Chapter 2- Wicked Forest

A child, she was almost eighteen, still her parents gave her orders and punishments. She had no hope of leaving for collage and getting away from her over-bearing and strict mother. When she finished school, she would take her place within the coven. She dreaded that day. The day she had to play the obedient wife and take care of a flock of children. It wasn’t the life she wanted. She wanted more out of life.

Time had escaped her, when she checked the clock that sat on her bedside table, she almost kicked herself. It was almost eight am. She had to hurry if she was going to make it to school on time. She had already been late one time too many in the last couple of months. One more time and the school would contact her parents. There was only so many forged letters they would accept and excuses. Plus, her parents would find out that she had written the letters in the first place.

In record speed, Crystal showered, and blow dried her hair, until it hung in soft blond waves.

She put a little make up on and dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a white tank top.

The jeans covered her evidence from her early morning stroll. She paused, giving herself one last look over. She hated the way her hair hung and wanted to do something different, but with no time left it would have to do. Then she agonized over wearing a jacket or not. In the end she decided against it. The sky looked clear and held no evidence of rain to come.

Grabbing her bag that lay haphazardly on the floor she headed downstairs. She could smell bacon and eggs cooking. Her stomach let out a growl as she entered the kitchen, kicking herself for not allowing time for breakfast she put a smile on her face. It wasn’t every day that her mother cooked, well she didn’t really cook at all. Just has luck would have it. She would miss the delicious breakfast, which probably wouldn’t be on offer again.

“Good morning,” her mother Jeannette greeted her. Crystal snapped her head up from zipping up her bag at her mother’s cheery voice. It wasn’t like her. She had a tone that sounded stern and cold. It was a permanent feature.

“Morning mother,” Crystal grabbed a slice of toast and took a big bite. If her mother was in a good mood, who was she to ruin it by questioning it? Her mother’s eyes grew wide, and her pupils darkened hiding her green irises. She didn’t need to say the words. They echoed in Crystal’s mind. Don’t eat like an animal. Small bits and chew slowly.

“Gotta go,” she mumbled.

Without giving her mother time to go into a lecture on the importance of speaking proper English, Crystal exited the back door. She ate the slice of toast within seconds, still her stomach panged with hunger. It would have to wait until lunch. She made a mental note to take sandwiches with her on her next morning visit to the forest. After all she was a growing girl. Even after her recent scare she still wanted to go back there. She wouldn’t allow someone, or thing to scare her away from the one place she enjoyed.

Walking around to the front of the house she glanced over her shoulder to the woods. A shiver ran down her spine causing her to shudder, her bare arms erupted in goosebumps as the flash of someone watching her filled her mind. It was nothing, she reassured herself, but as soon as she reached the path, Crystal began to jog. She couldn’t be late again, nor dwell on the forest.

By the time she reached the school gate, her face was flushed, and she had to pause to catch her breath. She had made it with time to spare. Smiling at herself she crossed the school parking lot and walked up the stone steps to the front entrance. She hated the place with a passion. Yet it was her only escape from home life. However, life at school was just as lonely and miserable as it was at home.