Through the Woods

Masayuki followed the girl down a narrow path. She didn’t speak or turn around. The boy tried to look ahead of him. He was used to creepy children by now. However, something seemed familiar about her. Was this really Julia? Maybe this was his thoughts projecting. Then again, Little Ben was real. So maybe…

“Hey,” Masayuki spoke up. The child didn’t turn around. He reached out for her shoulder. A chill ran through his body. He quickly drew back his hand.

“I’m sorry about that,” he said. Little Julia didn’t respond. Masayuki dropped his shoulders.

“Where exactly are we going?” he asked. The child didn’t answer. She kept walking. Her little feet didn’t touch the ground. That hazy glow stayed around her body. Masayuki started to get annoyed.

“Look, I don’t have time,” he said. “Can’t you talk to me?” No response. The boy frowned.

“Come on! Say something!” he shouted. The girl kept walking until she froze in place.

“Julia?” Masayuki asked. The child put her hand in the air. Masayuki looked around when he heard a horn blasting. He didn’t get a chance to ask what that was. The child turned and pushed him to the ground. The sirens grew louder. Masayuki flinched as the child held him down. The pressure grew around them.

“They’re here!” her voice ripped through the sirens. The boy looked up at her.

“Huh?” he asked.

“Come with me!” the child shouted. “Ready?”

“What?” Masayuki asked. He closed his eyes tightly as another hum filled his ears. His body began to feel light. Suddenly, they vanished into thin air.

-----------

When Masayuki opened his eyes again, he found himself alone in a sea of trees. Everything was so quiet. The boy lifted his head.

“Hello?” he asked. He found that he was able to sit up. Julia was nowhere in sight.

“Hey! Where did you go? Julia? Julia?!” Masayuki asked as he looked around. He could hear the sound of a little girl giggling in his left ear. The boy turned to see little Julia floating in midair. She held out her hand to him. Masayuki walked over and took it. The low humming rang in his ears as he closed his eyes.

This is as far as I can go.

What? He opened his eyes to see her smiling at him.

“Thank you,” she said. The little girl vanished into thin air, leaving behind a deep purple thread. Masayuki reached out and grabbed onto it. Right then, he knew where to go next. The boy turned and ran north.