Chapter 6: I should've known there's no such thing as a quick buck.
Before I knew it, the door opened and behind it was a woman dressed in clothing i hadn't seen in the city, who I assumed was miss Granger, but contrary to my expectations, she looked different from what I imagined. If I didn't know any better from her grey hair and the bags underneath her eyes, i would've thought she was in her late 30s.
" You're not my Lennie..."
" Ahh yes, Aunty I happen to be lost. If it's ok with you, might I come in for a drink."
" Judging by that strange get up of yours, you're definitely not from around here." Mrs Granger looked me up and down before turning around and heading inside. " Well don't just stand there. Come on in."
I followed after her inside. The interior of the cottage was tidy and neat, to the point that it had a certain air to it that unconsciously made me feel at ease.
" Here dear, have a cup of tea. I breed it not too long ago myself."
I sat down in one of the seats in the living room and took the cup of tea handed to me.
" It's really good. Thank you Aunty."
" No need to thank me there, having you as company is plenty of thanks already."
" Hahaha I see." I chuckled before taking another sip.
' Good, she doesn't seem like she suspects a thing. This is my chance.' I thought to myself.
" Aunty, don't you get any visitors? I can't imagine someone like yourself staying here all alone. Dosen't it get lonely." I said, looking worried, well i kinda was. Even I couldn't imagine living in such an isolated place all alone.
" Well it's not too bad." She said with a smile. " I usually have my pet Lennie to keep me company..."
" The environment here is more peaceful than where I came from."
" I see..., you must've really come from somewhere terrible... not that I meant it in a bad way."
" Its ok dear, I know you mean well." I relaxed a bit when I saw she took no offense from my words.
" So this Lennie. You keep mentioning him, Is he here by any chance, I'd really love to see him."
" Hahaha, that I to, but I'm afraid he's been missing for awhile now."
" Missing?"
" Yes... I'm afraid so. The darn rascal usually steps outside from time to time but this time it's been awhile since she came back." I didn't know why but I felt a bit sorry when I saw the saddened look on the old lady's face.
" I'm sorry if I brought up some troublesome memories."
" No dear, it's not your fault. If its anyone's fault, its probably mine for not watching her." Mrs Granger sighed.
" That blue stripped rascal always had a nack for running off."
" Do you perhaps know where she might've gone?"
" No dear. I haven't the faintest of clue. But she usually spends her time out back. Maybe she just decided to stay out a bit late." She said, chuckling yet i could still notice a bit of remorse in her tone.
" Well it's getting late. I better be off." I said, getting off my seat.
' I need to find her cat.'
" Huh? So soon. Won't you stay the night? It's a bit far from the nearest city from here."
" I'm afraid I still need to go, but thank you for your hospitality though ma'am. The tea was also the best I've ever tasted." I thanked her before stepping out the door.
' Now I just need to follow her words and find that cat, I'm sure she couldn't have gotten far...' My mouth soon turned agape when I walked to back of the hill.
Staring back at me was a huge gloomy looking forest that seemed like the one people would only see im their nightmares. I could even see dark storm clouds looming over it.
' How on earth does a cat have to gall to play in such a place, and how come I never noticed this place till now!'
[Well what are you waiting for, hurry up. The sooner we return Mrs Granger's cat, the happier she'll be.]
" Are you seeing what I'm seeing right now?! That place is a death trap!" I whispered through gritted teeth but the angel didn't seem fazed, instead he looked annoyed again which made me annoyed as well, his little pixelated face felt punchable right now but again, I held myself back.
I gradually descended the hill from behind, heading closer and closer towards the forest.
While walking, I suddenly realized something that's began to bug me.
' This idiot dosen't seem to have a name.'
" What's your name by the way?"
[Is there a reason you need to know?] He asked, looking confused.
I rolled my eyes at him, not knowing if he was trying to be a dick or just clueless.
" If I'm going to be talking to you from now on, I think it stands to reason that I know your name at the very least."
[I'm afraid I cannot tell you]
" Huh? What on earth are you talking about." I frowned, clearly unhappy. At this point I had already reached the base of the hill and was now standing Infront of the dark forest.
' What I do for money...' I lamented to myself, staring at the creepy forest made me wonder whether this was really a good idea. A shiver crept up my spine when a ghastly wind blew out of the forest and brushed against my skin.
[My true name isn't something a human can pronounce]
" Are you joking with me right now?" I glared at the angel on my shoulder.
' Who do you think your kidding.'
" If it's embarrassing, just say so. There's no need to lie about it." I scoffed while begining to thread deeper into the forest. The sound of my feet crunching dead leaves and fragile twigs suddenly seemed frightening in this eerie place.