were dreaming. Sara waved slowly to the girl for a test. Normally she would wave back and her brother try would to stop her, but nothing happened. She began to wave fierily as if she saw her long lost friend, but nothing happened.

What with them? she whispered in a concern voice.

Ryan turned back toward the kids, It's not what with them it is what is with us.

That sentence hit Sara hard, What's wrong with us? She almost screamed the words, but somehow the fact that he said 'us' made her smile and realize she is not alone.

The woodlings have this dust they to make items invisible to humans. I discovered it one day I stepped on an invisible apple they were hiding from, to try to get me to eat less. I never thought they could use it on us. Ryan said in only in a whisper trying yet again to keep their words from reaching the kids' ears. They seem to be reacting to Sara's shouts by looking for her. She seemed to noticed and tried to keep her voice down. The way he had used 'us' again seemed to settle down her mind.

Now what?

We take the children to police's office's door and go back.

'Back' seemed to be the word Ryan could think of to say it nicely, but it hurt all the same. They had lost. It was the final battle and they lost. Silently they took the children to where they needed to go and headed to Apple wood's forest defeated.

Now the next time you go past a forest next to the road, don't go wondering in. Check the street sign and place your ears closely to the edge, maybe you can hear Sara's and Ryan's voices just ecohing beyond the branches. Maybe you can just see the little holes and doors on the trees. If you're lucky you might even see the tiny woodlings. Just don't go in or you may not be seen, again.

Learn more about this author, Alexandria Porath.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

---

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: A science fiction mystery?
We want to hear your view. Write now!