Chapter 11: I Went Into the Woods Today

They were doing it again. They're voices only getting louder and louder. My tears coming nowhere close to drown them out. Even with blaring of music across the hall didn't do anything but increases the volume.

"Stop . . . "

She screamed for reason.

"Stop . . . "

He screamed for questioning.

"Stop . . . "

I having been coming too grasped the charm around my neck, for that the harder I held on . . . the quieter the sounds go. And nature's music filled my ears. Able to lighten this aching pain from me.

That crushing feeling was no more.

Even in such a confined room, the wood's sounds were able to reach his ears. Softening the life into a surreal world.

Without leaving the room, the cabin, the very area. I was already somewhere else. And it was peaceful.

In stories, people have said that many others always get lost in the woods and can never find a way out. But to me, I find myself home.

Like I belong in the woods.

If not for the storm that was happening now. I would go out today and get away from all this. I can't now. Too good a reason; For mom and dad to fallow me. I can't chance it.

"Max . . . "

"Go away." I turned away from the lock door, with mother on the other side.

"Max, honey, come out. I know you must be hungry."

"No thanks."

"If you're sure?"

"Yeah."

Can she not take the hint of the tone I am using? I don't want to talk to her now. Or anyone in the fact.

"Okay, but when you want to come out . . . "

"Yeah. Okay. Got it!"

It's harsh, but how else is she going to get the point to go away.

The grip on the charm in my hard, became too much and nick my palm. Not enough to bleed, but enough to show the anger in me.

From them.

Come on, Max. Clear your head again. Go back to those woods and that peace.

Fading to the land of sleep never felt this good, 'til now.

Dark. Damp. Cold with a weak breeze of summer. Clouds of gray blocking out the sum. Creatures wonder about through the lush forest. The scent of cold rain grows more and more as the minutes' pass by.

The coldness struck hard on my naked body. Holding myself for warmth did nothing. Thoughts of getting out of here seem useless.

But something happens, where my eyes went to . . .

A lonely path scars through the land, giving a sign to walk it. No reason not to, but to just do it.

And as a fool. I do.

Listening to woods' voice. Going deeper in lush hell. The fear of what's within doesn't reach me as I keep going. For me, I think that fear only wants to grow stronger. So I am choosing not to feed it.

"Where am I?"

Moving long, rough, branches out-of-the-way that could strike marks on my skin if used right. The ground wet from the sudor air, good enough to lose footing.

But that fate lies on a sharp rock, ripping the skin of my shoeless heel. Landing hard with mud spreading everywhere. Dirtening every inch of me.

A strike happens hard in my foot, with a wet dirty slip in my cut foot. Darken the blood without a care.

"Ow . . . "

Gripping the unstable earth to get up, with only a few fails. I was able to stand. And kept moving.

Going back to the cabin was out of question, seeing that when I open my eyes. The cabin was nowhere in sight.

For this dream, being alone is never a good thing.

When walking was becoming too much, the end of the path was coming near. Moving bushes apart, a lake was in the clear.

"Is this for real . . . "

"Yes . . . "

I looked about, trying that voice. Nothing.

"Who's there?"

"A friend or more . . . "

"Which is it?"

"That is something for you to decide . . . "

"Do you have a name?"

"I do . . . "

I moved out of the woods and closer to the lake. Cleaning myself. Having no care of the unnoticeable voice.

"What is it . . . "

This is a dream, so this voice should have one.

"Only you can say it . . . "

"When does everything that happens rely on me . . . my family . . . my school . . . my whole damn life!"

"One day that won't happen . . . but you have to wake up . . . "

The voice finally gives away where it was, but the area starts to fade before I could see the person.

"Damn . . . "

Rubbing my eyes of sleep, only feel wetness. Tears?

Is for the thought of missing that voice?

"Max? You awake hun?"

"Yeah mom." Clearing my voice enough that it wasn't breaking anymore. "I'll be out in a moment."