(50 years later...)

Ever since Elliot was little he’s been able to see spirits. Now 16, he’s searching for the answer as to why he can see them and if it can be stopped. He travels far north to seek his answers, into the Forests of Spirits. Upon entering the stretch of woods, he is greeted by all manner of things, the strangest one being a little boy, not much older than 10 years old.

“Hello, traveler.” The Ghostly boy greets him.

“Hello, spirit. Are you in need of something?” Elliot asks, slightly nervous of the boy’s presence.

“Yes, I am. You see, traveler, you are the only one who has been able to see and hear us- Spirits, I mean. I must show you something for you to understand what I am going to ask of you.” The Ghost Boy replies, while pulling on Elliot’s arm to guide him. Unable to persuade the ghost otherwise he follows him.

“Here we are, traveler.” The Boy points to a mossy mound.

“I died here. However, not long before my untimely death, I heard a voice,” The Boy shivers, “Please help me find who, or what did this, sir.”

Elliot looks around and sees more spirits walking around, watching him curiously and full of hope.

“You see, I am not the only one who has died like this.” The Boy informs.

“Hmm, are they capable of speech like you?” Elliot asks.

“Some are… Some sadly aren’t, for injuries of their past lives still haunt them in death.” The Ghost Boy replies, hanging his head down in sorrow.

“I see… I will help you. As long as you can rid me of this curse I have.” Elliot says. 

“I see, you see this gift as a curse… I’m afraid to tell you this but I am not able to do such a thing, perhaps I can give you some useful information? Will you still help?” The Ghost Boy asks, giving Elliot puppy eyes to help persuade him.

“Y-you are stuck here, are you not?” Elliot looks away.

“Yes, we all are.” 

“Then- then I suppose I will help you.” Elliot sighs in defeat.

“THANK YOU!” The young Ghost leaps in the air.

Elliot nods, he starts walking towards the other ghosts/spirits. “If any of you can speak, please step forward so that I may ask you questions about your death.” he exclaimed.

A few ghosts step forward, looking up at him in hope and delight.

“All right, what were you doing before you died? And did you hear anything? If so, what?” Elliot inquired.

A small pinkish spirit/ghost meekly spoke, tilting its head down timidly while picking at its fingers, “I was p-picking berries near the Willow t-tree over there,” They pointed to the massive Willow tree near a river. “T-then I heard it! A voice, asking for help. Oh, the voice was so s-scary but I was so worried! So, I followed it to where it was coming from and then I ended up in the r-river. Something d-dragged me down, it felt like a root or vine! I s-swear!”

Elliot pondered for a moment his green eyes squinted in suspicion, then said his thanks and looked to the next ghost. This ghost was yellowish and was holding a hunter’s bow. His outfit looked more western than the others. “I was hunting, there was game in the branches of that there Willow tree,” Again pointing to the big tree. Elliot scrunched up his eyebrows in concern and thoughtfulness. “Then I heard a darn ugly voice, calling out for me, not by name, but calling me ‘youngin’’ or ‘sport’ like one of my parents, you see? I followed it, askin’ why it needed help, and where it was, but my feet ended up in the river, and before I knew what was what, a beast of vines or roots? I’m not too sure, sprung out of the water and drowned me.”

Elliot scowled, but moved onto the next to last spirit, the Boy, who was short and petite, wearing simple trousers with a rope as a belt. His shirt being a simple button up smudged with dirt.

“Ahh, it’s my turn? I was outside playing, on the willow tree. When I heard a ghostly voice call out to me, ‘Help me, help me, please young one.’ It said, I wanted to help them, so I foolishly followed the voice. It told me to go in the river. I did, and then it was all black.”

Elliot looked at the other ghosts that were merely floating around.

“Were all of you near the Willow tree before you died?”

The spirits shook their heads in unison slowly.

“Did a voice call out for you to follow it and you ended up in the river?”

Again the spirits nodded.

Elliot thought for a second. He regarded the Big Willow tree again skeptical, he glanced at the river beside it. He walked closer to it, ruffling his short brown locks in slight frustration while the other spirits trailed behind him. 

Then he heard it too.