Ugly

by J M Bingham

  “Come, eat!” Replied Hortensia, “ you look famished.”

  Hortensia tried to be polite, and grabbed a ripe peach from atop the platter of fruit, as she took a

  bite from the fuzzy exterior, warm juicy ran down her chin.

  So... tel me...” said Aria after a while. “What brought you to my woods?.”

  Hortensia gulped down the last of her peach, daintily wiping her chin.

  “Well, I needed a fresh start I suppose” replied Hortensia, “ I've had a troublesome few months.”

  “Oh, “ said Aria, sparking her interest.”I”m... sorry.” “Well I am glad you have come... this forest will be a home for you as long as you wish to stay.”

  Hortensia smiled, thinking it was strange that this woman would take someone... like her, in so

  easily.

  ｱ

  “You can't stop me Aria!, it's... too late” Barked the witch, the dark black clouds swirling violently above her.

  The woman of the wood was silent, the trees rustling in the strong wind, the small shoots of grass that had grown in the fire, being pulled easily from their roots, being pulled into the vortex above them.

  “Please Hortensia, reconsider, you do not know what you do.” “Think about the girl.”

  The witch cackled loudly

  “The girl?” Laughed the witch, “And why does she matter, when this spell is complete, she shall have everything she ever wanted, power, prestige, and the happiness she has so longed for.” “She is the antidote.....”

  There was no answer, and then a booming voice erupted from the wood.

  “Do what you will Hortensia, but I warn you, if you truly seek the happiness you have so longed for... you will not use the girl in this way.”

  The forest became once again silent, the only sound was the rush of the winds building up in the sky, the dark clouds angry, thunder and lightening booming and crashing above. Hortensia shook off Aria's words, raising her green arms in the arm, carried up like a feather in the air, into the swirling vortex, her laughter echoing through the sky.

  Wilfred and the other villagers looked up at the sky, the sun had completely disappeared, the landscape was dark with with black clouds, fog was emerging from the burned forest. Wilfred held Katherine and his fiancee Anne in his strong arms, holding them tightly, still thinking of the regret he felt for how he had treated Eleanor.

  “We must get inside!!” yelled Wilfred above the loud wind, before the storm hits.

  Katherine and Anne nodded their heads in agreement rushing through the wind and rain towards their small tent. Loud cries erupted from outside the tent. Wilfred peeked his head out, being blasted with sharp rain in his eyes and face. A strange swirling vortex had landed on the ground picking up everything in it's path. Suddenly it stopped, diminishing quickly and as the dust settled a black figure emerged, the thud of a long walking stick booming on the ground.

  The woman, beautiful with long wavy brown hair and green eyes, smiled wickedly at the destruction she had just caused. But much to her dismay the witch's path was blocked by a sea of enchanted creatures, and... the woman of the wood.

  “That is enough!” barked Aria, her long branchlike arm in front of her.” “I have tolerated you Hortensia these last hundred years but now... I cannot any longer, Leave!! and never return.”

  The woman cocked back her head and laughed.

  “You're just jealous Aria” boomed the witch with a loud echoing voice. “ You and your silly creatures no longer have power over me.”

  Aria rushed forward, her rootlike legs sliding like water across the ground, her body filling with light almost as bright as the sun. Creatures big and small, their bodies filled with different shades of color. The witch with a wicked grin pointed her wand towards the woman of the wood's army, a stream of black light shot from the wand, hitting Aria and her army. The woman of the wood's body started to convulse against the darkness of the magic, falling instantly to the ground, the woman of the wood started, to wilt and die as if she were a precious flower that had been left in the hot sun.

  “Goodbye.... Aria” , cackled the beautiful witch, as she disappeared into the dark mist surrounding the countryside.

  The woman of the wood's bark-body began to turn from green to gray, the sickness spreading quickly through her body until she began to melt into nothinngness, along with the rest of her beloved creatures.

  5 months later

  The wind had began to blow fiercely, the torches on the outskirts of the sea of tents, flickering. Everyone lay asleep except for one lone watchmen, a tall man with a red beard, his face covered with a hood. Looking over the foggy terrain the watchmen's sad eyes looked longingly at the forest beyond the village. Wilfred had volunteered to be watchmen every night because he wanted to escape the horrible dream he had every time he closed his eyes.... of her.

  A loud howl shook the silence. Wilfred pulled his sword from it's sheath, and made ready for another attack from the monstrous pack that now ruled the forbidden woods. Dark red eyes glowed in the mist, but before Wilfred could call for help, the monsters appeared, their long fangs oozing saliva down their black furry faces. This was the chance Wilfred had been waiting for.

  “C'mon ya mongrels!”, hissed Wilfred pointing his sword at the hairy beast, I'm ready for ya. “

  And with that, Wilfred using his wooden stick, leaped over the mangy beasts and high tailed it through the fog and towards the woods. Hearing loud growling and grunts behind him, Wilfred, already sweating started to think this was a bad idea. The forest was only yards away and the man grew weary, the beasts catching up fast, too fast. The leader of the pack snipped at Wilfred's bottom, tearing his trousers.

  Wilfred looked fearfully at his torn pants and ran ever the more faster, faster than he had ever run in his life. And then it hit him. Pulling out a drumstick from his leather bag, Wilfred tossed it at the dogs, the mangy animals fighting over the meat. Chuckling at the break fate had just given him, Wilfred disappeared into the dark woods.

  Carefully, softly, Wilfred stepped over the rotted leaves, wishing he had kept his torch, it was pitch black, and only the faint light of the harvest moon showed him the way. Faint voices rose and fell somewhere in the distance. Wilfred ducked behind a tree, hoping that whatever they were wouldn't find him.

  “What are you complaining about Dathia?” , said a voice, sounding like an old husky woman. “There's bound to be someone one out tonight to feed your hunger. “

  The other spirit, tall and fair with a pointy nose, huffed in frustration.

  “'Nah, the villagers don't come out anymo' you know that.” They's too scared they is.”

  Wilfred started to sweat again.

  “Wait.... “ said the husky woman spirit, “ I smell somethin. “

  Dathia clapped her hands in glee.

  “Come out human, and I'll make your end quick I will.”

  Wilfred didn't budge.

  “Oooh, a handsome one!” came a voice beside Wilfred.

  Frightened beyond belief, the hairs on the back of Wilfred's head began to stand up slowly one after another. Slowly turning around, Wilfred saw a beautiful woman, with long flowing hair, and hollow eyes, a smile on her morbid bony face.

  “I'm so sorry love” , said the beautiful ghost, “ but we's gonna have ta eat ya now we is.”

  “Step aside Dathia!,” boomed the other ghost a wicked smile on her face, “ you got one last week ya did.”

  The ghost's mouth opened wider, wider than anything Wilfred had ever seen.

  “Wha, wah, wait!!” barked Wilfred.

  The husky ghost didn't give heed. Grabbing Wilfred she pulled him close to her mouth, the man

  seeing a black hole inside, of nothing but darkness.

  “Wait Georgie, I want ta know what he wants.”

  The husky woman glared at her friend, and threw Wilfred to the ground.

  “Hurry it up then” , barked Georgie, “ we don't have all eternity ya know.”


  Dathia helped Wilfred to his feet. The man astonished at the ghost's mercy.

  “Now then. Lad... what is it then?.”

  Wilfred tried to speak but the words came out differently than he expected.

  “I wish... to .. .find … someone.”

  Both ghost cackled.

  “Find someone he says laughed Georgie, “In this forest?.” “There's no humans here boy.”

  Wilfred looked sadly down at the ground.

  “Her name is... Eleanor” , Wilfred whispered, “ she was taken... by Hortensia, when she...

  Both ghosts looked at each other with mischievious grins

  “Ahhh, replied Dathia, you're looking for... the girl, the one that made all this mess in the first place it is.”

  The larger ghost shook her fat head.

  “Ya can't find her boy.. she's a hard one she is, that witchy made sure of it.... don't want anyone messin up 'er plans...” “Now come 'ere... I think I've waited long enough...”

  Wilfred fought hard against the ghost's grip, but it was no use. Then he had an idea.

  “Wait! Yelled Wilfred, as half of his head was shoved into the ghost's mouth. “I uh, have somethin even better.”

  The greedy ghost threw Wilfred to the ground once again, watching eagerly as Wilfred pulled out

  a hearty meal of porridge, bread, and wine.

  “Now that's what I'm talkin about..!”. replied the fat ghost excitedly, as she shoved the food into her mouth, it disappearing into the depths of her being. After the larger woman ghost was done, she once again set her eyes, on Wilfred.

  “Now Georgie, you've had your fill, tis my turn now.” pouted Dathia.

  But Wilfred had already disappeared. Both ghosts kicking themselves for not paying more attention. Running through the darkness, Wilfred climbed up a tree, staying there for a couple of minutes until he heard the greedy ghost's voices die down. Something prickly, and furry pierced Wilfred's cloak. A large animal with two little fangs clicking together, it's eight eyes looking hungrily at Wilfred. Pulling out his sword, Wilfred, swung at the large beast, slicing one of it's furry legs. The beast howled in pain, and scurried off further up into the tree.

  As Will jumped down from the tree, bracing himself as he hit the ground, the sun or some of what was shining barely through the thick fog.

  “Wilfred.... “ echoed a voice through the trees.

  Looking all around him, even through the fog, the man couldn't see anything. The voice came

  again , this time, stronger.

  “Who..... are you?

  Called out Wilfred, not wanting another unexpected ghost or some creature that was ready to make him it's next meal. A face appeared below, green shoots popped out of the cold, wet ground, forming a face, a face Wilfred had seen before. Wilfred looked on in amazement.

  “But you're.... supposed to be dead... “ Wilfred quietly said.

  The face smiled.

  “Hortensia may have destroyed me, but as long as my woods live, so do... I.”

  Wilfred pulled out his sword.

  “If this be some trick.... “ the young man said getting ready to strike.

  The woman of the wood laughed.

  “It is alright young Wilfred,” replied the woman of the wood, “ I will not harm thee, I am here... to help you find that in which you are searching for.... Eleanor.”

  “You... know where she is then?

  The woman of the wood smiled.

  “Where can I find her? “ , said Wilfred excitedly.

  A vine popped out of the ground forming a primitive hand.

  “Follow the river amongst the trees, it will lead you to a forgotten realm of the forest, long abandoned by man.... there you will find what you're searching for.... “But... be warned young Wilfred, there are many dangers ahead... for the pagans of long ago cursed their land before they were destroyed..”

  Wilfred nodded his head.

  “Take this...” replied the woman of the wood, pulling a shiny orb from out of the muddy ground. “This... will be a guide to you in the darkness.” “Now go... for the witch has spies everywhere and will hear of your plans soon enough.

  The vines as quickly as they had appeared disappeared, popping back into the ground.

  Wilfred headed towards a muddy river flowing quietly along the forest floor. Holding the shining

  orb close by his side, Wilfred prepared himself... for the worst.

  Chapter 14

  Sitting in a throne amidst a ruined castle, was the new queen of Darkwood, a beautiful creature, but no one to mess with. Yawning at her source of entertainment, a small dwarf, juggling shiny green apples, the Queen's eyes grew red, and within minutes, the dwarf was a black ooze on the floor. Quickly touching her face, the witch could feel, her formal nasty appearance return, uttering a spell in a painful voice, the queen hindered the spell, that was put on her so long ago.

  A high voice, probably one of the goblins that guarded the door, announced a visitor. The Queen sat back in her chair, dreading another complaint from the creatures that had come to the land since the curse. Two ghost women, one taller than the other, the shorter one seemed to be in control of the tall skinny woman, constantly punching her arm when she was out of line.

  '”Yes, what is it” , hissed the witch in an annoyed voice.

  The two ghosts smiled wickedly at each other.

  'Well, my queen, we found a boy in the woods we did, looking.... for her.”

  “For who?” Barked the Queen, “ and who is this boy and why!... should I even care.”

  The ghosts talked amongst themselves for a minute. The Queen growing even angrier.

  “Because your highness piped the tall ghost her long nose bobbing as she talked. “ He's lookin for 'er, the girl wi'th the curse.”

  The witch-Queen's face grew pale.

  'Are you absolutely sure what you saw?!” Barked the Queen.

  The two ghosts bobbed their heads.

  “Blast,!” hissed the Queen to herself.

  The ghost women became antsy. The fat one spoke up .

  “Well... don't we get a reward or somethin?.”

  Queen Hortensia rolled her eyes, ordering the guards to lead the two ghosts to the dungeons. Biting her fingernails, the witch dreaded the news. If the boy found Eleanor, her new way of life would be ruined. She had to stop him before it was too late. Grabbing a broom lying on the cold stone floor beside her rusted golden throne, Hortensia disappeared through the open window of the throne room, her subjects, their glistening eyes glazed over, looking on.

  ｱ

  It had grown dark quickly, and Wilfred struggled to continue across the vast forest that lay ahead. Unfortunately for him, he had no idea where he was going. Stumbling over an overgrown root, Wilfred huffed in frustration. Something shiny lay on the cold muddy ground. Picking up the trinket, Wilfred blew at the dirt that had encrusted the object, to find that it was an old silver locket.