Lilly of the Valley- Part 1

Hey folks... I haven't been online in a long time (shoutout to high school, college, and my job for taking all my time) and recently started working on a story. So, I'm planning on posting weekly chapters/parts to this story as I work through it! As a (fairly) beginner writer, I would love feedback! Feel free to msg me on spacehey or at my email cameron.j.stellar@gmail.com

Without further ado...

Lilly of the Valley/ Poison Sumac

Part I: Doe Eyes

Leaves dance about in the wind all around me, the fiery colors blurring together in my vision. The ground is cool beneath my feet, damp and soft, with occasional rocks that I can hardly feel through my callouses. While I waltz among the trees, I hear the birds’ sweet farewell coming from above. There is nothing but peace in this place, far away from evil, from humans. I never want to leave. 

The babbling of a nearby creek catches my attention. Small and winding down the mountain, under tree roots, and over smoothed stones. My dancing takes me there, the cold water rising to my ankles and numbing my skin. I don’t care much about the numbing, for there is no pain, only calm. I breathe easy here. 

A doe looks at me, her beautiful brown eyes unblinking. She doesn’t move, not the slightest bit. Out of fear of scaring her, I don’t budge either. 

After what feels like an eternity, only broken up by distant chirping and the wind’s quiet conversations with the leaves, she moves at last. Not to run away, but a step towards me. One step after another, steady and slow, her large eyes remaining unblinking. She’s almost uncanny, in a way. 

I take a step back, back onto the cold floor of the forest, out of the numbing water. She continues towards me, undeterred. 

I step backwards faster now, a sense of unease within me tells me not to look away, not even for a second. She moves closer still, her unblinking eyes so full of life yet somehow so dead. 

My ears begin ringing, and my breathing quickens. Pain shoots through my head, one awful sound echoing through every part of me.

Screams.