Please Help Me!

Birdsong trickled through the air, dancing through trees and across the breeze. It spun teasingly away as streaming sunlight reached for it, tittering in amusement when it raced away. Leaves trembled and trees swayed in time to the cheerful tunes, seeming to hum in contentment. Clouds lazily stretched through the brilliant blue sky, hardly visible from within the woods, but there all the same.

It was still light, as it was only two in the afternoon, but it’s always darker in the woods. The trees cast cascading shadows, and sprawling darkness covered the ground. The sun tried its best to peak through the tree tops, but still the shadows remained. Watching. Waiting. Whispering.

“Well, that’s definitely a haircut.”

Seventeen-year-old Lucy cringed. She was lying on her stomach atop a gingham picnic blanket. She idly kicked her legs up in the air behind her. She eyed her phone, eyebrows creasing. Absently, she scratched her nose as she stared at the photo her mum had just sent her. Apparently, Lucy’s four-year-old sister had cut her own hair. Again.

“It’s a little choppy.” Lucy mused, yet she couldn’t help laughing at the crooked bangs. Shaking her head with a smile, Lucy clicked off the photo and placed her phone onto the blue and white blanket. She rolled over to lie on her back, staring up at the trees towering above her. She would head home soon. But it was nice to get away for a while. Lucy closed her eyes and listened to the chattering birds in the trees. She relaxed and breathed out in peace.

Her eyes snapped open to silence.

Lucy blinked groggily, hazy confusion clouding her mind. The dim light settling around her caused a sharp panic to shoot through her. Lucy flailed around until she managed to sit up and grab her phone.

Ten past four.

“Dad’s gonna kill me,” Lucy exclaimed. She roughly scrubbed at her eyes, trying to rub away the drowsiness. Jumping up, Lucy made quick work of packing away her belongings, shoving them all into her backpack.

The shadows quietly watched.

Lucy roughly zipped up her bag and turned towards the direction of her house. Maybe she should jog back?

She took one step.

And stopped.

Lucy frowned and cocked her head, listening.

Intently.

A far-off “hello?” reached her eyes. Eyes widening in shock, Lucy spun towards the sound.

Another, “hello?”

Lucy took a hesitant step towards the distant voice. She jolted still. Biting her lip, Lucy considered her predicament. She really shouldn’t go deeper into the woods at this time. Especially to a stranger. It could be anyone!

“Please? Hello?”

But...Lucy’s eyes flicked around the shadows. They sounded so scared. It was a girl, too, young, maybe her age. And...she was pretty close to her house...and she still had cell service...

Mind made up, Lucy started walking, her feet crunching over twigs and parched leaves. Her steps echoed around her. Carefully, she looked around as she moved deeper into the woods.

“Hello?”

There it was again! That voice. Closer. Clearer. A woman.

“I need help.”

Lucy hurried, pace picking up as she stepped away from her well-known mental paths. She strained her ears for any further calls as she climbed over an old fallen tree. Minutes passed. Lucy's breathing quickened with the exertion. Five minutes. Ten. Fifteen. Maybe the person was too far away now? Lucy stopped and worriedly looked around.

“Hello?”

A shocked jolt ran through Lucy. That voice was a lot closer now. It was so loud. Lucy cupped her hands around her mouth and called back, “Hello? Are you ok?”

The voice answered instantly in excitement, “I got lost! Please help me!” Lucy’s big blue eyes filled with concern at the desperate words.

“Stay right there.” Lucy called back, looking around, “I’ll come find you.” Feet already moving, she eagerly closed the distance.

“Thank you.” The voice sobbed.

Excitement surged within Lucy, building with every step. They were so close! She jogged across the uneven ground, skipping over clumps of dirt and mossy wood. She eyed a big leafy overgrowth just in front of her. It sprawled across fallen trees and scattered branches. Green growth covered every inch of aged wood. And the voice had come from right beyond that point.

Her footsteps were loud in the silence surrounding her. Lucy took little notice. Instead, she reached and grabbed onto the twisting wood, heaving herself up to climb over the forgotten trees that had once stood tall. Her feet sank slightly as she crossed over, ducking her head under the low-hanging vines. They swayed in the breeze as Lucy passed by, silently reaching towards her back.

Carefully navigating the sloping earth, Lucy gripped the trees on her downward path until the ground evened out. Relieved, Lucy smiled in victory and looked around the dim shadows. Rays of sunlight valiantly tried to caress her.

“Hello?” Lucy called expectantly.

No answer.

Excitement faltered into uncertainty.

“Hello?” She tried again.

Nothing.

Lucy’s voice quivered as anxiety soured her gut. “I’m here to help you...”

Nothing.

Panic clawed at Lucy’s heart at the resounding stillness surrounding her. Suddenly, she was overly aware of how dim the light was, how the shadows were growing, and the temperature dipping. She yanked at her pocket, roughly pulling her phone out.

Ten to five.

Lucy felt foolish. Why had she run in again? Tears pricked her eyes as she feebly called out one more time.

“Is anyone there?” Her voice trembled in the empty air. And fell unanswered to the ground. Lucy breathed shakily. Was someone watching her right now? Had she fallen for a trap?

“Lucy, you idiot.” She muttered under her breath. She unlocked her phone and pulled up her dad’s number. Her lips pressed together when the call wouldn't go through. Lucy’s eyes flickered up the screen. No signal. Tears wet her eyes. Resolutely, she dialled for emergency services. The monotone beeping mocked her.

“Ok. It’s ok.” Lucy reassured herself, “I’ll just retrace my steps and it’ll all be ok.”

Struggling to contain the surging fear, Lucy wildly looked around, dreading the thought of seeing someone watching her. Waiting. After a moment's consideration, Lucy decided she recognised an old gnarly tree trunk.

“I definitely walked by that,” Lucy stated to herself, squashing the doubt creeping up her spine. Hesitantly, she took a step forward. And then another. And another. Her steps quickened into a hurried walk, accompanied by flittering eyes and hitched breaths. Lucy resolutely ignored the building dread rising within her and marched on. Her eyes watched the looming shadows and silent trees. Where was the birdsong now? Every so often, she looked at her phone. Tried to call for help. Silently begging the signal to return.

Five minutes. Ten. Fifteen.

Surely she was close now?

A sob built in the back of her throat, and she tried hard to fight off the growing realisation. Lucy blinked hard. A few more minutes, she decided, and she’ll be back at her well-trodden paths that she used every weekend.

One Minute.

Two.

Three.

Lucy sobbed quietly to herself.

Four.

Five.

She stopped. And slowly looked around in silence. So many trees, mossy green ground, dry leaves, and so many shadows. Lucy recognised none of it. She rubbed her wet eyes and pitifully called out.

“Hello?”

She wanted her mum desperately, as only silence answered her. She snatched in a shaky breath.

“Hello?”

Lucy took a trembling step forward, miserably listening to the empty air.

“Hello?”

Lucy’s weak voice echoed mockingly around her, and her ears strained to listen for anyone who might hear her.

“Please!” Lucy begged, “Hello?!” Tears overflowed, and Lucy stumbled forward, panic stabbing at her heart. Everywhere she looked was like seeing a stranger. Nothing was familiar. The woods that were once warm to her now seemed aloof and cold. She scrubbed at her red eyes, the skin there beginning to ache from the abuse. She couldn’t give up!

“Hello?! I need help!”

Lucy strode forward, pushing past the tidal wave within her. She wandered on, passing indistinguishable trees, rocks, and uneven ground.

Lucy’s heart beat loud in her ears, and she cupped her hands around her mouth.

“Hello?!”

Her hands trembled as they lowered.

And then Lucy’s heart soared.

This time, she got a reply.

“Hello?” A woman’s voice called, a little away. “Are you ok?”

A sob fell from Lucy’s lips, her chest heaving at her refusal to break down in relief. Excitement raced through her, threatening to overwhelm her.

She was going to be ok.

Lucy laughed giddily and called back, “I got lost! Please help me!”