Chapter Two

Wanderers’ Woods

Calian

I was surprised by how easy it was to just leave the majority of my stuff behind. All I did was pack a duffle bag with some basics. I wore my mom’s satchel, keeping close all the things she left inside and adding my sketchpad, laptop and charger to it. I wasn’t sure when the next time I would be in my apartment again, but maybe a little summer retreat to this mystery cabin is exactly what I need.

Maybe the countryside air would do me some good. After all, the air here was positively suffocating. Everything here seems to be lately.

I carefully grabbed Mom’s urn and placed it in my bag. With zero hesitation, I jingled my keys, feeling the first moment of anticipation in a long while.

*****

Thankfully, Mom’s map was clear. I reached Wanderers’ Woods by mid-afternoon, leaving my car parked on the side of the field to follow a trail that led me deep into the forest. The path was well travelled, but small. Like only one or two people ever trekked it consistently. The air here was different. Clean. Earthy. Mildly damp like there was water nearby. And though it wasn’t necessarily unique, I already felt much better being here than in my apartment.

It all felt surreal, though. Like a distant memory that was just out of reach. As I continued, my hand tingled, like someone was pulling me forward. I stopped when I found a pier. It was strange. The mossy boards stretched over the large lake about ten feet. I felt drawn to it, but as I stared at the water rippling against the modest breeze, I suddenly felt the need to turn away. When I did, I could have sworn I saw a child. It was just for a second. He was short with red hair, and silver-rimmed glasses. He was wearing a green tee and khaki shorts. The boy pointed animatedly back towards the path—a huge cheeky grin on his face—before disappearing out of sight. It hit me that I finally remembered why this place was familiar.

When I was six, Mom and I spent the summer out here. We would leave Oakheart, and she’d show me how she found the herbs for her shop. How could I have forgotten about that?  Why did I forget that?

Puzzled, I moved on, following my younger self away from the lake and further past the surrounding trees. I watched the leaves rustle, the bugs buzz about and noticed the wildflowers that lined the path the further I went. They almost appeared to point towards my destination.

At least fifteen more minutes passed until the wildflowers transformed from two parallel lines to an entire meadow. The orange, yellow, and purple blooms surrounded a small brown cabin, but never encroached on the route leading toward the door. Just to the side of it was a pile of logs stacked high, and even farther from that was an outhouse. On the other side of the cabin was a rusted well hand pump.

I hope the water works. I frowned, pushing on ahead. Maybe I should have thought about bringing a little more than just the basics.

Then again, I wasn’t sure what I was going to find, and that thought made me hesitate. I placed my hand on the tarnished doorknob and froze. All other thoughts melted away as my brain recalled Mom’s letter. She said this place was the way home. What did she mean by that? Was there something here that would make me feel closer to her? She mentioned wanting to tell me everything. Did she have some secret she’s hidden away here? Is that why I didn’t remember this place until I got here? How is it that her letter left me frothing for more answers? Was I just reading into it?

I tucked the map into my satchel, pushing away all lingering queries.

Well, I won’t find out by standing out here.

Resolving myself, I stepped inside and found a single room. There were two windows, one directly across from the door beside a full-size cot. The second was to my right. Both were covered by thick orange curtains. There was a picnic table in the middle of the room, and along the same wall as the doorway you could see a counter—well, it was generous to call it a counter. It was more like a shelf—with a tabletop burner. Beside that was a single pot, two bowls and a handful of utensils. On the very left wall was a fireplace, and next to that, a large bucket. I placed my bag down on the table, examining the cabin space. Mom must have come up here frequently because I couldn’t find a speck of dust.

And though this place was rather plain, I felt strangely comforted here. However, I could see that the sun was shifting, and soon, it would be dark. I left my things inside and began grabbing logs and checking the water. Thankfully, the well pump still worked. The water was crystal clear. It took a little longer than anticipated to carefully bring these items inside without causing a mess, but I managed it.

Before it could get any darker in this small room, I started lighting a fire, using one of mom’s matches and the kindling she had placed in a box under the bed. It didn’t take long before the flames roared to life, adding the sound of crackling to the dimming chirps outside. Soundlessly, I reached into my duffle bag, thankful that I considered packing at least one granola bar a necessity. There was certainly nothing obvious to eat around here. I’d have to go back into town tomorrow to pick up a few things.

I watched the flames as I sat on the edge of the bench, silently munching away.

*****

Seeing as there was nothing else for me to do tonight, I opened my laptop. I quickly clicked into my story and just… watched as the cursor taunted me. Twenty minutes of hair pulling and swearing did nothing to make it move. My writer’s block didn’t magically disappear, and I certainly wasn’t inspired by anything around me. If anything, I was just overwhelmed.

I wanted so badly to get Nova out of her current bind—which, as it stood right now, was her imprisonment by her wicked parents just because she was searching for a means to break her curse—but all I could think of was walking away.

So, I did.

I grabbed mom’s satchel, tossing it over my shoulder as I walked out of the cabin. I stood along the path, not trying to get lost in the woods. I strolled for several minutes until I reached that old mossy pier. Before I could think better of it, I got the insane urge to cross it. It almost felt like someone was gently pushing me forward. I didn’t stop until I got to the last plank—where the pier met the lake.

The warm night air must have done me some good because I was finally able to calm down enough to really take in my surroundings. And truthfully, I was in awe. The sky above was sparkling with stars, and the lake below reflected it. They mirrored each other seamlessly, and suddenly, I was reminded of Nova. It was like she was staring at me, and the loneliness she must feel hit me all at once. After all, wouldn’t you feel the same if you could never connect with anyone? Never be comforted by the person you most wanted to see?

I could understand that. And while I’m fully aware Nova is just a character. A person that my mother made up long ago. Sometimes…I feel like she’s the only one who will ever understand that well of despair within me.

The itch to draw her was immediate and intense. I just really wanted to see her. As I was about to reach for my sketchpad, the wind picked up. It blew roughly in all directions just before there was this shining blue light flashing in front of me. Although, it wasn’t exactly in front of me. Rather, it was just a step below me, swirling like a glowing whirlpool within the lake.

“Whoa!” I yelped as the wind shoved me towards the water.

I tried to stop. I stomped on the pier, thinking maybe I could make a hole for my foot to get stuck in, but instead, I slipped against the moss, causing me to dive headfirst into the whirlpool. I waited for the feel of cool water, but it never came. Rather than drowning, I was tumbling through the glowing light. There was nothing to stop my fall, and absolutely nothing to hold on to. So, I did the only thing that made sense: I screamed my head off.

WHERE THE HELL IS THIS THING TAKING ME!?!?!

It felt like ages, or maybe it was seconds. I was all at once disoriented. It didn’t help that I wasn’t sure which way was up, or that I couldn’t stop myself from spinning like I was trapped in a hamster wheel. However, this tunnel of light finally spit me out, causing me to roll on the freezing ground. It took a moment, but when I finally managed to sit up, the blue light dissipated until I was surrounded by darkness and snow. I stood, adjusting my glasses, wiping the frozen water off my pants, and wrapping my arms around my thin summer t-shirt.

I was still in the woods, but there was no longer a mossy pier. The lake had disappeared, and it was suddenly winter. I exhaled, my breath displaying exasperation. Did I hit my head?

Well, I couldn’t ponder it all here. I needed to find some place warm before I died of hypothermia. I glanced around, not sure where to go, but from the corner of my eye, I saw some light in the distance.

“I guess that’s a start.” I muttered to myself.

It took longer than expected to reach the house. Actually, it turned out to not be a house at all, but rather some sort of estate. It had a multitude of windows along the brick, square structure with arched yet simply decorated eaves, and out of all the lights that should have been on in this grand manor, there were only three windows that let you know that someone was home.

I quickly ran towards the entrance, searching for some sort of doorbell. When I couldn’t find one, I raised a shaky fist to the door, banging against it. I waited a moment, but no one answered. I tried again, hoping that someone, anyone, would just let me in!

But, alas, I wasn’t meant for an easy night. Feeling I had no other choice, I pushed down on the door handle, and surprisingly, it was unlocked! Hurriedly, I entered, shutting the door behind me as I felt pinpricks of warmth attack my skin. It was simultaneously painful and reassuring.

I took a couple more steps, marveling at the decadent ivory staircase that was not fifty feet away from the door. But I didn’t have time to concern myself with décor. I just wanted to get warm.

There was a light on in what looked to be a sitting room to my right, I turned in that direction, teeth chattering as I said, “H-h-hello??”

Before I could walk in, I heard a lovely, but icy voice from above. “Who are you?” She didn’t shout, but I could feel the authority in her tone. It dared you to find out what happened when you disobeyed.

I turned, first seeing the glint off her thin saber as she came halfway down the stairs.

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to—” My eyes widened as I finally caught a glimpse of her silver locks and starlight eyes. “Nova!?”