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Chapter 11
"Jack, slow you down far up ahead." They are walking through an umber-brown, ancient forest. It reeked of age. Its woody incense was from centuries of snapping branches crashing to the forest's floor and rotting silently.
The composting, organic smell rose in waves like a vapor. Every sprawling tree we passed under reminded me of a watchful guardian, a silent sentinel of the groves.
Jack and Rick decided to venture deeper into the tangled heart of this ancient forest. “I hope to find Nicole.” The deeper they went into the woods, the more it revealed its dark secrets to them; the sounds of the unknown creatures surrounding them as it echoed like a surround sound system playing through an open room, hardened leaves cracking like crushed chips in a sealed packet.
The further Jack and Rick went, the more mystical and spellbinding it became. Massive roots spread-eagled the ground, twisting like the great backs of sea dinosaurs. The foliage became thick and lush, f
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A log cabin lies deep in the woods, in an opening found only through some soul searching. A place made from logs of oak, the wood's natural beauty radiated welcome for the travelers who had learned the forest's ways to make it this far. It is a small, one-room cabin lit up by happiness, the glow of which is visible miles away. Inside, the cabin is cozy, with a fireplace radiating Gratitude's warmth. On one wall is a shelf with a collection of books, each volume in the group representing a stage of life – birth, childhood, teenage years, high school, college, career, etc. There are two sets of the collection, each book with some pages and others waiting to get filled with the traveler's journey through the woods. In the middle of the cabin lies a bed covered in the softest cotton sheets and covers, inviting the travelers that have journeyed for miles to rest in contentment. Jack and Rick have never really stepped into these woods, preferring to stay by the ban
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“Where did you find her?" “She was deep in the forest; we were lucky to find her before someone else got to her," Nicole stood there confused, her eyes having dark circles beneath them. She looked frightened and uncertain of her surrounding; Jack and Rick just hoped she wouldn't get back that memory of what had happened that day. *Memories* Standing on the balcony, Nicole gazed at the darkened and starry sky above. Silence surrounded her as she glanced at the deserted park before her. Memories bombarded her mind. As a young girl, the park was her favorite place to go. One cold winter's night just like tonight, as she looked upon the dark sky, she had decided to go for a walk and wrapped up in her elegant scarlet red winter coat with gleaming black buttons descending the front, keeping away the winter chill. Wearing thick leggings black as coal and leather boots lined with fur kept her feet cozy. It was a beautiful night. It was pe
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