Chapter Nine
I have never felt like this. Ever. I almost feel, free. Who knew that I could be in this deserted, grey place, and feel the best I have ever felt? It's her. The way she laughs. It makes me laugh too. When she smiles, it seems as though her heart is glowing. How can she be this happy? She has no idea where she is, or how to return to where she once was. Yet, she continues to be optimistic. It's making me want to try this, "looking on the bright-side of things". It seems to be working.We're just standing here; our feet sinking into the wet sand and feeling the warm breeze brush our faces. But, with one sharp movement, it goes away. The happiness crumbles in front of my eyes. Even though it appears that it should be very obvious. I have no idea why this gloom has returned. Elvira jerks her head up, over looking me. Her eyes turn fierce. What happened to the soft face I had come to envy? She now seems hard and cold."We should go" she whispers. I look behind me to the trees she had peered upon. A few of the bushes separate and then close again, so quickly, that I can't tell what was once lurking there. There is a few moments of quiet rustling, and then we are once again in the presence of the eerily hushed marsh.We step out of the satisfying water. I stand in the dead grass for seven brief seconds, waiting for joy to come back into me, and fill the hole that it had filled before. I wait, and it doesn't arrive. A harsh wind come, almost knocking us off of our feet. I don't notice it, but we are the only objects being shaken by it. The trees do not move, and everything around us is still. The wind is warm and smells like sun.It now abruptly stops flowing, and I examine myself, as she also examines me. I feel my pajama bottoms, and I am dry. I stare at her in amazement. her dress is also completely dried. She just smiles, and notions me to follow. I look back at the water and see that it has transformed back into The Marsh. The gross, smelly, marsh.We walk north of The Marsh, away from the direction of which we came. The fog is so heavy that I am amazed she can tell where she is going. Though I can not see her, I follow. I can feel where she is. It is so strange. It's almost as though I'm a part of her. It's also as though she is forcing me to only see the good in her. Everything has to have a down side to it. A bad side, right? All I can see in her is good. I'm not even searching for a fault. I don't want her to be bad. If she was, who would I have?The fog has now been lightened. I see mountains to my right. I love mountains. But, I do not love these. They make my stomach sink. I look over to my left. I see nothing. Only flat land. I'm drawn to these mountains. though, I never do wish to enter them. We keep walking. We have been walking a very long while. It has been the same the whole way. The forbidding mountains remain of my right, and the nothingness has remained on my left."Cessy, are you holding up alright?" she asks me."Yes. I'm fine." I really am not. My legs hurt, and I feel like I'm going to collapse."Alright then. Only a small while longer from here""If you don't mind me asking, where are we going?" I question her. I've been dieing to ask that question for quite some time now.She doesn't reply, but keeps walking. We turn to the west and continue on.After almost an hour without a single word, she stops in front of a wide river. The water looks so warm. It flows steadily, but wildly. I gaze across it, and my breath escapes my lungs.I once again feel life enter my soul. The trees are blooming with pink and white blossoms. There are butterflies all over! They are at least two feet long! Larger than you could ever imagine! Everything is green. Green, green, green, green, green! Everywhere! There are rolling hills, lush grass, and life. The whole other side of this river is beautiful. I wonder why such a lovely place is hidden by such a dark woods. The trees around the river are so tall and sinister. The other side of this rushing body of water though, it is wonderful. The only flaw I can find in it is an old drinking well. It's not fresh like the other things that surround it. I barley even notice this imperfection. The rest of the scene overwhelms me."Cessy. I need you to promise me something." I can hear her, but I don't feel like answering. I feel so far away, and I don't consider coming back."Cessy!" But then I am awakened."I'll promise once you tell me what it is I am promising," I say rudely."Do not ever, never ever, cross this river. Can you promise me that, Cessy?""Why would I want to promise that? It is so wonderful! Why can I not cross?""You can't. There are things over there that you can not see. You have to trust me. You have to promise me. Promise me!" What is wrong with her!? I’m taken back by what she is saying. I stare at her, and then I finally and reluctantly respond."I promise""Thank -you. Now we can move on. This was not our final destination. Just an important stop that we had to make along the way."I turn to walk away from the breathtaking land. Then, I am face-to-face with it. I can feel my skin turn sallow and pale. Chills run all the way from the tips of my eyebrows, racing through my spine, and freezing the blood in my veins. These chills continue until they have reached the ends of my toes. I quietly gasp. Elvira looks at me and then she looks upon what I have been. She too turns pale and ill looking. She reaches her hand into a pocket in a brown leather sash across her dress. In her hand is an old rusty dagger. Before I have time to stop her, the knife is flying. I don't know what it is, but the most saddening sound rings throughout the air. Like a shrill cry.The magnificent creature tumbles to the ground, and gracefully dies within a second. I look at her, and I let the tears slide down my face. They crawl along my neck. I don't bother to wipe them away. Without changing the emotion painted on her face, she drifts over to it, and removes her dagger from where the creatures hear should be. I stay glued to the ground. Never moving. Never blinking. Never breathing."Come on now" she says impassively. I don't know why, but I do. Walking past it, I look into its eyes. Its wide open eyes. My stomach begins to roll, and I feel immobile. But I'm not, and I continue following her. Although, every five steps I have to swallow down the sickness climbing up my throat.