By Vania Butiam Co
In a small, quiet town, nestled between rolling hills and forests, lived a young man named Luke. He had grown up hearing stories of the Mysterious Willow Woods that lay just beyond the town’s borders.
Everyone said the woods were enchanted, a place where strange things happened, and where time itself seemed to twist and bend. One crisp autumn evening, driven by a mix of curiosity and a need for adventure, Luke decided he would see the woods for himself. The golden light of sunset created long shadows across the trees as he made his way deeper into the forest. The air was cool and filled with the earthy scent of fallen leaves.
After walking for what felt like hours, Luke noticed a path he hadn’t seen before, hidden beneath a thick layer of leaves. He followed it, feeling as though he was being gently pulled forward. Eventually, he arrived at a small clearing where an ancient oak tree stood, towering above the other trees.
The forest was surrounded by large trees, each of them carved as if they were works of art. Luke wandered for a while, feeling something urging him to go back, but he brushed the feeling off and continued exploring. As he walked, he came across a clowder of cats. He looked surprised and confused, wondering why there were such a large number of cats in the forest. They seemed to be surrounding someone or something. To get a better view, he got closer. He noticed a boy, who seemed to be his age, petting some of the cats. As soon as the unknown boy spotted Luke, his eyes darkened with an expression of anger and confusion.
Luke decided to break the silence, saying, “Hello?” He waited, expecting an answer, but instead received a cold stare. The boy simply stared at Luke, a hint of confusion on his face. Suddenly, the boy stood up, causing Luke to back away slightly. Feeling uncomfortable, Luke decided to slowly walk away.
The unknown boy then spoke, “Who are you?” he asked in a surprisingly deep voice. Luke introduced himself, making sure to keep a safe distance. The boy said his name was Jackson and described this place as his safe space. Jackson was an animal lover, and seeing stray cats with no food or homes broke his heart. He explained that he often came to the forest to feed and care for them, ignoring the comments from people who found him odd.
Luke was touched by what Jackson had shared and took a step forward, feeling more at ease. They talked for a while about various things, only for their conversation to be interrupted by a sound in the bushes.
The boys froze at the noise, feeling a bit uneasy, as they thought they were alone in the forest. Jackson, being the braver one, stood up to check on the source of the sound. He seemed to disappear into the bushes, leaving the noise of the cats as the only sound in the quiet forest. Concerned, Luke stood up and followed in the same direction.
After walking for a while, Luke came across a scene that surprised him. It was Jackson, who was now accompanied by someone else. “My friend, please sit with us,” Jackson said in a calmer tone. He seemed less tense and spoke comfortably with the boy beside him. The other boy introduced himself as Jerry, Jackson’s brother. Jerry was the complete opposite of Jackson. His hair was dark, he had a bright smile, his eyes were pitch-black, and he was warm and welcoming, even though he was meeting Luke for the first time. The three of them talked until it was late, bonding easily.
After that day, all three boys turned meeting up in the forest into a routine. They bonded and talked every day, discovering unusual things in the forest, such as strange insects and mysterious sounds with no apparent source. Instead of fearing the forest, the boys enjoyed their adventures and found these peculiar experiences fascinating.
Vania is of Premier International School, Wuse 2, Abuja
