Spotted (Part 1)

Warning: the following content contains mention of accidental death.

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By: Michelle Chan

It was a regular Saturday morning when Noah woke up to the familiar sound of birds chirping. He made his bed, brushed his teeth, and started preparing his breakfast. While eating his toast, he thought about how he would start his biology project about rocks and plants. So, he decided to go out to the nearby forest and look for them.

Noah ventured into the forest alone. Despite the inviting summertime morning, Noah felt a sense of fear as he entered the forest. Its complex structure of tree roots and bountiful canopy seemed to camouflage something ominous. Perhaps Noah was scaring himself with the stories he had heard about dark magic.

Noah tracked through the forest, scanning the ground for anything that would catch his eye. He periodically examined the plants and rocks, debating which ones he should keep. Coming upon a particularly idiosyncratic rock, he took it in his hands and instantly felt a brisk, icy chill on his back. Kneeling down, he looked closer, noticing it glisten slightly. Perhaps it was the hazy morning light- but, to him, it seemed almost as though the rock was reaching out.

Noah quickly put the rock in his pocket and kept on searching, walking further into the forest. Moving carefully, he continued to meticulously scan the ground. Suddenly, his concentration was broken by the shrill sound of frantic laughter from behind.

He froze in fear.

The frantic laughter sound seemed to come from three, perhaps four young girls. But, when Noah spun around to look, only one figure stood in front of him. Noah was startled by her presence, yet strangely fascinated. She was wearing what seemed to be a soiled, light pink dress, similar to the dresses his great-grandmother wore in old photographs. The young girl’s hair was braided up in matching ribbons, swinging by her shoulders. She approached him confidently, purposely placing her face within a foot of his, and Noah took a careful step back.

“Hm. What are you doing here?” the girl asked assertedly, searching his eyes for answers. Noah stared at the ground, forgetting for a second why he was here.

“I, um, was just, uh, looking for plants and rocks for my school project, but I’m finished and I was actually about to walk home so-”

“Wait, don’t leave just yet!” She interrupted, grasping his arm to stop him, “My sister and I are playing a game. If I find you something better than ‘plants and rocks for your school project’,” she said, throwing up air quotations, “...will you stay and help me look for her?”

Noah sensed something sinister in her proposal. He started to wonder if this girl had anything to do with the spine chilling stories he had heard about dark magic and regretted leaving his house.

“Well… Why do you even need my help? I’m just a stranger. I don’t even know your name.” Noah refuted confidently as he slowly took another step back.

“Shh, be quiet!” The girl whispered. “I’m Bella Remington. I’m playing hide and seek along with my sister, Ivy. She always finds really good hiding places when we play. But with your help, I’m sure I can find her faster.”

Noah was still skeptical.

“Here,” said Bella, handing a spotted flower into Noah’s hand. “If you help me find Ivy, you can keep this for your ‘school project’.”

Noah stared at the delicate flower, spotted in a bright scarlet. Examining the white petals, it was decidedly rare.

He had never seen a flower such as this before. It was perfect.

But first, Noah wanted to know more about Bella. “Have we met before? Your name sounds quite familiar.” He questioned as he caressed the odd, smooth petals of the flower.

“I don’t think so, Noah,” Bella replied, nonchalant.

Noah startled, scrunching his eyebrows together, “How do you know my name?”

“Um…” Bella stuttered, eyeing the ground, “You just told me your name! Anyways,” she gulped, “will you please help me find my sister?”

Sensing her change in demeanor, Noah wanted to hurry back home. However, something in Bella’s eyes was compelling him to stay.

He looked back at the spotted flower and made up his mind.

“Okay. But I can’t stay for long. I have to get home and finish my project.” Noah agreed, hesitant.

“Thank you so much!” the young girl beamed. “Now,” Bella thoroughly scanned the forest. “We should go up, I’m positive we will find Ivy there,” Bella said.

Noah glanced forward and saw a steep, sharp bank ahead of them. He stepped back, terrified.

The sheer mention of climbing the bank left him benumbed. Numerous stories about children tragically falling off cliffs to their deaths came to mind.

“No. I’m not climbing that bank, do you know how dangerous that is?!” Noah said firmly - but, before he could continue, Bella clamped a sweaty palm around his wrist and began to pull him up with unanticipated strength. They began to trudge up the bank, Bella walking briskly while Noah staggered behind with extreme caution.

Suddenly, Noah stumbled over some twigs, slipping on a slick carpet of leaves and falling to his knees. Wild laughter echoed behind him once again.

“Wait...,” Noah gasped, catching his breath, “slow down”.

Completely heedless, Bella was determined to reach the top, chasing the new voice. Even though there was no real path, she never lost her footing. She followed frantically after the wicked laughter of her sister.

“Show yourself, Ivy!” Bella screamed.

Bella looked as though she was trapped in some sort of trance. Noah watched in contempt as he saw her screaming at nothing but trees.

“Come on, Noah, could you possibly be any slower?” Bella groaned, trying to lower her volume.

Noah struggled up the hill but finally came to a cutoff at the top. Bella dropped Noah’s arm. “See, it’s a much better view. I’m sure we’ll find her from up here.”

Ivy began to laugh frenziedly, increasing to a vicious volume. Bella looked consumed by anguish.

Noah hid behind a tree, covering his ears with his hands. The young girl he had followed began to terrify him.

“Ivy! Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Bella said compellingly.

“This is unfair,” Bella said to no one but herself.

The laughing continued at an overwhelming volume.

“IVY! IVY?” Bella screamed from the top of her lungs, tripping over a stray branch.

“Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha…” Ivy tormented, “You will never find me.” Ivy continued in a haunting voice.

“I WILL FIND YOU, JUST WAIT” Bella screamed.

Silence.

Noah peered out from a hole carved through the tree, afraid of what he might see.

Noah saw Bella looking over the other side of the cliff. He walked closer to her but kept a safe distance. She was baffled by Ivy’s silence.

Suddenly, another atrocious screech cleaved the air, startling both Noah and Bella. Bella jumped back, stumbling on a rock that was in her way, and losing her balance. Noah managed to grab her arm just in time. Another second, and she would’ve fallen off.

“Bella, listen to me. Do not let go,” Noah said sharply, intensity picking up once again.

Bella’s hand clung tightly to Noah’s. Her foothold on the tiny rock was crumbling by the second.

Frantic, Noah’s palm started sweating. He looked down at Bella, who was slipping out of his grip, and racked his brain on how he could get her up to safety.

It came to him. “Ivy! Please, help!” Noah yelled desperately.

But before he knew it, he felt Bella’s hand sliding away, sending her toppling down the edge of the cliff.

Bella shrieked as she plunged into miles of empty space.

Her shriek echoed through the forest, past the rivers, over the mountains.

Noah was paralyzed in fear, stiff as a statue, his skin shivering.

The forest went silent once again.

Image: Green leaf trees beside cliff [Photograph]. (n.d.). PickPik. https://www.pickpik.com/foggy-trees-mountain-fog-fir-tree-93333