Story Scene

“Where are we going Lala?” Catherine gripped her hand, as she was led into the forest tree line. It was a sunny day, but as soon as they stepped beneath the trees, the air felt colder, and dampness of the wet spring was more apparent. Her little white shoes were now dirty with mud, and she struggled to keep her wobbly pace up with her older cousin.

“I want to show you something, Catherine.”  Launa pulled her through the barely beaten path that she herself had made.  No one goes into these woods, except for her. And it would remain that way.

“Lala I’m cold.”

“Just wait, Catherine, you’re fine.” She said coldly. They had been walking for about fifteen minutes before she suddenly veered off the path, dragging her three-year-old cousin behind her. The dead branches on the ground snagged at her legs, and she could feel her resistance as she tried to slip her small hand out of her grip. So she pulled harder, and quickened her pace. She could see the sun starting to get lower, and knew there was only about two hours left of sunlight. Finally, they made it. There was a small brook, and she brought Catherine over to it, and knelt down.

“See Catherine, isn’t this neat? It’s like a little river. Lots of animals come her to drink water. Maybe we will see one.” Catherine peered into the brook with curiosity, and looked around the forest in hopes that a majestic animal was on its way over.

“Are there fishes in here?”

“I think so. If you look hard enough I bet you’ll see one.”

“Keara loves fishes.” Catherine looked in to Lana’s eyes, as if hoping to see something happen. But Launa just stared back, cold and distant, like a stranger.

“Catherine, want to make a dam? So we can catch some of the fishes?”  Catherine perked up with excitement.

“Yeah!! How do we do that?”

“ Go down that way, and collect as many sticks as you can. Don’t come back until you have a bunch.” Her cousin excitedly scurried down the brook to some nearby trees, and started grabbing sticks as if she was being timed. Launa stood up, smiled, and silently headed back to the beaten trail, leaving Catherine and the forest behind.

It was about an hour and a half later when her Aunt came bursting through her door. She had her headphones on and was reading from her Cosmo magazine.

“Keara, where is Catherine? I can’t find her anywhere.”

“Um, I have no idea.  I’ve been in my room all day.”

“She told me she was coming upstairs to play with you, I thought she was with you this whole time. Oh my gosh.” She quickly turned out of the room and Keara could hear her footsteps run down the stairs, as she started desperately calling out Catherine’s name. Panic started to take over Keara. She hoped Catherine was just hiding somewhere, trying to play a trick or play with her imaginary friend she seems to always be talking about. But part of her told her something was wrong, and that for certain, Catherine was in trouble.