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Valerie joined the Fentons near the edge of the forest. She had barely convinced them to let her come, as it was they were keeping a close eye on her and she wasn’t allowed out of the van. She hated admitting that they might be right. The forest was calling so strongly, if she focused she could almost hear a song… She shook her head. She needed to ignore it. She needed to be here, needed to see if this would work.
Someone had tried to burn the forest before and it hadn’t worked. But the Fentons had specialized gear. It would work. It had to.
Along the forest edge the Fentons set canisters filled with what they claimed was a supercharged version of the forest’s energy. Hopefully it would succeed in burning the forest down when normal fire had failed.
But something was wrong. Yes, something was wrong. She climbed out of the van, gazing into the darkness between the trees. Was something there? She stepped forward. No, there was nothing there. There was something wrong with the canisters. Yes, that was it. She walked closer to the forest, picking up one of the canisters and turning it in her hand. She frowned. Nothing seemed wrong. She looked up, gazing again into the darkness between the trees. It was so dark in there… That was it! She needed to take the canister inside. It would work better inside the forest. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of it sooner. And it wasn’t that dark really. It was almost… comforting. Yes, the darkness was comforting. Why had she ever been afraid? She stepped past the first tree. Something was calling to her. Was there someone here? Did they need her help? They were singing, but she couldn’t make out any words all she could hear was the haunting melody. She wished she could hear the words. Maybe if she got closer. The canister slipped from her fingers as she stepped further into the trees, but it didn’t matter. She could hear someone screaming something. She scowled. She wished they would stop, she wanted to hear the song. She could almost make out the words…
Then something yanked her back. She cried out and the darkness was replaced with light. She collapsed to her knees the Fentons saying something above her, but she couldn’t make out their words, could barely feel Mr. Fenton’s large hand on her shoulder holding on tightly.
She was trembling all over, gasping for breath. What had happened? She heard something, or saw something, she wasn’t sure anymore. She felt something wet drip onto her arm and raised a hand to her face. She was crying.
“Valerie! Valerie, what happened!” she could finally make out what Mrs. Fenton was saying.
“I’m… I’m fine.” she gasped out even though she couldn’t seem to stop crying.
Mrs. Fenton frowned but didn’t push her which Valerie was grateful for. They helped her into the van where she curled up on one of the seats, watching out the open door as Mr. Fenton pressed the switch to ignite the canisters. Energy exploded out of them, lighting the surrounding trees on fire. It burned green and soon spread to other trees.
The Fentons were talking excitedly between themselves.
But Vaerie… the forest was screaming. Valerie clawed at her ears, closing her eyes tightly, she couldn’t help the scream that left her throat. She felt like she was on fire. She tried to stumble out of the van, run toward the flames, but something held her back. She screamed again. The forest was on fire. She was on fire. Everything was on fire. She needed to help. She needed to run into the trees. She would be safe amongst the trees. She needed to help. She needed… she needed…
She clawed at the thing holding her back, but there was not give. She screamed again, sobbing, trying to go toward the forest, but she was being pulled back.
No! Noooo! Nononononononononononononoonononono
She was in the van and it was pulling away from the forest. She needed to go back! She tried to get closer to the door. If she could open it she could jump out and run toward the forest. But something wouldn’t let her go. Another wordless scream escaped her lips and then, suddenly, she went limp.
She could barely register being held against something. A person maybe? Her vision was blurry and her throat hurt. She was staring out the van window as houses zoomed by. There were a lot of people out there today, a lot of kids. Was that shouting she was hearing?
And where were they going? Were they going toward the Fenton’s house? Hadn’t they planned to go to the forest today? She had barely convinced them to let her go.
So what were they doing now? She wanted to ask, but she was so tired… maybe… maybe she’d just shut her eyes for a moment. Just for a moment…