Chapter 3 - Enthralling Forest

As the old house was engulfed in twilight, Anaya passws the hallway into her mother's former bedroom. The photographs on the dresser caught her attention, as they often did, triggering a melancholic feeling in her heart. She carefully lifted the largest frame, running her thumbs over its worn edges, as misty memories swirled in her mind.

Faces stared back at her from frozen moments in time - her father's weathered features twisted in a familiar laughter, her mother's face bearing crinkled smiles of the past and future. Anaya suppressed the sting in her eyes, bracing herself against the bittersweet sorrow that always emerged at this hour, when shadows lengthened and solitude seeped in through the cracks. With a feather-light touch, she murmured, "Another day without you, Mom and Dad," tracing their outlines. They were young with a life ahead of them, but fate took them away too soon, just like destiny took her real mother. Her heart ached at life's unfairness, but she compelled herself to share her day with them.

"You'd be proud to know that I got the job," Anaya said with a watered smile. "Wouldn't you? I had to do this, you understand, right?" Anaya attempted to justify herself. It's not that her parents didn't want her to be independent; her foster mother, a nurse at a hospital in Mumbai, worked hard. However, she felt that her parents would have preferred her to focus on her studies before finding a job. But it became necessary now.

"Anyway, I'm settling in well," Anaya forced a smile, blinking away the teary wetness in her eyes. "I've made some changes in the house, not many, but enough to bring back some of our old decorations."

"I hope you're at peace now," she said softly. "Don't worry about me; I'm managing fine on my own." Yet, as the words left her lips, she couldn't deny the small prick of tears that threatened to appear.

With that, Anaya gently placed the photograph back in its place. She cast one last lingering gaze at the faces that had embraced her as their own during a fleeting period, then surveyed the room. Suddenly, the bed reminded her of another distant past - the arguments and anger mingled with the beautiful nights. Trembling with memories she didn't wish to recall, Anaya immediately stood up.

"What have you done, Anaya?" she scolded herself. "It's not the same bed; why are you exchanging one pain for another? Why did you buy this damn house back?" Although she voiced her pain, she knew the answer. She wanted something of her parents to always stay with her, both her biological and foster parents. She feared losing her identity otherwise.

Restlessness coursed through her body as she reached out to the window, yearning for a distraction from the influx of memories and emotions. Her eyes fell upon the forest, its towering trees beckoning like old friends. The view from this side of the house offered a clear sight of the forest, captivating her hungry mind. She longed to uncover the secrets held within and grasp the beauty this forest possessed.

"I need some fresh air," she muttered, striding across the room and flinging the door open.

A cool breeze welcomed her as she stepped outside, gently tousling her long black hair. Anaya took a deep breath, feeling the tension gradually release from her muscles. Her gaze shifted to a wooden bridge suspended over a serene lake, leading towards the heart of the forest. Her feet instinctively followed the familiar path towards the bridge that was on the southern side. The setting sun casts a rosy glow on the edge of the forest. She touched the dusty wood, the bridge untouched by time and people. Her hazel eyes wandered over to the forest on the other side, and she felt a strange yearning to walk across. The cool breeze played with her dark tresses, brushing them against her oval face. Her long lashes fluttered shut against her rosy cheeks, and she savored the feeling of being home.

Her feet carried her forward on the wooden bridge, which creaked under her weight but remained sturdy. She reached the center of the bridge and continued onwards, disregarding the missing step. The trees stood tall as she took her first step into their realm.

The forest embraced her like a long-lost child, and Anaya surrendered to the comforting touch of bark, leaves, and earth. Profound and piercing silence enveloped the woodland realm. Without a specific destination, she wandered, guided by her intuition, senses heightened with each patch of dying sunlight filtering through the new growth of branches. Warmth and a sense of belonging washed over Anaya as she delved deeper into the forest. The trees appeared to dance in the wind, their leaves applauding her arrival. Although she had never set foot in this place before, it felt like home.

However, as she ventured further, a mysterious fog crept in, enveloping Anaya and shrouding her in a serene haze. The fog approached gradually, caressing her bare ankles and drifting up her slender calves as if trying to catch her attention. Anaya paused and a small smile appeared on her face, eventually blossoming into a radiant expression as she felt the calming fog embrace her. A sense of tranquility settled in her heart, making all her worries fade away. The fog whispered soothingly, sharing ancient secrets meant solely for her ears. Yet, amidst the tranquility, she sensed a presence, a hidden watcher within the misty depths.

Her eyes darted from one shadowy figure to another, but each time she turned, no one was there. The fog thickened as she walked as if the forest's secrets were closing in on her.

Feeling a chill run down her spine as night descended, Anaya decided she had seen enough for one day. She retraced her steps, following the invisible path back to the wooden bridge. As she stepped onto its weathered planks, the fog slowly dissipated, allowing her to regain clear sight.

Just as the last strands of fog melted away into the shadows, a flicker of movement caught the corner of her eye. Anaya froze, peering intently into the deepening gloom. For a split second, barely longer than a heartbeat, a pair of glimmering blue orbs reflected back at her, bright as northern lights but dark, as dark as the unfathomable depths beneath the surface of a silent lake. They vanished as abruptly as they appeared, leaving Anaya once again alone with the whispering breeze and her racing pulse.

Returning home, Anaya couldn't help but ponder the enigmatic presence she felt in the forest. Who could it be? What secrets did they conceal within their mysterious gaze?

Or was it her brain playing tricks? Anaya frowned. But it had seemed so real.