"Faye," by Lydia
Note: This story has been revised from its original version by the author. As this is a site aimed at the assisting of budding writing skills, anyone else who has sent in stories can send in revisions, and, just as here, I'll do a review of the changes and remaining concerns. Thank you, and have a lovely twenty-four hour period.
--Tutlens
Faye dumped her bags on the bed she had claimed as her own. Her mother tottered in after her, laden down with three backpacks, a massive suitcase, and an embarrassingly large first-aid kit.
“Could you give me a hand, dear?” Her mother grunted and tried to untangle herself from the twisted straps of the back packs.
“You didn’t need to bring this much junk, we’re only staying for three days.” She gave a pointed glace to the first-aid kit, “and why on earth did you lug that thing up here? I thought we agreed that you were going to leave it in the car.”
“Nonsense, what good would it done baking in the back seat of the car? Now quit complaining and help me out of these stupid backpacks.”
Faye tugged at the backpacks until her mom was free. Ann Kinloch was a small woman. Faye was about the same height, but she was much more sturdy looking than her delicate mom.
“You’d think by how much this hotel costs that we should get a bellhop to carry up everything.” Ann grumbled. She was still grumpy from the long drive up. Faye ignored it and asked:
“Where should we go first? There’s so many places I want to check out.” Faye flopped back onto the unoccupied bed, sinking into the soft mattress.
“I saw some pamphlets on the front desk, but I didn’t have the free hand to grab any of them. Why don’t you go get a few? I’ll start to unpack.”
“Mkay, I’ll be back in a few. And would you please at least put the first-aid box under the bed or something? I feel embarrassed just seeing the thing.” Her mother chuckled and hid the box in the closet. Faye rolled off the bed, left the room, and headed for the elevator.
Her sturdy hiking boots made no sound on the thick snowy white carpet. The hotel was new and massive with all sorts of poor designing decisions. The walls were painted with a gaudy gold and green leaf pattern that said ‘Rich, but with no sense of taste’. It bugged Faye, but it was worth every penny to stay at the High Crest hotel. The building didn’t appear to be very safe if you looked at it from a distance. It was perched on a grey cliff that jutted out from the forest and hung above the lake.
Faye and her mom were on the summer trip they took every year. This time it had been Faye’s turn to pick where they went. And since Faye loved the wilderness, she had chosen one of the most unoccupied places she could find; a forest right next to the
Faye pulled back her long brown hair into a ponytail while the elevator took her to the ground floor. She hadn’t expected it to be so hot that far north, the back of her neck was sticky with sweat just from the walk from the parking lot to the hotel. It was nothing like
The elevator stopped on the third floor to let another passenger on. Faye caught herself staring. He was… purple, a boy just around Faye’s age. But his skin was dark purple. Not only that, but he was wearing medieval looking costume with calf high leather boots and a leather jerkin. His pants were rough and brown, reminding Faye of burlap.
A sword was strapped to his hip and a bow was looped over his right shoulder. His hair was stark white, definitely dyed.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to be rude” Faye’s curiosity got the better of her, “but I have to ask: why are you dressed like that? And why are you painted purple?”
Maybe he’s going to a medieval convention? But why would he be painted purple for that? Maybe there’s a sports team up here and he’s the mascot… though that seems unlikely. What kind of school would have an oddly colored warrior for a mascot? Her thoughts abruptly stopped when he turned to glare at her.
It was enough to make Faye’s blood run cold. The force behind his glare was almost tangible. In an instant he could’ve whipped out his sword and killed Faye. His mouth was set in a snarl, and with a knot of fear in her gut, Faye realized that his teeth were all sharp and pointed like that of a carnivorous animal, and he growled at her like he really was one.
She backed into a corner, shaking like a rabbit in the sights of a wolf. The elevator came to a stop on the ground floor and the doors opened. He turned away and left. She waited till he exited out of the front doors opposite of the elevator before she moved the slightest inch. She jumped as the elevator dinged and started to close. She quickly darted between them, her slender frame making it easy.
The worker at the front desk was busy reading a magazine. Faye snatched a few interesting looking pamphlets and rushed back to the elevator before it could go to another level. She tapped the sixth floor button on the way up over and over again; hoping if she did that then the elevator wouldn’t stop on any other floors. It seemed to work since she was transported straight to her floor. She rushed back to their room, fumbling with the keycard before she realized she could just knock.
Her mother answered the door. She took one look at daughter and asked was wrong. Ann was ridiculously good and picking up on others emotions.
“It’s nothing.” Faye said immediately. “The elevator just gave me a scare on the way up. For a second it felt like it was falling.” She lied knowing her mother wouldn’t have believed the truth. Ann was a no nonsense type of person and a proud atheist, too. It was one of the traits that Faye lacked. She felt that there was definitely something beyond their meager existence, but she wasn’t about to tell her mother that.
Ann gathered her daughter in a tight, comforting hug. She hugged her mother back, feeling her own heartbeat slow to its usual steady pace.
“Thanks, I needed that.” Faye smiled and let go.
“You’ve been watching too many technology-gone-wrong movies, haven’t you? I can’t understand why you tend to be so leery of machinery.” Faye stuck her tongue out at the gentle teasing. It was true that Faye had trouble just operating a microwave, but she like to think that it was the machines fault, and not hers. Never mind that her mother could use a microwave, a computer, a cell phone, or any other techno thingamabob just fine.
Faye checked her watch, it was
“How about we turn in soon?” she suggested, “I want to get up bright and early to start exploring.” Her mother grimaced. Ann wasn’t a morning person, nor was she one who enjoyed hiking, biking, or mountain climbing.
But Faye lived for it. In fact, she would’ve been out as soon as they had hopped out of the car if it hadn’t been for how she always felt sick and queasy for a few hours after a long car drive.
“Sounds like tomorrow’ll be fun.” Her mom said with obvious sarcasm.
“Don’t be such a wuss! It’s only for a few days, and if you really can’t stand to be outside, you can walk back to the hotel. They have room service here.”
“Fine. Where do you want to go tomorrow?” her mother picked up the pamphlets and fingered through them, stopping when she came across one advertising the spa owned by the hotel. She and Faye bickered about where they would go the next day. Eventually they came to a truce: they would spend the morning together hiking and after lunch her mom got to relax at the spa while Faye took a boat tour around
She wasn’t going to go on the tour, but her mother didn’t know that. Faye had three hours worth of time that she planned to spend on exploring the forest. Her mom would never agree to let Faye loose like that; she tended to be protective of her daughter.
What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Faye thought as they got ready for bed. It was nearing nine o’ clock and it was getting darker outside. Faye wrapped herself in the immaculately clean blankets of the bed and rolled up into a cocoon. It was how she always slept, strange as it may have seemed. Her mom shut out the lights and they both fell asleep quickly.
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Faye took a deep breath, relishing the cool, crisp air and gorgeous scenery. The early morning air was refreshing but it was almost chilly in comparison to how hot it had been yesterday. But Faye knew it would get hot as soon as the sun was higher in the sky. The light of the sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon of jagged pine trees. There was a slight fog that made the sunlight appear solid as it streamed through the air. Even the slight cloud of Faye’s own breath looked like some precious metal in the cool air.
Slowly the sounds of wildlife became noticeable. Birds sang or and chattered. Squirrels made all sorts of rustling and soft noises. In the distance Faye spotted a summer fawn and a doe walking silently through the forest. It was beautiful; the sounds and sights of the world as it should be, untouched by mankind.
But the moment was ruined when Faye’s mother managed to climb up the small rocky hill where Faye was admiring the view.
“Ug.” Ann gasped for breath, wincing as the cold air cut through her lungs. “Why did I agree to this?” she asked mournfully. Her legs were tired and she was sweating from the exertion.
“You agreed because you get to spend the entire afternoon being pampered in a spa. Now be quiet, you’ll scare the deer.” Faye whispered.
“What deer?” Ann asked just a little too loudly. As soon as she said it the doe looked up and then bounded away with her child. Faye suppressed a sigh of annoyance. The mother and daughter were alike in very many ways, but Ann was a city girl, and she liked it that way. Faye, on the other hand, loved to be outdoors, in the fresh air, away from any human life.
“Sorry honey, I hadn’t realized they were there was there.”
“It’s fine. There’ll be more to see anyways. Did you bring the camera? Take a few pics of this sunrise.” Ann nodded and fished out the digital camera from the backpack.
Faye sat down while she took the pictures. She looked at the trail map and picked out a path that was marked ‘easy’ for any new hikers.
“Let’s go down to the lake. The pathway is nice and well traveled. It’ll be a pretty view too.” Her mother only grunted in response, but she followed Faye down the hill and to the path. It was at a very slight decline the whole way. It had been made that way so the way back up wouldn’t be difficult.
Faye and her mother walked all the way down and all the way back up. It was a long walk, but easy enough for her mother to manage. By the time they had made it to the outcrop of rocks where Faye had first been standing it was already nearing time for lunch. They sat down and hungrily devoured the sandwiches they had bought at the hotel that morning. They finished eating and her mother cheerily remarked that it was nearly time for her massage at the spa.
“That’s the only reason you agreed to go hiking with me, isn’t it?” It wasn’t a question. Faye’s mother had never liked physical activity. For that reason she looked weak and feeble in comparison to her small but strongly built daughter. Ann only smiled in response, exited about the massage, sauna and hot tub waiting for her at the hotel.
The smile was infectious, and even though Faye really wished to explore outside more, she spent the rest of the walk to the hotel laughing and joking with her mother. They separated at the hotel. Her mother went gleefully to the spa and Faye went back out the front door to take the boat tour. But when Faye came to the fork in the path that led either to the hiking trails or to the boat docks, she chose neither and walked straight into the wilderness.
Faye had thrown away the map and only kept her bathing suit, a towel, a water bottle, and her pocket knife in her backpack. The knife had a small compass placed at one of the ends. The hotel was directly to the south, the lake to the past the hotel to the south, and the hiking paths were mostly concentrated in the forest a little ways to the east of the hotel. Faye walked north and west, knowing that there wouldn’t be anything but forest and wilderness to walk through.
She wandered for what felt like hours, drinking in the sunlight and fresh air. The going was rough and she was soon panting and laboriously climbing the slope she was on. But the hard work served to wake her up, and Faye felt more awake and alive with every step she took. She scratched her legs on a thorny plant she had only seen after it was too late. But the scratches were minimal and a few moments later Faye realized it was a raspberry bush she had stumbled into. She happily ate handfuls of the ripe red fruit.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw a bear lumber to the same berry bush. The beast ignored her and gorged himself on the raspberries. Faye felt breathless as she watched the animal eat. But she didn’t leave; Faye continued to eat alongside the bear, which was only a few yards away. Eventually the bear wandered away to find something else to snack on. Faye walked away as well, wondering about the bear. What would it feel like to hibernate? What was it like to be asleep for so long and then in spring to wake up to the fresh green land. She imagined it would feel a lot like how she felt now. To be alive and awake for what felt like the first time in years.
She spotted the same doe and fawn her mother had scared away before. Faye wasn’t quite sure how she knew that, but she was sure that they were the same pair. They were pacing slowly towards Faye, apparently taking no notice of her. She crept forward, her sturdy hiking boots making soft sounds as she shuffled through the forest. Still they ignored her until she was even closer to them then she had been to the bear. If she reached out with her hand Faye would have been able to touch the doe.
The fawn walked toward Faye and sniffed her hands. As if to challenge Faye the fawn butted her lightly with its head and turned away abruptly. The doe seemed to chide her child for such behavior and gave it a decisive snort in rebuke of her fawn. Faye was in awe of how close she was to such beautiful creatures. They were delicate and slender, but in a way they were strong and proud as well. The fawn looked a bit gangly on its boney legs, but it still moved with the grace of its parent.
Suddenly the two animals twitched their heads in the direction of some unknown noise. They ran away through the undergrowth, hardly making a sound as they did so. Faye stood stock still, listening hard for what had scared the deer, but she heard nothing. But as she let her heartbeat settle, Faye was able to pick out voices far in the distance.
She headed in the direction the sound was coming from, wondering what anyone would be doing this far out into the wilderness. She walked quickly, not bothering to muffle any footsteps. Eventually she spotted a clearing through the trees. The voices were now loud enough that she could hear what they were saying, though it was in a completely different language. They sounded like angry shouts and screams.
Now she slowed down and treaded lightly, glad she had picked out a green shirt and brown shorts that helped her blend in to the background. Faye felt as though it would be better to hide, though she wasn’t quite sure why. She crouched down low and concealed herself behind the leaves of a bush. She peeked through, and could hardly believe what she saw.
The purple boy she had seen earlier was standing there with his sword drawn. Facing him stood a tall beautiful lady wearing a long sleeved white gown. Faye was about 30 feet away. The clearing opened to a broad field that sloped gradually downward. She could see that the purple boys’ mouth was set in a snarl; the white teeth contrasting with his oddly colored skin.
The woman was wearing bright red lipstick that made it possible for Faye to see that she was smiling. The woman had put on a lot of the makeup, smearing it all over her chin and cheeks. With the white wedding dress she was wearing, and the badly done makeup, the woman looked like she was stark raving crazy. Her raven black hair was whipping in the wind, tangling itself in a mess. She raised her head in with raucous laughter that assured Faye that the woman was definitely not sane.
Faye spotted a splash of vibrant red color of the boys shoulder. With a growing sense of fear, Faye realized that it was blood. And with a lurch in the pit of her stomach, she saw that the woman wasn’t wearing lipstick, but her mouth was covered in blood.
Did she bite him? Faye wondered. My god, she definitely must be crazy. Her imagination went wild with various unlikely answers to the odd questions filling her head. Did she escape from a mental institution? Is the purple kid trying to capture her? Maybe she thinks she’s a vampire. My god I can’t believe this is hap-
Her thought process stopped when she heard the screeching of an eagle as it swooped down from above, aiming its claws at the woman’s eyes. The woman screamed so loudly that Faye had to cover her ears or be deafened. But the noise didn’t seem to affect the eagle and it landed in a flurry of feathers and claws, raking the woman’s eyes and face. She screamed again, but the sound was abruptly cut off, literally.
The purple boy shot forward with his sword and cut through the lady’s neck. The bird vanished and Faye wasn’t sure where it had gone, she was staring fixedly at the head as it soared through the air and with a sickening thump landed in the grass. Faye was resisting the urge to vomit at the sudden violence and gore. She looked at the ground and breathed through her mouth. She spotted a plant of wild sage and tore off a few leaves. She held it under her nose until she felt her head clear.
She forced herself to look back up at the field. Thankfully the grass was long enough to conceal the head and body of the woman. There was another person there now, a man dressed similarly to the purple boy. His skin was normal colored though. They were standing close and talking with their heads bent low. Eventually they stopped talking and started to walk… right in the direction of where Faye was hiding!
Without a second thought, Faye turned and ran through the woods. She sprinted as quietly as she could; her footing was sure and never tripping. Though her feet didn’t cause any noticeable noises, she was sure that they would be able to hear the sound of the air surging in and out of her lungs. But Faye continued to run and run and run until she felt like she couldn’t run anymore.
She eventually got her foot caught on a root that stuck up from the ground. Faye tumbled forward and rolled down a small hill, crashing through leaves and branches, stung by thorns and cut by stones. She crashed into a tree; a small sapling that bent as her abdomen hit it and absorbed the impact. She lay there, limp and weak, gasping for breath. Faye shakily stood and held onto the tree for support.
Faye stood there for a long time, shivering and hugging the tree. She turned to the side and threw up the contents of her lunch. She felt sick and scared, and she was dreading the long walk back to the hotel. Wearily she took stock of the situation, trying to hide the puddle of what was once a sandwich with leaves.
Her cloths were dirty and with a start she saw that she had gotten blood on the front of her shirt. Her left arm had gotten twisted in a thorny plant while she had been falling. The cut was surprisingly deep and long. Aside from her arm, she was just scraped and bruised in a few places.
Faye took a deep breath, trying to think clearly and plan what to do next. After a moment of forcing herself to relax, Faye pulled out her pocket knife, checking her watch as she did so. It was about two o’ clock; her mother should still be in the spa for another hour. The hotel was in the same direction she had been running. She could see the very top of the white building in the distance.
For the very first time in her life, Faye wanted to go take a bath and nap rather than staying out in the wilderness. She walked to the hotel, leery of any sounds around her. The woods no longer felt welcoming and safe. To Faye they were now frightening. Every tree or bush could’ve been concealing the purple boy or the bloody eagle.
After the long trek back to the hotel she rushed up to the room, avoiding anyone on the way there. Faye closed the door and rested against it, letting the complete silence of the hotel room wash over her and calm her down. When she felt better, Faye dug out the first aid kit her mother had insisted on bringing and cleaned the cut on her arm. She wrapped it tightly in gauze and after that went to the bathroom to wash up.
I can’t tell mom. She concluded thought as she brushed out her hair, she would probably want to leave if I told her the truth. Though leaving sounds like a pretty good plan. But…something made her pause halfway through the motion of picking a leaf out of the brush. I should tell someone about this, about what I saw and who the people were. I’m a witness to a murder. I should call the police or something.
But something was stopping Faye from grabbing her mother’s cell phone and reporting what she had seen. Faye rubbed her temples as she felt a painful headache start in the base of her skull. It was only mid afternoon, but all Faye could think about was sleep.
I’ll call when I wake up. Right now I just need to rest my eyes for a little while. Faye changed into her pajamas with her last bit of strength left and then rolled up in her cocoon to sleep.
Her last thoughts were questions. And the very last thing that came to mind was: I wonder what the purple boy and his friend are doing right now.
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The purple boy and his friend happened to be walking through the forest, following the trail Faye had left behind her. The man was missing again, but the eagle was soaring above, acting as a scout. The purple boy was on all fours. He was sniffing the ground like he was some sort of bloodhound. The eagle swooped down and perched on a branch above the boy.
“I saw this girl before. She has the sight. Do you think she knows much, master?” the boy spoke to the bird. After a moment of contemplation, the bird answered. He opened his beak and the words seemed to come out of it as if he was talking through a microphone.
“We can’t tell if she’s with Cain or Omnicia, or if she’s even aware of them. We should keep an eye on her to make sure she isn’t reporting our hunt to anyone… We may have to kill her if she is.” the boy answered with a grunt and got back up on two legs, “to the inn then?” he asked. The eagle said yes and left its perch and soared into the air, taking notice of the storm cloud that was approaching on the east horizon.
The purple boy ran through the forest at an inhuman speed, towards the hotel. He quietly cursed himself the whole way there, angry with himself.
I can’t believe it. I missed! After all that tracking we’ve lost the witch! He sighed, it’s my fault…again.
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