Ensnared

by Sian B. Claven

  “You don’t scare me!” she yelled at the spectre. “AND YOU CAN’T HURT ME!”

  The ghost of the witch simply stared, her eyes fully black and her arms to her side.

  Amari took a step towards her. “You hear me? You do not scare me, Raven!”

  The name echoed through the trees and Amari stood her ground as the spectre slowly shook her head. Raven opened her mouth and said something, but no sound emerged. She lifted her arm, her hand flat with the palm facing Amari, as she continued to mouth. Amari realised she was trying to cast something, and wondered whether ghosts could cast spells successfully.

  That was when Amari noticed the shadow running along the side of the trees.

  Shifting to see what the shadow was, she realised that Raven was not facing her at all, but rather the shadow running amid the trees. The shadow was little; it looked like it was wearing a dress.

  Kiara! It dawned on Amari that she was witnessing what happened that fateful day. Kiara had to be manipulating the forest to help show her this vision so she knew where to start looking.

  Amari watched as the little shadow ran straight for her and before she could do anything they collided and everything went black.

  When Amari opened her eyes she was the one running, the same way she had run the first time she came into the forest. She tried to stop, but it seemed that her body was moving of its own accord, as though she was there in mind but something had taken over her body.

  Amari’s head turned itself and she looked behind her, seeing Raven standing on the path with her hand raised up. She looked ahead of her again. She was brought to a jerking stop when her dressed snagged on a branch. That was when Amari knew something else was happening, for she hadn’t been wearing a skirt when she left the house. She started to panic, until she saw petite hands trying to wrench the skirt away from the branches. She was experiencing Kiara’s memories - it was Kiara!

  She was trying to help Amari figure out where the spell book was.

  As Kiara, she looked back at Raven standing just outside the clearing, the wind whipping her dress and hair about, which just made her look more fearsome. Kiara kept trying to snatch the skirt away from the branch and she started to panic. The branches formed a circle around her, as though trapping her in place. She shrieked, sobbing to herself that she needed to get free. The branches closed in around her until she couldn’t make out anything except the branches.

  Then the world went dark.

  Amari blinked a few times as the wind tugged and pulled her hair free from her scarf. She was no longer in the clearing. She was on the path where Kiara’s life had come to an end, and she was trapped in the book. She stared at where the branches had been, the branches she had felt were trapping her, and there was no tree there. It was an empty space.

  She gazed down the path and could just make out where the clearing was. Where Raven had been, casting the evil spell. Amari clenched her fists and started towards the clearing.

  Kiara had shown her the way. She knew where to start looking for the book.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  It was nearly nightfall when Amari stood up. She hadn’t brought any tools with her, so was using her bare hands to dig up the earth in random spots around the clearing and the path. The book had to be here somewhere; why else would Kiara give her that specific vision?

  She wiped the sweat from her forehead and gazed around at the multitude of mini holes she had dug. Maybe it was buried too deep for her to get to. Maybe she had misinterpreted what Kiara had meant. Frustrated, she was also cold and hungry. She couldn’t think of anywhere else to look for this damned book without going home to fetch a shovel. In her frustration she kicked the nearest tree. The tree shuddered and something thudded inside the trunk.

  Amari stared at it and then kicked it again; it definitely sounded hollow for a tree. Quickly she examined it to see if there was a hole in the trunk or somewhere she could get an arm in. She couldn’t find anything, so she kicked it again. Amari clenched her fists and started kicking at it violently, willing it to crack and break. She was just about to give up, her leg cramping and sore, when the wood split.

  It only split a little bit, not enough to really do anything with except grant her some hidden adrenaline to renew her efforts. She kicked as hard as she could and as soon as it splintered sufficiently for her to grip it with her fingers, she dropped to her knees and did so.

  The wood wasn’t too thick here at all, which is why she was able to break it by kicking it. It slipped out of her fingers a few times, catching her nails and lodging bark under them. She ignored the pain and discomfort and continued to pry the bark away, opening the hole.

  Once the hole was big enough, she sat back, sweat drenched and tired. Amari caught her breath, realising she was losing daylight. Leaning forward onto her arms, she crawled into the hole.

  It was filled with spider webs. She inspected it as carefully as she could, but didn’t see the spiders the webs belonged to. Bile rose up in her throat. She turned her head away and closed her eyes, sinking her hand in the sticky webs. The lightness tickled her hands and arms, and she wasn’t sure if she imagined it or not, but something scurried over her hand. She reached the bottom, choking back the need to throw up, her body shivering like crazy.

  Her hand touched something soft. She felt around it, hoping against hope that it wasn’t a rat, or worse, a dead rat. She gave a loud cough, willing herself not to puke. She felt around some more and her fingertips gently closed around the softness. Underneath it was something hard. She took a deep breath and slowly pulled it up.

  Only once it was out the hole and dropped next to her on the ground, did Amari allow herself to freak out. She stood up and hopped around, brushing at her hand and arm and coughing a few times, tasting bile in her mouth. Her body shook uncontrollably and she felt the hair on the back of her neck standing up.

  Eventually she regained her composure and looked at what she had pulled out.

  It was wrapped in a dirty, ratty cloth and she had to steel herself to touch it again. She gently peeled the cloth back and dropped it to the side. The book was ominous-looking. It was also larger than a regular book. It was black and the pages had yellowed with time, although Amari wasn’t sure if that was from being in the tree or if it was from how old it was before Raven even got it.

  She touched the cover lightly and felt electricity in her fingers. Suddenly aware of how dark it was growing, Amari scooped the book up and headed for the path, knowing it would be the quickest way to get back without getting lost. She heard leaves rustling behind her, as though someone was in the forest with her. In her heart she knew someone was, and it was not Kiara.

  Amari held the book against her and started running down the path. The sound of rustling leaves changed to that of crunching. Someone was chasing her. Amari’s legs screamed with pain as she ran as fast as she could, trying to escape whatever was behind her. She could hear the thudding of footsteps behind her, but she didn’t dare look back, she was too scared. She ignored the small branches that seemed to lean out to smack her in the face and on her arms, hurting even through the thick material of her jacket. She didn’t care if she had bruises later; she just needed to get out of here.

  Bolting around a corner, she saw the road ahead and Maggie on the wall, staring up at the house and kicking her legs against the boundary.

  Amari’s breaths came sharp and heated, her lungs felt like they were going to explode from the pressure of running. Her heart beat through her chest and sweat poured from her body, making her hands holding the book to her chest slippery. She didn’t care. She didn’t stop running.

  She was a few meters from Maggie when she managed to muster enough strength to yell, “MAGGIE! RUN!”

  Maggie must not have heard her because she didn’t look down the path, she didn’t move at all except to kick her feet against the wall.

  Amari shook her head and passed the girl, hoping she was immune to whatever was chasing her because Amari did
n’t think she could stop now.

  Almost, she thought, almost to the road …

  A brief smile broke across her face as she reached the road.

  Someone or something grabbed her arm and yanked her back and she screamed with all her might. She was turned around and thick arms wrapped around her.

  “Amari! Calm down! It’s me! It’s dad!” She shook against her father as he held her against his chest, stroking her hair. “Calm down, baby. Why the hell did you run away from me? And why are you still out so late? Your mother is worried sick.”

  Amari could hear that Jono was torn between relief that she was okay and anger that she had made them worry unnecessarily.

  She glanced at the boundary wall, but Maggie was nowhere to be seen, so she shook her head and said, “I’m sorry, I lost track of time while I … was … “ She needed an excuse quickly and then remembered the book she was still clutching to her chest. “Reading!” she declared to Jono. “I was busy reading, I thought I would just go over some notes for one of my classes.”

  Jono pushed her damp hair away from her face. “You don’t have to lie to me, Amari.” She looked up at him with wide eyes and he said, steering her towards the main road, “I know you were reading one of those horror books you like so much, it’s okay. I said you could have the day off, remember? Just, try and be more considerate next time about your mother. She is so worried about you.”

  Amari cast her eyes down at the book and said, “Sorry, dad, I really am.”

  He nodded and led her down the road. As they passed the woods Amari tried not to look between the trees, but she couldn’t help herself. She glanced to the right and saw, through the gaps between the trunks, a dark-haired pale woman glaring at her and shaking her head.

  “I was worried sick!” her mother exclaimed yet again as she dished up supper for Amari and Jono. “I thought you had fainted, or fell again, and I didn’t know how we were going to find you. I know those woods look small, Amari, but they are not and you could have been a bit more considerate.”

  Amari picked at her food, accepting her punishment quietly. She did feel bad for making her mother worry so much, and because she didn’t want to explain the real reason she had been out in the woods so long, she let it go and didn’t argue that she was an adult and capable of taking care of herself as she normally would.

  Sashqua sat down at last and started poking at her food angrily. “What did I do to deserve such unkind treatment!”

  Jono placed a hand on her arm. “Sash, darling, she said she was sorry and I think she feels really bad. Just let it go, love.”

  Sashqua glared at him and he quickly retracted his hand, suddenly very interested in his food. Sashqua glared at Amari and said, “I expect more from you, especially after everything we have done for you.”

  Amari looked up. Her body ached, coming down from its adrenaline high, and she was so exhausted that she burst into tears. “I’m sorry, mom.”

  Sashqua instantly regretted her temper and quickly slipped out of her seat and went to kneel by her daughter. “It’s okay. Come now, you’re far too old to be crying like this, sweetie.”

  Amari sniffed and reached for a napkin, wiping her eyes and blowing her nose. “I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I’m exhausted.” Amari pushed her plate away, “I think I’m just going to go sleep, if that’s okay?”

  Sashqua stroked Amari’s hair out of her face and nodded. “Of course, love, I’ll put your dinner in the oven in case you wake up hungry.”

  Amari stood up, bidding her parents goodnight before going upstairs.

  Once upstairs she fell into her bed and stared at the ceiling. The rush from searching for Raven’s spell book had really exhausted her and she felt raw and emotional from the day’s adventures. She looked at the thick book sitting on her bedside table and got up, her body protesting every movement. She took the tome and placed it in the top drawer with Kiara’s book.

  She brushed Kiara’s book and whispered, “I’m going to get you out of there. I promise.”

  Then, without undressing or opening the covers, she collapsed into her bed and fell asleep.

  Something touched her face lightly, as though stroking it. Amari opened her eyes and she was in the woods outside her house. She shivered, it was the early hours of the morning and the sun was just beginning to rise in the east, near where she thought Maggie’s house was, since that was where she always sat.

  She had been so comfortable and sleep was much welcome, but the branch leaned down and brushed against her face again. Amari sat up and stretched, yawning as she did so. She looked around and her eyes widened with fear. She was in a circle of animal carcasses. Dead birds, rabbits and what looked like squirrels were surrounding her. She felt like she couldn’t breathe and that was when the stench hit her; it smelt like blood and rot.

  Trying not to gag, she cast her eyes down at her lap, not wanting to see the death that surrounded her. She wore a pale blue dress, similar to the colour of Maggie’s eyes, except it was covered in blood. Raising her hands to wipe the blood away, she only managed to smudge it. Her hands were covered in blood as well. It dawned on her that she had killed the animals. All of them.

  She looked up at the trees with tears in her eyes, hearing them whisper about the darkness inside her, that she was evil. Amari shook her head and tried to tell them she wasn’t, that it wasn’t her fault, but the branches danced and sang.

  “Evil!” they chanted, over and over again.

  Amari attempted to stand, but she felt woozy, as though her legs were too weak to hold her weight. She tried to call for help, but her voice only cracked and a slight scratchy sound emitted from her mouth. She stared at the dark red blood drying on her shaking hands.

  A leaf landed on her lap and she looked up to see the trees decaying around her, the chanting cries of ‘evil’ getting higher and higher in pitch. The leaves all fell slowly to the ground, the branches now bare, menacing and scary. They leaned down towards her, as though reaching out to hurt her. She sensed the malice from the trees, and the smell of death got stronger and stronger.

  Amari shut her eyes and sobbed, begging the trees to leave her alone, begging the woods to forgive her for hurting the animals, begging for forgiveness. When she opened her eyes she was in the clearing, with no sign of the carcasses. She was still covered in blood, and she saw Raven, standing there with her hand raised.

  Raven was going to hurt her and she found the strength to get up and take hesitant steps away from her, crying, “Please … no…”

  She ran away from the witch and as she moved a branch lashed out to grab her feet. Her legs gave way under her and she was falling, down, down, down into the darkness.

  Amari hit the floor with a thud and woke up startled. She turned over quickly, kicked the blanket that had wound its way around her legs off, and crawled backwards until her back was flush against the wall.

  She shook terribly, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. It was just a dream. A horrible nightmare, and she was awake now and she was okay. She tried to reassure herself, but she wasn’t sure what was real anymore, and what was being conjured up by Kiara and Raven.

  This one must have been from Raven, because Kiara had never shown her a vision with the intent to scare her. No, Raven attempted to deter her and nothing the old hag did would stop her. She was going to save Kiara.

  Amari glanced at the time on her watch; it was just before 5 a.m. It was a study day so her dad didn’t expect her to assist with farm chores. She planned on studying alright, she planned to study Raven’s book until she knew exactly how she was going to free Kiara.

  As the fear from the dream subsided, she stood and stretched out her body, before reaching for her lamp light, after she found the switch and flicked it on, she gasped.

  Her room was wrecked. The only thing in its place was her bedside table and lamp. Her chest of drawers and closet were open and the contents strewn across the floor. The cover she had thrown
over the full length mirror lay near the attic door and the mirror itself was cracked.

  As Amari inspected that damage she saw that there were many cracks, but one prominent one down the middle. On the left side stood Raven and on the right Kiara. Raven glared at Amari, shaking her head. It was eerie because Amari could only see half of her. Amari instead focused on Kiara, who appeared scared and had a hand reaching out for her, Kiara’s blue eyes drilled into her and Amari touched her hand against the mirror to meet Kiara’s.

  “I will save you,” she whispered.

  Raven shook her head more violently and opened her mouth, a loud shriek that filled the room. Amari realised what was about to happen; she ducked down and wrapped her arms around her head just as the mirror shattered over her.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Amari felt bad that she had to lie to her parents about what really happened to the mirror, but she knew they wouldn’t understand or believe her. She had kicked her shoe off and it hit the mirror, causing it to shatter, that was what she had told them.

  She would never get the image, or the sound of Raven shrieking, out of her mind. It would haunt her for the rest of her life.

  Once she had cleared up the mess of the shattered mirror and cleaned up the rest of the explosion that was her room, she sat down and steeled herself for what she was about to do. There was no longer any doubt; she was going to help Kiara. She would be trapped forever otherwise, and Raven would always haunt Amari.

  She got both books out of her drawer and set them next to each other. The sight of Kiara’s book made her heart heavy. She couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like to be trapped in such a way, but she had an idea of what it was like to feel trapped. Her parents made her feel that when they moved here, when they forced her to make a decision to enrol into a course she didn’t really want to do. She felt trapped because she was cut off from civilisation out here in a rural region.