THE GIRL IN THE FOREST – Osebeyo Mark Kehinde
We have a big forest in my village where no child dares to venture. According to legend, a young girl was lost in this forest two hundred years ago. We were told that she ventured into the forest on an errand for her w!cked guardian and she never returned.
It was said that she di£d in the forest and her ghost h@unts any child that wanders into the forest. It is also reported that a hundred years ago, a child was lost in the woods and never seen. It is believed that the reason why she h@unts children was because of the injustice done to her by her guardian although no one really knows how she d!ed. Because of this, all children were forbidden from wandering into the forest.
On a fateful day, I was walking along a path close to the forest on my way home from school. As I walked, I heard a voice giggling. Apparently, the voice came from the forest, and it sounded like a young female voice. I was shocked to hear a voice coming from the forest, but I ignored it and continued along my path. The giggling sound continued as I walked and then I turned to stare at the forest.
“Come play with me,” the voice said and continued giggling.
Alarmed, I asked, “Who’s there?”
Suddenly, the voice began to sob like someone in d!stress.
“Who’s there?” I asked again.
After seeing no one, I continued along my path and stopped again when I heard the voice say, “I am lost in the forest and I do not have anyone to play with. Would you consider joining me?”
I looked around and replied, “we are not supposed to enter into the forest.”
“Don’t be scared,” the voice said and began sobbing again.
I looked back and forth hoping to see an adult passing by but could find none.
“I can try to get help for you,” I said but got no response.
“Are you there?” I asked and still got no response.
It was both a cause for concern as well as curiosity when I didn’t hear anything from the voice. After a few moments, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to venture into the forest.
I walked slowly toward the forest. I held a tree and peeped into the thick forest but there was nothing out of the ordinary. I put one foot inside and peeped again. My foot reached halfway into the forest when a hand dragged me completely into the forest and I fell to the ground.
I got up and glanced around but I didn’t see anyone around. By this time, I was scared and wet my pants. “Who’s there?” I asked.
The voice began giggling again. As I listened to the voice this time, it was almost as if I was surrounded by a chorus of giggles. I found a stick, picked it up and held it to defend myself. “Who’s there?” I asked again.
I turned in the direction I thought I had come in. I ran in the direction of it in an attempt to leave the forest but I couldn’t find a way out. The trees had formed a thick wall and I could not get through. Every direction that looked like it would lead outside, I ran towards, only to find that they were all closed. It was a mirage.
After several futile efforts, I sat down and sobbed. I blamed myself for not listening and for disobeying. “If only I had just ignored the voice and walked home, I wouldn’t have been in this mess,” I reasoned.
I began crying profusely when suddenly I saw a figure walking towards me. I grabbed the stick tightly and made up my mind that no matter what happened, I would not surrender. The thought of not seeing my family and being lost forever scared me to d£ath.
As the figure approached, I saw that it was a young girl dressed in white. I noticed that she had curly hair, and as she walked, I noticed that she was dragging her right foot along with her. This pointed to the fact that she had been injured in some way.
I felt pity for her and so I let my guard down.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“I am the girl in the forest,” she admitted.
“The girl in the forest? Like the stories they tell us?”
“Yes,” she said.
As soon as she said that, I began to shiver in fear.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“Go where? Please, I just want to return home,” I pleaded.
“Don’t you know how the legend plays out?” she asked.
“How?” I asked in confusion.
She sighed and said, “Let me explain it to you.”
Before my guardian murd£red me, I cursed the descendants of her, promising them that I would come for her children every hundred years.
“Her children?” I asked.
‘Yes, you are her descendants, as well as the second in line to be taken after the first was taken by me one hundred years ago. Now, let’s move forward.
“What? Please, I just want to go home.” I protested and sobbed.
#OpraDre GIRL IN THE FOREST GIRL IN THE FOREST GIRL IN THE FOREST GIRL IN THE FOREST GIRL IN THE FOREST GIRL IN THE FOREST GIRL IN THE FOREST
To be continued.
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