Elthon Forest

Elton Forest was just as I remembered it. Except maybe this time, instead of fascination, I only felt sadness. This was still the place where I had gotten my first heartbreak. Elton Forest used to be a place where adventurous couples came for dates, but now it was deserted. Even the town itself had been abandoned, as no one had ever lived there. I found myself wondering once more where the other Supernaturals had gone. Neither Deric nor Silas had said anything about it; they simply ignored the question when I asked.

It was dark, usually, even during the daytime because the large canopies formed by the tree branches blocked out the sunlight. As we maneuvered our way through the forest, it became evident that the tree I had seen in my dreams was nowhere to be found. Elton Forest wasn't that large, but with Deric and Silas's speed, it was easy to search the forest.

"It's safe to say that your Mysterious Tree isn't here," Silas said.

"No, maybe we just haven't looked enough."

"Come on, Kerry, it's not here."

"No, Silas. I know it has to be here somewhere. I don't understand. Terry said it was here?"

"Terry?" Silas gave me a curious look that held a hint of displeasure. He looked over at Deric as if looking for answers from him. Deric shrugged and didn't give him a response. Silas sighed. He walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I told you not to put your hopes up too much. I've been told about the Forbidden Tree, but even I have no idea where it is. It could all just be a dream. Not everything can be real."

"But..."

"I hate to admit it, but Silas is right. We should go back now."

I wanted to protest. I was so sure that it would be here. My dream had been too realistic; there was no way it was all part of my imagination. I felt hurt. Even though I had promised not to put my hopes too high, I had already believed that this was going to work. I had been sure we would manage to find that tree, and then we would think about how to find the person who did this and make him pay for it. But now all my hopes came crashing down. The Forbidden Tree wasn't in Elton Forest, and things wouldn't go back to the way they used to be.

"Fine. Let's go. But I need to pee first."

"Can't you hold it in until we get back to the Mansion or something?"

"It's a 3-hour drive, Deric. I'll be right back."

Deric rolled his eyes and whispered something to Silas. Surprised, I saw them having a decent conversation despite their usual malice. Despite the bitterness I was feeling at the moment, I couldn't help but smile at them. Maybe this could work after all, even if we don't get to fix this in the end.

I walked away to a safe distance behind a tree. Relieving myself, I noticed a distant, bright glow, like a firefly but stronger. I blinked, trying to see whether or not I was imagining it. It was still there, looking very much real. I pondered whether or not to ignore it, but then my curiosity had always been what led me to trouble. I decided to take a quick look and see what it was, then I would come back. Deric and Silas probably wouldn't notice.

I followed the light, skipping over roots and branches. The light led me to a tree, where it then disappeared. I gasped in shock, wondering what the hell was happening. But I noticed a hole—a human-sized hole—next to a large protruding root. I walked over and gazed down.

"What's this?" I wondered aloud.

Curiosity overcame me, and I knelt down to get a closer look at the mysterious hole. It seemed like a passage leading somewhere unknown. Without much thought, I leaned forward to see if I could catch a glimpse of what was inside. But it was way too dark. I tossed a branch inside but heard nothing (as expected). What the hell was this? Could it be that this hole might be the answer to why the tree wasn't here? If this was true, then I needed to call the guys over to see it.

I pushed myself to my feet, but the moment I got up, I felt a severe pain in my head, and I came tumbling down. I screamed my lungs out in fear as my vision turned dark. I didn't know how I had fallen into this hole. I was sure I had been a small distance away from it. Even if I had fallen, I shouldn't have fallen inside. This is it. This is the moment I die. I thought of all the things I wished I had done with my life. I felt bad at the idea of leaving Silas and Deric behind, still waiting for me. They would probably assume I ran away or got killed by a wild animal (even though there weren't any wild animals in Elton Forest).

"Oh, God," I whined in pain as my back hit the ground—hard, but not hard enough to cause any serious injuries. I pried my eyes open. It was dark, and in front of me was the biggest tree I had ever seen—the very same one from my dreams. "I can't believe it!" I felt joy overwhelm me.