Winslow Woods

We are the Winslow Woods. And we have been here for more years than we have really been bothered to count. During this time, we have seen hundreds of creatures come through. Animals that live here along with humans that briefly pass through. Sometimes taking pieces of us to use for either shelter, firewood, or other things. None of which really bothered us in the slightest bit. It just how things are.

How they will probably always be.

But lately we’ve been witness to something that has been deeply disturbing. Small human saplings, children we think they’re called, have been coming in. Entering a house that popped up out of thin air recently. Then never leave that place. Something that none of us are equipped to handle in the smallest bit. Nor have we been able to come to an agreement on what we are meant to. So far, we think we should tell children to beware of the house. To run away from it instead of going towards the beautifully terrible thing. Save them from whatever horrific fate surely awaits them behind that tempting door.

But most of us would rather not have humans know that we’re alive like they are. Afraid that they would tell whoever could listen to them about us. That they would bring them to us and cause us more harm.

A fate we wish to avoid at all costs, so we remained silent on the matter.

Yet the idea of watching children go into that house without knowing is weighing on us. More and more of those young saplings are going into that house. None ever seemingly coming out. We felt even more guilty as we watched walk. Tempted by the way it smelled so deliciously and dangerously inviting. We all hate that all we do is watch but the majority keep us from saying anything.

Right until we saw them come into the woods.

A woman, a man, and two small children. One was a boy, and one was a girl. Neither child looked as if they ate particularly well as they walked behind the skinny adults. Dropping something on the ground as they all walked. The woman leading them looked strangely pleased with herself as she led the children to a fallen tree. Having them sit on it as the man started a fire. His face was grim with determination. Tears had stained his cheeks, but he tried to keep the children from seeing them. The woman stated,”We’ll be looking for berries. You stay here until we come and collect you.”

“Understood?”,she demanded. Her voice was soft but there was an edge of anger to it. Both children nodded their heads in agreement. The boy kept a gentle arm around the girl to keep her warm. Obviously, the fire wasn’t doing the job. He answered,”Yes, M’ma. We will wait for you here and not leave.”

“Good boy.”,she stated. With that she turned on her heel as she walked away. Heading towards where we knew where berry bushes were. But then walking past them as she hummed a song to herself. That sad man following her as they walked away. It didn’t take much thought to know that they were being left behind. This woman, this so-called Mother, was never coming back for either of these children. Something that not only deeply angered all of us but equally saddened us.

These children fully realized what had happened.

We listened as the poor girl started bawling to the boy. Unable to speak as she cried so loudly. He did his best to console her but she couldn’t stop crying. After a few minutes, she calmed down enough for him to get her to stand. Softly, he said,”It’s okay, Greta. I left a trail for us to follow back home.”

“We’ll be safe and with P’pa before you know it.”,he assured. Kissing her cheek as she sniffled a little bit. The girl, Greta, seemed to be happy with this. Smiling a little as she took his hand for added reassurance. Walking towards that trail. Which none of us could see anymore and realized that the animals must have gotten to it. Greta asked,”What did you use to mark our trail, Hans?”

“Breadcrumbs, it was all that I had. I’m so sorry, Greta.”,Hans answered. Sounding sad and realizing that he had chosen the wrong thing. That it would feed those stupid hungry birds would eat within seconds of it landing on the ground. Then flying off once they were full. We knew we had to do something to stop them from getting lost. Stop them from finding that terribly sweet-smelling house the other children had found. Yet, none of us could force a word out. No matter how hard some of us tried, we couldn’t get ourselves to say anything. The stranglehold that the other trees had on us kept us from even being able to gasp.

Our silence led to what it always did. Watching those children walk down that doomed path straight to that terrible house. Acting so joyous when they found it. Taking delicious pieces from it and happily consuming it. That nasty woman coming out to stop them and take them inside. We heard laughter coming from the place. Children screaming in joy like all the other times. Followed by silence as night fell. We all knew what was to happen.

Just like all the other times.

That woman was dragging Hans out of the house. Dragging him towards a little shed where he cried out for Greta. Warning her that the woman was something referred to as a ‘witch’. Something that we didn’t think we had ever heard before. Either way, this didn’t do much. Just as it hadn’t done before. They didn’t flee the terrible house and that Greta girl did so many chores for her. Bruises on her face and arms as she did as this Witch said. We did nothing but watch as she collected twigs for firewood among other things.

A few days past and…and I couldn’t stay silent anymore.

When that poor child got close enough, I whispered,”Push her into the oven, child.”

“…what? Who said that?”,she asked. Her voice wasn’t very loud. But I shushed her all the same. I couldn’t risk that Witch coming out and hearing either of us. Instead of explaining myself, I urged,”Push her into the oven when she asks you to lean in. Fire is what destroys someone like herself.”

Greta stared up at me for the longest moment. Her face was full of fearful confusion for that time and then she nodded. A determined look on her face as she bundled up the twigs that I deliberately dropped for her. Hurrying towards the house. Half an hour later, there was a horrifying scream that broke the normal silence. And we all watched as Greta shoved open that door with jangling keys tight in her hand. Screams followed her out as she ran towards the shed in the back. Hans, who had been barely fed by that damned woman, was waiting for her. Soon as she freed him, they embraced each other tightly. Heading back towards the house for a little while.

I had a horrible thought that they would watch the Witch die. Or something to that effect.

You wouldn’t believe how relieved I was when they came out with an odd box. Along with two bags of what looked to be food. Greta brought her brother to me as she asked,”Which way is out of the forest, Mr. Tree?”

“Follow the path that you came on days earlier, we promise to direct you to safety.”,I answered. The girl shouted her thanks as they headed back to it. Other trees behind me telling them to keep going from what I heard. If I could smile like humans could at the news, they left us safe and sound, I would have. Sure, many of us were angry with me for saying anything. But I didn’t care in the slightest bit. For once, I managed to save someone from that terrible woman instead of just standing here. Staying so still that I may as well not be my own being. And from the sounds of it, that woman will never hurt another child ever again.

And I couldn’t be prouder of Greta.