Whistle in the Dark

Diana had always hated these hunters. She despised them. Also, she detested the king who had asked these hunters to settle down in their village. She hated the villagers for blindly believing and following everything the stupid knight says!

But there were also very few people who were against these ideas, just like her. Surprisingly, the knight's son was one of them!

In Diana's mind, he is the hero the world needed the most. He was kind, generous, and virtuous, intelligent and handsome, unlike his father.

Wyatt, that was his name. He was the only friend she ever had.

The villagers viewed her and her enemy's son's friendship as a miracle. But it wasn't difficult for them, two like-minded people to get along well.

Wyatt had proven to be her one true companion in many situations. Even when her father had given up on her, Wyatt never did. That's how they are. Wyatt and Diana were thick as thieves.

Despite being friends and like-minded, they two had different lives.

The villagers openly hated Diana but Wyatt was seen as different. No one would contradict a handsome boy who is super nice and influential, thus he was loved by the villagers, mostly the girls. This simply made him her pillar of strength. She made use of his influence to escape punishments every time. He too was not fed up with saving her every time. The last time, he was out on a business trip when she got caught after painting his father's head. Therefore, he couldn't save her.

Except for that one time, he saved her almost every time, willingly but never asked her anything in return, except for one promise. That was the promise which stopped her from entering and exploring this beautiful yet dangerous forest.

When the black fawn ran back into the forest, it was Wyatt who stopped her from entering the forest and following it. Since he knew her very well, that day, he had asked her to promise him that she would never enter this forbidden forest, in this life.

Diana knew that he always wanted to keep her safe. So she never tried to break this promise thereafter. Also, she knew very well that if she entered this forest and disappear, he would follow her too! This was what kept her from entering the forest all that while.

When Diana's mind wandered to Wyatt and her eyes inattentively glanced at the forest, she saw a pair of red sparkles amidst the bushes. It was enough to bring her attention back. But the light had disappeared in a flash and made her wonder if she was hallucinating a moment ago.

If so, it was a beautiful hallucination... like a ruby crystal to be exact. Not one, but two. Diana saw two of them!

Suddenly her brain identified what it might be. It could be the pair of eyes of some carnivorous animal! A tiger or a wolf? Could it be a dinosaur: that animal which is believed to be destroyed?

Diana pulled down the curtain and stepped back.

Even though she was a daredevil, this hallucination made her blood run cold, not to mention she was alone. Like a good kid, she walked back to the chair in the middle of that room and sat down there. She started to count from one. Of course, she can't sleep the night. When she counted 'five thousand two hundred ninety-eight', she heard something freakish.

"Diana!"

She heard one of the most familiar voices.

'Wyatt!', her lips moved in terror. What in the world is he doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be in the castle? The sound came from the forest side! Diana ran to the window but still couldn't see anything.

"Diana", she heard him again.

At the border of the forest, Diana saw a man, who was hesitating before stepping inside the forest calling her name!

"Wyatt don't!", she shouted, but he had already disappeared in the bushes!"

"Wyatt!", she called his name again!

"Di...", she heard a muffled call again. It was as if Wyatt was about to call her name, but suddenly muffled by someone! Then she heard a grunt.

Sweat beads started to form on both sides of her forehead. Diana understood that she has no minutes to spare. It was Wyatt and he is definitely in danger! He came here in search of her. To save her!

Diana took the lightest of the swords mounted on the wall. She almost ran to the door and halted for a second. Her hands were in sweat. Her heart raced at an alarming speed.

She stepped downstairs, looking around with caution. The rain dampened her face, braided hair, and shoulders as she stepped towards the forest. She tightly held the sword in her hand, as if it was her last hope. She halted just before entering the forest.

If she enters this forest, she might die. She was going to dice with death but this was the only way!

She remembered her promise to Wyatt. She frowned, 'I'm doing this for you Wyatt!' she thought.

"Diana!", another shout from Wyatt. Diana tightened her grasp on the sword and stepped into the Forbidden forest!