Chapter 9: Into the Woods

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People get lost in the woods all the time

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People get lost in the woods all the time. If you think about it it is probably one of the easiest things to do, especially if you don't know how to locate your way around.

Earlier this morning my peaceful almost dead-like sleep was interrupted by the echoing sound of two women screaming. It wasn't the normal bonjour I have grown used to hearing, these screams were not ones of joy but filled with terror and concern. For nearly ten minutes those two women ran down the streets calling out the same two names. Peter and Louis. Teenagers. Best friends. Lost.

Everyone is gathered in the town square. The normal morning routine has been pushed aside. Pierre is standing alongside the two women who are sobbing so hard they are struggling to speak, but we got the gist of the story. When they woke up this morning and went to check on their sons they did not find them. It wasn't until Peter's uncle stepped forward and told them how the boys were wanting to look for the castle from the story that we all knew what happened to them. They had gone into the woods.

Idiots, in the daytime the woods can be a hard place to navigate but at night especially in the conditions around Belles Collines, it's downright impossible.

While I listened to Pierre assign people into groups and give them each a task I notice Gaston standing at the far end of the crowd. His eyes scream worry. He's been in those woods. He's been to that castle and he has not only been face to face with the supposed beast that lives there but now has a scar to prove that he did encounter something out there.

I silently slip past all the people in my way and stand next to him.

"Are you going out there?" he asks me but his eyes don't waver from their focus on Pierre.

"I'm still not sure. I know it's the right thing to do but I don't know these people," I quietly laugh at myself and shrug, "I know that made no sense but it does in my head."

He smirks. "I know exactly what you mean and for the record," a moment of silence settles between us before he whispers, "I think you should go out there."

"Let me guess I should go out there because I want to be part of this village so therefore I should join in."

He scoffs. "No, because you are the only person who has a shot of not dying or fucking up in there."

I look at him shocked, "I wasn't expecting that answer."

He looks over at me, "I heard about what you did with the hunting group yesterday. I must admit I was impressed. That's the best shot I've heard of in a long time."

"Thanks, I guess," I give a small smile but it falls as quickly as it came, "Are the people here really that bad at hunting?"

"At this rate, I'm surprised we all haven't started to death and the butcher is still in business."

"Okay, let's get moving we need to find those boys!" Pierre yells and claps his hands.

Loud murmurs rumble from the dispersing crowd.

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