Chapter 10

The two families went back inside the hospital room. Uncle Ed leaned against the wall while the other 3 adults sat on a small sofa and chair.

 

"After that time, when that boy was killed, we knew something sinister was inhabiting those woods. We couldn't just let it kill," Uncle Ed spoke, continuing the story he'd started in the waiting room.

 

"What did you do?" Shell whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

 

"There was this woman. She was a psychic or spirtual healer or something."

 

"She was a witch, is what she was," Sassy interjected. Ed shrugged and continued.

 

"We asked her what was doing this and how we could stop it. She told us to go into the woods and light five white candles and repeat some phrase over and over," Ed squinted struggling to remember.

 

"It was 'Fuge a hoc loco, non reddentes', if I remember my Latin correctly," Francine piped. "It means 'Flee from this place, do not return'." Ed nodded in agreement.

 

"So we went out there and lit the candles, and the five of us, me, your aunt sassy, Francine and Jeff here," Ed said, motioning toward the other adults. "And your dad, Luke. We went out there to the old foundation and lit the candles and held hands and chanted that phrase over and over for what seemed like hours. When the candles burned down, we left. The woods have been pretty quiet since then... until tonight."

 

"So... what do we do now?" Danny asked quietly. Ed shook his head and placed his hand on Danny's shoulder.

 

"You stay out of those woods. There's plenty of other places to explore. Safe places. Those woods are dangerous."

 

Luke thought about all that had happened. The little girl with the ball, almost drowning in the pond, the dreams, the ghost in the bathroom... none of these things had anything to do with the woods. And why now, after all these years? Luke squeezed his hands into tight fists. He needed answers.

 

Sassy decided to stay at the hospital with Fisher, and Ed would take the boys back to the farmhouse. As the boys followed Uncle Ed out to the parking lot, Luke tugged Danny's shirt to slow him.

 

"We need to do something. This isn't just about the woods," Luke whispered. Danny stopped in his tracks and stared at Luke.

 

"Are you crazy? You heard Uncle Ed. Stay out of the woods and we'll be fine. Just leave it alone, Luke."

 

Luke shook his head. "I've seen things. In the house. That dream on the way here... even the last time we were here. I didn't just fall into the pond, Danny. This has been going on for a long time. And like it or not, we're part of it."

 

Danny sighed and shook his head, sprinting away to catch up with Uncle Ed.

 

"I guess I'm on my own," thought Luke, swallowing hard with dread.