The Cabin In The Woods
by
R.H. Proenza
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PUBLISHED BY:
- A Fantasy Romance -
Revision 01/17/2017
Copyright © 2015 by R.H. Proenza
ISBN: 9781311235275
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author's imagination and used fictitiously.
Your support and respect for the property of this author are appreciated.
Many thanks to who encouraged me to write and to publish. I hope you enjoy the story and perhaps become one of its characters, if for only a short while.
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Prologue
The attractive brass sign on my door reads Josh Brantley, and nothing more. Nothing follows my name. Nobody knows who I am, or what I have accomplished, but that's okay. I am a writer, so what. Some would even say a well-known author…so what. I don’t take myself too seriously or often blow my own horn. I have few friends, but I know that's my own doing because I don't like fakes and there are so many of them around. Fake people prance around full of their self-importance, each wearing their fake mask.
Here I am at twenty-five and I don't even have a girl! I've been hit on by several girls in the past because they tell me I'm good looking, or so they say. Most of them always seemed phony, jaded, or harsh, like self-centered prima donnas! I have more adjectives I could use! The true essence of the FEMALE--whatever happened to that wonderful creation, that unique unspoiled sweetness? Maybe I'll never find her out there – maybe she doesn't even exist!
I stare out the window of my claustrophobic thirty-second-floor office at the horizon. The interesting cloud formations that cluster there entertain me. I am restless today. Further away I can see trees, lots of trees. I love nature and hate to be hiding out in this little cracker box, but I have to write. That's all I know, and I have to make a living. If I could I would be a Jeremiah Johnson. I would live in the wilderness, hunt, and fish for food; sleep between the trees or under the stars.
I need to get away and take a trip some place where I could breathe and be close to nature. Take a sabbatical of sorts. Just disappear for a year and let my modest book sales income accumulate in the bank until I decided to come back. I knew there was beautiful countryside over where I was looking. I could just drive and drive and go from here into the next state, or the next, or… beyond.
The more I thought about it the more the trip idea grew in my head. I didn't have any projects pending anyway. Yes, I decided I was going to take a long extended vacation, and I started making serious plans. Tomorrow I would go to the bank and set up automatic payments for all my bills. Then go to my attorney and tell him what I was about to do so he would cover anything else I had forgotten. And make sure I had all the supplies I needed. Tomorrow could not come soon enough.
Fate had given me beautiful weather to start out on my impulsive journey, or was this a quest? A quest for what? What was I looking for in life? Whatever it was, I had prepared for the trip and was already driving, acting on my impulse. I smiled as I began seeing fewer and fewer buildings and population in my rear view mirror. I was leaving civilization behind and it was somehow exhilarating.
My destination was still ambiguous. I was leaning toward a beautiful national forest I knew about just one day's drive away. The long drive could give me a chance to think. I wanted to rehash my life – what I have done with it to this point, what my purpose was, and where I was going in life.
Chapter 1
I had driven for hours in deep thought and now it seemed like I would never get to my destination. There had been miles and miles of trees and forests. They were beautiful, yes, but they never ended. My brain was now on automatic pilot and wondered if I had been driving in circles? Did I make a wrong turn somewhere? I confess I am what is known as "directionally challenged." Sometimes I think I can get lost in a closet looking for my own coat. So getting lost was not unreasonable!
I knew what I needed…I needed to stretch my legs. Yes, a brief walk would do me just right, to break the monotony of the drive. The trees here grew thick and close together. Now I felt a strange desire to pull off at a small clearing at the edge of the road. The sky was a remarkable blue with not a cloud to interrupt the panorama. The air was fresh and crisp – a perfect day for a walk.
Once out of the car the fragrances hit me all at once. The scents of evergreens blended with that of the scattered colorful wildflowers. Behind that was the scent of fallen leaves in their slow process of going back into nature. From the clearing where I stopped, I walked into where the trees seem to part and open a path, perhaps where deer traveled. As I walked I made sure to look behind me so that I would remember the path on the way back.
The forest was fascinating with its luscious underbrush, with verdant wild plants. The quietness that only a forest has the ability to produce was mesmerizing. I couldn't help but go deeper in while I followed a squirrel that was scavenging for something edible. A beautiful young doe crossed the path up ahead. She looked at me for several minutes, studying the intrusion of a human. We stared at each other before she disappeared into the underbrush. As I looked upward a large woodpecker approached. It landed on a nearby limb and took my attention away from the fallen branch across the path. It had broken apart into small logs. My foot stepped on one and rolled with my weight. All at once I was falling backward. I saw bits of sky through the trees on my way down – feeling like I was in slow motion. I landed on my back as my head hit something hard, what felt like a large rock on the ground.
Chapter 2
I'm not sure how long I lay there…everything was spinning and I felt something moist at the back of my head. Touching it I brought back a red fingertip. I sensed that some time had passed because the sunlight filtering through the trees seemed changed. Had I lost consciousness? A strange buzzing roused me from my thoughts. It was like the sound of a loud bumble bee. I raised my head and saw that a hummingbird had approached me as I lay there, no doubt assessing me. Then a second and a third came to join it. The tiny birds were iridescent green with reddish heads – some of the most beautiful I had ever seen.
These tiny birds didn't seem bothered by me as they hovered in perfect formation. I was fascinated and took my time getting up so as not to frighten them. The trio stayed in front of me, moved away down the path, and then returned to hover in front of me again. I thought how odd that behavior was. When they again ventured away and stopped to look back it compelled me to follow. It was… it was as though they were coaxing me to follow… but that was improbable – these were wild birds!
I half stumbled toward them, the headache reminding me of my fall. The impossible question occurred in my mind as they stayed in front of me instead of flying away. Were these tiny birds deliberately leading me down this path? How could this be? And yet I had to keep walking out of curiosity. Was I dreaming? No, I felt lucid despite the ache at the back of the head.
The path was clear enough for me to walk on it although the forest appeared thicker than when I started. These tiny buzzing guides continued leading in front much to my incredulity. The path narrowed, somewhat darkening around me. This began to concern me. I would never find my way out if it weren't for the path being the only way in. Now I could see more light between the trees. I thought I saw a brief flash of light around the next bend. No doubt it was a beam of sunlight coming through the tree limbs. As the path came out to a grassy clearing I saw it.
A cabin! There was a cabin here in the woods… in the middle of nowhere! Could th
ere be another person out here? The humble dwelling was made of flat stones, mortar, and wood. The three little birds proceeded to move toward it, so I followed, now even more intrigued. There was a quaint little water well in front and to the side of the cabin, also made of the same flat stones. Thick ancient looking trees and wild underbrush surrounded the undisturbed the area. The path seemed to lead right up to the front door. The trio of birds hovered right up to the door then suddenly flew off. As I approached, unsure of whether I should knock, the door swung open. I jumped backward, startled at what was before me.
Chapter 3
There in the doorway stood the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. Long locks of hair the color of morning sunshine cascaded over bare shoulders and along her back. Hazel eyes, like deep pools, peered at me from her flawless face. The faint fragrance of jasmine drifted past me. I guessed she looked to be between eighteen and twenty-four. I was stunned …speechless. For the longest moments, she stared at me, almost through me. Her facial expression went from a startled surprise to a warm smile. She lowered the small basket she was carrying.
"Oh, hello," came the mellifluous voice from her perfect lips. "I see you've already met Oscar, Benny, and Tom. They told me you were coming. They are excellent judges of character, so you must be a good man." She smiled.
"Osc…? Ben…?" My voice choked as I looked from the beautiful face to the little trio that had returned and was beside the door. The three seemed to be right in with the conversation. My attention came back to her. "Who…who…" Now I was sounding like a forest owl. "Who… are you? What are you doing out here?" I could barely catch my breath.
"Oh, I'm just Lilly, the Caretaker. And who are you?"
"I'm, uh…" forgetting my own name. "I'm Josh. Sorry that I ... seem not quite myself. I'm still a little stunned. I guess from my fall and from…uh, from all this…" I waved my hand at the interesting little cabin.
"Your fall? That explains why the three brought you here. I haven't seen anybody come by in over fif…, in many years. Here, turn around and let me look." I turned my back to her, not sure what she had just said.
"Oh, dear. Yes, you have a nasty bump there. Come inside and I will take care of it for you." I entered the cabin and looked around. I had thoughts of Seven Dwarfs about to come into the room from somewhere in the back. I must have hit my head harder than I thought.
Lilly moved around in the cabin, opening up a little door to a cabinet. It had some impressively ornate carvings on its front. She took out several tiny vials of different shapes along with a small wooden bowl. She put some white powder into the bowl. She meticulously added several drops of liquid from each of the vials. After a bit of slow stirring, it formed a paste that smelled like…cinnamon?
"Now, let me see the back of your head." I turned wondering if she knew what she was doing. Standing behind me I felt a strange sensation like static electricity. Using a small curved wooden spatula I felt her cover the wound with a little of the paste. It felt cool on my scalp like peppermint feels in your mouth. She got close to my head and gently blew her breath over the wound. I immediately felt a warm sensation, followed by some tingling. "There. In a short while, you will be all better again. These uh, forest herbs are just wonderful at healing."
"That does feel better. And my headache…it's gone! Are you a nurse?"
"No, silly. I'm just a Caretaker." Her demeanor was soft and innocent, almost childlike, and soothing, somehow. "If you thirst, I can give you some water. Please help yourself to the fruits and nuts on the table. They will make you feel better, too."
"Thank you. I am thirsty." I tried the fruits and drank cool crystalline water from a wooden cup. "These are tasty, especially this red oval nut. I've never seen or tasted anything as incredible as these before."
"Yes, those are my favorite, too," she said brightly and walked away to put away what she had taken out earlier.
"I guess I was hungry after all." She dazzled me with another of her smiles. Her beauty kept taking my breath away, leaving me stunned. "I'm sorry to be staring at you like this. It's just that you're so…beautiful." She giggled and blushed.
"Well, I think you are beautiful, also."
He chuckled. "I've never been called that before."
"Oh, but you are!" she smiled at me again and then blushed. I couldn't help but pick up her hand to squeeze it in gratitude. I felt that same tingle I had when she blew across the wound. This time, it was much more intense, almost electrical. There was a weird flash behind my eyes which disappeared as fast as it came. She gasped, her eyes going wide.
In a tiny whisper as if to herself I heard her say, "You touched me….oh, dear me."
"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm just so grateful to you and..."
Her demeanor seemed to change and started looking worried. "It's getting late and you really must leave..."
"What? Oh, well, I guess I've overstayed my welcome to your hospitality. "
"No, it's not that. I've so enjoyed having you here… more than... more than I can say, Josh." Lilly knitted her eyebrows as she looked into my eyes.
"Did I do something wrong, Lilly?"
"Oh, my, no. I have loved your visit. I wish you could stay here… forever. Forever…" She repeated the last word in a whisper. "But you need to leave now. It will be dark before long."
"Yes, I could get lost with less light outside."
"You won't get lost. Oscar, Ben and Tom will guide you back down the path."
"No, wait…" I stopped and rubbed the back of my neck in frustration. "Lilly, I…I'm so taken by you. You've pulled the rug out from under me. This.. This feeling… has never happened to me before. I have to … I mean, I would love to see you again, even if I have to come all this way into the woods."
In a barely audible whisper, eyes dilated, she said, "Yes, oh yes. I as well would love to see you again, especially with how strangely I'm feeling about you right now! I don't understand..."
She became crestfallen, sadness becoming obvious. "No, I can't. I need you to… to go now. I cannot see you again. You are not the chosen one." She hesitated. "May it be well with you, Josh." She paused. "I like your name, Josh," she said with a pained expression on her beautiful face. Her eyes moistening.
"Not the what? Chosen one? What…?" I was confused and frustrated. Here was the girl I had thought no longer existed. The grace and innocence and femininity were all there. I could so fall in love with Lilly. No, I WAS falling in love with her, if that were possible in such a short time. The sweetness that emanated from her was overwhelming. Yet she had asked me to leave… to just walk out on her… just like that!
She opened the door and the three hummingbirds appeared out of nowhere.
"Lilly, I…I feel so compelled to stay here, with you. May I stay and talk with you a while longer?”
“No, you must leave,” she said with a pained expression on her face.
“This is the hardest thing I've ever been asked to do!”
I rubbed my hand across my forehead in frustration and stood speechless for long minutes. “Lilly. I... I will NEVER forget you."
"Yes…yes you will forget me, Josh," she said with a tear running down her cheek.
"But, how can I ever forget YOU! You have affected me wonderfully…I can't even understand how, but you have! And now you're asking me to leave..." a knot chocking his throat.
"Goodbye and farewell." With a sad face, she closed the door on me. As if on cue, the trio of birds buzzed my ears and moved toward the path, once again motioning to follow them. The wind had been knocked out of my sails as I walked ahead. How could this be? How could I just walk away from this incredible girl… this sweet goddess? The birds became more insistent as I slowed my pace.
Chapter 4
I walked quite a distance thinking that I was getting closer to the edge of the forest. Around the next turn, I saw the fallen branch where I had tripped a
nd fallen. I felt exhausted, physically as much as emotionally. An intense sense of loss surrounded me. I sat down on a soft pile of leaves and leaned back against a tree still shaking my head at what I had just left behind. My eyelids were strangely heavy, and I must have nodded off until the loud chirp of a bird aroused me.
I looked around and wondered why in the world would I have taken a nap here on a trail…in the woods! It felt like just a few minutes before I had left my car by the side of the road for a short walk. I must have been tired. But now I felt refreshed and energetic. That nap must have helped me! I needed to get on my way, though. I had more miles to go.
Behind me, I heard a strange buzzing sound, like that of a loud bumble bee. When I turned there was nothing there. The forest always had interesting things to see and hear. I'll have to go exploring more often. Walking out of the forest I had a feeling like I'd forgotten something. I looked back at the path making sure I had not left anything behind on the ground.
Back in the car, I was feeling more rested than I had in a long time. I was about to start my journey again when I felt something in my pocket. I withdrew two strange red oval nuts I had never seen before... I gasped as I was suddenly jolted by a sharp tingle in my hand and vivid mental image. A GIRL… a girl of breath-taking beauty… a PATH into the forest… a HIDDEN CABIN in the woods. It was a powerful vision that flashed before my eyes, and then disappeared. A haunting vision…gone like a vapor, but even so, indelibly imprinted in my mind. Had I been standing I would have been knocked down!
I sat there catching my breath for several minutes. Was I hallucinating? NO! The mental image I had just experience was taking substance in my mind. No, I'm not leaving. I must go back…I have to!
I ran back into the woods desperate to find the same path. There up ahead was the fallen branch and the familiar trail beyond. I touched the back of my head looking for the wound of a remembered fall. I was thinking how odd not finding it knowing full well there had been some blood at the back of my head.