Willow sprang forward and stepped up to the double doors before turning to face Clara. “Welcome to my home. Please by all means treat it as your own. There are 4 bedrooms upstairs so take your pick, it does have running water and there should be plenty of hot water in the tank if you’d like to get out of those wet clothes and take a bath”.
Willow smiled as she span and pushed both doors open revealing a huge open space, the floor covered in rugs, the walls in gorgeous silk tapestries. A blazing fire burned in front of the hand carved oak furniture. Clara stood in awe as the sheer beauty overwhelmed her and made her head spin again, she reached out to grasp the wall and steady herself.
Willow ran towards her and took her arm. “Is everything ok? Are you tired from the journey? Please come and sit down”.
Clara steadied herself as she allowed Willow to guide her towards a long oak sofa covered with pillows and throws.
“I’m sorry for the trouble, it’s just so beautiful, I never expected something like this. I must admit I was expecting a small cabin”. Clara let out a small laugh, feeling the most relaxed and happy she’d felt all day.
“Well, I’m glad it’s well above your expectations”. Willow smiled as she took a seat beside her.
Clara had relaxed completely, Willow’s home felt so natural, like she belonged there. She had almost forgot everything that had happened until Willow spoke again.
“So I promised I’d explain some things, but first would you like to eat, bathe and sleep? I promise we can go over everything in the morning”.
Clara was about to question Willow’s gracious offer when her stomach growled aggressively, she winced as the sound echoed through the room. “Sorry, I haven’t actually eaten yet so that would be amazing, but I really should get home. My roommate will panic if I don’t let her know what’s going on. Did you say you had a phone?”
Willow perked up cheerfully. “Perfect, I have stew ready in the kitchen, feel free to help yourself and I’ll be back with you momentarily”. Willow skipped off to the spiral staircase in the corner of the room, the banister carefully crafted with iron railings twisted like vines with ravens carved into the newel posts at each end. Willow called back down. “Make yourself at home!” With that she disappeared into one of the rooms along the upstairs hall.
Clara was alone again, but for the first time that night, she felt truly safe. She got up and made her way across the vast room to the kitchen. As she stepped through the archway the smell of the stew, still hot on the stove, caused her mouth to water. She began to search the cupboards for bowls and utensils then ladled a generous helping into one of the carved wooden bowls, and took a seat at the large table, the sound of Willow’s footsteps moving around above her.
Clara began to dig in. As soon as the stew touched her tongue, she let out a groan of satisfaction. It was incredible. Quite possibly the best thing she’d ever eaten. Without thinking, Clara began shoveling the stew down her throat, pure delight with every bite.
“Well I’m glad you’re enjoying it! I haven’t cooked for other people in years”. Willow had appeared in the doorway and caught Clara completely off guard, causing her to almost choke on her spoon.
Clara wiped her mouth. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come back. It’s amazing! I may have to go for seconds”.
Willow chuckled as she grabbed a bowl and ladled a helping for herself.
“Help yourself. As I said, think of it as your own home and feel free to stay as long as you like. It’s always nice to have company”.
They both ate their stew in relative silence.
As Clara went up for seconds Willow chimed in. “By the way, the phone’s just upstairs, when you need to call your friend let me know”.
Clara began to fill her bowl. “Thank you, if you don’t mind, I’ll finish this and then let her know I’m safe”.
“You’re welcome, and if all’s well you’re welcome to bathe and sleep until morning if you don’t want to make the journey back tonight, seeing how late it is already”.
Clara gave her a puzzled look. “What time is it?”
Willow looked up at the clock above the kitchen’s doorway. “It’s a quarter past one”.
“What! But how?” Clara panicked, almost dropping her bowl.
Willow stood up from her seat. “What’s wrong?”
Clara began thinking about past events. “How? It shouldn’t be any later than nine thirty! Was I unconscious for that long? Surely I’d have drowned!” She set down her bowl and turned back to Willow. “I’m really sorry to be rude, could I use that phone now please? I hadn’t realized it had gotten this late”.
Willow stepped away from the table. “Of course, follow me”.
They made their way up the stairs to the landing where an old Victorian candlestick phone sat upon a small table. Willow picked it up and handed it to Clara.
Clara looked at the old phone quizzically.
“It works perfectly, don’t worry, I found it at a market and just couldn’t resist”.
Clara chuckled. “Well it does have a unique charm”.
“I’m glad you agree”. Willow pointed at the rotary dial. “Just spin the wheel to the desired number and you’ll connect immediately…You know your friends number don’t you?”
Clara nodded automatically. “Yes thank you, she moved in with me so its technically my number, quite useful in situations like this”. She laughed softly.
Willow nodded. “Well, I’ll be just downstairs, if you need anything else just call me and I’ll help where I can”. Willow began to descend back down the staircase but stopped partway. “Oh, and if she needs to call you back, my numbers on the side of the ear piece”.
Clara turned the ear piece and saw the number. She thanked her again as Willow continued down the stairs and began dialing the number.
The handset only rang once before Danielle picked up. “Clara is that you? Where are you? What happened?”
Clara interrupted her panicked questioning. “Danielle it’s me, calm down, everything’s fine”.
Danielle’s voice suddenly erupted down the phone. “FINE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN FINE! I’VE BEEN WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU! WHY DIDN’T YOU ANSWER YOUR PHONE!”
Clara intervened again. “I know, I know, it’s complicated but I’ll explain later I promise. I lost my phone somewhere but I’m safe, you don’t need to worry”.
The receiver went quiet for a few seconds until Danielle, much calmer continued. “So where the hell are you? Are you still with Jacob? Where did he take you? I checked all the restaurants in town and none of them had seen you?”
Clara sighed. “It’s complicated. I promise I’ll explain it all to you later, ok?”
The receiver went quiet again before she responded. “Will you at least tell me where you are so I can come get you, I’ll be happy when your home safe”.
Clara slowly explained, her predicament only now becoming fully clear to her. “Well, that’s one of the complicated parts, I’m not actually a hundred percent sure where I am”.
A dead silence came through the other end of the phone, this time it lasted so long Clara was afraid Danielle had hung up.
“Please tell me this is some stupid joke and you’re not running off with a guy you just met. I know I said bed him and all that crap but I wasn’t serious you know. Please just come home”. Danielle was becoming hysterical.
Clara wasn’t sure what to do, she hated the idea her best friend was upset, but how could she help? “Give me 10 minutes and I’ll call you back, I promise. If you don’t hear from me, call this number back”. Clara recited the number back to Danielle as she jotted it down.
A much calmer Danielle recited the number back to confirm. “Right, you’ve got 10 minutes then I’m calling this number, if you don’t answer I’m calling the police”.
Clara laughed softly. “Ok, I promise and please calm down, everything’s fine. I’ll talk to you soon”.
“Make it sooner”. A dial tone followed as Danielle hung up.
Clara put down the phone and let out a deep sigh of relief.
Clara descended the stairs and made her way back to the kitchen to find Willow. She was sitting at the table eating another bowl of stew as she looked up and smiled at Clara.
“Everything ok?” She asked between spoonful’s.
Clara chuckled. “Yes and no, she’s a bit worried about where I am and wants my location and everything, I told her I’d find out and call her back in a bit”.
Willow put down her spoon. “Ah yes, well you’d better sit down, this is a lot more complicated then you’d imagine”.
Clara sat at the table and eyed Willow suspiciously.
Willow let out a long breath. “Believe it or not, we are currently in a forest that is most likely hundreds, if not thousands of miles away from your home. Depending on where you accessed the building”.
Clara remained quiet but kept a hand on the chair, ready to leave quickly if she had to.
Willow let out a small laugh. “I’m fully aware this is going to sound crazy but after what you experienced in the den, I imagine this won’t be much more of a shock”.
“The den?” Clara questioned.
Willow continued. “Sorry I should explain. The building you went into is part of a massive network, all connected, we call them the den. Imagine it as a portal of sorts that allows you to travel all over the world in a matter of seconds. What you experienced was an emergency access point which took you to this forest”.
Clara smirked. “Okay I’ll play along, carry on”.
Willow nodded with a deep sigh. “Trust me, if I were in your position I wouldn’t believe it either. To put it simply we are currently in a forest in Scotland”.
Clara laughed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude, please carry on?”
Willow looked down at her bowl then raised her head to lock eyes with Clara. “Follow me and I’ll prove it to you”. Willow stood and gestured for Clara to follow.
They proceeded back outside and stood in front of the house.
Willow breathed deeply. “Okay, I need you to follow my instructions exactly, this isn’t something that I’ve completely mastered yet”.
Clara furrowed her brow but nodded.
Willow closed her eyes and turned away from Clara. “If you wish to see the truth, you’ll have to trust me”. She raised her hands above her head. At first nothing happened but as Clara watched on a sudden icy breeze flowed around her ankles, causing her to shiver as she saw the same mist forming that she had seen at the den. Clara was about to try and run back to the house when Willow’s voice pierced the silence.
“Don’t move”. Willow’s voice was firm and authoritative making Clara freeze in place. She remained still as the mists swirled around Willow.
Willow began chanting something that Clara couldn’t quite make out. The grey mist began to form and rise up Willow’s body, engulfing her completely. It began to brighten and fade rhythmically, the colour gradually changing to a pure blue as it fell away and began to condense in front of Willow before beginning to sculpt before Clara’s eyes. The form morphed and shaped slowly, revealing the structure of a female body, the colours faded once again, darkening and lighting as the features became more defined.
Clara gasped as she realized who the shape was forming into. “Danielle!” Clara looked over at Willow who looked strained as she continued chanting.
Clara was about to take a step forward towards Danielle’s form but was immediately stopped again as Willow shouted.
“Stop…Not yet…Please, just wait”.
The form of Danielle wavered slightly then sculpted back. Willow slowly brought her hands down towards the ground as the mists dissipated around Danielle’s prone form. Willow collapsed to her knees. She was sweating and breathing heavily before she finally managed to speak again. “Now…You can move”.
Clara ran over, immediately forgetting the new arrival. “Willow! Willow are you ok?” Clara lifted her to a sitting position on the grass.
Willow nodded weakly. “Yes…Yes I’ll be…I’ll be fine…Thank you”. Willow took a moment to steady her breathing. Upon regaining her composure she smiled at Clara. “I thought you wanted to speak to your friend”. Willow nodded towards the new arrival.
Clara turned to see Danielle hovering slightly above the ground. “But how?”
Willow laughed then winced in pain. “She’s currently being supported by the forest, once you free her you’ll have about thirty minutes before she’s transported back home”.
Willow coughed violently. “Sorry, give me a few minutes”. Willow crossed her legs over and closed her eyes. A eerie silence fell over them as the winds began to circle around her.
Clara glanced back at Willow as she got to her feet and circled around Danielle’s floating form.
“How is this even possible? How is any of this possible?” Clara stood eye to eye with Danielle, scanning every little feature of her friends face.
Willow opened her eyes and took in a deep breath. “That’s better”.
Clara returned to her side. “Are you ok?”
Willow shook her arms out. “I’m fine, just a little tired”. She glanced over Clara’s shoulder. “Did you not wish to speak to Danielle?”
“Yes of course, I just wasn’t sure how to, I don’t even think I understand what I’m seeing to be honest”.
Willow smiled. “There’s a lot you won’t understand yet but I am equally confused about what has happened tonight, but before that please speak with Danielle, let this put both of your minds a little more at ease”.
Clara nodded. “Thank you”. She returned to Danielle, hovering just out of reach before turning back to Willow for instruction.
“A simple touch will do, be warned however she may come out startled, the process on her mind would have felt just like falling asleep, awakening however, is more dramatic for those not used to it”.
Clara nodded then gently touched Danielle’s arm. Danielle’s eyes shot as she dropped to her knee’s. Clara managed to support her before she fell forward.
“What, where am I? CLARA! Where the hell have you been? Where are we?” She turned to Willow beside her. “Erm hi?”
Willow smiled at her sweetly. “I’m Willow, it’s a pleasure to meet you”.
Clara and Willow, gently lifted Danielle to her feet. She staggered slightly as she attempted to regain her footing.
“What’s going on? Is this some kind of prank?” Danielle asked no one in particular.
Clara looked her up and down before giggling.
Danielle glared at her. “What are you laughing at? Seriously what the hell is going on?”
Clara pointed at her clothing.
Danielle looked down at herself, then back to Clara rolling her eyes. “Oh shut up, yours are hardly from Victoria Secret”.
Danielle was wearing pink fluffy bunny slippers and hello kitty pajama’s.
In the midst of the laughter Willow coughed gently to gain their attention.
“Would you like to come inside? I can explain a little of what’s going on”.
Danielle automatically looked at Clara who nodded. Satisfied she turned back to Willow. “Yes please, the wind is starting to make me wish I had a bra on. First time for everything I suppose!” Clara laughed loudly as Danielle put her hands over her chest.
The three of them proceeded back into the house and Willow offered them the sofa. Danielle wasn’t paying much attention to Willow as she was in absolute awe of the great home.
“So are you looking for a new roommate per chance? My current place is like a dog house compared to this…No offence”. Danielle smiled halfheartedly towards Clara.
Clara stuck her tongue out in reply. “Watch it or I’ll send you back out on the street”.
Willow laughed. “Yeah right, you’d starve without me cooking for you”.
Willow tittered as she sat on an armchair opposite them. “I must say, I’m surprised you’re not in shock considering what you just experienced”.
Danielle looked up at Willow, confused. “What do you mean?”
Clara interrupted them. “She thinks this is a dream”. She pinched Danielle’s arm.
Danielle pulled her arm back and rubbed the area she’d been pinched. “OW! What the hell was that for?” Danielle looked at her arm. “It’s bruising already”.
Clara and Willow watched as Danielle’s calm nonchalant attitude began to falter.
“That…hurt”. She stammered. She shot up to her feet and moved away from the sofa, watching both Willow and Clara, her eyes flicking back and forth. “What the hell is going on?”
Clara got to her feet and tried to calm her. “Calm down. I know this is weird. Believe me, I still don’t believe it myself, but we haven’t got a lot of time to discuss this”.
Willow chimed in behind her. “About twenty three minutes, give or take”.
Danielle looked over Clara’s shoulder at Willow then back to Clara. “What does she mean by that? Clara what’s happening? Clara tell me”. Tears began to form as Danielle became more anxious.
Clara hugged her tightly, whispering. “Shhh, it’s ok. You have to trust me, I need you now more than ever, but you have to trust me”.
Danielle’s breath caught in her throat as she gripped tightly onto Clara. They remained this way for a short while before Danielle finally let out a snivelled whisper.
“Okay, I trust you”.
Droo's dramatic world of fanatical fiction 