The sky was cloaked in dark, brooding clouds, casting a menacing pall over the landscape. Distant thunder rumbled ominously on the horizon, and fierce winds howled through the forest like a wildfire, whipping the trees into a frenzied dance. Branches swayed violently, their limbs thrashing against one another in the storm's fury.
Amidst the chaos, sporadic flashes of lightning illuminated a solitary figure moving through the darkness. He walked with a casual ease, as if he were merely strolling through a tranquil park, untouched by the severity of the storm or the hidden dangers that lurked in the shadows.
The contrast was stark: while the forest seemed intent on unleashing its wrath, this man remained unperturbed. He hummed a soft melody, a lullaby from a long-lost memory. He didn't know where the tune had come from or who had sung it to him, but it was dear to his heart and brought him peace.
Strangely, the tempest seemed to part around him. Leaves and debris that whirled chaotically in the air never touched him. His light brown, fluffy hair remained dry, as did his clothes, which stayed neat and clean despite the storm's intensity. The melody he hummed echoed through the dense woods, a serene counterpoint to the storm's rage, as he advanced further into the heart of the Dark Forest, utterly unafraid.
To say he was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he was unaware of his surroundings would be incorrect. He deftly avoided every visible branch in his path and never stumbled, despite the rough terrain beneath his feet.
He only stopped humming when he reached a fork in the road. Each path ahead looked nearly identical, and with only faint memories to guide him, he decided to sit down on the ground and ponder his choice. There was no one around to rush him, and he had nothing urgent demanding his attention at the moment.
As he finally thought he had an idea of which path to take, a nut hit him squarely on the head. It was surprising—neither stone nor branch had touched him, yet a piece of dry fruit managed to. He looked up and saw a little girl trapped between the branches, dangling high up in the trees.
It was a young girl with strawberry blonde hair.
After just escaping from her captors with a death-defying stunt, Alice had never imagined that she could survive that long fall. Sure, she had more than a few scratches on her face and maybe a few broken ribs, but at least she was still alive and most importantly, free.
Somehow, the dense foliage had softened her fall and now she was stuck high up in the tree. As she adjusted her position, trying to find a more secure foothold, she inadvertently knocked loose a cluster of nuts.
It didn't occur to her that the nuts might hit somebody. After all, she was in the middle of a deserted forest. What were the chances that she even met anyone here? But yet she did.
Alice winced, feeling a rush of embarrassment and panic. She peered down through the leaves and saw the man looking up, his expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.
"Um, sorry, I didn't mean to hit you in the head. " she shouted, clutching a branch tightly.
"What are you doing up there?" The man tilted his head in confusion as he brushed off the broken nuts away.
Alice sighed, realizing there was no point in hiding now. "It's a long story," she replied. "Can you help me get down?"
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Sure," he said, stepping closer to the base of the tree. "But you need to help me first."
Alice managed a weak smile. "Okay but I'm not sure how I can help you from all the way up here."
"Sure you can. Since you're up there, how far can you see from the tree?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"I just want to know if you can see all the way to the edge of the forest."
"Not all the way to the edge, just as far as the hills."
"Oh? Which way are they?"
"It's the opposite way." The young girl answered, pointing the direction.
"The opposite way? Then, I've been going the wrong way all this time?!" The stranger mumbled to himself.
"Um, excuse me, how are you going to get me down,"
Before she could even finish her sentence, the stranger suddenly raised his boot and kicked the tree with surprising force. The entire trunk shook, and Alice let out a startled yelp as she lost her grip on the branches. She tumbled downward, expecting a painful landing.
Instead, the stranger who had caught her by her hood gently lowered her to the ground, his actions surprisingly gentle given his earlier brusqueness.
"Thank you," Alice whispered, her voice trembling slightly. She hadn't spoken to anyone without fear in her voice for days.
The man simply nodded again, his expression unreadable. "You alright?" he asked, his voice low and calm.
Alice hesitated, her instincts screaming to be cautious, yet something about his demeanor felt trustworthy. She took a deep breath, glancing around the forest, half-expecting her captors to emerge from the shadows at any moment.
"Yes," she finally said. "I... I think so."
The man observed her for a moment longer, then turned his gaze towards the forest. "Then, if there's nothing else, I'm off."
He let go of her and was about to walk away when he was stopped again as the young girl grabbed hold of his cloak.
"What now?" The man turned to her.
"Can I follow you? I don't know my way out of the forest." Alice pleaded, widening her grey eyes as large as possible.
"If you don't know how to get out, then why did you enter this forest in the first place? Don't you know what kind of place this is?"
"I have my reasons. Please, please, just until we're out of the forest."
"No, I have my own business, one that does not require a small kid tagging along."
"I'm not a child. I'm turning twelve this year."
"Are you older than me?"
"I don't think so."
"Are you taller than me?"
"No, but I don't see how that is relevant."
"If you're not like me, you're still a child, so go back to where you came from."
The man scolded her and was about to leave when he heard her mutter something under her breath. He had sharp hearing so even the harsh weather could not silence her words.
"I can't go home."
At that moment, he had an epiphany. He would surely regret doing this. Even if his conscious mind warned him, his intuition said otherwise. The man sighed as he massaged his forehead, trying to prevent an incoming headache from forming.
"Fine, you can come with me. What's your name, kid?"
"I'm Alice, just Alice. What do you want me to call you, mister?"
"Mister? I'm not that old yet. You can just call me, Rowen."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Rowen. I promise I won't cause you any problems at all."
Rowen sighed again as he started walking.
'Why do I have a feeling that I'm going to regret this?'