The Children and the Dark

Ali hopped out of the carriage, clutching his hat to keep from falling, a sack of clothes in his other hand. He twirled around, drinking in the vibrant town of Welldog.

“Check it out, Martha, there’s an entire store that sells cookies!” He exclaimed as his older sister hopped down, standing next to him with her mouth wide open.

“I prefer a store filled with books, then I can read all day without having a worry in the world,” she said lost in thoughts.

“Let’s be quick. Aunt Jane must be waiting for us!” Levi, the eldest, said, taking the loads from his two siblings.

Levi was the eldest of the three, protective, serious, and had the sort of hair that shone golden brown in the sun. His eyes were pale brown like the Sahara — a feature they all had. Martha was next, five years younger than her brother and a girl with an inquisitive mind. She loved books, and although her curiosity got her into trouble most times, she always got away with it. (only because she was ten and had the brightest smile.)

The last brother was Ali, eight, innocent yet alive. He loved adventures, and that made him closer to Martha than Levi. They shared something in common, a knack for causing trouble and getting away with it.

Aunt Jane’s house wasn’t far from where the carriage had left them, and they got there in no time. Immediately Aunt Jane set her eyes on the three children, she wailed.

“You’re all grown up. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable!”

Ali was the first to run upstairs. The house was enormous, and they each had a room to themselves. He ran his fingers through the paintings on the wall. He slid down the wooden handrail and took a bite of everything Aunt Jane made.

“It’s good that you like it here,” she commented, feeling pleased with how well the children settled in. Unlike her sister, she had no children of her own except Billy the cat, who was at the vet at the moment. She was nervous about what to expect, but it turned out her sister did a good job raising the children.

“Can we go for a stroll around the town, Aunt Jane?”

“Ali, your manners!” Levi reprimanded, cutting into his cake with a knife.

Ali rolled his eyes. He tilted his head at Aunt Jane, giving her that pleading face that reminded her of a golden retriever.

She let out a small laugh and nodded. “But be back before the c0ck crows—it’s dangerous at that hour.”

“Yes!” he rejoiced, taking another plate of sliced cake.

The city of Welldog was vibrant, its light burned endlessly, and the music that played without end. Children played under the perfect moonlight, candies in their hands as they laughed.

The three children walked side by side, staring in shock at such a glorious and peaceful sight.

“I never want to leave Welldog,” Ali exclaimed, staring wide eyes at the art collections that hung in a store.

Martha noticed it because her ears pricked up. “Let’s go there, please, Levi, this once,” she begged, prancing around.

Levi nodded and off they went to view the art. A woman in her forties sat there painting. “Can we look at these?” Martha asked, mesmerized by the woman’s painting .

“I’ve never seen you children before. Are you new here?” She asked not breaking her focus from her painting.

“Yes, we moved today. What marvelous art you’re making with your brushes. What are you painting?”

The lady stayed mute for sometime. Apart from the music and laughter in the city, they only heard the smudging sound coming from the brush. She cleared her throat, dipping the brush in water.

“The dark wood.”

“The dark wood? What is that?” Martha asked, her curiosity taking the better part of her.

“This town has lived in harmony for a very long time, and we have always kept it that way. There is only one rule in this town” — she turned to face the children, her dark eyes staring into their souls. Ali shivered instinctively. He wrapped his hands around his chest as he held his breath waiting for her to speak.

“Never venture into the dark woods. You look over there.” With trembling fingers, she pointed towards a very dark and eerie side, a contrast of the town. Ali felt the leaves ruffle, and so did Martha.

The woman continued, “That is the dark woods. Many have tried, but those who entered never came out. People say the place the screams of those it consumed envelopes it. Never venture into the woods. Deep in there, you’ll find a monster that lurks in the darkness, eyes yellow like the sun and teeth sharper than a shark’s.”

“And then what?!” Martha asked, her heart racing with thrill. “No one knows what it does to humans, but it despises us. Never!”

The rooster crowed, and Levi’s attention returned then. Aunt Jane had stated to be back before the crowing of the rooster.

“We have to leave. Now!” he instructed, taking the two children by the hand as he sped away, leaving the woman to her painting.

He didn’t believe in those stories, but he wasn’t taking his chances.

Luckily for the trio, Aunt Jane didn’t punish them for coming home late. They were only five minutes late, but she warned them.

“Don’t try it again. It’s dangerous at night,” she cautioned as she let them go to their rooms and sleep.

Ali couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned, but his mind wouldn’t stop thinking about the dark forest. A series of imagination ran through his mind, and this was the only time he could have a real adventure. It felt like the mysteriousness called to him, begging him to go into the woods.

He sneaked out of his room, tiptoeing to his sister’s room. The floorboards creaked, and he stopped dead in his tracks. “This house is old,” he murmured to himself as he continued his journey. Cracking open the door, he slipped in and whispered her name as she was a light sleeper.

“Martha.”

“Ali? I thought you were Aunty,” she muttered back, relieved that he wasn’t her Aunt Jane. She was wide awake, but when she heard her door crack open, she pretended to be in a deep sleep.

“You can’t sleep, too?” he inquired. Martha shrugged, patting the bed for him to climb in. “What were you thinking of?”

It was his turn to shrug. “The story that lady told us about. What if we check it out tomorrow?”

Martha thought long and hard. Although it captured her interest, the lady also warned of the dangers the place held.

“We could go before the rooster crows, but not deep into the forest,” she answered. That worked well with the both of them.

Ali cuddled his sister as they closed their eyes. Both slept, eager for the next night when they could finally start their adventure.

The morning light seeped into the room, landing straight on Martha’s face. She opened eyes. Excitement rushed through her like the first time she stepped foot into the city. Today was the day of their new adventure.

Ali yawned, rubbing his eyes as he stretched like a cat. “Today is the day, Ali,” she chuckled, jumping out of bed.

The two didn’t have a plan in mind, but they had a goal — to go on a thrill finally.

Night came quicker than day, as though in favor of their plan. Billy the cat was back from the vet and was taking another cat-nap by the fireplace, its ginger fur curled up in a ball.

Aunt Jane had let them go into town, excitement bubbling within them. Ali chased the shadows of pigeons that clucked around the streets. Martha’s eyes darted towards the painting lady’s store.

“You both be good, okay?” Levi said, trying to have a good time.

Their plan began when Levi stopped to talk to a fruit girl with sun kissed skin and a basket full of apples.

Ali chuckled. “Ten minutes!”

“No five!” Martha said as they sped down the street away from Levi.

“Stop right there, you little…” he yelled leaving the fruit girl to go after his cunning siblings. They dashed through a pile of watermelons. Went head on towards a flock of pigeons that pecked on scattered grains.

“Martha!” he screamed as they cut through a corner and towards the woods.

Finally catching up to them, he held his chest to keep from collapsing.

“Whoa, it’s big,” the little girl exclaimed, though a part of her didn’t want to go in.

The forest seemed like a different world entirely. It was too dark that they couldn’t see a thing. Hope came as a single firefly drifted in spreading little or no light to the woods.

Suddenly, more followed, dozens of them adding little light to it, a touch of gold in the blackness of the forest.

“We should go in!” Ali said already charmed by the magic of it’s darkness, he ran in chasing the little night lamps.

“No, come back!” Martha followed trying to stop her brother and Levi came after. Before he could stop either of them, the woods had already swallowed them.

They were deep— too deep into the dark woods.

Everything seemed alive.

It felt as though they were breathing and watching every step the children took. From the rustling of leaves to the slow breeze that made the hair on their skin stand. The forest had an eerie side to it, but yet it drew them closer, like the belonged there.

“Lets stay close. We’d find a way out soon,” Levi said unsure of himself. His brown eyes darted from place to place as he kept his siblings close.

They walked with care, since the only source of light was the moon.

Screaming, Ali missed a step landing on his backside with a soft thud.

“Ouch!” he cried in pain rubbing his butt.

“Hey, watch where your sit!” he heard a voice from beneath him.

“Did you say something, Levi?” he asked.

“Who in the heavens is Levi, you’re clearly sitting on my roots!” the voice came again.

Ali jumped up and scurried to Martha’s side staring wide eyed at the talking tree.

“A talking tree!” he exclaimed, jaw dropping the floor.

The tree trunk came alive as it’s mouth turned into a scowl. “You humans, always so scared… never seen your kind for decades,” it said.

Other trees came alive and cackled. “You better leave before they see you.”

“who’s they?” he asked, but before the tree could answer, they heard a shuffling sound. The bushes moved as a fox popped it’s head up.

“Humans? You shouldn’t be here,” it said staring shyly at them. It fidgeted taking one step at a time.

“We’re lost. Can you help us find our way out?” Martha asked, her face innocent. The fox nodded.

“Follow me, and be quick before they find you,” it said leading the way.

The children had a lot of questions to ask, but some things were better left unsaid. They allowed the fox who in their world was known as cunning show them the way.

“What’s that?” Martha asked looking up into the sky. A flapping sound came from the trees, a white bird that looked gentle and magnificent.

A dove.

“You must be the humans,” she said coming down to their level. Her brightness and elegance calmed the storm of thoughts in the children’s minds. One of the trees rolled their eyes.

“Don’t listen to her, she’s always like this.”

Levi swept his eyes through the bird’s features. She looked innocent, and he completely trusted her, so he spoke.

“We are lost, can you help us find our way?”

“Hmm, I can, but it must come with a price,” she answered.

“What is it?”

“Our prince would like to see you. Humans like you should know rumors travel faster than wind— even the wind is alive in dark wood!”

Levi thought for a while, he knew there was no other way to leave without help from the habitants of the woods.

“Okay, we’ll see your prince, but promise us our safety,” he proposed.

“There’s no safer place than the lands of dark wood!”

Stories say that the dark woods crawled with creepy things. What the three children saw was far from hideous. It was nothing short of extraordinary.

The stars glittered in the night sky as the moon danced spreading it’s luminous light in the city.

“Welcome to the city of dark wood humans, I hope it’s to your liking,” the dove cooed flapping her wings in slow, graceful arc.

“It’s beautiful. Everything is alive,” Martha twirled, excitement written all over her face. The breeze carried petals that circled her tickling her a little. She chuckled loving every bit of the moment.

The middle aged lady from the painting store was wrong. This place was something people only read in books.

It was fascinating.

“Let’s see your prince,” Levi said keeping a straight face.

“You might want to loosen up, young lad. The prince doesn’t like edgy people,” the dove muttered flying towards the city.

When Ali met the prince of dark wood, he fell to his knees as they were weak. Martha ducked behind her older brother. And Levi… Levi stood his ground trying to act brave in front of his siblings.

“I don’t bite, humans are tasty but you lots are lanky,” the prince purred. Martha stepped out from behind Levi and took a step forward.

“I’m Martha, you?”

“Call me black wolf, it’s been years since I met you lots. Let’s throw a feast!” he clapped his paws.

Some bees led the trio to their rooms to change to the finest wears. It adorned them with flowers and jewels they wished for.

The feast was grand, flowers danced as violins played itself. The trio sat over the table, meats in chunk lay on the dinning. Wine and biscuits… everything they ever asked for sat on the table waiting to be devoured.

“To new friends, humans from Welldog!” the wolf howled raising his goblet of red wine.

“To new friends!” everyone bellowed raising their cups.

Ali’s belly bulged with meat and biscuits and he could barely move. He walked through the hallway leading to his room.

“We need those lots to help us find a way to the human world. Keep them full until they show us the way,” someone whispered.

Ali gasped hiding behind one of the pillars in the hall.

“Who’s there?!”

He held his breath and shut his eyes praying not to get caught.

“I’m certain it’s the wind. You know how pesky it can be,” the other person said as they walked away towards a different direction.

In that moment, Ali knew there was danger. He ran all the way to Martha’s room, shoving the door open. He nudged his sister.

“Martha. Martha!” he cried.

“What is it?” she asked, almost annoyed at her younger brother.

“The… this is a t… trap! The wolf wants to use us as a…a…”

“Take a deep breath and talk to me,” she said, calming him down. Ali breathed in and let it out carelessly. His brown eyes shot up to Martha’s face.

“The wolf wants to use us as tools to enter Welldog. We have to leave now!”

Martha didn’t wait.

She rushed to Levi’s room, spitting every detail of the information laid to her. Off the children went, trying to sneak out of the black wolf’s castle. As they reached the entrance, surely, they’d leave and find their way to their world, but a voice stopped them.

“Going so soon, you lot?”

Levi stepped in front of his siblings. “We only want to take a walk,” he said.

“Hmm, why don’t you take a walk ’morrow, then we can show you the way to your world,” he growled coming closer.

“We won’t be long,” Ali quivered.

“Oh, but you don’t have to be…”

“Run!” Levi screamed as the children took to their heels. The wolf followed, running on all four legs. They couldn’t outrun a wolf, but they could outsmart it.

The children kept taking turns, their breath hitching as they made their way into the woods.

After a while, it felt as though they had lost the wolf.

The woods seemed quiet and eerie. The soft breeze brushed their necks, making them alive. For a moment, the thought of everything in the dark woods breathing skipped their minds. But as long as they were alive, they belonged to the prince.

Out of nowhere, a tree branch came at them attempting to sweep them away.

“I think the forest is angry with us!” Martha yelled as they ducked to the ground.

“No, it’s the prince’s doing. We have to escape!”

The roots detached from the ground and came at them. They jumped and dodged until their legs were weak.

Finally escaping the groove of angry trees. They met a garden of wildflowers that casted sleeping spells.

“Why does my eyes feel heavy, Levi?” Ali asked, staggering. “Cover your nose and let’s walk past here. It seems they only do this when we make a sound,” he whispered, biting his lips to keep from yawning.

The trio dragged their feet out of the garden of wildflowers, merely escaping its trap.

“Hey kids!” a voice in the bushes said, making them move back in alarm.

“No need to frighten up, It’s the fox you met.”

“What do you want from us now? Do you want to take us to your master?” Ali asked, betrayed that what he thought of this world was wrong.

“I follow no one. I can help you get out.”

“What’s in it for you?” Levi inquired, ready to turn down the fox’s offer.

“Nothing. Let’s say I hate the wolf — now follow me or you’ll be his next snack!” he whined, moving with great speed . The children followed, wounding their way through the woods.

Out of nowhere, a shadow appeared amidst the darkness, crushing a dried tree branch in two.

The children stopped dead in their tracks, their bodies trembling like a prey in sight.

The black wolf.

“Why don’t you lot be good and come to me,” he barked, his murderous yellow eyes glaring at the children. The fox whimpered, scratching its paws on the thick grass.

“We won’t be your keys!” Martha attacked, picking up a shiny thing that lay on the ground and throwing it at him. The wolf growled, taking a step back.

“Keep going right and don’t stop. I’ll distract him!” the fox whined, jumping at the wolf, giving the children time to leave . They ran with all their might and strength.

They ran until their lungs hurt — until they saw light. The trio fell to the ground coughing. Ali was the first to look up. He saw the city lights, the familiar music and the scent of humans.

“We’re home. We’re home!” he squealed, standing to his feet.

Martha followed, then Levi. They looked back at the woods as though it called to them.

The time frame

seemed different, it felt like nothing had changed in the past hours they spent in the dark woods.

Levi sighed, “Let’s never come here again.”

Martha nodded in concord. “We should head home before the rooster crows.”

Behind them, the dark woods trembled, a long howl piercing through the night—low, endless, and feral.