The Woods

The woods stood, looming, in the distance. Silence seemed to emenate from them, entering the town and causing all of the townspeople to speak in near-whispers. Whever someone came frm out of town their voice was like a machinegun being fired haphazardly about the town.

But the woods!- what could be in them? Few had bravery enough to go inside, or even near the woods. Out-of-townspeople never understood the fear of the woods until they were told to go in them- one look and they were whispering too.

The origin of the woods is a mystery. When the town was built, the woods were not there. Life went on happily, noisily, until one day, without warning, the woods sprang up, full and complete. Most suspected the next town over of foul play, but how could this be so? A team of people was sent in to investigate the woods; seven people went in, only a scroll came out. On the scroll was a single phrase which it has become taboo in the town to speak:

"Grander days leave troublesome nights."

The handwriting on the note was unfamiliar; many said it was the team of people who went into the woods playing a trick on them, even though none on the team could read or write. Yes, that's it. A joke.

Seventeen years later and the team has not returned.

So why don't we enter the woods? Why don't we investigate this mystery? Are you ready- pick up that lantern and we'll be on our way.

We're at the edge of the town- people are begging us in their tiny voices to stay, don't leave, but we must go on. We walk the fifty yards to the woods and enter-

Soon it's obvious: There is no sound here. You and I try to scream as loudly as we can but to no avail; no birds are disturbed, no insects.

But we don't let this phase us. We continue into the woods slowly, watching our steps carefully so as not to run into some hidden danger. The ground is thick with foliage, and as we move I can see that we are distubing numerous bugs- I think I even saw a snake. But no matter. Into the woods we go.

And so we walk.

And walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

and walk

until we finally reach something: A large pedestal is standing, ten feet high and fifteen wide, in the midle of the first clearing we reach.

As I stand, staring at it, you look around and find a convenient vine with which to climb a tall tree. When I finally regain my senses, I shout for you to quit what you're doing, but that is useless in these woods. So all I can do is follow you

up the tree,

a c r o s s  a  b r a n c h,

a
n
d

d
o
w
n

onto the pedestal, where we see a man, tall and scornful, standing there. We shout the question, "Who are you?" at the man, but he merely points at his ear and shakes his head. He points to and laughs at something on the other side of the pedestal, on the forest floor- seven rotting bodies, lying peacefully on the ground. I scream and fall backwards, but you manage to control yourself and look back at the man.

He laughs at you and procures a swordfrom somewhere- I am too dazed to see. He hands it to you and then draws a sword for himself. I finally am able to stand up, but you push me back down. I had forgotten- your father was one of those in the team set into the woods. I move out of the way.

The man lunges at you, but you dodge and retaliate by spinning backwards and slicing with your sword- but the man is not there. Suddenly, tons of ants swarm onto the pedestal, and start to form letters:

"I AM THE FOREST. YOU CANNOT DEFEAT THE WOODS!"

And the man molds out of the ground and slashes you across the back. He disappears back into the pedestal.

At which point you push me off the pedestal, and I read your lips, "Run!" you shout, and run I do.

I run

and run

and run

and run

until I reach the town again. I look behind me for you but I know you will never be following me. The townspeole are out, they're coming closer to me, I suppose they are asking question but I know not what they are: I realize that the woods doesn't take sound; it leaves all who enter deaf.

But I will still, in silence, wacth the woods and wait for you to emerge one day.