This is my fifth blog post for my short story ‘The Whispers, The Scream’. In this blog post, I’ve finally written out my whole story. Fair warning though, it is very much a draft, and there are some parts that need tweaking. Also, apologies, it is quite long.
The Whispers, They Scream
Clovermoor is a small village you only really visit in passing, the type of place where everyone knows everyone and gossip travels quickly. The few permanent residents of the town are close knit and know each other very well. If we were to consider the residents of Clovermoor as one big family, Gwen would be the favorite child. Gwen is the embodiment of a ‘town princess’; everybody loves her. She is kind, and she’s generous, always willing to lend a helping hand. She smiles at strangers, aids anyone in need of help, and always gives the best advice. If you listen in on any conversation in Clovermoor, someone’s bound to bring her up and talk about the latest selfless thing she’s done for the community. I don’t think the girl has an evil bone in her body. She is extremely charismatic and has many friends, I am still in awe that she decided to choose me as her best friend. I, Finn, am the complete polar opposite of Gwen. I’m awkward and reserved, I can’t hold a conversation to save my life. I’m quiet and keep to myself more than anything. I don’t like interacting with others and mostly keep my walls up. You can find me
Me and Gwen can’t for the life of us remember how we came to be friends, but we’ve been inseparable for as long as we’ve known each other. We spend every day together. Whether we’re going out on an adventure, or just chilling at home, we’re always doing it together. On most days, you’ll find us hidden away in the cabin I inhabit with my aunt. There, Gwen lets her guard down and shows me a side of her I don’t think others know. Without her happy, go-lucky mask on, Gwen is actually quite a troubled person. She has mood swings, she gets angry, she says things she doesn’t mean after the fact. I’ve learned to live and accept that side of her, but she keeps it hidden because she knows others might not. We got a good thing going, or at least I thought so. We’d have our hard times, yes, but I always thought they helped our relationship come out stronger. I never could’ve expected what happened; I wish I could’ve stopped it somehow.
Gwen and I had a routine. She would start her day strolling around in the town, bright and early like she always did. When I decided it was finally time to grace Clovermoor with my presence, I would get up for the day and meet her. When we decided we had enough of the world, we’d sneak back to the cabin and just soak in each other’s presence. We had a system, a program; we always did it like that, until one day. One day, Gwen started to change. It was subtle at first. A few times, maybe once a week, she’d disappear, telling me she wanted to go on a walk. I, as a non-controlling friend, was fine with it. I was honestly happy at first, I was happy she found a new thing that gave her joy. After a while though, I started to get worried. Gwen was starting to spend more and more of her time going on her ‘walks’. I asked her what she was doing and where she was going, but she’d always give me short, quick answers. She always just said she was strolling in the woods, that it was just a nice, relaxing activity. The woods were a vast forest that surrounded Clovermoor, partly shutting us off from the world. I just couldn’t imagine for the life of me why she wanted to walk in the forest for hours on end. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was really doing in there. Also, Gwen would act really weird after her ‘walks’. She felt more distant and pensive, like there was always something else on her mind. She’d also ask the weirdest questions after she had her escapades in the forest. She would ask me whether I thought people really cared about me, or what I would think if she disappeared. I started to get really worried.
It all came to a head when I decided to follow Gwen one day. I know it was probably not the best idea, but I was fed up with the situation. It had gotten to a point where Gwen was going out every day, leaving for hours on end to just walk around in the forest. I knew there was something more to the situation, so I finally followed Gwen, to see what was really going on. I hadn’t been to the woods in a while. My aunt used to like collecting berries from the woods, but I really hadn’t been there in a while. I had no idea where I was going, I was following Gwen blind. I had at least had the good judgement to wait a bit after Gwen left for her ‘walk’ to follow her, not wanting her to feel like there was someone on her tail. I trailed a few meters behind her, making sure to step lightly, not wanting the gravel under my feet to give away my position.
I actually got quite far, trailing behind her. I got lulled into a false sense of achievement; I celebrated too soon, thinking I had already cracked the case on Gwen’s strange behavior, when there was in fact a whole lot I still had to learn. As a approached the woods, close behind Gwen, still riding my false high, something strange happened. The trees at the entrance to the forest moved. I almost thought my brain was tricking me, but what I was seeing was true. Trying to almost, conceal Gwen, the trees knit together. Branches intertwined and trunks bent, creating a maze almost impossible to traverse. The forest, as if almost alive, closed in around me, like it was trying to stop me from following Gwen. I tried to fight through the spiderweb of trees, climbing over branches, and ducking under vines, trying to keep Gwen in my line of sight, but I eventually lost her. I clawed through the forest, trying my best to look for her through the wooded cage I was trapped in, but it was no use; I had truly lost Gwen. The woods had no problem letting me out; I almost felt as if the tees were pushing me to the exit. Before I left, I looked back at the forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of Gwen, but I saw nothing, not even a footprint. It was almost as if the forest was hiding her from me.
I was confused. I had so many questions. Up until a day ago, I was not under the impression that trees could move, let alone weave together into an impenetrable wall. Did the trees recognize Gwen? It was almost as if they moved to cover, to get me off her tail. There was definitely something going on in that forest, something weirder than I thought. After my unsuccessful investigation attempt, I tried to let it go, I really did. It didn’t seem as though Gwen had realized I had followed behind her that day since she acted normal after the fact. Well, her new normal wasn’t really all that normal. She still spent hours upon hours in the forest of weird moving trees, doing God knows what. I tried to let it go, I really did. I tried to just be there for Gwen, letting her go out on her escapades, and listening when she needed to vent, which was not becoming very often. I tried to just ignore it and forget about it, I really promise I tried, but then, it got worse. I really didn’t think it could get worse since for me the whole best friend going into the forest to do mysterious things is pretty bad, but it somehow did get worse. Gwen started spending the majority of her day in the woods. She’d wake up bright and early to go to the forest and would not come back until late at night. The few hours I could find her, I tried to talk, but she just pushed me away and brushed me off, giving me short answers to my burning questions. I got really worried again. So, I decided to follow her again.
This time, I was more prepared. I anticipated the tree would try and pull the same tricks they’d done the last time, so I brought a Swiss Army knife and saw to hopefully be able to cut through the wall of branches. I woke up extremely early, probably way earlier than I needed to, because I really didn’t want to miss Gwen. I was motivated, determined to get to the bottom of her strange behavior once and for all. I waited out the back of Gwen’s house, planning to trail closer behind to not lose her. After she came out and started her journey to the woods, I kept right on her tail. I made sure to tread lightly, not wanting Gwen to be aware of my presence. As Gwen approached the forest, me close in tow, I could feel that sense of accomplishment filling my mind too soon. I shut that feeling down, knowing I shouldn’t’ celebrate too soon. As we got deeper and deeper into the forest, I felt more and more confident in myself. The trees were still trying to get in my way, but I was well equipped this time cutting any vines and sawing off any branches that tried to get in the way of me and Gwen. We were slowly approaching the heart of the forest, and I was slowly approaching the answer to Gwen’s strange behavior. Then, I heard something.
It was a faint, little sound; I almost missed it. It sounded like small whispers, but it almost shouted in its own way. It carried around the forest, almost like the trees themselves were speaking. I thought it was Gwen who had said something at first, that she had spotted me. I went to hide under a big rock, hoping she would brush it off and just continue on. But then, Gwen started running. She took off so quickly; I almost missed her. I got out from behind the rock and started darting after her. I was so close to getting to the bottom of this, I couldn’t let her go. I tried to follow after her, keeping on her trail, but weird things started to happen again. It was almost as if the forest seemed to make a path for her, pushing her forward. Trees bent out of her way, and rocks jumped out of her path. For me, it was almost like I was being thrown obstacles. Stones seemed to get in my way, tripping me when I didn’t seem to see Gwen fall. Vines became tripwires, making me stumble and fall behind. I tried my hardest to keep on her tail, but I eventually lost Gwen in the maze that was the woods. I just stood there, surrounded by trees, defeated. Was this ever going to end?
Here I was again, trying to act normal when I was actually the complete opposite. I had been about a week since my last investigation attempt, and things had somehow gotten worse. Gwen had completely stopped talking to me. I tried opening up first, telling her about me, but she had completely shut me out. Most days, I didn’t even see her. I was getting completely fed up. I was done with this ignoring and beating around the bush, I knew I had to confront her.
I decided the more I thought about it, the less likely it was to happen, so I just got it over with. I woke up bright and early once again, but not to follow Gwen, to talk to her. I stood outside her door and waited for her to come out. She seemed quite surprised to see me, which was just what I wanted; I didn’t want her answers to be rehearsed. She stepped outside, not meeting my eyes.
“Finn, what are you doing here?” She tried to walk past me. “I can’t talk; I have to go.”
“No, Gwen. I’m not going to let you get away again.” I grabbed her wrist, pulling her to look at me.
“So, it was you who followed me in the woods.” Her voice held an edge I didn’t like.
“Yes, it was me, but I’m not ashamed to admit it.” I sighed. “Gwen, I’m really worried.”
“You shouldn’t be, I’m fine.”
“No, Gwen, you’re not fine. You haven’t talked to me in three weeks; you spend every waking hour doing, I have absolutely no idea what in those woods. I’m really worried, Gwen.” I looked at her with pleading eyes; I needed her to talk to me.
“Finn,” She didn’t look at me. “Thank you, really, I appreciate your concern but I’m fine, and I really do have to go.”
“Gwen, I have tried to be patient, and I have tried to ignore it, but I really need you to talk to me.” I grabbed both her hands. “I beg you, talk to me.”
She looked away, her eyes rimmed with tears. We were both breathing heavy, silence weighing on us like a giant load. We just stood there, holding hands, secrets and mystery holding us apart.
“Gwen, I need you to tell me what’s going on, if not for your good then for mine. I’m going crazy here Gwen. Do you know how it feels to watch your best friend leave you behind? Do you know what it’s like to have the person who understands you the best, treat you like a complete stranger? Is whatever you’re doing in those woods more important to you than our friendship?” I poured my whole heart out, all the emotions I had been bottling up, I spilt them out for her. “I feel like a part of me has died Gwen, I feel hollow. You disappear all day, I’m scared for you, Gwen. This is a problem. I need you, I plead you, I force you to tell me what’s going on”
Her answer was so faint, I missed it at first. She makes a tiny sound, a little soft response I missed at first.
“What? Did you say something?” I respond just as softly as her, not wanting to push her away.
“It’s the whispers.” She says. “The whispers make me do it.”
I just look at her expectantly, wanting her to elaborate.
“I didn’t want to do it at first, I promise.” She starts to cry. “I thought it was cruel, but now I’m in too deep.”
“Gwen,” I’m now more confused. “What on earth are the whispers? What do they make you do?”
She shook her head. “I’ve already said too much; the whispers will be mad if I tell you more.”
“Gwen,” I pry. “You have to tell me more, what do ‘the whispers’ make you do?”
“No, no, I can’t.”
I’d had enough; I’d waited too long; I was so close. I looked at Gwen, more fragile and scared than I’d ever seen her. She didn’t deserve this; I had to know the whole story.
“No, you’re taking me to the woods.” I said.
Gwen hesitantly takes me to the woods. I can tell she doesn’t want to go, she seems scared. Me, I’m so ready to get to the bottom of this. As we walk through the forest, the trees open to her, making her a path. They try to shut me off, but once she says, “Let him through.”, they seem to almost listen and obey her. Soon we get to the middle of the forest, the place I’d been trying to get to for so long. I can see Gwen is scared. She’s almost shaking, making me wonder what’s making her so nervous; then, I hear it again, the forest whispers. It carries around, like the forest had a voice and was using it to speak. It was also unlike any voice I had ever heard before. It was soft, like whispers, but it pierced your ears like a scream. I winced when I heard it, yet Gwen seemed to be unfazed.
“Is this a new soul for my pool?” The uncanny whispers seemed to float around me, disturbing my being.
“No,” Gwen said. ” He’s a friend, not for you.”
“Oh well, you’ve been doing a good job Gwen.” The whispers rang through my ears. “I’ve had more than enough souls.”
I was so confused, what on earth was going on? When Gwen started to explain it to me, the more disturbed I became. She said, it had stared when she’d started taking walks in the forest. At first, she really had just started taking walks in the forest to keep her mind off things, but then one day, on one of her walks, the whispers spoke to her. They told her they needed help, and she was the only one who could do it. See, the whispers were really the voices of the forest spirits, spirits who needed to eat. The spirits ate souls from their pool; humans would fall in, and their souls would separate from their bodies, giving the spirits their nourishment. The pool was running low on souls though, and the spirits couldn’t go get them themselves; they needed a human to do it for them, so they picked Gwen. Gwen knew everyone in Clovermoor, everyone loved her, so it wasn’t hard to convince people to take a walk with her in the woods, ‘to catch up’. Once there, she’d push them in the pool, feeding their souls to the spirits. At first, she hated doing it, she felt as if she was killing people. But the more she did it, the more routine it became, enjoyable even. She’d talk with the whispers too; she found it almost, therapeutic.
I was dumbfounded, disturbed, and a bit disgusted. I would’ve never thought Gwen could do such a thing, such a sinister thing. I was frankly, a bit amazed. After Gwen’s explanation, I considered for a long time telling someone. I don’t know, maybe I thought someone could put an end to it, stop her from essentially, killing people. But then again, would anyone even believe me? Would they think that the story that took even myself a while to believe was true? I also thought long and hard about whether I could help Gwen. Maybe, I could pull her out of it, convince her to stop, but after a while of consideration, I knew that also wasn’t an option. Believe me, I never thought I would be in this position, knowing such a terrible and unbelievable secret about my best friend, incriminating evidence that could get us into big trouble. After a long, long-time thinking, I decided to keep the secret, I knew Gwen would do the same for me if I was doing such a shocking thing.
Me and Gwen formed a new routine. She would start her day collecting new souls, bright and early to collect a good number. I would take my time getting ready for the day before meeting her around the town where we’d go back to the cabin and discuss the day. I’ve changed. I don’t think I can get back the version of Finn before he went on a wild goose chase trying to figure out his best friend’s weird behavior. I’m more understanding now; I pry less, letting others talk to me first instead of me getting up in their business. Gwen is also different. We’ve never gone back to the level of openness we had before; that is, she is forever more distant. We’ve made progress though; we definitely talk more than we used to. She is also more serious. I think she’s come to terms with her job and duty, and she completes it to her best ability, even though she doesn’t always like what she has to do. We know that things are different, but we’re okay with that. We’re honestly just happy we made it out together, even though it’s not the same. We can really never go back, but at least we came out with a new understanding of the whispers, the woods, and each other. That’s all that matters.
Although Gwen did say she wanted to take me back to the woods in a few days. . .
