Chapter 2 Whispers In The Wood

• Lisa
• In the woods
• I wandered into the woods behind our house, curious about the mysterious sound that had caught my attention. I couldn't shake my fascination with the woods, and I didn't understand why I was so drawn there.
• "Lisa, why are you here again?" My mother questioned me from the forest floor, eyeing me suspiciously. She had warned me not to come, but I couldn't help it. I always felt at ease in the woods. I couldn't make sense of the strange things that were happening to me.
• "Mother, why are you here?" The moonlight illuminated the concern on her face.
• "Answer me. What are you doing here?" she yelled at me, rising from the floor to approach me.
• "Nothing, Mom," I replied. "I'm not sure what's wrong with me. I just can't say. In the woods, I feel safe. It's like something is in there calling for me."
• "No! Lisa, I want you to pay attention to what I'm saying," she uttered. "I want you to avoid the woods. Do I make sense?"
• "No, Mother, I don't understand what's happening to me. I keep hearing a strange voice in my head, and I've been telling you about it since I was fifteen, but you haven't done anything," I fired back at her.
• I was becoming frustrated. "I feel a strong pull towards the woods, but all you do is warn me to stay away. I can't shake the feeling that you know something you're not telling me."
• "Lisa, I want you to listen to me," she stated.
• "Tell me, Mother. You know something, right? But you're not telling."
• I looked my mother in the eyes, trying to figure out what she wasn't telling me. She looked back, and I could see the resignation in her gaze. We stayed there for a few moments before she chose to speak.
• "I don't know anything, child. Just go back to your room," she emitted.
• "Mother, I want to know. I'm not a child anymore. Please tell me if you know something," I said, trying to look into her eyes, but she looked away.
• "Lisa, I need you to stop asking questions and listen to me. I want you to stay away from the woods," she warned.
• I was left speechless as she walked away, back toward the house. I was alone when my mother left, and I couldn't help but wonder what she had kept from me.
• My name is Lisa Smith, and I am a twenty-two-year-old designer. I live with my mother in a small town in the woods, far from anyone else. I have always wondered why my mother lives alone and has no friends, but I have never received an answer. When I was fifteen, I started feeling strange, as if something was calling me. Strange things began to happen, such as hearing voices and feeling a connection to the woods. I also possess a rare and unfathomable strength. I thought I was going insane until I confided in my mother and realized she was keeping a secret from me.
• ****
• Ring! Ring! Ring!
• I groggily opened my eyes, wondering who was calling me early in the morning. I picked up my phone. It was David.
• "Hey, babe, good morning. How are you?" he asked over the phone.
• "David, I'm good. How was your night?"
• "It was fine, my love. Do you want to see me today?"
• "I can’t. I’m heading to work soon. Let's fix another date. I'm sorry, David."
• "It's okay. Let's do that next time. I will talk to you later. I love you."
• I checked my watch after I hung up the phone. Oh, my! I'll be late for work. I jumped out of bed and dashed into the bathroom for a quick bath. I quickly changed and went downstairs.
• "Good morning, sweetheart. How was your night?" My mother asked me, pulling me into a hug.
• "Good morning, mother. I slept like a baby. How was yours?"
• "It was fine, my darling daughter," she responded with a smile. Oh, my. I love seeing her smile. "Sit and eat your breakfast."
• "I would love to eat, Mother, but I won't be able to. I'm going to be late for work." I grabbed my backpack and my car keys. "See you later, Mom. I love you."
• "But…" I had already left the room before she could finish her sentence.
• After sitting in traffic for twenty minutes, I rushed from my car so quickly I almost forgot to take the keys out of the ignition. I was already late. I hoped I wouldn’t have to meet my nasty boss.
• "You're here, Lisa," Janet blurted. "Why are you so late?" Janet was both my coworker and my dearest friend. I didn't like having people around me, yet I was unable to clarify why I liked her.
• "Good morning, Janet." I smiled. "I'm stuck in traffic. Is the boss around?"
• "Oh yes. I’m glad you mentioned him. He is around. He wants to see you."
• "He wants to see me, but why?" I despised seeing or meeting with this supervisor. He only knew how to flirt with me. What can I do to get out of this?
• "I'm not sure. He asked for you, but you weren’t here. I think you should see him right away," Janet responded.
• "Can you tell him that I am sick, Janet?"
• "I'm sorry, Lisa, but I can't do that," she uttered. "You know what he's like."
• "I understand. Thanks. I’ll be on my way."
• With a heavy heart, I walked closer to his office. I hoped he wouldn’t find fault with me today. I knocked on his door when I arrived.
• "You can come in." I heard his creepy voice behind the door. I tentatively opened the door and walked in.
• "Good morning, sir," I said as I greeted him. Mr. Peter raised his head, dropped his pen, and smiled.
• "You’re here, honey." Here we go again. He's at it.
• "Sir, you asked for me?"
• "Oh, yes." He rose from his seat and approached me. Mr. Peter encircled my waist with his hand. "My darling is here."
• "What do you think you are doing, sir?"
• "What do you think, honey?" he inquired, his grip on my waist tightening. He shifted his body to stand behind me.
• "Stay away from me, old pervert," I screamed at him before pushing him away.
• "Are you nuts, Lisa? How dare you treat me this way? Do you think I'm joking when I tell you how I feel?"
• "I'm not, sir."
• "Are you trying to take me for a fool just because I love you? Why can't you see that I love you? Give me a chance, honey?" He was a repulsive man! This old fool was enough to be my father.
• "I want you to understand and imprint it on your skull that I am not interested in you, sir. Please respect my wishes and leave me alone," I said as calmly as I could through gritted teeth.
• "Who do you think you are? A princess or something?" he yelled, clearly frustrated. "I would advise you to think twice before rejecting my offer, or else."
• I hated being threatened. Did he really think I would stand here and let him bully me? No way, never.
• "Or what else? Do you think you can do whatever you want?" I questioned. "I won't tolerate being bullied. I am not a pushover."
• "Really?" he grinned menacingly. "You don't know your place. Since you want to do this the hard way, I'll oblige. I am your boss, and I have the power to end your career."
• "I haven’t done anything to warrant being fired," I said with a chuckle. "You can't do anything to harm me, boss."
• "Check the time!" he exclaimed. This demon. "Is it appropriate for you to be here at this hour? You're late for work, and you dare to display such arrogance, bitch."
• "Sir, this is the first time I've been late since starting here. I got stuck in traffic. I apologize." My mother and I relied on my income. I couldn’t afford to lose this job; otherwise, we'd struggle to make ends meet.
• "Do you think that saying sorry will solve everything?" he sneered.
• "I'm sorry, sir," I whispered, trying my best to diffuse the situation.
• He moved closer to me. "Really? Are you truly sorry?"
• "Yes, sir," I replied.
• "I don't think you're sincere enough, honey," he whispered into my ears. I was burning with rage.
• "I am, sir. Please trust me," I looked at the floor to hide the hatred in my eyes.
• "Then show me how sorry you are," he demanded. His breath drifted across my face, and a wave of nausea washed through me.
• "How?" I asked.
• "I want you to get on your knees, unbutton my pants, and perform oral sex on me."