CHAPTER III – THE NORTHERN FOREST

"That was a long night." I said to myself. It was a night that was filled with nothing but nightmares. I survived however, and looking at the nice sunrise in front of me, that is giving me the needed motivation to push on. My father's note said I need to push northward, but when I get my bearings on where I am and find out which way is north; north is through this thick forest.

I don't like the feel of this forest; I'm going to need something to protect myself before I push forward. The survival book I had said I need several things, but right now I am more focused with getting a weapon, maybe a wooden sword or a spear with a sharpened stone on the end of it. I am not sure yet. I recall the survival guide saying I needed a sword to survive, so I think I'm going to follow that model. I'll find some loose wood and sharpen it to make a sword. It might protect me from some small animals that might want to try and attack me.

I return to the canopy, overwhelmed with the smell of burnt wood from the smoldering fire. I always loved that smell, it brought back memories of a better time, a time when I was younger and spent all my time with my dad. I loved those days.

Those days are long gone however, as I am stranded in the middle of nowhere with no real direction, except to "head north". I still do not know what this village might have for me, or who might be waiting for me. It's all way too confusing still. I need to focus more on survival than I do trying to decide what might be at the village.

First thing I need to do is try and fasten myself a sword. There are plenty of limbs and sticks around, along with stones that I could use to sharpen up and make a wooden sword. That should keep me safe, I hope, from whatever may be in this forest. It seems odd though, the book mentions the sword as being "critical"; a spear would have been much more sufficient for hunting and protecting me. Why is the sword more critical? Are there things in this forest much more dangerous? Or are there other humans that might be hell bent on killing me? I am not too sure yet. All these thoughts are way too clouded in my mind.

"There, that should be good." I said to myself, as I put together a wooden handle and a "blade" of sorts. "Needs some major sharpening, but hopefully this will work for now."

I grab my backpack of various items, plunge it onto my back, and start heading towards the north… to the best ability I got to find north. As I look back at the smoldering fire, I think to myself; this isn't going to be an easy journey or an easy time. I wanted to go back home. The fire reminded me of home, and my dad… my dad? Why did he send me here anyway; with no reason or consent? Why? Several questions start rolling through my head again. But one same thing kept going through my head… why?

As I am walking through this forest, I take notice of something that makes me feel extremely uneasy on the inside. This forest has no life. No sound. It's dead quiet. No movement, no birds, no animals, no nothing. Just… trees. This makes me feel very uneasy, as I feel like there could be a paranormal presence here. Why else would there be no wildlife?

This forest is very dark and very thick, filled densely with coniferous trees, although the climate here doesn't feel cold enough for those kinds of trees, but I just shrugged this off. The climate isn't what I need to be thinking about while possibly moving through a dangerous forest. This forest also reminds me of my paranormal expedition in Transylvania, in the most haunted forest in the world. This forest actually seems just like that one… is this where I am; Transylvania?

That thought seems impossible, but yet somewhat possible, but then a thought crossed my mind. I landed on a beach. There were no beaches in that country. My sudden feel of delight was now gone. I was somewhere else; somewhere far away.

As I keep walking, I swear to myself that I keep hearing a slight noise in the distance, even though this forest is dead silent… or at least I thought it was. This rustling sound is getting louder… getting closer… something is following me… stalking me.

This thought frightening me as I wielded my wooden sword tightly. I'm looking around frantically but see nothing. I don't hear anything anymore. The sounds stop. I sigh in relief, and continue walking forward towards the north, and then the rustling starts again. Something is following me. I stop again in my place, and the sound stops to. I carefully look around in all directions to see if I can spot anything, but yet again… nothing.

"What the hell?" I said quietly to myself, with a slight sense of fear and worry in my voice. I was worried that something was about to attack. Wielding my sword very tightly in an attack ready stance my dad taught me a few years back, I slowly ease forward, with my eyes and ears open to all sights and sounds. "I really hope I remember how to fight." I said quietly to myself.

You see, my dad was a master swordsman and a master sword crafter. He knew how to fight and he knew how to make the best swords in all of the land. No one in the world could top his work, and no one in the world could best him in a sword match. He taught me as much as he could in 2 years, and now here I am, probably about to get attacked.

The rustling sound is now getting louder and louder faster than I am moving now. This thing, whatever it is, is speeding up. I just got a sense of terror suddenly as well. I knew it was close, and without even thinking, just like I had a sixth sense, I knew it was behind me. I stopped dead in my tracks and froze in place. I didn't move a single muscle. I knew it was there. I could feel the icy cold breath of this creature, like it was a ghost, or a demon.

Without thinking, I take the sword and swing it behind me as fast as I can, and for a split second I saw it; tall, white, and devilish looking. It almost looked like the creature in my dream; almost exactly like it. However, when my sword would have made contact with this creature, it vanished into thin air, with no trace of it being here, nothing at all.

I am now breathing very heavily, as my life literally just flashed before my eyes. I thought I had died. The forest is dead silent again. I slow my breathing, and start trying to calm myself down again. That's the last thing I need now after getting stranded here is having the living hell scared out of me.

I lost my bearings, and I don't have any sky to go by anymore to tell direction, so I take the compass out of my bag. I didn't want to use this, because I don't really trust them for telling true direction. They always lead you slightly off course. I look at the compass, flat in my hand. It said I was facing towards the south. I got turned in a half circle. I turn back to the north, and my life flashed before my eyes again.

"Oh god!" I screamed as I saw the creature again, this time eye to eye, except he had none, just white circles with no pupils, but again, he showed himself for about a second then he disappeared before my eyes. My breathing is heavy again and I have a strong sense of terror and worry now. I had to get out of this forest, now.

I get the compass orientated to the north, and I take off running, as fast as I can possibly run, and I keep running until I can see a light in the distance. "That must be the way out!" I said to myself.

That light seems like it's getting further and further away the closer I get. I keep going, ignoring my tired legs and my fast, short breathing, and I keep running until I am free of this hell. I'm out of the forest, and in the distance, I can see a town. "Thank god!" I screamed as I sighed of relief. I stop and try to catch my breath, and I turn around to see the forest and that creature was standing in that opening, watching me, and then it vanished.

I turn back around, relieved, and start making my way to the village, unknowing to the fact that this isn't the last time I will meet this creature.