Cassandra
Early the next morning I threw on modest, vanilla garb and raced downstairs, tidying my nest of hair on the way. Ma was already awake, fixing a light breakfast of rye bread, squares of cheese, and the leftover raspberry pie.
"Where are you going?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"To Claire's." I snatched a slice of bread off the table and stuffed it into my mouth.
Ma slid the pie across the table. "Take the rest of this while you're at it. I know Claire has a sweet tooth."
"Thanks," I mumbled, mouth still full. I picked up the pan and shuffled out of the house.
The sky was clouded in a dusted grey, the sun shyly peeking out in a few places. The wind played with my hair, decimating whatever attempts I had made earlier to tame it.
Claire lived a little way down the street, near the town square. Her father was a leatherworker, and it was more convenient for him to reside close to the marketplace, whereas my father was a fur trapper, and we lived close to the wildlife.
I snuck a glance at the trees, hoping to catch a glimpse of fur. Instead, I felt a hypnotic pull, inviting, calling me to enter the wood's embrace. I looked back down the street. Claire would be awaiting my arrival. I set the pie down on the stump of a tree. I'm sure Claire wouldn't mind if I was a few minutes late.
I raced down the hill, the wind pushing me forward, and entered the forest. The moment I stepped past the treeline, I felt a chill surge through the woods. Believing it to be only a cold front, I continued walking, curiosity dragging me on a leash.
The cozy, forest ambiance flaked away the deeper I ventured, and a fierce malaise began to churn in my gut. Shadows swarmed the sun, the sky, pitching the land into darkness as a heavy fog set in. The wind whistled, rattling the decrepit branches of the trees. The sounds roared in my ears and deafened my own thoughts. A foul stench crept into my nose and I gagged, having tasted it rancid in my mouth. The smell was sickeningly sweet, like perfume sprayed on rotting meat that had been left out in the summer heat. It was overpowering.
I covered my mouth and nose with my sleeve, backing away from the odor. I turned to flee and my heart skipped a beat. All familiarity had been swallowed, gone.
I was lost.
Whirling, I frantically scanned the shadowed woods, searching for the traces of my village, for any ray of light. The patchy, scraping of movement on detritus pricked my ears and I spun around.
A mangled, battered wolf limped towards me, movements jerky and spasmodic. It stared at me with glazed, hollowed eyes, and its jaw hung open, slack, ajar.
I stumbled backward as the wolf began to retch, heaving up its insides. An inky black mass spewed from its mouth, landing in a viscous heap. The wolf forthwith crumpled to the ground, and the black mass began to writhe and squirm, contorting its body. A serpent. It caught a whiff of my presence, forked tongue flicking, and slithered towards me.
I kicked at the ground, sending dust flying as I put as much space as I could between me and the creature.
"Cassandra," it groaned. Its voice was raspy and arid like the rustling of dead leaves. "I want you. I need you. Let me in."
Scrambling to my feet, I ran. Thorns and briars nicked my arms. Uplifted roots reached for my legs, wanting to pull me down.
"Keep running, little mouse," the snake cackled. " For when you succumb to exhaustion, I'll be there to claim you."
The forest was against me, bending to the serpent's will. Branches shot out in my path, intertwining to form gnarly walls, a cage.
"I'm coming, little mouse."
I clawed at the branches, hoping to break free, but to no avail. I clenched my jaw and retreated until my back was pressed against the opposite wall. Then, with a running start, I jumped, reaching for the top of the briar wall. My fingers grasped it, and I hauled myself up and over, making a break for it when I landed.
An inkling of white light flared in the darkness. I sprinted for it. Closer, closer, closer. I extended my hand to touch it. The light flashed, blinding.
l squeezed my eyes shut, addled by the sudden burst. When I opened my eyes again, I was out of the forest, just beyond the treeline. I looked back at the woods. Everything was as it should be. Tranquil and serene and bright.
"Andra, there you are!" Claire was running towards me, her dress hitched up to her knees. "What are you doing out here? I was starting to get worried when you—"
Grabbing her wrist, I marched back towards the forest. "There's something weird going on," I said.
"Weird? Like pink trees and horned rabbits, kind of weird?"
"I don't know."
I held my breath as we passed the treeline, preparing for the worst, but nothing happened. A breeze ruffled the leaves, soft and soundless. The ground bathed in the tawny warmth of the sun. It smelt like daffodils.
Everything was as it should be.
"I don't understand," I proclaimed. "It was chasing me. It said it wanted me, that it needed me. And the forest. The forest was all twisted and it was scratching at my legs."
Claire skeptically looked down at my pristine, unscathed legs. "What exactly was chasing you?"
"A snake. A vile, slimy serpent. It had scales as black as coals and its voice sounded like the rattling of bones." I shivered at the memory. "It was revolting."
Claire rested her hand on my forehead. "You're not warm," she said with a frown. She placed her arm on my shoulder and guided me out of the woods. "What I think you need is a slice of warm raspberry pie and a nice cup of tea to ease your mind."
I pulled out from under her. "I'm not crazy," I said. "I know what I saw."
Claire rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Let me guess, you saw a wolf too?"
I opened my mouth to reply but quickly shut it again.
Her eyes widened. "You're kidding."
"In these very woods."
At once, Claire began to pummel me with questions. "What did it look like? Was it big? Was it scary? I heard you receive bad luck if you see one. Is that true?"
"Hey now, I thought you said I was crazy."
Blinking innocently, she said, "Whenever did I say that?"
With a scowl, I collected the raspberry pie from atop the stump and started for Claire's house. All the while, Claire followed close on my heels, her mouth flapping faster than a hummingbird's wings.
"I know wolves are cold-blooded killers," she said. "But they just look so majestic and graceful that I can't help but admire them. I guess that's why they're such adept predators. You'd think such a beautiful creature would have a kind and gentle nature. You'd be wrong, of course."
As we neared Claire's home, the front door opened, and I felt my heart flutter. Claire's tall, muscular, and very handsome brother strode out of the house, a shotgun on his shoulder. I shoved the pie into Claire's hands, abruptly stopping her blabbering mouth.
She raised her eyebrows quizzically, then finally noticed her brother. "Oh, hello Peter," she said, enthusiastically waving her hand in the air.
Peter glanced in our direction. His gaze clashed with mine for the briefest of moments, and I felt a rush of euphoria. Heart pounding in my chest, cheeks flooded with heat, the world pinked like I was looking through rose-tinted glasses. I averted my eyes, struggling to calm myself and regain composure as Peter came toward us.
"Hey Claire," he said. "Cassandra."
"H-Hi Peter." Curses, I sounded like a fumbling child.
"Andra baked a pie," Claire said, holding it up. "Do you want some?"
He leaned forward, deeply inhaling the sweet scent. "Raspberry, my favorite." He smiled, and my heart melted. "Do save me a slice, Claire." Then he continued past us and down the street.
I turned to Claire once Peter was out of sight. "Oh my Gods," I said.
A stream of giggles bubbled from Claire's mouth. "You were staring up at him like he was your great and holy savior." Her giggles erupted into a fit of laughter. "And you were drooling like a baby!"
"What?" I slapped a hand over my mouth, covertly checking for saliva. "I was not drooling like a baby," I retorted, finding that my lips were pristine and dry.
Claire doubled over, and I turned on my heels, stomping off.
"Wait, Andra." Claire ran after me, still giggling fitfully.
I pushed the door to her home open and slipped off my boots before striding inside. Claire's home was modest, but still more luxurious than my own. Fur rugs, trophy mounts, all of the niceties my family couldn't afford.
I took the pie from Claire's hands as she wrestled to take her shoes off. "Where should I leave this?" I asked.
She pointed to the counter before starting upstairs. "Just set it over there."
Walking over, I set the pie down and promptly followed Claire up to her room. She flopped onto her bed, sprawling out her limbs. I settled for a seat near the window, and, resting my elbow on the sill, I gazed out onto the street, specifically at Peter as he strolled along.
I couldn't help but notice my heart thumping in my chest, and I let out a breath in an attempt to calm it. Claire cast me a knowing smile from across the room.
"You'll find love one day," she said. "One day."