Fly to Sunrise

1
The Legend


“Jade!” I felt someone’s hands on my arm, “Jade wake up!”
“Mom!” I moaned burying my head in my pillow.
“Come on, it’s almost time!” She said excited.
I pulled the covers off and forced my legs over the side of my mattress so my toes touched the carpet.
“There you go, now hurry. Come on.” Mom urged.
“Alright antsy pants, I’m up!”
I stood and grabbed a folded blanket at the foot of my bed and wrapped it around me. My eyes were still blurry from sleepiness, I reached out and grabbed the back of my Mom’s sweater and followed her out into the morning air of our backyard. The air was crisp and full of pine and evergreen. I felt the cold needles of grass in between my toes as we walked across the lawn.
“Jade be careful. You can’t sleep walk here. Open your eyes.”
I blinked the blurriness away and stepped up onto the big granite rock, one of many that lined the back edge of our backyard. When I say edge I mean literally, we didn’t have a back fence that separated our lawn from the two hundred foot drop off from our backyard rocks. Two hundred feet down the cliff spanned a forest, across the valley and into the back mountains. Not so much mountains but large hills. The forest was called the Eidolon Forest the legendary haunted forest that no one was allowed to enter, at least not anymore since the search parties started to go missing. Our city was called Melina which sat on the cliffs that viewed the forest below.
We watched as the sun slowly peeked over the tree-lined horizon. I wrapped my arms around my mom’s waist, she was soft and warm against my cheek. She put her hand on my shoulder and the other held a mug of her morning Postum. The sun’s rays touched each tree top like a wave lifting the morning fog from the trees burning away the darkness. The morning stars faded with the brightness of the rising sun but the moon still shined its waxing crescent. This was a tradition my mom believed to be good luck, it was also my favorite part of the day; watching the colors change, starting at light blue, yellow to burnt orange, red to pink, and finally the burning glory of the sun. The sun rays touched each tree top like it was cleansing the dark forest giving light to those that were lost. If you were to follow the light at first morning break it would guide you to the exit and back to the road that leads to the city; although there hasn’t been a story yet of anyone coming back.
“Do you think the spirits will find their way out?” I asked.
“I hope so, but those trees are so thick it would be hard for the sun to penetrate.”
“Do you believe in dark spirits Mom?”
“I’m sure they’re down there… keeping the light out.” She rubbed my arm reassuringly, “Don’t worry; they’ll never come here. As long as we stay above the forest we are safe.”
I hugged her tighter,
“I love you Mom.”
“I love you too honey. Now it’s time to get ready for school. I’ll start breakfast while you get ready.”
“Okay.”


I brushed my brown hair that came to my shoulders and made sure my bangs were curled perfectly. Since I was only in sixth grade my mom wouldn’t let me where make-up yet, only mascara and I liked to put silver glitter on by the corners of my eyes. It made me feel special, like I was full of a secret power. I threw on some clothes and I was ready before the English muffins popped out of the toaster. My mom made me a bacon and egg mc-muffin every morning before school. I considered her to be the best mom ever. It was about a twenty minute walk to school and I usually made it right before the first bell rang.
“Hi guys!” I yelled as I approached my group of friends waiting for the school doors to open.
“Hi Jade!” Liz cheered along with the others.
Liz was my best friend. She had dirty blonde hair that went a little past her shoulders, freckles, and had bright blue eyes.
“HI JADE!” Ryder yelled popping his head right in front of my face.
“Ack! Ryder?! Geez!” I said making him snicker.
Ryder had short black hair that always looked a little messy but shiny because of all the gel he put in it. He had warm amber eyes and to me he was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen. I always got really happy around him but I had to concentrate on toning it down so no one would notice I had a seriously huge crush on him. I didn’t want to get made fun of.
“Hmm… You smell like bacon! Do you got any on ya?” he asked hopeful.
“No! It’s all gone!”
He frowned.
“You’ve got sparkly stuff on your face.” he said getting closer.
“It’s called glitter.”
“You put it there?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Cuz I like it.”
“Why?”
“Cuz it’s cool!” I yelled pushing him away.
“I don’t have to wear glitter to feel cool. I KNOW I’m cool.” He smirked.
“If you wore glitter you’d be gay.” I commented.
The school bell rang before he could reply with a snappy come-back. Everyone laughed as we filed into the warm elementary hallways to our classroom.
“Good morning Mr. Stuart!” students cheered as we hung our coats on the wall. Mr. Stuart was in his late forties, had glasses, dark brown hair, and a bushy mustache. He was a good teacher and we all liked him.
Our desks were separated into fours clumped together throughout the classroom. I sat by my best friends, Lizzy, Rachel, and Denise.
“Alright, today is the one year mark since the Eidolon Forest was closed. Raise your hand if you knew that.” Mr. Stuart started.
About five hands out of thirty rose. I didn’t raise mine but Ryder and Denise raised theirs.
“Denise, can you tell us why they closed the forest?”
“Because so many people went missing, even the search parties.” She answered clearly. Denise was taller then most of the girls, skinny, and everyday she wore a t-shirt tucked into her jeans with a belt. We never asked why, it was just the way she was. She also had to be the funniest girl I knew.
“Right.” He agreed, “How many of you know the legend about the Eidolon Forest? And what the name means?”
Ryder didn’t raise his hand and neither did Denise, no one raised their hand. I knew a little from what my mom had told me but I wanted to hear Mr. Stuart tell the story.
“Jade? You look like you might know.” Mr. Stuart pointed out.
Everyone turned to look at me and I felt my cheeks flush with heat.
“Um… I know a little.” I squeaked.
“Please go ahead. Speak up.” Mr. Stuart urged.
“Um… My mom told me that centuries ago the forest used to be a meadow… and there was a war… a war between two armies one good and one very bad. In the end they all died, there were no survivors. And the land they died on was left to rot. As the centuries went by a forest grew over the dead bodies. I’ve heard people say that each tree is like a gravestone, that there are ghosts that still fight in the forest today. That the dark spirits won’t let the light leave, I mean the good spirits leave. That’s why is called Eidolon. Eidolon means apparition or ghost.”
“Wow, very good Jade. I’m impressed.” Mr. Stuart smiled at me.
I was surprised at myself. I gulped and exhaled, relieved that my time in the spotlight was over and people were looking away. My face turned a nice shade of pink as I cracked a smile. I caught Ryder giving me a skeptic glare, I smiled my pearly whites at him and I swear I saw him blush as he looked away quickly.
“That’s very good.” Mr. Stuart went on, “The Eidolon forest was once a very vast meadow, with no tree in sight. It’s rumored that the armies were from two types of people with very strong rulers. One was a very righteous and a virtuous people. The others were known as barbarians, even cannibals, who were ruthless and knew no mercy.”
“What’s a cannibal?” Jeff blurted out.
“People who eat other people, stupid!” Mary shot back.
“What? Uh! That’s gross!”
Mr. Stuart shook his head and continued,
“There is also a rumor that both armies knew magic, making their leaders very powerful. Both armies were equal in strength leaving no survivors. Their people who didn’t fight condemned the land as a death land, letting the earth take their dead. And as the centuries went by a forest began to grow. To get an idea of just how big the war was, just look out past the hills, everything that you see covered with trees is where dead bodies once laid.”
“That’s huge!” Miles blurted out.
“Na uh!” Jeff cried out.
“Yes huh!” Mr. Stuart corrected happily,
“Now there haven’t been any disappearances since the forest was closed a year ago. So please don’t go near the gate and if you hear about someone wanting to go in, please do not let them. This is not a joke. A lot of people have lost their lives to that forest. I urge you not to be one of them…. Raise your hand if you understand.”
All our hands were raised.
“Now I have to pass around a paper that all of you need to sign, saying that I have told you the story and you have agreed not to go into the forest.” He walked to his desk and picked up the signature page,
“While that is being passed around please get out last nights homework and we will correct it together.”


LATER AT RECESS


“Do you think there are really monsters out there?” Ryder asked us.
We all walked together tossing the nerf-football around as we made our way to the grass field.
“No way, that stuff doesn’t exist.” Caitlin said snootily.
Caitlin had long perfectly straight hair and was probably one of the smartest in the class. The problem was that she acted like she already knew she was brilliant.
“No they do. Like the ones that hide under his bed.” Denise said calmly.
Liz and I started to snicker.
“Man, you’ve been telling her about your nightmares too?” Parsons said cracking up.
“Shut up!” Ryder said laughing along with everyone else.
Parsons was Ryder’s best friend. We all called him by his last name except for Mr. Stuart. Parsons had glasses with blonde hair that parted down the middle and fell to his ears. He was smart too but he was also a jerk.
Why were all the smart ones jerks?
“Who dares me to go in there?” Ryder asked bravely.
“No Ryder! You can’t anyway, it’s all blocked off.” Liz said concerned.
“How do you know?”
“Mr. Stuart just told us!” Liz replied.
“I wanna go check it out.” Ryder said with intense curiosity completely ignoring Liz’s warning.
“You’re crazy man. I’m not goin down there.” Parsons replied.
“Yeah no way.” I said.
I lied. I really did want to go, if he was going I was going.
“You’re all just chicken.” Ryder said downfallen.
“Go long!” Ryder suddenly yelled to Parsons.
Parsons took off and everyone started to spread out across the field. I walked with Ryder and waited until he threw the football.
“Your not gonna go when its dark are you?” I asked.
“Why, you believe in ghosts?” he asked.
“Do you?” I asked, not wanting to answer him.
“I don’t know that’s why I wanna go. Why do you care?”
“I don’t! But you can’t go when it’s dark!” I said seriously concerned.
“I’m not! And I think you do care!” He said turning to me while the others played football without us. His attention fully was on me now.
“No I don’t!” I replied blushing.
“Why can’t I go when it’s dark?”
“Because!” I was panicking.
“Why are you blushing?”
“I’m not blushing!” I said as I pushed him away.
“Then tell me why!” he said pushing me back.
“Cuz there are things down there! ... When its dark.” I blurted out.
“BA hahahaha!” Ryder fell to the grass laughing,
“What? You’re so sure! Look at your face!” he laughed pointing.
I knew I was sweating and beat red with embarrassment but I was angry now.
“Shut up Ryder!” I said lightly kicking him as he got up.
“I knew you were a chicken!” he laughed.
“My mom told me about the stories!”
“I didn’t know your mom was stupid too?!”
I was so shocked I gasped. That was it. I had had it. My rage had reached boiling point.
“Jade, heads up!” Denise yelled a few yards away.
I turned and in one fluid movement I caught the football and threw it straight at Ryder as hard as I could. The ball flew in a perfect spiral and impaled him right into the eye. He didn’t even see it coming. I could hear gasps from my friends behind me and Parsons yelling, “Holy crap!” from across the field. Denise and Caitlin burst into laughter.
Ryder was on the ground holding his head yelling profanities a twelve year old shouldn’t yell.
“Do not call my mom stupid!” I said still fueled with anger.
I shoved him onto his stomach and straddled his back and forced him into a headlock.
“Gah!” Ryder gasped, “Jade! You’re insane!”
“Take it back!” I ordered.
“Can’t you take a joke?!” He choked trying to pry my arms away.
“You don’t talk about my mom that way!” I demanded.
I could feel my friends’ eyes on us, watching in amusement.
“Okay, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! You are just the stupid chicken!” Ryder breathed.
That didn’t make me want to free him.
“You are more stupid and chicken then I am and you know it!” I yelled.
Parsons knelt down and put his hand on my shoulder,
“Its time to let go now.” He said nodding with a small smile. He was enjoying this too much.
I let go and got up quickly. Parsons helped Ryder up saying something to make Ryder lash out, “Shut up man! I don’t hit girls okay!”
“You okay?” Liz asked me.
“Yeah…” I breathed.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“Well… I kinda snapped when he called my mom stupid.”
“Wow, I can’t believe he said that! Your mom is the nicest person on the planet.”
“Thanks Liz. She is the best. Ryder has no idea!”
I looked back at Ryder who was walking away with Parsons. He turned and gave me a hateful glare. I could see his right eye already swelling up.
“But that was cool right?” I said to Liz smiling.
She laughed, “Yeah!”
We walked together in the opposite direction from the boys.
“But I don’t think that’ll make him like you anymore…” She added.
My heart dropped,
“I didn’t mean to hit him in the eye! It was a freak accident!”
“It was a good one!” Denise chimed in, “But Liz is right; I don’t think hitting your crush directly in the eye with a football will help your chances. He’s probably got nerf flecks stuck in his eye.”
That made all three of us start to chuckle.
“But that was so mean what he said!” I pouted, “If he liked me at all he wouldn’t have said that about my mom. I hope those nerf flecks infect his eye!”
“I’m sure we’ll be hearing all about it later.” Denise smiled.


The two and a half hours left of school went by fast. Ryder didn’t care so much as to look at me for the rest of the day either. I felt bad about his eye. Mr. Stuart just laughed when he had asked Ryder about his red swollen eye. Mr. Stuart actually turned and winked at me. That may have set Ryder off a little and the topic about his desire to check out the forest didn’t come up again.
The next day Ryder wasn’t at school. I was worried… I was really worried. The other kids didn’t think much of it, neither did Mr. Stuart. I pulled Lizzy to the side during recess,
“Why isn’t Ryder here today?” I asked.
“I don’t know. He didn’t call or anything.” She answered. Ryder sometimes car-pooled with Liz to school since they lived so close to each other.
“That’s weird; do you think he’s sick?” I asked.
“No, he’s probably just skipping.” Lizzy said.
“Do you think he went into the forest like he said he was going to?”
“No! No way! If he did I’m going to kill him!” Lizzy said.
“Dang it!” I said. I wasn’t happy.
“No Jade! That’s not it. If your gonna worry all day like this we’ll knock on his door after school okay?”
“Okay…” I answered. But my heart was racing a mile minute. My nerves wouldn’t settle for the rest of the day. Something wasn’t right, I could feel it.

AFTER SCHOOL

Lizzy and I walked around the corner of our neighborhood to see two cop cars pulled up to Ryder’s house. You could say I was freaking out inside. He was missing, the words kept repeating in my mind.
“Oh no.” Lizzy said.
We walked quickly up to the door and Liz knocked. There were footsteps and muffled voices inside; the voices were strained and urgent. Ryder’s mom opened the door. She was pretty and tall with long shiny black hair but her eyes were red and puffy. She wore a long tunic sweater with leggings and slippers and had tissues wadded up in both her hands. She was a mother who had just lost her son. I had to hold back a sudden sting of tears. I had to keep it together.
“Hi Mrs. Shields,” Lizzy said, “Is Ry—”
“Oh girls! I’m so sorry….” She sniffed, “our Ryder has….” She choked back sobs and more tears leaked down her cheeks. I could see Ryder’s Dad inside standing with police officers with stern and troubled faces. Sitting at the table behind them was Ryder’s little brother Nick. His expression was vacant; he probably was still in shock that his big brother had disappeared.
“I’m so sorry Mrs. Shields.” said Lizzy.
I nodded. My nerves had taken what was left of my voice. I had no idea what to say. His mom didn’t know me very well either.
“We believe Ryder has gone missing within the Eidolon Forest.” Ryder’s dad said as he came up behind his wife with his hand on her shoulder as she sniffled.
“We’ll let you know if anything comes up okay girls?” Mr. Shields said.
We both nodded and Mr. Shields shut the door. We walked in silence for a moment.
My heart was pounding. I had to find him…. I had to. I would not be able to sleep tonight.
“Should we have said something?” asked Lizzy.
“About what?”
“That Ryder had talked about going in there.” Lizzy said.
“I don’t think so, they seem to already know. I don’t want to go back there.” I said.
“Yeah, we shouldn’t. This isn’t good…” said Lizzy, “I’m sorry Jade. You’re probably more messed up then I am about this. I know you really like him.”
Another sting of tears came but I swallowed it away and nodded in response.

I told my mom what had happened to Ryder. She was concerned and remembered that he’s the boy I liked and made me some tea to feel better. The tea didn’t help though; I had to get out of the house. I thought up a plan quickly. Next I knew I was in my room packing away supplies for a journey in the forest.
My plan went as follows; since it was Friday night I asked my mom if I could spend the night at Lizzy’s. It usually was always a yes. I went to Lizzy’s house and told her about my plan and changed into more suitable clothes to hike in. She was freaking out but I made her promise not to tell what I was doing until I didn’t come back by noon tomorrow. She actually promised. I was scared she would get too serious and really not let me leave but thankfully she did. So then I set off down the trail to the gate that held the Eidolon Forest inside.