Forest Of The Lost - Celeste *** (web based ebook reader .txt) 📗

David. Don’t tell me . . .! “Mary . . . hurry up its your turn, we don’t have all day!” My grandma gives me a sympathetic look and heads back into the living room. I look at the girls to see if I was the only one thinking that the Kalaki’s weren’t alone.
“Nessa what if David is here? What are you going to do?” Kat whispers as if I was a bomb about to go off, I set my stuff down and let out a sigh. “Sooo who wants to stay for dinner, I’m cooking.” I try not to show my desperation, but they knew I didn’t want to be alone with the Kalaki’s, my Grandma, and maybe David. “Sorry Nessa it is a school night, but I do feel bad about leaving you I mean who would. We already promised to be home for dinner, maybe next time. Tell us all about it tomorrow, okay? Bye, have a good evening!” They blew me kisses and waltzed out the door, leaving me by myself with the unknown.
I poke my head out of my door peeking down the hall way to see if the coast was clear. As I dart down the hallway and hide in the kitchen I find myself thinking of James Bond to the point I almost make a gun with my fingers. I crane my neck to listen to the voices in the living room “Mary don’t cheat, I saw that. . .” “You saw nothing Mark, if anyone is cheating it is you.” My grandma was smirking at Mr. Kalaki from across the small coffee table; I relax when I don’t see him and let out a sigh of relief. “She is right grandpa you do cheat I watch you.”
I almost scream knowing that all hope was wasted, I was doomed, and how could my grandma do this to me! I poke my head up to look around again finding my grandma was shuffling cards, and David was nowhere in sight. “So what are we looking at?” I jump up and scream as a husky voice whispers in my ear. I turn around knowing who I was going to find. I was right David was squatted next to where I used to be. He put his hands up as I send him a ‘go die in a hole’ look. My grandma and the Kalaki's laugh they’re heads off at our antics, knowing grandma she is planning the wedding.
I stomp back to my bedroom annoyed at the fact my grandma invited David over, without asking me first. I mean she knows that I absolutely do NOT like him; he was a rude manipulative jerk! I hear foot steps down the hall walking towards my room. I hold my breath and concentrate on the sounds trying to figure out who was coming. For a second I only hear my heart and someone in the hall. The footsteps stop outside my door as if the person was contemplating on what to do and say. I hear a cough then the steps start up again continuing down the hall to the bathroom.
In a split second I make my decision, as I run around my room grabbing my shoes, coat and gloves. I put them on in record time and rush down the hallway. Soon I’m out the door and darting towards the barn before they realized what had happened. As I take in the smell of dust, horse, and fresh hay I feel my worries and stress fall away. I walk over to Moondance’s stall; I grab her saddle blanket and saddle. As I start to tighten her cinch I get the feeling of being watched, I hurry and grab her bridle hoping to leave before I find out what was watching me. We walk out to the road to find the trail to our meadow, the one I had found her in.
On our way there I take in the sight the tiny town had to offer, open space and houses to my left and a dark forest to my right. I finally spot the trail and Moondance starts whinnying in happiness, she remembers the trail. I nudge her to a trot until we reach a log bridge over a wide creek. Within a few minutes afterward we reach the meadow. It was exactly as I had remembered no trees, long soft grass, and flower patches that were different all year long. I slid of Moondance and walk her over to a log, during the weeks I visited my grandma in the summer I would read on this log while she grazed.
I sit down for a second, and the memories flow back. “Honey! Watch where you are running, Moondance might run you over!” Laughing in pig tales I run back to my mom, a prancing Moondance behind me. “No she won’t mommy, she would never hurt me. Daddy said so, right daddy?” He laughs and looks up from his book and smiles at me “of course dear she would never hurt you, she loves you too much. “I jump into his arms “I love her too daddy, I love you and mommy, and grandma, and Grandma’s pancakes.” This earns me a laugh; I hop off my dad’s lap and ran over to my horse, poked her and ran for it yelling “your it.”
The tears fall down my face, not stopping I knew very well that I may never be able to sit with my in this meadow. Moondance nudges me trying to comforts me, I stand up and buried my head in her mane. I throw my arms around her neck and whisper “what would I do if you disappeared?” I get on her back and loosen her reins “How about a good run girl, unless you’ve gotten too old.” I teased her, most people thought it weird that I talk to horses like they were people, but who cares, she knows what I’m saying.
After our run the sky starts to darken, I lead her down the trail towards my new home refreshed. I knew it was late and grandma would be heading for bed, so I had a good chance the Kalaki’s were gone already. Thrilled and hopeful we head down the trail. Humming I look for light in the house, I see none. I take care of Moondance’s needs, I head towards the house. I open the door and walk into the kitchen to grab a snack, since I skipped dinner. I open a note on the fridge with my name on it; the leftovers are in the microwave. I felt bad for what I did, but I felt better at the same time. I crawl into my bed after I finished eating, exhausted I soon black out.
Chapter Five

When I woke up in the morning I was greeted by silence, not a sound. I shrugged the worry off; she’s probably in her garden. I get ready like every morning; I peek outside to check the weather. I was greeted with bright rays of sun, blinding me for a few seconds. “Well good morning to you too Mr. Sun” I laughed at my silliness, wow when did the happiness appear. Still giggling I ran out of my room to the kitchen a bound in each step. “Ohhh Grandmaaaaa. . .” I looked around but she wasn’t there, I walked to the kitchen door that led to her garden. Nothing. Starting to feel worried I jog over to the barn, she could be checking to make sure I took care of Moondance after our ride.
Or not. I run out front to look for her car and it was still there, tears streaming down my face I run inside to check if she by some rare chance was in asleep in her room. She wasn’t there, I head towards the kitchen to grab her keys so I could look for her when I notice a bright pink piece of paper on the fridge. I snatch it off the fridge not sure what to expect. Sweetie, I was called down to help out at the hospital, but my truck broke down so I hitched ride with Carol. Eat breakfast and clean up your mess when you are done.
At once all the fear and stress melted away leaving nothing but relief in its path. I plop down on a chair taking deep breaths to calm my breathing. After my heartbeat was back to a steady pace I grab a bowl from the cupboard, humming as I prepared and ate my breakfast. Laughing inwardly to myself I wonder how I could react like this I mean, it’s not like someone would take grandma. I put my spoon and bowl in the dishwasher and start it. Nothing will ruin today, I’m going to make it great to make up for my terrible morning.
I walk over to the cupboard and grab my grandma’s cookbook. Now let’s see, what should I cook today: strawberry cheesecake, apple pie, almond Roca, or ahah! Cookies that’s what I will make, chocolate chip cookies. Grandma loves them, especially when I make them. I quickly grab all the needed ingredients praising the fact that grandma organized the pantry and fridge. I turn the oven on then get to mixing; ah I wish I could bake every day, too bad I can’t. Hmm… when is grandma going to be home? The cookies will be done in fifteen minutes; I have that much time to clean the house. Ready . . . set . . . go!!!
After I mentally yelled ‘go,’ I went into a cleaning frenzy. Dusting here, sweeping there, things I normally would do; but at a much faster speed. I was finishing up when I hear the oven ding; I run to the kitchen and grab the oven mitt. As reach into the oven I hear someone shout my name, “It’s open come on in!” As the door opens and closes I pull out the cookies and set them on the counter to cool. The house I realized, smelled of homemade cookies; taking a deep breath, my nose is assaulted by the best smell on earth. I hear someone enter the kitchen and turn around, it’s David.
“Well you’ve been busy; I didn’t know that you would be a great house wife, you can even bake.” I stare at him astonished that he would come here, especially without reason, as my staring turns to a hot glare he walks over and grabs a cookie from the plate and takes a bite. “They even taste good, wow, who would’ve thought.” I walk over and snatch them plate to prevent any other cookies to be eaten by David. I whip around and I notice he has a backpack on.
“What are you doing here!” I snap, “I wouldn’t have invited you in if I had known who it was, and what’s with the backpack?”
He looks at me confused, and slowly a smile creeps onto his face, as if I didn’t know a secret. “Oh, you mean your grandma didn’t tell you, she left that to