The Dark Woods of Mystique Lake
It was not called the dark woods for nothing. You can easily get lost and lose direction in the dench misty woods if you're not familiar with the many narrow foot paths all over the dark woods. This was the part of the woods where the trees grew dench and tall. It was untamed and a beautiful part of Mystique Lake where not many of the towns people ventured in, only season hunters, tourists and lovers of nature.
The name Dark Woods derivefrom the folklore tale that was passed on from generation to generation in Mystique Lake of the little slave girl who was accused of witchery. It is said that she was chased through the woods where the people of the town caught her and chained her upside down to a tree where they burned her alive. Dark smoke settled around the half-burned tree and her remains for days and it only spread further making it unable to find your way through the trees. Some travellers who made it out alive claim the woods drove them mad it was as if something or someone was always watching them. Others say that they did not catch the little slave girl and that she ran so deep into the woods for days and days that in time she became part of it and were finally free.
Bonnie knew this part of the woods and she can still remember some parts of it. Sheila used to bring her here when she was a small girl and growing up. She always dreaded coming here with Sheila later on. Always. But here, Sheila was in her element. A different Sheila that the towns people were not familiar with. They would search for plants and trees and Sheila would patiently explain every tree and plant to her. This was the only place her grandma looked and feel free, laughed and smiled a lot, like more than usual. "Smell the air little one, touch the morning dew with your finger and if you listen very carefully you will hear her beautiful voice like a siren calling for you to come dance with her until all your problems in the world are gone and there is only joy and happiness left". Sheila would always say with her arms raised up high her eyes closed and her face lift up to the sky and after that Sheila would take a small bottle out of her dress pocket and drink from it. Little Bonnie would giggle and do the same and drink from her water bottle but as she grew older the talks in Silver Lake were starting to get to her. Maybe the people were right, maybe Sheila is a crazy witch.
She can remember that last day they were here together. She and Sheila. She was fourteen and had just started to show some interest in boys especially the Salvatore boy but as Sheila said he was not a boy but a man.
Flashback
"Come here Bonnie and look at this wild flower. Isn't she beautiful?" Sheila said in wonder. The contours of her face soft her eyes sparkling.
Bonnie just glanced at the flower and looked away.
"We should take it with us. You should give it to that young Salvatore boy, the one who wants to be a doctor. Tell him that the juice of the flower is good for burn wounds and any open wounds. It will heal up and not leave a scar." Sheila said as she caressed the flower gently.
Bonnie was sitting on a rock angry inside. She was fed up of coming here and today she was going to tell her grandma, she decided on the spot. "Tell me Ma, why is it that you can take and take from the dark woods but you have a problem when other people come here and do the same. People need wood for fires." Young Bonnie said fiercely.
"You should silence your tongue child. We give back what we take. We ask permission before we take and we always plant something back but what do other people do? They take and take until there is nothing left to take." Sheila said and got up with a soft sigh from the ground where she was kneeling in front of the plant.
"I'm not going to come here with you anymore Ma and exams are starting soon. I can't afford to be kick out of Mystique Lake High or the junior cheerleading squad." Bonnie said and looked down at her hands.
"I knew this day was coming. It always comes, first Abigail and now you." Sheila said softly.
"Ma please." Bonnie said and looked at the old woman with sad eyes. "You never speak about my mother and if I ask you anything about her you just shut me down."
"Because there is nothing to say about her Bonnie."
"She is your daughter, my mother of course there is something to say." Young Bonnie said as tears rolled down her face.
"Then let her be the one to say something I just hope I'm in a better place when that happens." Sheila said and took out her bottle taking a greedy drink from it.
"Ma." Bonnie said in tears.
"You are changing child." Sheila said softly.
"No, I'm not Ma."
"Yes, you are. The woman in you is coming out. She is no longer a child anymore. She is blossoming like a flower and the bee are noticing it. He is intoxicated by her sweet nectar, and soon he is going to have his fill of her nectar." Sheila said as she looked at Bonnie with soft sad eyes.
Bonnie could feel how hot her face got under her grandma's eyes. "I don't see boys Ma."
"But they see you child." Sheila said. "They no longer see the body as that of a child, but that of a woman. The young firm swollen breasts. Curves and contours, full lips that whispers the secrets in their lustful dreams."
"Ma please is that you talking or the bottle." Bonnie whispered embarrassed.
"You are changing as you should its part of growing up, only time will tell if it's for better or worse." Sheila said deep in thought.
"I can't be a little girl forever Ma and you can't treat me like one forever." Bonnie said with a heated gaze.
Sheila looked up at the sky and smiled. She then looked back at Bonnie and said. "Is that why you cover your naked body when I walk into the bathroom. The only people who do that got secrets."
"It is called privacy Ma." Bonnie said quickly.
"There was no privacy in the garden of Eden."
"But we don't live in the garden of Eden Ma." Young Bonnie said stubbornly.
"Look around you child there is no place on earth where you will feel closer to your Maker then here. This is my little heaven on earth and I passed it on to my daughter but she chose another path and now you doing the same, now I cant force you and I don't want to embarrass you anymore with your friends but just remember this , one day you will return, strip naked of all pretence, bare and hurt. It is only then that I hope you will hear her voice Bonnie and that you will take her hand and dance your problems away." Sheila said. She then walked to Bonnie and hold out her hand to her and said. "Let us go home child. She stopped singing."
End of Flashback
A pain so sharp and intense shot through Bonnie's head blinding her vision as she is falling down to the ground.
"Are you out of your fucking mind Melinda?" Caroline screamed in anger at the laughing mad woman.
The three women were quick to kneel next to Bonnie who was on the ground with a bloody nose. Bonnie looked up at the sky and said. "I'm sorry Ma" With tears in her eyes.
Stella ripped a part of her shirt off and placed it on Bonnie's nose to stop the bleeding.
"Get her up now!" Melinda said in a hard, ugly voice.
The three friends helped Bonnie up to her feet. Melinda were standing in front of them with a sick triumphant smile on her disfigured face pointing a bow at them.
"Now where did your little mind run off with you. You looked miles away. The legend must be true about the dark woods. You are hardly in it and you are already losing your mind Mrs Salvatore." Melinda said with a mad glow in her eyes.
"You could have literally chosen any place to hunt us why here? What happened to Vegas? Didn't you have enough money to go kill us there." Stella said making sure every word dripped with sarcasm.
Melinda was quick to kick Stella hard in her stomach sending Stella backwards. "Run your mouth again and I will end you right here Stella Wiccomb."
They helped Stella up to her feet who was clutching her tummy.
"Your heads will make nice trophies on my walls. Hunting season is officially open. Simon says run." Melinda said with a cruel smile.
The women slowly stepped back with their eyes on Melinda with her bow pointing at them. They walked like that for a few minutes before they turned around and run. Melinda smiled to herself when she couldn't see them anymore. She raised her bow higher and with a satisfying smile she released the first arrow.
SWOOSH! The arrow fly pass Kate's head getting lodge in the tree in front of her. Bonnie was quick to turn back and cover Kate's mouth with her hand before she can unleash a blood curling scream. "She can't see us but she's not that far that she can't hear us. We need to keep moving try to run with your heads a little lower, judging by that shot she aims her bow high and try to push the plants as hard as you can out of your way. I want her to see where we have been." Bonnie whispered quickly. "She looked at the others and tell them to follow her.
Melinda was still standing on the same spot with her head turned sideways. The arrow must have landed in a tree judging by the silence. Perhaps too high and too far out. Melinda thought to herself. "Ready or not here I come animals!" She yelled out loud in a haunting voice.
…
Stella was the first one to stop, heaving for air. "I can't, I'm too tired it feels like we have been running in circles for hours." Stella said out of breath.
The others stopped too. "Not hours Stella but we have been running in circles. We have to get Melinda of our trail. I remember there is a small cabin nearby with luck its still standing and maybe we can find something useful in there. Kate you too must be exhausted get on my back that way we can make it faster." Bonnie said and helped Kate up where she was sitting flat on the ground.
With Kate on her back the four were ready but before they walked Bonnie turned to them and said. "It's going to get really dench onwards these animals have been living here for thousand of years try not to scream or do any sudden movements, okay?" Bonnie said.
"Okay got it." Stella whispered wide eye. Caroline and Kate nodded their heads.
Keep Still
Bonnie looked back at Caroline and Stella with a questioningly look in her eyes.
"What is it Bonnie?" Caroline whispered.
"One of you said keep still." Bonnie whispered back.
Stella and Caroline looked at each other and then back at Bonnie shaking their heads no.
"looks like Melinda hit you harder than we thought Bonnie." Stella whispered with a look of concern.
Bonnie looked at Stella and placed her finger on her lips signalling for her to keep quiet. Leaves suddenly creaked. Footsteps cautiously approach them but then it stopped turned away and followed a different direction. Bonnie waited for a minute for Melinda to follow the wrong trail before she motioned them to follow her.
…