Epiphany

Chapter 56~Give in

The dark took over the few rays of light that fought until the end and the trees blended in with the shadows a few yards away, and the farther the eye travelled, the darker the forest became until it reached the end spot, at which point it was painted in vantablack.

The woods gave off a creepy vibe, but it did have its good side. No one would be able to spot me at all this way and with the hood that Andre gave me that was pulled over my head made me confident that I was blending into my background, making it the much more easier to move around.

When I heard giggles cutting through the eerie silence of the forest and shuffling getting closer, I snapped my head around and peered at the tall and short figures standing a few yards away from me. Because of the flood of amber lights that unexpectedly overwhelmed the trees a few yards away, I wouldn’t have been able to make out who the tall person was.

Andre left me half an hour ago to pick out some of them, yet he only came back with one. He was kneeling in front of a girl no older than eight years old.

I bit my lip, shocked at how young the girl looked. Was she one of the people who were coming with us?

He kneeled in front of the brunette and tousled her hair as her giggles died down, a grin dancing on her lips.

After a few more mutters from Andre, the girl nodded furiously, her grin fading as he stood up, his hand leaving her head.

“Well then, off you go.” I heard him say.

“You swear to God?” the wide-eyed girl asked with a croaky voice, implying a sore throat.

I crept forward as they spoke, curious to hear what he said to her when their voices were lower.

He squeezed her shoulders and said, “I swear to God.”

She gazed at him for a second before wrapping her arms slowly around his waist, eyes holding the ground’s gaze. Andre’s left arm which he had stuck around his waist for a while still remained, while the other embraced the girl back.

With how she both melted and yearned for his touch, it was obvious what this kid went through.

As I further observed the girl’s state, I hadn’t noticed her eyes observing me too.

I stood there, not sure what to do.

She shouldn’t have seen me, right?

Should I hide or—

She lifted her right hand from Andre’s back and gave me a wave. She then recoiled from the hug, staring upwards at Andre. She gave one last nod before scurrying away, towards the area with the light swamping the trees—which I assumed was the area where the tresorers started occupying the place.

I hurried over to Andre, my voice trembling. “She saw me.”

“I know.” His voice was lower than usual as he spoke with his back facing me.

He does?!

“Why are you so calm then?”

“Because…” A deep breath cut his words short as I noticed his short puffs of air.

Before I could ask what was wrong with him, he started walking to the side, around Tresor I assumed. “Come on.”

I followed him, looking around, observing the dark shapes that the light didn’t reach and assuming they were bridges and tree houses that weren’t inhabited.

“Where are they? I thought you should’ve brought them here by now so we could get out of here as quickly as possible.”

“We’re not going any further than that.” God, the loudness of his shallow breath could alert the enemies to us. “We can’t risk getting in and not getting out.”