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Chapter 1

A dark summer afternoon stood outside as a woman was strolling beside the main street. The neighborhood was calm as everyone was sitting in their homes after picking up their kids from school. Suddenly her phone rang as she was walking near a well-lit small house.

“Hello?” – she asked.

“Margaret?”

“Yes?”

“Come by. It’s urgent.”

Stumbling towards the tree she grasped it.

“It happened?!” – Margaret queried.

A moment of silence arose after which a short answer followed:

“Yes.”

The call ended. She put the phone in her pocket immediately and took off running.

…

A chair on the porch was squeaking as Charlie was smoking in it with his glasses on. They were quite exquisite with blue outline, definitely expensive. Midnight hit: only a couple of people were walking in the streets and Margaret was one of them as she neared the stairs of the house and stood there.

“Why are sitting here?! Show me!” – Margaret screamed running up the stairs.

He took his time making her wait in silence and said:

“Are you sure, Margo?”

“What are you talking about?! Of course I am!”– she stated immediately letting it be known.

Someone’s voice could be clearly heard from a distance:

“Hey! Keep it down, asshole!”

“Let’s go inside and discuss it, ok? No need to scream outside.” – Charlie said.

The theater was full of people who were all looking at personas sitting at the table on stage. A young woman walked up to the microphone; it was her turn to ask a question.

“Good day, Margaret. My name is Anny and I want to ask a question about how you go about dealing with what you endured in the past?” – she paused, and Margaret saw her hands shaking.

“It’s ok, Anny. Take your time, don’t worry.” – she said.

“Umm, thank you.” – Anny said with a big smile on her slightly chubby face and proceeded. – “I’m really nervous. Do you ever think about what had happened?”

Silence arose in the room as Anny’s voice stopped echoing in the theater. Even people at the very end got silent and were waiting for an answer.

“That’s a good question. What I’m going to say is very cliché, but bear with me.” – a slight laugh went around the room and disappeared as she continued. – “Yes, of course I think about that, I think about all of it. But…” – she massaged her eye and proceeded. – “You must live on and inspire people by telling them the truth. Even if they capture me, I’m fine with it.”

People’s faces in the room changed – it got serious and almost prophetic. Suddenly, the woman sitting to Margaret’s left in the costume spoke out:

“That’s it for today, guys. Thank you for your questions.”

Margaret glanced at her with a very serious face and looking back at stage said:

“Thank you, guys. Love you all.”

The whole audience stood up and were clapping, chanting at the same time:

“MARGO! MARGO! MARGO!”

Halfway leaving the stage, she turned around and looked at everyone in the audience –filled with joy and gratitude, they were clapping, every each one of them; a slight smile appeared on her face.

“Come on, we got to go!” – the woman in a costume said with a very commanding voice and Margaret felt a hand on her shoulder. The stage got empty, but the clapping proceeded, even got a little louder.

Chapter 2

“Thank you for coming today,” – Smith said and looked at the ground. – “I’m sure Margaret would’ve appreciated your effort if she was here.”

Daylight was sneaking in through the windows of the church. About a dozen people gathered inside the walls of the church for only one goal.

“Only information that’s available to us is her last location, nothing more unfortunately. We’re going to head out there to start our search tomorrow. Thank you all for coming, be at the bay at 6 p.m.”

People were confused and were looking around about the time of the search operation and Smith noticed.

“We chose 6 p.m. only because there are some works being done in the forest before, some environmental works.”

Smith wandered back from the microphone and stood there for a moment, looking at the priest nearing the stand.

“Let’s pray together.” – he said into the microphone as soon as he came.

In almost a trance Smith walked off the stage, feeling dizzy. The girl standing in the front row saw him wander and almost ran to him.

“Hey, you’re good? Where are you going?”

He glanced at her blonde hair mixed with black and said while rubbing his face.

“Oh, Josephine. Yeah, I’m good, just to the bathroom, need to wash my face.”

He suddenly rushed forward and disappeared, turning into the corner of the hallway. Josephine turned around and kept looking at him until he went away.

“Please everyone, pray with me!” – the priest said louder, and Josephine went back. She closed her eyes and held her hands together saying the first words of the prayer.

…

A big group neared the forest from the bay far away and stopped before entering. The man in front turned back to the group and said with a megaphone:

“Thank you all for coming guys! My name’s Isaac, I’m the head of the operation. We are on the south side of the Menny forest, and we’ll be exploring the west side today, be attentive and alert, stay near each other. Let’s get to work.”

Smith looked at the forest behind Isaac with high green trees which created a dark ambiance as he looked further.

“I really hope you’re here, Margo.” – he said quietly.

They spread out on the west side, covering it completely. Day time made it easier for them to start the search and take the first steps into the forest.

“Go, Atlas! Go!” – Smith said walking on the left side of the group. Atlas ran forward and stopped, sniffing something as it got his attention. Smith was walking up to him, curious.

“Hey, you’re holding up?” – a female voice sounded behind him.

“Wow, you scared me Josey, why would you sneak up on me like that. I’m… holding up, I guess.”

“Yeah,” – she said and looked at him for a moment, then spoke again. – “I’m sorry, but I got to ask – her mother died a couple of months ago and she was never the same after that. Do you think it has anything to do with it?”

“What is it, Atlas?” – Smith asked.

Everyone walking around looked over at the dog. As Smith got closer, he saw feathers covered in blood.

“It’s just a bird, Atlas. Come on.”

Atlas stood at the same spot, loudly barking.

“Come, Atlas! Let’s go!”

The marching of the group continued in its rhythm with its focus back on their surroundings as the dog left the spot.

“It’s strange, there wasn’t blood and feathers anywhere else. Got to be somewhere nearby.” – Smith thought.

A couple of hours went by – somewhere around 4 hours with no signs from any of the four groups. All four groups gathered by the local lookout. Isaac spoke:

“First day of search is over, guys. The works in the forest will be over by 2 p.m. tomorrow, so we’ll start then, continuing with the west side. There are temporary houses built in the south, we’re heading there to relax and sleep. Keep it up, may God be with you all!”

…

Heavy steps could be heard on the porch of the house. A man, judging by the black shoes, walked up to the door and took something out of his pocket laying it on the wooden bar. After carving something on the wood near it, heavy steps echoed on the wooden flooring disappearing in the distance.

The phone ringing woke Josephine up as she immediately grabbed it, sighing.

“Yes, who’s this?” – she asked with her eyes still closed.

“Hey Josey, it’s me, Smith. Listen, we need to talk about something urgent. Meet me at the bay in an hour.”

“I hope it’s something important, Smith. I’m coming.”

She put the phone on the counter and started dressing up, looking out of the window through the blinds. Squinting on the wooden top at the front for a while, rubbing her eyes, she said:

“What’s that?”

Totally dismissing it, still in a sleepy state of mind, she walked to the toilet. A phone call met her as soon as she got out and now fully awoke Josephine for sure saw something outside with her peripheral. Checking the surroundings by lowering the blinds, she walked outside making sure that no one was there. The picture got clearer as she stepped closer and closer to it – a VHS tape lay there, with 'J.' written in white over a grey label. Josephine rushed back inside immediately and closed the door.

“Yes Josey, I’m getting in my car, I hope you’re on your way.”

Looking at the ground with her heart beating out of her chest, holding the phone, she said:

“Umm, Smith. I found a VHS tape by the front door just lying there.”

“What?” – he asked, confused. – “A VHS tape?”

“Yes. Do you think this is some kind of surprise, someone from the camp maybe?”

“Come to the bay, we’ll talk it over.”

She put the phone in her pocket and looked at the tape outside once again. Locking the front door, she grabbed it and put it in her bag, rushing to the car immediately.

Chapter 3

The water was clear blue, waves were slowly reaching the shore and disappearing. A sunny day was upon the town, but the Sun was hidden behind the clouds, peeking through from time to time at Smith standing on the shore. He bent over the steel guardrail and stood still, looking deep into the water.

“Margo, where are you?”

Putting his head up after five minutes and looking to the left, he saw Josephine walking up to him through a weird tunnel-like alley. He turned around and now his back was facing the vast sea behind.

“Hey, Josey.”

“Good morning, Smith. How’d you sleep?” – she answered nearing him, looking into the distance with squinty eyes.

“I didn’t, that’s why I’m here. Listen.” – he said and turned back. – “I just thought. That house near the forest, remember? We got to check it out.”

“Really?”

“Don’t worry about it, we just need to check something, and we’ll be out of the house.”

His eyes shifted to the horizon and with solitude he stood there leaving her confused and curious.

“Okay. But you know I’m doing this for you, right? I never even liked her. She was rude and just an asshole.”

“Come on… She was just quiet.”

“With you she was, when you were fucking her.”

“Josey, what the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Smith raised his voice and she put her head down.

“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to say she was quiet, probably loud with you, huh?”

Smith put his arm around her black coat.

“What’s wrong?”

As they locked eyes a slight smile slowly emerged on her face.

“Just going through a hard time, you know. And also, this tape that I found in the morning. It’s very weird, Smith.”

“Can I see it?”

Birds flew over their heads, flying to sit on the stones near the water. Locals gather at the same time as always for quarter of a decade at this bay. The bond is strong with each other knowing exactly what to expect – birds expect food, locals expect the company, the company of another God’s creation.

…

“Good day! The 2^nd day, the same route as yesterday – to the west!”

…

Menny forest. First discovered back in the 18^th century, when foreign invaders depicted it in their journals – very-very old journals. A very interesting reputation of the forest resided by a very rich ecosystem – depictions involve signs, feelings, instincts about the forest. Instincts of betrayal, hatred, satanic predisposition. Might be that the invaders were not welcomed in these lands.

…

“What were you doing here, Margo?” – Smith asked himself.

Chapter 4

The bright balcony at the seaside was lit in a very moody way; Limned by the Sun someone’s figure appeared like a shadow in the room. The beach full of people was in action before the still picture of this room not that far away from it and only the journal pages with the pen scrubbing on its surface passionately could be heard which disturbed the beautiful silence of the room, but with a purpose.

“Summer’s coming.” – she said and looked out the window after writing the last word in the diary:

‘Amen.’

Sounds reached the room from downstairs – steps, heavy steps. She took the diary and instantly put it in the crack between wooden flooring. Steps now could be heard clearer with the floor creaking, intensifying the suspense, but deciding to take her time she opened it once again, writing something in a rush.

…

“Listen, I’ll send you my help to find that diary, ok?”

“What? What do you mean ‘I’ll send you my help’? Can’t you clarify?”

“I need to go, Charlie, I’m in a hurry. You’ll find my guardian where my diary is in the room, ok?”

Margaret fleet in the distance, leaving him with no time to say anything.

“Margo! Damn you! Always doing it your own way.”

…

The door to the room bathing in sunlight opened and a man walked in.

“Good day, Ms. Margaret. The food is ready, we’re waiting.”

A tall figure stood in the doorway, halfway in. His deep voice broke the silence and solitude and was continued by him uncomfortably staring at the ground.

“You two can wait.” – she said and sat back down. He glanced at her once again and closed the door.

…

Atlas was running through the open field – a new part of the forest was discovered by the group.

“Hey, look!” – a little girl screamed; The sky was totally occupied by the birds.

“Something’s not right here.” – Isaac stated standing by Smith. He was in his 40’s but looked younger.

“What is it?” – Smith asked.

“Birds… They do not fly south this time of the year, something is happening.”

…

The sky caught her attention. Birds, freely flying, brought her to walk to the window near the balcony – the window was almost as big as the door leading to it.

“Wow.” – she said quietly. The Sun, standing near the horizon, was ready to disappear into the unknown, to be substituted by its grey sister. Mesmerized by their dance she unconsciously started imitating them, walking to the balcony, and flipping her hands desperately. Wings slowly started showing through her skin and feathers around it started forming – beige feathers with brown spots. They rapidly formed leaving even Margaret in shock, but it stopped as the metal corset which appeared to be around her back held it in place. And as she looked back at the sky, in despair – the birds were in the distance, not recognizing her existence even slightly anymore, heading right to the south.

“Why, God…” – her mouth uttered, shaking from frustration with head dropping low under the moody evening sky colored in dark blue tones.

Chapter 5

A sad smile appeared on his face as he was looking out of the car window, at the sea standing motionless and the horizon above it; owls were hooting nearby.

“Everything’s good, Atlas, don’t worry. Just going to be in there for 15-20 minutes and we’ll come back.”

“Come on, Josey. Where are you at?!” – he thought to himself.

A car came closer on the left side, colored in the orange colors of the Sun. It was Josephine, looking at him, smiling. She rolled down her window and Smith rolled it down simultaneously.

“Hey. How’re you doing? Let’s check it out, don’t really have a lot of time today, got to go to the cinema.” – she said loudly.

“Cinema? What are you, in your teens?”

“Just on a date. I think it’s quite cute, you don’t think so?”

Smith got ready to get out of the car and she continued shortly.

“You should really see someone. I can set something up for you if you want to?”

She stopped and looked at him with a slight grin on her face. He kind of froze with his hand on the handle of the door and looked at the ground.

“Yes.” – he said calmly.

“You want me to set something up? Really?”

Her question followed very fast, strangely fast, like she was waiting for that answer. Smith’s answer followed:

“I hope I see her soon.”

He got out of the car with his dog and went straight for the house on the side of the road, a little further into the woods. Her forced grin disappeared instantly as she got out of the car. But before doing that, she got back in and wrote something in the diary. The previous note was about 4 days ago, on June 5^th, when she found the tape. It shortly said:

‘August 19^th

I hope I’ll see you on your day, Margo.’

The tape slid into her hand from the bag. Silent glare of hers slid on the surface of it, analyzing.

“I’m waiting!” – Smith hollered standing near the house.

She put it all down and kissed the picture of two kids before getting out.

The backyard of the house was surrounded by tall trees that could withstand any weather judging by how they looked; Atlas met and started running laps around her. As she looked up 10 steps away from the stairs to the front door, Josephine noticed beige half-destroyed walls, the front side was colored in cardinal red but the paint on the wood went away as the house was built a long time ago. Not thinking anything at that moment, she in trance like state went into the house; Smith was already nowhere to be found in the house. A scream came out of her as he was roaming the house:

“Hey, Smith, what’s this place? It’s kind of nice.”

She walked to the second floor and saw him in the room right by the staircase. The door was wide open as Josephine entered, putting her hand on the door, and saw Smith on his knees.

“What… what is this?!” – she said walking closer and looking at something lying right before Smith, which totally consumed his attention.

…

“Aviation is a big part of my life, Charlie.”

“Look where it brought you, you know too much.”

“Stop it, let me handle this information.”

“It’s bigger than you, Margo.”

Menny welcomes acts of betrayal, the forest is left without God. It’s forbidden. Will he punish those who dare to go against him?

…

Chapter 6

“You want to explain what this is?!”

A chill ran down her spine looking at a big swamp of feathers which resided before Smith, so much so that it was bigger and taller than him staring at it on his knees.

“Remember what I told you? It’s enough to understand.” – he said with a monotone voice.

“They… they kept her hostage?”

Atlas started howling louder and Smith stood up, saying:

“Let’s get going, I saw everything I needed to see. I have mixed feelings about this place.”

Seeing he was not very responsive, she just walked out of the room after him, without saying anything.

“So, it’s all true?” – she said to herself.

…

“You’re telling me she has wings?”

They were sitting by the water at the bay. The weather was calm without any waves in the sea. A slight wind picked up his black hair and wiggled it around.

“Yeah, I know. It’s not easy to believe in.” – Smith answered, leaning at the end towards Josephine; she chuckled.

“Yes, of course, how am I supposed to believe you?”

“Do you believe me though?” – Smith said and looked in the distance, above the calm sea. But when he turned back and looked at her, she was staring at the ground, silently.

“Yes,” – Josephine answered calmly and confidently. – “I do believe you if you say that that’s true.”

Smith smiled while his arm moved and gently landed on her shoulder. They looked at each other and smiled, looking away shortly after. The Sun looked out once again from behind the clouds blessing Atlas with the light who jumped on the bench and sat down beside his loyal friend.

“You know,” – she turned and spoke. – “I’ve known and heard about things like this when I was a child.”

“Well, we all hear about these things when we are children, don’t we?”

“It’s different. Let me explain – my mom went into a forest once with her uncle, to just walk around. I was twelve at the time, that was the last time I saw her. My uncle would never do anything to her, he loved her, so I didn’t even think about him. He said that he looked away for a second while they were talking or went to pee, I don’t really remember, but when he looked back, a big creature was dragging her into the forest and she could not scream even though she was looking at him.” – she kept talking as the weather got a little colder, it was getting late. – “He screamed her name, but the creature was already far away, and my uncle froze at one place because of shock. So since then, there were so many stories about that creature in town, that I was in a way relieved.”

Her last words took him by surprise.

“Relieved?” – he questioned.

“Yes. At least my Mom wasn’t alone at the place where she went.”

Silence emerged. Atlas started sadly howling and went over to her, to comfort her by rubbing his head on her arm.

“I’m sorry about your loss, I never knew that.”

“Thank you. It’s nothing anymore, I got over it, you know. Learned how to move on.” – she said and smiled, looking at him while petting Atlas. – “Let’s go, it’s getting darker.” – she continued shortly after. The wind got stronger as they walked away, and a gloomy afternoon fell upon the streets.

…

A big crowd gathered inside the walls of the church once again, leaning on the dark brown wooden chairs. Only kids ruined the solitude from time to time, deviating, as kids do, but were brought back to the norm by the elders. Isaac climbed up the stairs to the stage, the floor’s creaking revealed his location. The room was almost full – even more people came in comparison with the first day. But this time journalists and people with cameras broadcasting also stood by the stage.

“Hello, dear friends.” – his voice sounded with almost zero enthusiasm, with glimpses of it at some points of with starting or ending the sentence. – “Today is officially the sixth day,” – he took a pause once again and someone could be heard blowing their nose in the last row. Some people turned to look at him or just simply turned their heads to the left or right as he proceeded to talk. – “We are so interested in this search, that we got just kind of isolated in the forest.”

Smith observed his face and was speechless when he saw that Isaac was crying. He pulled himself together eventually and continued:

“And… I start to lose faith because we can’t make any progress.”

“Well, not the best words to say at church.” – Smith said to himself. Josephine turned and looked at him, commenting:

“Yeah, right.”

She turned her head back to the stage, leaving him in shock about how she knew what he said in his head.

“But we won’t give up. We still have time and I’m sure some people here will spend their own time in the future to search for her because they’re so involved.” – Isaac proceeded. But no one in the church seemed to pay attention, they were involved in different things and collectively gathered themselves to clap while he was walking to get off the stage; Smith took off. As Isaac wanted to walk in the room behind the stage, he slowly tapped on his shoulder.