The Final Chapter

Ana stretched out her arms, her blonde hair a tangled mess from the long journey.

“Mommy, I’m tired.”

“We’re almost there,” Clara reassured her. “Can you hang in there a little longer?”

“No need for that,” Alex interjected, flashing a smile at his daughter.

He halted the donkey and made some space in the back, then hoisted Ana into it.

“Don’t worry,” he assured Clara, grinning. “Ana’s light as a feather and we’re nearly there.”

He gave the donkey a friendly pat. “She can handle it.”

Clara returned his smile, then winced as she adjusted her shoulders.

“Here, let me take him for a bit.”

Gratefully, Clara turned, and Alex helped her unstrap Matthew.

Alex held him for a tender moment, looking down at his sweet face before carefully transferring the sling to his own back.

Clara made sure their son was comfortable before they continued on their journey.

An hour later, they arrived at the township of Laneway, a sizable fishing village nestled in a small valley.

Clara’s gaze was drawn to the trees. From what she could see, the forest seemed endless.

“I don’t like being this close to the trees,” she admitted, shivering.

The setting sun cast a red glow, making the forest appear ablaze—or perhaps coated in a thin layer of blood.

“What do you mean? There’s plenty of wood. Lots of space. I bet there’s great hunting too,” Alex countered.

Clara didn’t respond.

As they neared their inn, Clara began to feel uneasy about their new home.

Night had fallen and the streets were eerily quiet. All the doors were shut and locked.

It was a stark contrast to what she was used to in Norfolk.

“Where is everyone?” Clara asked.

“At least we won’t be bothered,” Alex replied.

“I don’t like this.” She glanced over her shoulder toward the trees again.

“You’re so superstitious. We’re fine. Look, we’re here!”

At first glance, the inn appeared closed but when they knocked, the door swung open.

Clara and her children were ushered inside while Alex stayed behind to take care of their donkey and wagon.

Ana was asleep in Clara’s arms. Matthew was nuzzling into her hair.

“Come, come, come,” the elderly innkeeper’s wife whispered. “Let’s get you fed and watered.”

She seated them at a table. The window was tightly shut, the curtains drawn.

Two other patrons were huddled at a table further up, their faces hidden by their cloaks. They glanced up briefly before returning to their quiet conversation.

Clara watched them for a long time, reminded of a similar scene from years ago.

“Here you go, dear,” the old woman said, setting down a plate with a large piece of stale bread and a chunk of cheese. She even had a bowl of yogurt, which was a real treat.

Ana immediately woke up and dug her hands into the bread. Clara cradled Matthew in her lap.

“Why’s it so quiet?” Clara asked.

The inn was dimly lit, with only a few lanterns burning.

“It’s not safe to be out at night. Not anymore. Not for the past few years,” the old woman replied.

Clara felt a knot in her throat. The old woman’s eyes were sparkling. “Not since the devils came.” She leaned in to whisper in Clara’s ear so Ana wouldn’t hear. “Keep your children close. Never let them out of your sight.”

“Why?”

“Because of the creatures.”

“Creatures?”

“Creatures of the night. Devils, monsters, phantoms—no one really knows what they are.”

“They live in the trees?”

The old woman tilted her head. “How did you know?”

Clara shrugged and forced a smile. “Just a guess. You said several years? That’s about when I met my husband.” It was also around the time Lilitha vanished.

“Life was better before then. Simpler. Before people started disappearing.” She sat down at the table, her hands folded in front of her. The lantern light flickered across her face. “I don’t want to scare you, but you seem like a nice lady and I want you to understand.” She leaned in close again. Ana dragged the plate closer, her eyes wide with hunger.

“They say they’re devils, risen from hell to punish the guilty. And when they can’t find enough guilty people, they take the innocent.” Her gaze swept over Clara’s children as she leaned back in her chair. “Be careful. Stay indoors at night and make friends with your neighbors.”

Clara’s heart pounded in her chest. “Do you know anything else about these—these creatures?”

The woman shook her head. “Only that no one who’s taken into the forest ever comes out. They say…they say there are remains of the dead. Heads. Their eyes take you—the dead. Their eyes ~take you~.”

She licked her trembling lips, her eyes darting between Ana and Matthew.

“There’s more?” Clara asked. “What is it?”

“Children. My cousin is one of the Champions who escorts the prisoners in. He said—he said he heard children’s laughter. He ~swore~ he heard it. And the crying of a baby. A ~baby~. The thing is, no baby has ever been stolen, as far as I’ve heard. Maybe they collect souls too?”

She was shaking now and dropped her hands into her lap.

They both jumped as the door opened. Alex shook off the cold and smiled at them.

The woman stood up and nodded, then hurried away.

“What’s wrong?” Alex asked as he joined them at the table. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Clara leaned toward the window and parted the curtain.

Despite the bright moonlight, it seemed too dark. She could just barely make out the edge of the forest from her angle.

She stared and stared. “Maybe I have,” she said, letting the curtain fall back into place.

Alex watched her with concern.

“Eat!” she urged, pushing the plate toward him.

“What about you? What did that woman say to you?”

Clara glanced at the window, then at Ana. She suddenly felt very cold.

She wrapped her cloak around her, but the chill seemed to have seeped into her bones.

“Just the truth,” she replied.

Matthew began to stir, and Clara pulled him up to her chest, holding him close.

She watched as Alex ate and Ana reached for a spoonful of yogurt.

She turned back to the window, her mind suddenly amidst the trees, amidst a different but familiar forest, in the presence of a friend who was a stranger.

~Do you think I’m evil?~

~No. Whatever you were before, you are no longer.~

Clara held Matthew closer, shivering.

End of Book 5