Where the Forest Ends: A Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel

by Turner, Ben

  "How are you here?" she said. Her voice was somehow clear and strong. She couldn't feel the noose or the strings pulling on her. She felt as though she were floating out of her body, towards her father, although when she looked at him he wasn't getting any closer.

  Her father held out a hand. It seemed to glow and shimmer. "Come with me," he said. "Come with me and we can be together forever."

  Frank Masters smiled. She tried to reach out towards him, but couldn't move.

  Suddenly she fell and her father evaporated into thin air. If she had been able to scream, she would have.

  The darkness consumed her once again. She hit the ground beneath the gallows and curled up into a ball, unable to move.

  The hood was wrenched off her head and the noose was pulled off her neck. She could feel the grooves it had made on her neck. The strings below her arms were pulled back as well, cutting into her armpits as they were retracted.

  Someone knelt beside her. Two wrinkled, feminine fingers pushed against her windpipe.

  "She's dead," said Hazel as she pulled back her fingers. "Dispose of the body."

  "Yes, Ma'am," said the executioner. He put his arms underneath Vivian's limp body and hoisted her up into the air and over his shoulder. Vivian felt like a rag-doll as she hung over the man's broad shoulders.

  She could hear the crowd dispersing.

  Vivian didn't know where they were going. She had never learned what had been done with the body of the rebels. The executioner grunted and came to a stop. Her ankles swung and hit the railing of one of the bridges.

  "Sorry," whispered the executioner. "Soon you'll understand what I'm about to do."

  Suddenly he threw her over the edge. Her entire body rag dolled violently in the wind as she flopped and spun through the air. If she hadn't been paralyzed, she would have screamed. Wind and leaves and branches flew past her, hitting her as she fell off the city and down towards the forest floor below.

  So, this was what had been done with the bodies of the rebels. They were thrown to the surface, where they were promptly eaten and devoured by the planet.

  Then she hit something soft and her descent slowed, her body folding up on itself as whatever she had hit sank along with her. It took her a few moments to realize it was an immense net. She heard shouts and whispers around her and wondered just how far she'd fallen.

  Once again, someone hoisted her on their shoulder and carried her off the net. She was carried for only a minute or two before being placed onto a bed.

  A pair of footsteps walked up and stopped beside the bed.

  "When you recover," said Dave, "everything will be explained. Until then, just rest."

  As if I have a choice, thought Vivian.

  The footsteps retreated, and Vivian quickly lost what remained of her consciousness and fell into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 12

  Vivian didn't know how long she had been out. All she knew was that she could move her arms, she could move her legs, and she could see clearly as though she had--

  She reached up to her face and touched the goggles. Someone had a new pair on here while she'd been asleep.

  She sat up and looked around the room. It was sparsely finished and barely ten by ten feet. There was a bed, a dresser and a desk.

  She thought about what had happened, she thought about Ellen, and she thought about the fact that she was still alive.

  Then she thought about her father.

  For a moment, he had been there. She was sure of it.

  The door opened, interrupting her thoughts. She pulled the sheets up to protect herself.

  Dave entered, holding a tray of soup and crackers. He paused when he saw she was awake.

  "I'm glad you're awake," he said. "I brought food."

  Vivian lowered the sheets. She took the offered food, realizing how hungry she was.

  Dave pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed as she devoured the food. "I owe you an explanation."

  She glared at him. “Tell me about my father," she said bluntly.

  "Really?" said Dave, raising an eyebrow. "That's what you want to know? You were executed. You are legally dead. What were you thinking running off to Hazel and telling her everything? You could have ruined everything!"

  Vivian said nothing.

  Dave sighed. "Your father was a smuggler wanted by several major members of the Intergalactic Federation. He fled to the outer reaches looking for salvation and a life for the two of you. Trella was his only option."

  "I saw him," said Vivian.

  Dave frowned. "Who?"

  "My father," she said softly. "When I was hanging from the noose. I saw my father standing in the air in front of me."

  Dave hesitated. "I should explain how you're alive."

  "The executioner is one of your men." said Vivian. "He drugged me to simulate death, while the strings under my arms kept the weight off my throat enough to keep me alive. Then when the executioner tosses the bodies off the bridge, you catch them and induct them into your little rebel club. Do I have the scars?"

  Dave nodded, reaching up and touching the noose scars around his neck. Vivian did the same, and flinched back as her hands touched the still sensitive scars of where the noose had bitten into her skin.

  "You didn't see your father," said Dave. "It's part of the drug the executioner gave you."

  Vivian nodded, although she didn't believe him.

  "If you see your father again," said Dave. "Let me know."

  She frowned. "Did I see him or not?"

  Dave looked away from her. "I don't think so. Let me know when you're feeling healthy. Everything is dying to meet you."

  Chapter 13

  It took a few days for Vivian to recuperate her strength. Dave visited every day, bringing food and vague details about what was happening in Trella. Vivian got the sense the was planning something big.

  Vivian didn't know if she wanted to be a part of it. She wanted to save Ellen and the people she loved. There were innocent people in Trella who believed the lies Hazel and the Council of the Mother Tree were feeding them. She couldn't abide by that.

  Once she could walk under her own strength, Dave supplied her with new clothes. She dressed in a black outfit. It fit perfectly. She glanced at Dave with a raised eyebrow and he shrugged.

  "We have a very good tailor," he said with a grin.

  "Was he executed?"

  "Of course."

  Vivian allowed herself a small laugh as she walked to the door.

  "Before we go anywhere," said Dave, stepping into her path, "I need to tell you something."

  "What?"

  "You might have actually seen your father. You need to let me know immediately if it happens again."

  "Why?"

  "Because it means we have a very serious problem."

  Dave left the room. After a moment, Vivian followed.

  They walked around the small network of trees and unstable bridges that made up the rebel base. Rebels were scattered among the low trees, less than twenty feet above the forest floor, gathering weapons and scurrying to and fro, preparing for something. Vivian glanced down at the forest floor and prayed that the bridges would hold.

  "It's stable," said Dave when he saw where she was looking. "We won't fall."

  "I need an explanation," said Vivian, gripping the edges of the bridge. "What did I see? I saw the ground swallow up a family of four."

  "I was going to tell you," said Dave, "but you ran off to Chief Hazel and told her everything, then we had to save your life."

  Vivian touched the sensitive scars on her neck. "I'm sorry," she said.

  Dave nodded and continued walking.

  "So," said Vivian as they stepped off the bridge and into one of the trees. "Are you mounting an attack on the Mother Tree?"

  "Not yet," said Dave as they stepped onto another bridge. "First we need to understand what we're up against. We're preparing an expedition."

  "What do you mean?" said Vivian, hesitantly follo
wing him onto the bridge and testing it held her weight with no issues.

  "You asked what happened to those people," said Dave, walking along the bridge with his hands in his pockets as the bridge swung beneath him, "and the answer is that, honestly, I don't know."

  He reached the far side of the bridge and looked back at Vivian, who was gripping onto the rope railing of the bridge and taking one hesitant step at a time.

  Dave was leaning against the tree with his hand in his pockets. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt, and his translucent chest and shoulders were covered in dark, wiry, hair.

  Vivian finally made it to the end of the bridge and took a deep breath.

  "What do you mean 'expedition'?" she said.

  "Our first attack had the intention of finding the truth that the Council of the Mother Tree is hiding from anyone, but we didn't know what we were looking for. They tried to execute us all, but we had the executioner on our side. Only three or four people died, all of complications relating to the drug."

  Vivian's eyes opened wide. "People died because of the drug?" she said, aghast.

  "Allergic reactions," said Dave, waving a hand as though it was irrelevant. "It was either that or definite death. You didn't have to drink it."

  "You could have drugged me to death!"

  Dave turned to her. "Everything worth doing comes with risk. Your father knew that when he came here. You should learn the same."

  "So you're saying I should just make stupid decisions all the time like you. What if the executioner wasn't on your side? What is your backup plan?"

  "It's irrelevant, because he is. Come on. They're waiting for you."

  Vivian frowned as Dave turned towards a door in the tree she hadn't noticed before. He opened the door and Vivian followed him inside.

  They people inside looked towards her. They were introduced as the Council of the Rebels. They introduced themselves one at a time in rapid succession, so fast Vivian wasn't able to remember any of their names, instead just resorting to nodding and shaking hands whenever they were offered to her.

  Dave took his seat, leaving Vivian standing in the center of a semi-circle of chairs on which the Council was sitting.

  "I'm going to get right to the point," said Dave. "I want you as a general for our expedition."

  Vivian frowned. "What?"

  "I'll give you the basics," said Dave.

  Not seeing that she had much of a choice, Vivian nodded.

  "Something is wrong with this planet," said Dave. "You saw that. The Council of the Mother Tree knows this. For at least two decades but probably much longer, they have been inviting people to work here and sending them to their deaths on the surface. I discovered this six years ago while I was sneaking around in some abandoned trees and going down to the surface. I recruited people the same way I recruited you," he said. "One of the first people I recruited was the executioner. Soon I had an army."

  "How many people have been executed? “said Vivian.

  "There have been a hundred and sixty executions over the past five years," said Dave. "Except for the three people who had allergic reactions to the drug and one who died of disease a year ago, they are all here. They make up the majority of the rebels. The remaining hundred or so is made up by outcasts from Trella. Some were recruited by Cornelius to help him with his task, and who refused. These people weren't officially executed; they were just erased from public memory."

  Vivian swallowed, thinking of the dozens of people who she'd been close to who had suddenly disappeared over the years. She swallowed.

  "What do you need me to do?" she said.

  "We are sending out expeditions to all corners of this small planet," said Dave. "Each of the council members is in charge of a group, although some are delegating the role of actually leading the expedition. You and I will be heading to the north, as co-generals of the eight battalion. We will travel until we find the truth or the end of our assigned territory. Then we will meet back here and share what we learned with the others."

  Vivian nodded. "When do we leave?"

  A council member man with long black hair who Vivian believed had introduced himself as Gavin leaned back and smiled. Something about him made Vivian's skin crawl.

  "We leave tomorrow," said Dave. "There is one other thing we need to discuss."

  "What is that?"

  "It has to do with your father," said Dave. "I want you to tell the council what you saw."

  She swallowed and nodded. She told them exactly what she had seen as she had hung from the noose and been on the verge of death. Even Gavin seemed concerned, tapping his fingers along the arm of the chair.

  When she had finished, there was a few moments of silence. Gavin leaned forward.

  "There have been situations like this before," said Gavin. "You might begin seeing visions of your father in other places. Don't listen to them. No good can come from it."

  "Why does it matter?" said Vivian.

  "Because the only people seen in these visions are those who have been swallowed by the planet."

  Vivian frowned. "What does that mean?" she said.

  "We don't know," said Gavin. "We need to find out."

  "When do we start?" she said.

  Dave said, "We leave as soon as you are ready."

  Chapter 14

  It took Vivian few days until she felt prepared to head out. She spent the time learning everything she could about the rebel base.

  Some of the other expeditionary groups headed out during that time, heading in different directions. The initial expedition would last one month. If a group wasn't back by that time, it meant that something had happened and other groups would be sent to find them or investigate their deaths. There was no communication allowed between the group because of risk of the Mother Tree intercepting the communications.

  She made her way to his quarters, a quaint one room living space which looked like the one in which she had awoken a few days earlier.

  Vivian walked up to Dave's door. There was a faint melody coming from inside. She paused and listened. It sounded like the strings of a mandolin being plucked. There were no accompanying words, but it was obvious that it was a song of immense sorrow and loss.

  She knocked on the door.

  The music trailed off, the strings continuing to vibrate for a few moments before abruptly stopping.

  Dave opened the door and looked out at her. He was wearing white sweat pants and nothing else. She could see his organs through his translucent skin.

  "Vivian," he said.

  "I wanted to talk to you."

  Dave stepped to one side. "Take a seat."

  Vivian took a seat.

  Dave sat on the bed and leaned against the wall. "Are you ready to head out?"

  Vivian put her hands together in her lap. "Why did you pick me?"

  Dave shrugged. "You're smart, competent, and trained as a medic. A few of the council, including Gavin, don't trust you, but I'm a strong believer that everyone gets two chances. The first big mistake can be forgiven, the second can't."

  "That's not what I meant," said Vivian. "Why pick me at all? That first night that you left a note outside my door, why?"

  Dave leaned forward. "I want to free everyone from Hazel's clutches. There aren't many people who will believe me. Most will run to Hazel immediately and ruin everything."

  "I'm not sure I understand."

  "You didn't run right away because deep down you were suspicious. I guessed that about you, and I was right."

  "Why am I the general?" said Vivian.

  "I'm going to be completely honest with you, Vivian. You're not."

  Vivian frowned. "What are you talking about?"

  "Officially," he said, "you are. Unofficially, you're under my watch. Gavin doesn't trust you, and he has significant pull among the council. If you step out of line or do anything to jeopardize the mission, I am to kill you."

  "You're going to kill me?" she said.

  Dave shrugged. "I hope
that I never need to find out."

  Vivian stared forward. "Why doesn’t Gavin trust me?"

  "He doesn't trust your kind, and he doesn't like how you went to hazel."

  Vivian nodded. "I'll be ready to go tomorrow. Officially, we are on the same level?"

  " We are equals."

  Vivian stood. "Okay. I can work with that. I liked your song."

  Dave smiled. "My mother wrote it," he said.

  He didn't offer anything more, so Vivian thanked him for his time and left his quarters.

  Somehow, knowing that she as much a prisoner as a general lifted a weight off her shoulders. She laughed at herself for feeling this way and then walked back towards her own quarters.

  Chapter 15

  Dave and Vivian stood at the front of the formation of rebels fully armed. Vivian didn't know how much the rebels knew about her background, but they must have been able to tell that she had no military experience of any kind.

  She thought of Ellen. She wanted to find Ellen and explain everything. Not that she would listen. Her stubbornness was simultaneously one of the most irritating and endearing things about her.

  "March," shouted Dave. They began walking away from the relative safety of the base.

  Vivian adjusted her goggles and made sure that they were securely fastened. She had a backup pair in her bag.

  They were the last platoon to leave from the rebel base, leaving only the necessary personnel to defend it in the worst-case scenario.

  As they reached the edge of the base, they stopped. One more step and they would be standing on the surface, on the same ground that Vivian had seen swallow up her father and that family.

  "Don't worry," said Dave. "We have been monitoring these areas for almost five years. People have walked over them hundreds of times. We have nothing to fear."

  Vivian looked back at the nervous faces of the rebels behind her and took a deep breath.

  She took a step onto the ground, her heart beating a million miles per hour.