I ask who you are?" he smiled politely.
"I'm Soul Ekan- Evans." I smiled back. He seemed nice enough, I mean who wouldn't trust an old man hiding in a bush? "What are you doing out here? This is MY forest." I said in a matter-of-fact kind of way. He laughed, probably thinking I was joking and smiled.
"Well you see, Soul Evans, I am out here because I am looking for Toprak Mansion and well… I got a bit lost." He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. I smiled and threw my arms up going from annoyed to happy in such an alarming rate it would surprize someone who is bipolar.
"I know where that mansion is! I live in it with momma and pappa and Wes!" I put my hands on my hips proud of myself and turned around. "This way!" I started skipping off and let my arms fall to my side moving in pace with my legs. "It's going to be a while till we get there though because we're like a million-billion miles from my house!" I giggled and looked back at him and surprisingly enough, he was skipping close behind me grinning, clearly having a good time with me. Maybe, it isn't so bad having someone in the forest with you. After all, he was having fun with me and it's not like he was nagging at me to 'walk like a normal person' and 'stop goofing off we're here on a walk not a trip to get lost in the woods'.
I looked forward again and started skipping faster just to see if he'd keep up. I looked back at him again and he was keeping up. I grinned really big and started in a full-blown run. I was going to see if he was going to keep up, and keep up he did. In fact, after what felt like forever of running, then stopping, and running again; he managed to keep up. In fact, sometimes he nearly passed me and I had to hold my arms out or he would be the one leading us to my house!
Soon enough we were fairly close to home and only had about half an hour left to go. At this point is was still running, but going far slower than someone walking would.
"My feet hurt." I whined and flopped down so I was laying in the grass. "My legs hurt and my back hurts and I'm too tired!" I whined more. I heard the man chuckle and felt his hands wrap around my waist. I squirmed a bit and he picked me up.
"I'll carry you the rest of the way if you just tell me how to get there." He smiled and I decided that was fair.
"Alright." I said. "But if you drop me I'll kick you." I squirmed and got comfy. He laughed and started walking.
"Oh don't worry, I don't like hurting children." he responded
"I'm not a child!" I protested. "In fact I'm practically an adult, I mean I did just turn eight today."
"Oh it's your birthday today now is it? Well happy birthday, I completely forgot to buy you a present." I smiled.
"That's okay-" I yawned "As long as you carry me that's all I need." My eyes fluttered shut. "Just go straight and I think we'll be home." I cuddled up to the man stealing his warmth.***** After a little bit more of walking we got back to my house and I squirmed out of his arms and skipped inside.
"Why did you need to come here?" I smiled and looked back at him. He looked down at me and sighed.
"I just need to speak with your parents aright?" He pat my head and walked inside. I watched him walk past me and I went upstairs to my room.
After a while I decided to go downstairs and say goodnight to mom and dad. A soft yawn escaped my mouth and I slid out of bed and walked downstairs. I looked around and the living room was empty. Everyone was probably in the kitchen eating breakfast. I smiled and walked out to the kitchen and froze in my steps. I backed up slightly and hid behind the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room. My face felt white as fresh snow and I could feel my heart pounding. I wanted to shout, or call for help but my legs felt like lead, and I'm sure there was a frog in my throat.
"Just give me the damn money and no one gets hurt!" Came the booming voice of the man from last night. His face was trickled in sweat his hair was a mess and his eyes were wide with insanity. His arm was stretched out and he had a piston in his hand that was pointed at my mother.
"Pl.. please sir just calm down… I- I don't know all the bank numbers off hand." She had her hands slightly up trying to keep him back. She backed up and hit her back on the wall. "Let me just go.. and just go get all the passwords to the bank accounts.. Al...alright? You can come with.. And make sure I don't call anyone…" My mother pleaded. The man hissed and stepped closer to her and pressed his gun against the top of her chest near her heart and loaded it.
"No! There's no way I'm letting you leave!" He spat. "Just tell me and I'll leave!" I shuttered. My vision was starting to blur and I realized I had started crying. I shut my mouth and the silent tears traveled down my face. I realized I had let a psychopath hold me, I let this insane person into my house and now he was only a few muscle movements away from taking my mother's life. I could've done anything, I wasn't threatened, I was in danger but far less than my mother was, but I couldn't move. I was frozen in fear, I was petrified for my mother, for myself, and I couldn't help but imagine the worst outcome to happen.
BAM. All the sudden the loud sound of the gunshot rang through my ears and I immediately was pulled out of my thoughts.I blinked away the tears and I saw my mother. I saw a bullet through her chest, the walls stained red, as the light flickered out of her eyes. Her body became lifeless as she passed on to the next life and her body slid down the white wall, leaving a dark crimson trail behind her.
The man slightly panted and wiped off his blood stained hands and turned back around. I couldn't hear anything but the faint sound of my father's booming voice. My ears were ringing and I couldn't even hear my father running. I saw him pass me and look down at me and I saw his lips shout something along the lines of 'Go! Run Soul!' he pushed me away and ran into the kitchen protecting me.
I blinked into reality and I backed away, still facing the kitchen, watching. I saw my father grab the man's wrist and I could hear faint shouting, I saw my father throw a punch, the man grabbed his face where he was hit and kicked my father down. Then I saw him load the gun again and point it at my father and shoot him through the head.
The man stood looking down at him, then looked over at my mother and without a sliver of remorse, put his gun away and washed his hands in the sink. When he finished I saw him walk back out and look down at me. He went to grab his gun and I backed up, trembling in fear. He moved his hand away and shook his head. He looked around and grabbed a small porcelain piano from a shelf and walked over and slammed it into my head, and everything went black.