The expanse of trees ahead of us was never-ending. I was surrounded in the belly of the woods, and looking back, there were many ways back.
I was lost.
“Don’t go too far, Cerba.” I pulled out my phone to check where I was while continuing to advance. A pointless act since the connection was nonexistent.
A cracking noise breached the peaceful forest.
I’d have stumbled if it wasn’t for someone who had grabbed my arm fiercely, making me turn around. My eyes fluttered shut, and I crashed brutally against a strong torso. My heart thumped harder when I smelled a woody scent, intoxicating my nostrils and filling my lungs.
The songs of the forest stopped as if it had become lifeless by the sole presence of him. It became a cold realm, welcoming a merciless king. My fingers instinctively grazed his strong biceps, and I braved to swivel my eyes to him. Captured in the moment, our stares and souls joined. I swore by losing myself in Radcliff’s firestorm eyes, they told a somber story.
I could see beyond the scars he wore.
I wasn’t horrified. He wasn’t god-awful. For a moment, I found Radcliff’s beauty rare in a sinister way, and a new form of desire blossomed in my belly. The Devil was playing a trick on me.
“What are you doing?” I blurted, pulling away from him, confusion clouding my head.
“You were about to step into an animal trap.”
Radcliff threw a piece of wood inside the trap. I flinched when it closed brutally, breaking the baton. I imagined what would have happened to me if I’d taken one more step.
“Thank you,” I huffed.
“Don’t thank me—just be more careful. You can’t trust everything.” His voice was threatening yet somehow worried.
I nodded. Radcliff passed in front of me, and I hurried to join him as the forest engulfed him into its blackness. From time to time, we’d peer secretly over at each other. I felt like a shy teenager, my body reacting in a way I never thought it would.
I suddenly paid attention to my posture, trying to look attractive for him. My fingers brushed the plants elegantly. Each of my steps and gestures seemed to be enchanted by fairy dust. Using the branches of the trees, I hid my gaze from him. I peered over him like he was my secret, observing him closely.
When his eyes met mine, I smiled and turned away, hoping he wouldn’t perceive my thoughts. My heart pounded, a wave of heat warming me through the cold. Even the scent I was smelling was different. My wonderland became a bright and floral fairy tale. It created the illusion of the sweet scent of spring gardens, ylang-ylang, and enchanted roses.
Radcliff was imposing, a constant frown on his face accompanying a squared jaw, a Grecian nose, and broad shoulders. So tenebrous that even his tall shadow on the grass was somehow scary. Nothing about him belonged here. And yet, seeing him in my universe for the first time enlivened my soul. I wondered if in another life we’d met.
Beyond the immensity of the trees stood a gigantesque valley. It felt like we went through a secret passage between two universes. A smile painted my face at the dappled light matching the meek blue sky.
From afar, we could see an abandoned church or an old chapel, judging by the cross on top of it. It was in dreadful shape, the walls of stones broken up. Growing trees and ivy were swallowing the roof.
I was intrigued. “What is it?”
“Something that belongs to the past.” Radcliff’s jaw tightened at the sight of it.
I took an impulsive step toward it, like I was magnetically attracted. I looked back to see that Radcliff wasn’t following me. “You aren’t coming?”
Silence flew over us before he resigned himself to walk behind me.
From the outside, the church was meaningless. Ruined. Ugly. But when I wrenched open the old door, it wasn’t what I expected.
It was beautiful.
Some empty spaces where windows would have stood before were now sharp, with shattered pieces of glass lying on the floor. The candles for people to make a prayer on were covered in dust. What struck me the most was the remaining stained-glass window of a biblical scene. It portrayed forgiveness. The colors reflected on the floor, painting the inside of the church with prime colors shining through the crystal like a rainbow.
I whirled around through the beam of colors, the spots dancing on my face. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Feeling dizzy, I stopped, facing Radcliff. He was glaring at the whole place, crossing his arms on his chest. I didn’t think he even heard me. His lips twitched downward, his stare fixed on a pew where once upon a time people would have made prayers. The flames of hell flashed in his eyes as if he was transported to a memory haunting him.
I stepped alongside him and stroked his fingers with mine in a ghost of a touch. “Do you know this place?”
“I did,” he answered solemnly, forcing a Machiavellian smirk on his face. “My father would drag me here on Sundays.”
