The next morning, my mother was gone. A note was left on our counter simply saying,

‘Went out for my new job. Sorry I didn’t see you yesterday. Stay inside.’

Instead of listening to her written words, I left myself. I needed air and a way to clear my head from all the changes. Maybe I could see where our road leads to.

I noted yesterday after arriving that our street had a “Dead End” sign. But after further inspection, I also noticed that the path seemed to go on endlessly into a deep forest area. At least, that’s what it seemed like from the small stairwell that lead into our house.

So, logically thinking, if I left now and explored for the entire afternoon I should be back before my mother noticed and have enough time to barricade my door.

Stepping out in a pair of fitted jeans and a grey t-shirt, I took in the summer light, the air was warm with a slight breeze. The grass whispered soft melodies and the wind replied with harmony. The hum of cicadas filled my ears and the songs of blue jays and chickadees echoed in the bright blue sky. Not a single cloud could be seen and there wasn’t any sight of a human being.

Turning right after reaching the dirt road, I traveled toward the shadows that were cast down by various tall trees.

While walking, the wind spun gently around me and I took in the surrounding scenery. Everything was so old and rustic, yet it seemed like a sort of painting, as if it wasn’t real. My thoughts began to ruin the moment and I felt cruel emotions swell inside of me. Emotions of confusion, pain, hatred, and doubt.

Why did things have to change? Why is there evil in this world and why do people brush it off as if normal?

I passed by a small cemetery and wandered into the thickness of the forest. The trees blocked the sun and with just the breeze the world became cooler. I was careful not to leave the path for I was walking without any knowledge of where I was going…

Mreow.

I stopped in my place. My heart lifted with joy as I came to the realization of what I had just heard. I searched around frantically for the source of the beautiful noise.

“Cat! Was that a cat?” My excitement started to grow as I heard another small noise come from a bush. Stepping off the path, I shortened the distance between the hiding creature and myself.

“It’s okay, I’m not gonna hurt you,” I coaxed, trying to sound kind and calm.

I loved cats. They are so small and adorable. There was a time when my father took home a small white cat from his workplace and told me I could keep it. It was a pathetic creature but I loved that cat with all my heart.

Mreow. This time the call was louder and with confidence.

I reached forward into the bush to try and find the small animal. Suddenly, laughter started behind me and inside the bush I found a small recording device… Turning around confused, I was met with not one, but three boys scoffing at me.

“You idiot. How could you not tell that those noises were fake?”

“Ha ha he’s so stupid!”

“Yeah, what an idiot!”

I gritted my teeth and stared at my feet in shame.

The hell?

“Aww look he’s gonna cry, how pathetic.”

I wasn’t. But the embarrassment for falling for such a childish prank kept me from looking at their taunting faces. The tallest of them shoved me backwards and took the device from me. His breath made me gag and I noticed a lit cigarette in his hand. They continued making stupid jokes, making me feel insignificant.

“Hey you guys!” A boy was running our way with three different dogs on leashes.

“Aw damn, who invited the wannabe?”

“Tch, it wasn’t me. How the hell did he even find us?”

“At least he brought the dogs.”

Being brought out of my self-judgment, I tensed up, fixating on the dogs. They were big. Their saliva was dripping from their toothy smiles.

I gulped, taking a step back as the boy arrived to the group of jerks.

Panting, the new boy tried explaining how hard it was for him to find them and was asking why they didn’t invite him out. Seeing them together, without their laughter and cruelty that had kept me from making eye contact, I could finally get a good look at them. They all looked around the same age as me, from 12 (my age) to 15.

The oldest was obvious to make out, for he was tall and stronger than the rest. He wore a red baseball cap backwards which covered his dark brown hair. He kept shifting his weight every time he perked up in their conversations and would occasionally take in a big drag from his cigarette whenever he didn’t speak. I gathered that his name was Dylan.

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The next was Anthony. He was chubbier than the rest and had short blond hair. His hands were sweating all the time and I came to that conclusion after noticing he was constantly wiping them on his jeans. His lips smacked together as he chewed on something similar to gum. Looking at him filled me with disgust and I would get the immense feeling of being unclean.

The scrawny boy next to him was named Jimmy. He honestly wasn’t anything to look at but seemed to be the smartest of the group. After all, he had old homework crumpled in his back pocket. Behind his wirelike glasses, I noticed he had a lazy eye. Acne covered his face and he kept scratching at his left cheek.

The new boy in my opinion was the more interesting one. He was much shorter than them but, had some intelligence about him. He had hazel colored eyes and chestnut hair. He wore a red zip up vest and blue jeans that had small mud splatters near his ankles. He seemed to have a spark behind his eyes. A curiosity I was intrigued toward. His face seemed flushed from just previously running and he clung tightly to leashes of the dogs.

The dogs…

I gulped again, remembering the vicious creatures. One was a large white and brown Pitbull. The other was a silky black Rottweiler and the final one was a massive Great Dane. Each had its own unique collar but I couldn’t rip my eyes away from their gnashing fangs.

“Oliver, we didn’t ditch you man. You just didn’t come to our after-school meeting last Monday.” Anthony tried to explain grasping his shoulder in a confident way.

“What? Meeting?” Oliver spoke cocking his head slightly.

“Yeah man,” Dylan spook up. “The meeting that… “

“Wait,” Oliver cut in, “Last Monday Anthony,” He turned toward the boy who was holding him. “You had detention. So how’d you hear about it?”

They all became silent desperately working on an answer. Though their attempts to cover up was tragically sluggish.

Slowly coming to the realization that his friends were making false excuses to him, Oliver loosened his grip on the leashes allowing the dogs to lunge toward the stranger.

Me.

Letting adrenaline and fear push me, I bolted deeper into the forest. The dogs’ deadly barks chasing after me, and the boys running after them. I started panting and my vision became short-sighted. My lungs started losing the capability to expand properly.

I can’t breathe!

I gasped in air and jutted to the right tripping on an upgrown root. I screamed as I rolled on the ground picking up millions of scratches and bruises.

It hurts!

Gasping on the ground, I picked my body up somehow and scrambled to a Willow tree. It stood alone and out of place from the rest of the forest. Without thinking, I climbed up the tree and reached for my inhaler, concentrating on taking in one breath after another. I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. My head spun in circles and I gripped tightly to my branch.

“Fucking… You damn dogs! Get back here!” Cried Dylan, throwing his cigarette against a tree.

“Go go go go they’re getting away!” Hollered Anthony, trudging along behind Dylan. Jimmy was half running behind Anthony trying to keep up, and Oliver was nowhere to be seen.

I clung to my branch and coughed in agony, praying that my lungs would expand and allow me to breathe properly again.

After a small moment, I opened my eyes and began shivering from a cold breeze. The forest was quiet and the sounds of barking dogs and screaming maniacs were drowned out by the restless summer wind.

“Dogs suck, and those boys are jerks. Dammit, why is it that I can’t find a fucking place that’s away from problems?” I let out a sigh and took in more of my surroundings. I did notice that the tree stood by itself but I never realized by how much. The nearest tree was about 30 feet from it.

It was so… peaceful.

Slipping down from my branch, I dropped to the ground and was instantly met with a screaming pain. My legs were cut up to my knees and my arm had about five different thorns in it. I clenched my teeth as I began tending to my wounds.

“Damn jackasses...” I cursed under my breath, letting my rage slip out.

A slight wind picked up from the north and I inhaled its beautiful scent. It was of wild flowers, grass, and the innocence of nature. I took in the sight of dripping vines that hung from high and low branches. Their delicacy swaying with any passing breeze. Moss was layered on the forest floor, it contrasted with the vibrancy of the bright green leaves from the many different trees surrounding the area. I heard whispers from nearby and faraway forest creatures calling to each other with urgency and love.

“Your language is quite foul young boy.”

I let out a little gasp and my hands froze above my knees in fear.

The simplicity of the voice washed over me and I cautiously looked over my shoulder.

There stood the Willow tree with its golden colored leaves seemingly raining from infinity to the end of grace. It was delicate looking and the rough bark twisted majestically upwards only to be hidden by its parading leaves.

A confused look grew upon my face.

“Uh.. I’m sorry…?” My childish voice quivered in the air.

“No need to be sorry, just… be more careful. After all, such harsh language can get you in trouble. Especially at your age.” The voice replied kindly.

It seemed soft and wise. As if full of knowledge and courage. It almost sounded like it was an elderly man speaking to me.

“I'm twelve, and I don’t appreciate you hiding. Are you with those boys from earlier? Because I’m not afraid to hurt you.”

I stood up and gradually stepped toward the tree, a frown taking place upon my lips as I searched for the person that was speaking to me.

“Boys? Ahh, you mean those troublesome twits. No no I'm not with them child. How could I? I have no feet.” I halted at the base of the peaceful Willow.

“What?” I asked plainly and obviously confused.

The air was quiet.

“Hello?” I called out, trying to sound innocent yet annoyed.

No response…

“Hey, where’d you go? I don’t understand. What’s your name? Where are you? Please, tell me.” I twirled around in place listening for anything. My curiosity was overwhelming but the frustration of the circumstances was utterly irritating.

Once again there was no response.

My attention was brought back to my leg as a wave of pain washed over me. I clicked my tongue.

Screw this. It’s probably those punks again.

I started traveling away from the lonesome tree, limping and quivering from the pain.

“Auden… “ The voice was sewn through me, wrapping around my soul. The hairs on my arms and neck stood tall and my attention was once again drawn away from my pain.

I stopped again and glanced over my shoulder taking in the view of the Willow tree.

“My name, is Auden…”

The tree’s long thin branches swung smoothly in a small passing breeze.

Auden? I thought. The hell kind of name is that?