Page 8 of Whispers of the Elderoak

Though she sensed trouble, she couldn’t resist the tug pulling her toward the forest, closer to the shadowy silhouette, and began to walk forward. As she approached, it reached out its arm, curling its fingers, and beckoned her to follow as it turned away and headed into the woods. She didn’t want to, tried to turn around and go back inside but her feet started moving as if they had their own plans.

Her heart raced as she continued after the shadow, still trying to fight against her rebellious body. This was wrong. She had to go back to the house.

Reaching the edge of the woods, the figure turned and looked at something in the distance. Now that Ava was closer, it appeared to be a woman, nude with long hair covering her breasts, though she still couldn’t see her face.

Ever so slowly, the woman’s head tilted, and her piercing blue eyes settled on Ava. She lazily opened her mouth as if smiling, wider and wider, stretching far and revealing jagged pointy teeth. Claws elongated where fingernails should have been, the trickle of blood falling to the ground. Just as Ava readied herself to turn and run, it screamed.

Ava’s breathwas knocked out of her as she crashed into a solid surface. Her limbs were trapped in a soft embrace and she thrashed around, trying to free herself. Released from her silky bindings, she sat up and was almost blinded by the sunlight.

She was on the floor in her room, tangled in her sheets.

Birds chirped outside her window as morning welcomedthe day. It wasn’t night anymore. What happened? Had that figure been real? Was it a dream?

She didn’t remember going back inside or going to sleep.

Taking a deep breath to calm her still racing heart, she climbed off the floor and tossed her bedding back on her bed. It must have been a dream. She drank too much and went to sleep; she just didn’t remember. But it hadn’t seemed like a dream. It was different from her others.

Something wasn’t right. Then, she saw it. Her robe was on the floor, not where she usually hung it up. She truly had…

A knock sounded on her front door.

Nine o’clock already? She had forgotten to set an alarm and must have slept in after all the wine. Normally an early riser, she cursed to herself as she pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved black t-shirt.

Throwing her frizzy waves into a low ponytail, she bounded down the stairs and ran to the door. When she opened it, Henry was leaning against the front porch post, his arm above him, a wide grin on his face.

Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. “I’m so sorry,” she said, out of breath. “I didn’t realize what time it was.”

“It’s alright,” he said. “I haven’t been waiting long.” He looked at her expectantly.

“Oh,” she remembered. “The list. I’ll be right back.”

She rushed to the office and returned, handing him a short list of things to be addressed on the property. There were a few rickety pieces of railing on the porch she wanted him to repair and a pile of wood near the greenhouse she needed moved. She was also hoping he could chop down a small half dead tree near the flower fields, not wanting it to fall over on her during her chores.

He looked it over and nodded. “I can do this,” he said, then added as she winced at the sunlight, “Are you alright?”

She rubbed the back of her neck. “Actually… I’m a little hungover.”

He chuckled. “I can see that. Well, why don’t you get yourself some coffee and rest a bit? I’ll knock if I need anything.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

She closed the door and watched him walk to his truck, opening the tailgate and searching for his tools. The way he had smiled at her twisted her insides like a teenager with a crush. And that laugh. It brushed over her skin and made her shiver with desire. What was wrong with her?

As someone who tended to overthink everything, Ava chastised herself for her instant attraction as she started the coffee pot and waited for it to brew. Though she had been on plenty of dates and even had a couple of serious relationships, she found most men either disregarded her or only wanted one thing. Once they got to know her, they often found her wildlife knowledge or almost obsessive fascination with nature weird. It was like they wanted some vapid giggling trophy wife, and the moment she started talking about her master’s thesis on the endangered status of the Northern Leopard Frog, they lost all interest.

She poured herself a mug full of dark roast, adding a splash of cream as she mentally reviewed the list she had given Henry.

Ava felt awkward just sitting while he worked alone outside, so after about an hour, she made her way to finish cleaning up the last of the dead plants in the garden. As she walked toward the greenhouse located on the side of the property to retrieve her gloves, she turned the corner and ran straight into Henry.

“Whoa,” he said as he steadied her, grasping her shoulders. “You’re on a mission, huh?”

“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention,” she said, nervous as she looked up at him.

His blue eyes twinkled as he responded. “Lost in thought?”

Lost in those blue eyes, she mused.

“Something like that,” she said, shifting on her feet. “I was headed to the greenhouse.”

---