I heard the rustling of leaves and like any sane person who was in the middle of unknown journey, was scared to death. It was a new city, I was lost, in a forest, God! why did I sign up for Science Knowledge Enchantment Program?
I carefully picked my bag to make least noise and instantly started to run.
“Little girl, are you lost?”, I heard the voice out of nowhere. I turned around to track the source of the voice.
“Oh thank God, there aren’t only animals here! Yes, I’m lost. Can you please guide me home?”, I babbled with a sigh of relief.
“Sure, little girl, come along.”
His hands were really muscular, maybe because of the piles of wood he was carrying. I concluded that he was a villager who sold wood to earn his living.
Emma, my classmate who accompanied me, told me natives of this place are rather rude and indifferent, but I think that doesn’t hold true for all. This man was really willing to help me despite of the work that he should be doing.
“Thank you, I’ve to reach Nelsa Square by 3 PM to not miss my train.”
“ Sure, you do.”
He was taking me deeper into the woods, I know for a fact that I didn’t come here from the woods, I didn’t know what was going on.
“I think you misheard me, I said Nelsa Square, I don’t think this path will lead us there, because…”, he cut me short and asked me to say quiet until I reach the place I am ’supposed to’.
That was surprisingly weird. Being the talkative girl I was, I couldn’t really mind my own business, especially when I was nervous. Before I could strike any conversation with him, he suddenly grabbed my hand tightly.
His gigantic hand and the rough skin sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to shout or at least ask him what was going on but I couldn’t mouth a word.
“Don’t worry, little girl, I have everything planned”, he grinned.
I knew I was in trouble, I managed to get his hand off me by scratching him. I ran for what felt like hours, however I wasn’t even 5 meters away from him. I saw an inclined path in front of me, at the base of which was a lake. There were some rafts on the shore and I could see the branches hanging from the top, I slid down the path and quickly managed to pull one raft into the water. As I started rowing, I saw him getting small with distance, after few minutes I reached a marshy area, it was really difficult for me to row anymore. I analyzed my surroundings and quickly got down of the raft. I knew he was out of sight, and I was out of his reach. I had to find my way home as soon as possible.
As I tried to walk in the marsh, I promptly got the sight of the city. I wasn’t this happy in years, all I had to do was follow that sight and I’ll be there! Although the branches and leaves were making it even harder for me to walk, every type of vegetation was rubbing against my skin, I got some bruises but at least I would reach home safely.
I sensed some crawling sensation on my left foot, and found a snake sitting with poise. Thanks to my school, I knew it was non venomous, its tail had two sets of scales instead of full. Also it has round pupils. I quickly moved my foot back, so as to leave the snake there and I moved forward.
I saw a faint shadow at some distance, for an instant I was overjoyed to have found a help, but turned out there were only animals and THAT GUY in that forest, was he seriously omnipresent?
He caught hold of me once again, and pulled me into the dark forest. I was now officially kidnapped.