Phoebe was yet to return home and she ran for her dear life. She almost collided with the clustered trees as she tried to run away from the forest, away from those hideous creatures.
Almost tripping from the thick roots of the trees that had grown like long tendrils, she kept jumping and fleeing. Praying in her heart, that those hideous creatures with no lower body would never try to appear in front of her like those in scary movies.
When Phoebe was about to jump a log, she didn't know what had happened but she tripped, falling flat on the ground and sustaining some scrapes on her knees and then a cut on her lips and then she came to face to face with a scorpion that would have stung her eyes.
But that wasn't what had scared her. What had scared her were some whisperings, she was getting to hear in the forest and it was getting louder and darker.
Springing up with fright, she leapt for her life. When Phoebe had succeeded in getting away from the forest, she arrived at the road, falling on her knees to catch her breath.
She was shivering from fear. What sort of day was this?. Trying to compose herself, the young girl tried to stand and then walk as fast as she could to her home.
She tried hitting her head to erase the memory of what she had just seen in the forest; trying to convince herself it was all an illusion but at the same time, it felt so real to be an illusion.
With her legs tremendously shaking in fear and was about to break down, Phoebe continued to rub her hands, trying to get some warmth.
Breathing in and out, she strode in a hurry, taking her path into the streets; to her home.
The doorbell rang twice and the extremely exhausted woman rose from the couch in a hurry to the door.
She met a frightened girl, who just walked past her in a hurry, rushing upstairs without even uttering a single word to her.
She wanted to rush over to check on her but she held back. First, she needed to make some hot food for her daughter.
Phoebe walked straight to her room, unlocked it and banged it shut and without removing her shoes, she slipped into the bed; having her entire body covered with a thick blanket.
She had no appetite and she was trying to sleep to forget her encounters today.
When minutes had turned to hours, the woman became worried for her daughter. Standing up from the dining table where she had been patiently waiting, she grabbed the food upstairs, heading to her room.
"Phoebe dear, are you in there honey?". When she received no response, she turned the door's knob which clicked open, letting her in.
Tiptoeing to the snoring girl, Hera smiled sadly. She gently pulled off the blanket to see the girl clung to it tightly and then murmuring rambling words, as she continued to sleep.
" Wake up, Phoebe ". Hera tapped the sleeping girl and then shook her, to see her stir and frown.
" Phoebe wake up". She forcefully shook her and the girl sprang up with wide eyes.
"Is alright honey, is me". She said rubbing her legs, gently. " I brought you food". She said again to the girl, who wasn't concentrating but was ceaselessly rubbing her eyes and then her head.
"What time is it mum?". Phoebe mumbled to her mum, as she stared out of the window, which she was sure her mother had let open.
" Already 7 pm, you got home late and slept a lot but first eat before questions".
"Mom, I don't think I have an appetite". She said to her, leaning back to rest on the headboard.
" Why?". Are you sick? You came home like a frightened cat. Is everything alright?". Hera bombarded her with questions to see her daughter, shaking her head and she frowned her face.
"Are you shaking your head in a form of yes or no?". Hera stared at her with a raised brow.
" I don't think I am okay, mum. Look I - - I dunno how this would sound. I don't know how to say this, because it would sound absurd and like some kind of joke to you. So, please mom don't interrupt me, okay?". Phoebe said to her mom, who was intently waiting for her to speak up.
"Mum- - okay- - ". She paused, breathing in and then out. I am gonna start this way, I went to the forest; along the street after school...". She said to see her mum nod.
"I went there to cool off my head - - -".
" Why do you want to cool off your head?".
"Mom!, I asked you not to interrupt". Phoebe said to her mum, who rolled her eyes.
"Okay then, you may continue...".
"I - - uh - - ". And she cleared her throat. I had gone to cool off my head because I found - - I found - - ". She paused, making her mother impatient and then tears started to brim in her eyes.
" What are you crying for?". Phoebe heard her mother, question her with a concerned tone and then she exhaled a sigh.
"I found Logan and Ava kissing in school, while students cheered for them. They looked at me like it served me right - - like - - like - - I was some trash without emotions - - -". Phoebe paused, trying to fight back the tears, that were threatening to fall from her eyes. She was avoiding breaking down in front of her mother.
Hera exhaled a sigh, as she shook her head and then bit her tongue from lashing at her daughter.
She had continually warned her daughter not to date that boy. She had never liked him for once and she wasn't the only one, sharing the same view about him.
Her best friend had always spoken against the boy. Claiming he had always-on, a fake personality.
"That's alright Phoebe. I know you are expecting me to reprimand you but everyone makes a mistake and the wiser ones tend to learn from their mistakes. So I won't blame you but if you keep on disobeying and going against my words, to make more grievous mistakes, I am so going to yell out and call you foolish. So don't cry".
"You are precious and so beautiful to cry over a cheat and some scum. They don't deserve you and you should know that. Come on don't cry, dear". Hera said as she helped in wiping off her tears and Phoebe engulfed her in a tight hug as she sobbed. She loved her mother so much.
"I never - - - I swear mom - - - I thought he was some good guy, I never knew he was - - - I never knew he was also categorizing me as scum".
"That's okay. He hasn't touched you or even kissed you and you both don't share something important right?. So let go okay?". She said to Phoebe, who was quick to nod.
" I love you mum".
"I love you too, my sweet treasure. Now eat".
"But mom, I am not done yet". Phoebe protested.
"It could wait - -".
" No mum, it can't. I saw something crazy. I swear mom, I thought I was reminiscing, you know, some kind of horror movie but they were staring and speaking to me - - -".
Phoebe stopped to see her mother burst into hysterical laughter. She watched her continue to laugh as she held her tummy; making her look embarrassed.
"I am so sorry dear, I didn't mean to. Do you even know what you are saying?". She asked Phoebe, who was giving her a look.
"Mum, I am serious". Phoebe felt like screaming and pulling her hair in frustration. "It was telling its partner that I could sense them, that I could also hear them". She demonstrated to her mother, who now looked serious raising her brow.