Missing pieces to every story

Lilly clenched her arms around her knees and her parents had left her in the woods on a hiking trail with nothing but a granola bar and a small bottle of water. They were on a hike when they left her saying, “We will be right back, we have to grab something from the car.” But the next thing she knew she heard the car starting and saw her parents driving away quickly. Lilly chased the car as far and as fast as she could but could not make it past the parking lot.  

She waited there for hours but no one came, not even a fellow hiker passed through the mountain side... Lilly decided to find a tree or something to spend the night under, finding the large oak she is under now was a relief since it was large and had thorns protecting it.  

Mom and Dad are never coming back for me... I know it. I'm going to have to fend for myself. Lilly thought as she took a small bite of her granola bar before going to sleep. She awoke with a start, wolves were howling in the mountains above and sounding as if they were not only coming closer but, in her direction exactly.  

“Darn it!” She spat as she rose from her sleeping place and grabbed her things, she shoved the water bottle and what was left of her granola bar into her hoodie pocket and slipped out of the thorn patch she was in. The thorns grabbed at her light brown hair as she darted through them and into the forest beyond. Going out of the thorn patch was a smart choice, if she could get through it so could a hungry pack of wolves. She dashed through the forest left of where the wolves were headed. It was dark and hard to see but she managed to find a small den like a cavern to shelter in, she pulled ferns over the entrance to cover her scent and so they could not spot her either.  

Soon she was asleep with the wind howling through the forest, the leaves rustling in her den. She slept well and as soon as she woke up, she hungrily devoured her granola bar and drank up her water. Though she was famished at least her parents left her with something to live on for at least a day.  

“Heh, I survived the night Mom and Dad! Happy? You almost killed your daughter!?” She shouted into the woods, instantly she regretted it, even regretting waking up that morning for three jet black wolves popped out of the ferns and tall grass around her. “Shoot...”  

The wolves stalked around her until one lunged at her and bit her arm, she reached for a nearby stick with her free arm but another wolf grabbed her arm before she could reach it, she screamed out in terror and in pain as she heard the sound of her flesh ripping under the vicious teeth of the wolves grasping her arms. “Help!” She screamed over and over again until she gave up, no one was here to help she was too far into the woods, nobody could help, not even if there was a spirit among her... Ha, a spirit. I wish fairytales were real... She thought as she blacked out.  

The next morning, she woke up in a strange cave with a mossy bed underneath her, no scars, no blood, nothing... A person walked in, she had black hair, green eyes and a long black and gold dress that looked like it was made from the heavens.

“Ah, I see you have awoken. How did you sleep?” She asked kindly.  

“J-just fine thank you. If you don’t mind my asking, where am I and who are you?” Lily asked as politely as she could without quivering her words too much as she was so scared and confused.  

“Oh, I’m sorry. You must not remember last night then... I saved you from the wolves and brought you here to my humble home. I am Poppy, and you are Lily if I am not mistaken.”  

“Y-yes how did you know my name wa-”  

“You told me last night, that is how I know.” Poppy replied hastily.  

This is weird... I should get out of here even though this Poppy lady was so kind as to help me. Lilly thought.  

“I best be leaving, I h-have to get home in time for lunch with my family. They must be worried sick about me.” Lilly said, backing toward the exit of the cave slowly.  

“Oh, that won’t be necessary, you're fine here.” Poppy insisted.  

“No, I really must get home!” Lilly persisted as she turned around to walk out of the gaping hole in the wall that was the exit of Poppy's ‘house’.  

“Alright then. If you want to do this the hard way, we can do it the hard way.” Poppy lifted her hands and gritted her teeth as large thick vines arose from the cave floor cracking the stone. Lilly stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Poppy.  

“Open the vines... Now...” Lilly said, trying to sound demanding. A vine reached at her foot and grabbed it and the vines behind her opened. A second person stood in the entrance.  

“Hello, Poppy. I’m back from the hunt, I also stole some fruit from the store in the town. Mangoes and apples mmm.” He said he was tall and lean, with short black hair and ice blue eyes. He looked at Lilly, “Oh, so she finally woke up! Hence the vines I guess.” He laughed. Lilly stood there wide eyed, was he really not going to help her? Was he just going to stand there and not release the vine from her foot?!  

A third figure appeared at the door, another man. This one was short and lanky again with black hair but he was holding an entire deer on his shoulders. How was he even strong enough for that!  

“You are so slow Timber. Can’t you climb a mountain any faster?” The taller man said.  

“No, and you aren't much faster you got a head start remember, Everest?” The one who seemed to be called Timber retorted. They both dropped their loads in the middle of the large cave passing Lilly. Poppy rose her hands again and the vines sprouted again from the ground and the one around Lily's leg released. Poppy, Everest, and Timber all three looked at her and she backed up and slumped against the vined wall.  

“Really...? A human? You had us work day and night to capture a human?!” Everest shouted at Poppy.  

“Well, I don’t see you doing much else, besides getting in the way that is.” Poppy responded calmly.  

“What’s up with vining her in? Won’t she just stay here, she has nowhere else to go and if she went anywhere, she would soon die.” Timber interrupted the arguing.  

“You don’t think I didn’t try? She tried to leave, think you’re smart do you Lilly? Hmm?” She looked at Lilly, her lips pursed and eyebrows raised. In response Lilly pressed herself closer to the vine wall. “Ha! Wimpy little thing. Timber show her to her room, she is of no use to me until she is older.” 

“Okay whatever. You can stop acting like the boss of me you know. You are just my sister.” Timber rolled his eyes and grabbed Lilly's arm. “C’mon let’s go to your new room.”  

Lilly grabbed at his hand and tried to pull it off when that didn’t work, she hit him hard on the funny bone, he didn’t even flinch and instead sighed at her feeble tries and dragged her through the cave into a small hallway. The ground was rough and had never been smoothed to her ankles skidded and cut every time she let them touch the ground. She again tried to break free of his grip, this time he stopped and turned to her.  

“WOULD YOU STOP THAT?” He yelled and held her up. He was short but he sure was strong! “Look, I’m just trying to bring you to your room and that would be so much easier if you would stand up and follow me instead of making me DRAG YOU through the ENTIRE CAVE!”  

“And I would make it easy on you why?” She retorted.  

“Oh, so you do talk. I was afraid you didn’t.” He looked at her amused. “You know, Lilly suits you. You are small, and soft. Ha!”  

“Oh, shut up Timber.” Lilly said annoyed.  

`

“Oh, you know my name. Good job, now don’t tell me to shut up.” Timber waved his finger in a circle and a vine traveled up Lilly’s leg and wrapped around her mouth tight. It broke from the ground and wrapped itself around her arms as well. Lilly stared at Timber angrily, Great...  

After a few moments they were at Lilly’s apparent ‘new room’ she was to stay in. Timber released the vines from her mouth and arms and simply walked away back to the larger cavern saying only a few words, “Change, then come out.”  

Lilly looked around. There was a flowing dress on a wooden chair, it was white with yellow flowers and thin green vines draping over it, perfect... more vines! Lilly thought dreading putting the dress on, though it was pretty the thought that they would twine around her scared her. She had no choice though, so she took off her hoodie and jeans and slipped on the long dress. She put her jeans and hoodie on the wooden chair where the dress was draped last.  

After she had finished changing, she flicked her hair into a ponytail with the hair band that was still around her wrist somehow. After her hair was up tight, she walked out of the room and left to the large cavern where Timber had told her to return. In the room Poppy, Everest, and Timber were sitting at a dinner table with a cooked deer and many fruit variations and best of all... water!  

“Come, sit. Your seat is there Lilly, you will join us every night unless we say otherwise. Understood?” Poppy ordered. Lilly walked around the table and sat in her appointed seat. As she sat down the vines on her dress began to loosen around her sides and wrap around the chair trapping her in it. All she could do was change her posture and move her arms but even then, the vines were tightening around her body. 

“So, Lilly. What brings you to the forest?” Everest asked a smirk on his face as he held up a piece of deer meat.  

“M-my parents left me; we were going on a hike but then they j-just l-left...” Lilly replied reluctantly.  

“They did? Oh that’s nice, how convenient for us! Kind people they must be.” Everest said looking at Timber and Poppy as he spoke.

 “You going to eat kid?” Timber moved a plate to her, it had deer meat and some red fruit on it. 

“Y-yeah.” She picked up a piece of the meat. It was bitter and dry, it was clear that they were very bad at cooking. The fruit, on the other hand, was sweet and juicy and felt good on Lilly’s scorching dry tongue. As soon as she was done eating the vines keeping her in her chair untwined and wrapped back around her dress. 

“Time’s up for dinner Lilly. Back to your room.” Poppy said. Lilly did not move instead she sat in her chair and wrapped her feet around the chair legs.

“No, first explain to me why I’m here and why I can’t leave. And who the heck you all are!” Lilly demanded. 

“That is none of your concern, Lilly.” Poppy retorted. 

“Yes it is! You’re keeping me here against my will! I just want to go home. So answer my questions!” 

“I said go back to your room… Now!” Poppy stood up and shoved her chair behind her. “Now.” she said again pointing her finger down the rough stone hall. 

Lilly didn’t move, she just sat in her chair glaring at Poppy with harsh eyes. Try me demon. She thought. Poppy marched over to her and grabbed her arm roughly. “Go to your room and don’t come out until I say you can or else.” She pulled Lilly out of her chair and shoved her forward. 

“Demon.” she muttered under her breath as she slowly walked to the cavern that was now her room. 

I can’t believe I got myself into this! How did this even happen? If anything the whatever they are, would want someone that will obey their every order… and that is not me. I wouldn’t listen to them no matter what. After a few minutes of sitting in the wooden chair Lilly heard a rumble, the vines closing the cave exit were goin down!

“Are you sure she won’t try to walk out?” Timber asked Poppy. 

“Well she best not. I let the vines down to get a little oxygen in this cavern and I don't want the cavern closed forever.” Poppy responded, a hint of annoyance in her voice. 

That, Poppy, is exactly what I am going to do. Leave. And if you are sleeping what is there you can do about it? Lilly thought a sly smile spreading across her face. She waited until she heard footsteps walking past her cavern opening before she stood and changed into her hoodie and jeans and stalked to the exit of the cave. 

“STOP!” Poppy yelled from behind her and started dashing to her arms outstretched. 

Lilly ran to the exit and jumped, there was a steep drop below her and she fell, she fell, she hit something soft, opening her eyes she realized she was looking at a fan hanging from a ceiling. It was a dream! 

“Mom! Dad!” She screamed. Her parents came rushing into her room flicking on the lights. 

“Lilly, are you okay!?” Her mother asked fretfully, rubbing her hand over Lilly’s cheek. 

“Y-yes, I am now. Good night Mom, goodnight Dad, she said with a smile spreading across her face. It was a dream… Poppy, Timber, Everest, they weren't real nor was the empty forest. Lilly sighed in relief and laid in her bed pulling the covers over her shoulders. 

“Mom?” Lilly asked as her mother turned out the light and cracked the door open to walk out, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Three days… Don’t leave me again.” 

“I never have, I never will.” She replied and walked out. “Goodnight sweetheart.” 

“Goodnight mom.” Lily responded then closed her eyes.

Three days may not seem like a lot, but when you go through something hard in that time... It sure feels like an eternity! Lilly thought before finally falling back asleep.