Whispers of the Forest

Obscadom and Lythion, kingdoms of darkness and light, reside within magical realms deep inside forests across the globe. It is said that both these kingdoms bring different emotions to our world, which allows us to thrive. Obscadom brings grief and loss, while Lythion rules with hope and love. Although both kingdoms function in harmony, Lythion has always had the dominant hand. For thousands of years, Obscadom has tried to overrule the more powerful reign of Lythion time and time again, as each ruler believes to be stronger than the one before. Every time battle begins to stir, hope overrides loss once more.

The Legend of Obscadom and Lythion (Chapter 4, pg 114)

I was greeted by a withered rose, swaying in the wind. With a limp frame and darkened petals, the rose befriended my heart. After stopping in front of the flower, which leaned over the steps of the front porch, I smiled wanly. This quaint abode, enveloped in a gloomy forest, was now my home.

(Ravenon, come inside, come into your world…)

A gust of wind came my way as I exhaled with puckered lips before entering the dark wood-panelled house, where daylight trickled in, but so did the dense mist from the forest after a wet day such as this one. There was a faint drizzle, hardly a spray, outside as my eyes lingered by the window. Throughout the unbridled forest and the main road, there was just me and haunting silence, which I found oddly comforting. After a childhood spent in the cramped rooms of Rosefeld Orphanage, and the other half of my life toiled away in hospitals examining cadavers, the air started to feel more grim with each passing day.

As I felt everything around me dwindle, in a moment's haste, I bundled my belongings for a sojourn to the very woods I longed for while staring out of Rosefeld Orphanage’s stained lobby window. I was far from the orphanage now, but the dark emerald trees and dense forest felt as inviting as the one I looked at eagerly as a child; they welcomed my presence when everywhere I turned, someone nudged me along the other way. It was just me, this house in the woods, the trees themselves, and the faint trill of a ringing phone, which just sharpened as my focus came back to the present. I walked briskly over to the counter, where my cracked phone lay, to see that the caller was the only person I spoke to nowadays.

(No longer alone, home at last, in the dark forest…)

“Hi Jade, how are you?” I said as static rang in my ear; I couldn’t help but wince before the cacophonous sound normalised.

“Couldn’t be better!” Jade chirped on the line as if she had been struck by a ray of jovial sun. “How are things at the new place, Ravenon. Are you enjoying the mystical house in the forest?”

“Yes, I am so far,” I couldn’t help but chuckle discreetly.

“That’s good news! As you know, you have a week’s notice to give if you would like to extend the stay, and if you need any help with the appliances in the house, don’t hesitate to shout.” Jade sounded more effervecent than usual—I presumed it was the success of finding an occupant for the Haunted House. I knew the rumours, but nothing about this place struck me as a stage for horror. The glassy doors, marble kitchen countertops, and illuminated rooms felt more dreamy than malicious.

I was still holding the phone to my ear and heard the airy sounds of a connected line with no one speaking on either side. “Yes, of course," I cleared my throat. "I’ll give you a call if anything comes up.”

“Thank you, and hope you have a nice time in your new home.” Jade cut the line, and the gushing sound of air was no longer there.

With just a few boxes askew in the living room, there wasn’t much to take out, so I went out to the backyard and settled on the stone steps with my black headphones cushioned neatly over my ears. Music blared through the speakers, slicing through any noise within the forest.

(Ravenon, come here, follow the sound…come where your home will be found at last.)

A crow flew amid the copse of trees, and I couldn’t help but recollect the few short-lived days of joy at Rosefeld. Mrs. Albert would knit rainbow scarves feebly by the window. Her eyes traced all the colourful birds that flew outside, while her mind lingered on her winding past. “Ravenon, you might be the most interesting story,” she would say softly. “I found you abandoned deep within a forest. Such a strange and dangerous place to find a babe. Especially a little one without a scratch.” I would smile each time she recounted my tale. “I have hope for you.” I always wanted to ask her why.

Soon, Mrs. Albert turned under the weather, and while the doctors racked their brains, Matilda Albert didn’t give them much time.

(We call upon you, follow the way deep into the forest, Ravenon!)

After Mrs. Albert passed away, the days became dreary, and the orphanage felt like a never-ending detention.

Everything still felt very much like that; I came to this house in the woods, hoping for a respite.

(Don’t keep us waiting…)

The winds suddenly came in full force (come deep into the forest, follow the sounds), causing the leaves to rustle and the trees to shake vigorously. A deer came galloping ferociously into sight, and I gasped, nearly crawling back into the house after looking into the deer’s livid eyes.

I pulled down my headphones; soon, the rustle of leaves and chaotic winds became clear whispers from within the trees.

(Come into the forest, Ravenon, where your true home lies. Come…)

My heart thundered in my chest. The forest? Home? I stood up carefully and stepped forward. The crunching of leaves normalised the backyard from the hissing and whispering that echoed from within the dense foliage.

(Ravenon of Obscadom, the path is already paved, follow the sounds…)

The hissing and ominous whispers continued as I took timid steps into the forest where the same deer ran wildly and birds began to sing heavy melodies.

“Who are you?” I asked into the open air, but the hissing and whispering took no form of words.

The crisp leaves cracked under my black boots as I inched forward. Suddenly, the tree branches began to curve inwards, and in a short time, there wasn’t a sliver of chance at escape. The branches intertwined and leaned in closer, wrapping around my wrists and ankles.

“Please, just leave me alone!” Panic crept into my voice as the hissing rang more fervently in my ears, till, all of a sudden, I was very much free, in a forest that didn't resemble the one I entered.

The emerald leaves were turned a blackish green, and the sky above was a murkly blue. My heart softened with the darkness outside.

As I scanned my new surroundings, I no longer appeared to be alone. Goblins trudged along the forest floor, and grisly fairies flew above with slimy wings and tousled hair.

My eyes widened at the sight of massive orc-like creatures wandering. Between the crowd, a slender woman walked through the mist with sharpened cheekbones, white drapes, and hair the colour of ink. She tilted her head up at my sight and stopped a few feet away. Her presence was a haunting allure.

“Ravenon, I’ve been waiting for you,” she said.

I looked around, befuddled by the massive creatures wandering about, the reptilian birds, and skeletal shapes that were very much alive. “Who are you?”

“Morgan Grath, queen of Obscadom.”

“Grath? As in—”

“Your mother, Ravenon.”

The entire ground beneath trembled. All this time, I spent years alone, heart withering by bits, when I didn’t have to be. I looked up at the woman who shared my hair and brown eyes and wished we had a stronger connection than the icy cold air between us.

“Why did you leave me in the woods?” I asked the only thing that came to mind.

“Oh, my child, it was a horrible trick. Remoc here,” she pointed at a grubby-looking goblin, “decided to take you through the barrier to the other side. After he put you down just for a moment to see what was nearby, he wasn't able to find you again. And so, I thought you were lost forever, until now.” Morgan tilted her chin down with a grim smile.

“You never bothered to find me?” I was aghast. I never expected this to be my story. “You didn’t even try? Did you hope—”

“Hope is the enemy, Ravenon. You know it.” Morgan interrupted.

“It can’t be…” My words trailed off as I felt the unsettling comfort between the blackened trees and the sky, dense with grey clouds.

“You know it is, you belong here, our ways are ingrained in you,” Morgan said.

“I don’t understand.” Ravenon looked around at the creatures walking limply.

“Follow me.” Morgan twisted around and walked with a slow gait through the damp path.

I was close behind her, looking around at the grey houses and creatures asleep in their beds and sitting on rocking chairs with stoic expressions. “Where am I? What is Obscadom?” I asked.

“The dark realm, a place where we foster the grief, loss, and pain in our world.” Morgan held her head high.

The comfort within the darkened trees began to fade quickly as I looked around at the dull fairies and sparks of grey flying everywhere. “I can’t possibly be from here?” I said with a lump in my throat. All that time, I longed to know more of my story from Mrs. Albert, but now I was glad I didn’t.

“I think somewhere inside you knew you belonged here, my child. Didn’t you feel the darkness in you? The plants that withered in your presence. The people who died around you. Now you can learn to harness that dark power to fight against Lythion.”

“Lythion?” I question.

“The realm of the good. For many years, we have tried to defeat them. Now that I am queen, we can have a fighting chance.”

I looked around at the gloomy atmosphere of the place, all sucked of hope, while I still felt a strip of light within me. “I don’t want any of this, I just…I want to go back,” I said softly.

“My dear child, this is your home. I should never have let Remoc play that cruel trick, but you made it back, and now it’s time for you to fight the battle against light with me.”

I looked at her, stunned. “I can’t do that,” I said, taking a few steps back.

“Don’t you want to see a world where there is only darkness, where everyone suffers the way you have for so many years?” Morgan stood her ground, distant and icy.

“I don’t,” I said and began to walk away, but rage soon filled Morgan’s bloodshot eyes. She lifted her pointy fingers, magically forcing vines and branches to coil around my limbs. I screamed as thorns pricked the surface of my skin and blood trickled out. “I still won’t do it!” I said between screams.

“I’m not asking you,” Morgan’s voice sent chills down my spine. My mind clenched, and soon, pain ripped across my skull as if Morgan stuffed her fist inside my brain and began to twist. My eyes were rolling. “If you don’t join my side, you will continue to suffer as you are.”

I tried to push against Morgan’s firm grip on my mind, but she wouldn’t budge. It felt easier to give in, but something inside my chest forced me to keep pushing.

Morgan’s face tilted to the side, lips turned to a sly grin. “You can’t break out of this, Ravenon. Once you join us to fight against Lythion, you will know it was the right decision.” Pain continued to rip against my skull. “As long as you fight the pain, it will hurt.”

“I will keep fighting it!” I exclaimed, hoping that a ray of hope might appear soon.

***

Morgan Grath dragged me to a prison below the ground. She tossed me into the hole, which was damp and sealed with a metal grate. With just a burnt loaf of bread, there was nothing else to eat, and my stomach rumbled for hours. I thought of the leftover cold sandwich I left in my bag at home. It must have turned warm in the embrace of my purse, but I craved that sandwich and the empty house, far from this forest. After what felt like an eternity, the metal bars of the dungeon rolled open, and a slimy goblin came to unshackle me.

“Queen Morgan Grath is ready for you. For your sake, I hope you choose to bend this time,” he said acrimoniously.

Without a word, I climbed out of the dungeon into the murky air of Obscadom.

Morgan was waiting inside a damp cave that the goblin led me towards. She remained seated on the bejewelled black throne as I walked up closer to her with my head held high.

“It's possible I’m not your child,” I started. “It's possible the baby Remoc left in the forest didn’t survive or…” Before I could end my measly attempt at escape, I felt the same pull on my mind that Morgan Grath had earlier. My face scrunched in agony as I fell to the floor; darkness began to filter into my eyes, and slowly, chills ran down my spine. If I had ignored the whispers or the deer that came galloping my way, I could have been safe at home. I thought about the sound of the whispers; they pulled me into the forest so easily, and I wondered if it was Morgan speaking.

“Were you calling me in the forest? Before I came here?” I said between gasps for air.

“I don’t see how that matters,” Morgan snapped. “Have you reached a decision, or should I keep going?” She sounded nonchalant, almost bored, as I lay curled up on the ground.

“Were you calling me?” I said through gritted teeth.

“Fine, yes, I was.”

I stayed curled on the ground, wondering if I could call upon someone to. It might run within the Grath family. I ludicrously focused on Lythion and tried to call on light. I pictured a forest filled with rays of sun and vibrant creatures gallivanting around the forest floor.

(Follow the path to Obscadom, where darkness might take over all that is around us…)

I muttered the words in a way that sounded similar to what I heard on the other side of the forest, but as everything remained the same, it felt absurd to try. Morgan continued to hold my mind as she lazily picked beneath her fingernails. I half-heartedly repeated the words, but nothing changed. It seemed easier to give in to Morgan’s mission. The pain being inflicted on my mind was becoming unbearable.

Just as I was about to agree to join the battle, the sounds of hooves stomping on the ground came towards the cave.

The grip on my mind loosened, and soon I was standing up on my feet, my throat unbearably parched. The sound of pounding hooves disappeared as a beautiful white stallion came to a halt. Standing at four meters tall, the horse held a strong presence in the room, and the glowing woman with golden skin and honey hair seemed to frazzle Morgan, who was now shaking with rage.

“I heard a call from Lythion and I thought to drop by and see what my dear sister Morgan has been up to.”

I could see Morgan’s lips twist with rage, “Persis, so good to see you, my half sister.”

“I don’t see why you need to emphasise the half.” Persis rolled her eyes as she unmounted her horse. “What are you up to today? Found someone else to join you?”

“It’s different this time,” Morgan said through gritted teeth.

“It never is. Hope will always triumph. I wish you would be content with that. With Obscadom ruling over the whole world, there might not be a world left to rule.”

“Don’t tell me what to be content with.” Morgan’s eyes turned black, and soon spirals of grey fog came from her hands.

Persis reacted quickly with golden light expanding from her hands to push away the darkness. All the time, as my eyes were fixed on the two sisters, I could see grey fog trickle out from the tips of my fingers and my mouth. It was starting to suffocate me, and I fell to my knees. As my whispers reached Lythion, I hoped to find that ray of light I believed was left inside of me. I focused on hope for the future while watching Persis slowly inch towards defeating Morgan with magic I couldn’t comprehend.

As Persis struck Morgan with a ray of sun, I looked down and saw that my body took on a golden silhouette. Within moments, my body morphed and warped until I was leaning on the front porch, my eyes just fluttering open. The trees were swaying in the wind as colourful birds fluttered around my backyard. I sighed with relief, but my mind was riddled with confusion. As I wondered if everything was just a dream, a gust of wind blew my way with faint whispers echoing from the forest.

(Follow the light and you will be home once more…)

(Come deep within the forest, to the kingdom of darkness, where you belong.)