Deep within a large forest, several miles away from any towns or neighbors stood a quaint, wooden cabin that was home to a happy family of three.
In the front yard stood a large oak tree with a wooden tree swing hanging from its thickest branch. Sitting in it was a chubby child about 8 years old happily talking with a young ethereal beauty. She had milky skin, rosy cheeks and bouncy blonde curly locks.
She danced around the swing so gracefully it was as if she were floating. The boy, full of smiles, made a crown out of small pink and white flowers he had plucked from around the yard. After he finished, he offered it to her as a gift.
"Elijah, it's getting dark, time to come inside" his mother called from inside the house.
The young lady happily accepted Elijah's gift, "it's beautiful, can we play tomorrow as well?"
He nodded enthusiastically as he watched her gradually fade into the oak tree. Behind him, his mother was watching from the doorway, unconcerned with what she witnessed.
As he approached the door, his mother gently put her hand on his back, guiding him inside before asking, "who's your friend?"
"That's Elena, she lives in the trees," Elijah blatantly answered.
Despite his mother's question, she actually knew her very well. Elena was a wood nymph that had lived in the giant oak tree for generations. When the family initially moved into the cabin Elena would perch on one of the thicker branches and watch them for hours. Since humans weren't able to see wood nymphs, she was quite comfortable walking the perimeter of the house and even taking a peek through their windows. After several weeks Elijah's father attached the tree swing to Elena's home causing her to get quite upset. She spent all night thinking and eventually thought of a way to rid herself of the family that desecrated her home. The next morning, she watched as the husband left for town just before sunrise. As she prepared to put her plan into motion the wife came outside and sat on the tree swing, watching the sunrise as she held her three-month-old son.
"I know you're here nymph, I have something for you," she said, continuing to look at the rising sun.
Elena was shocked to say the least, no human had ever called to her before. Out of curiosity, she cautiously emerged from the tree and sat with the woman. The woman reached into her son's blanket and pulled out a sweet bread, handing it to Elena as she spoke," I would've come to see you sooner but I had to wait for my husband to leave, he can't see you like I can. I'm Aurora, and this is my son Elijah," she said with a soft smile on her face.
Elena carefully took the bread and slowly took a bite. She enjoyed the sweet softness of it and as she did, she couldn't help but try to peek at baby Elijah. Aurora took notice and angled him towards her. Elena was enchanted by his round, chubby cheeks and thick head of hair. She couldn't help herself and slowly reached to him, gently stroking his cheek with her finger. Baby Elijah wrapped his tiny hand around her finger and just like that, her plan to drive the family away ceased to exist. "He can see me too?" she asked with excitement.
"I hope so but he's still too young, we'll have to wait until he's older to know for sure," Aurora explained.
From then on Aurora would bring Elena sweet bread offerings once a week and allow her to see Elijah. When he was old enough to play outside on his own, he noticed her immediately and every day after his studies they would play together in the forest. This has gone on for years, but Aurora never acknowledged it until today, the day before Elijah's ninth birthday. This birthday was a special one because it marked the day, he could really begin to practice his abilities, something Aurora was excited to teach him.
"When is dad coming back?" he asked, making his way to the dinner table.
"He should be back soon, don't worry," she said, before sitting down with him.
Typically, when his father went to town, he made sure to be home before dark as the forest can be difficult to navigate at night. So today when he still wasn't home after Elijah's bath both he and his mother began to worry. Refusing to go to bed until he saw his father come home, he waited in the living room with his mother for hours until they eventually drifted to sleep.
It was three in the morning when Elijah woke to the sound of his father's truck outside. Although groggy he got up and opened the door, waiting for him to come in. Elijah couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong, and as his father stepped out of the truck, he felt an energy that was foreign to him.
He slammed the door and woke Aurora, "mom get up, there's something wrong with dad, he doesn't have a color!"
Through a sleepy haze she got up and looked out the window to see her husband standing in front of the door with jet black eyes and a terrifying smile. She jumped back from fear and immediately began barricading the door.
He demanded to be let inside in a dark, eerie voice that sent chills down both of their backs. When she refused to let him, his smile dropped and he began beating on the door, trying to force his way in.
While his mother blocked the door Elijah was calling the police, pleading for them to hurry. Unfortunately for them, the forest is difficult to navigate even in the daytime, and they knew the police wouldn't get there any time soon.
His mother did what any terrified parent would do and hid Elijah in the closet, "it'll be alright baby, just stay quiet until I come get you," she said with tears in her eyes. She gave him his favorite bear, then hugged him tight before closing the door.
From the closet he could hear his father angrily yelling from outside for several minutes before a loud crashing sound of the door being forced open.
Many years ago, his mother gave him a bracelet and told him it would always protect him. Tonight, in this closet he clings to it for dear life, hoping what she said was true.
As he began praying for someone, anyone to help him and his mom, he heard fighting sounds in the kitchen. There were many crashes and thuds before everything went silent.
He wanted to curl into a ball and weep, but when he heard the sounds of heavy footsteps walking towards his room he froze in fear. With every step the dark energy he felt got stronger and his heart raced faster, terrified of what was to come.
He heard his bedroom door creak open, and he covered his mouth to keep quiet. It was then that he saw a bright blue light shine from the crack under the door. The dark energy he felt from his father earlier disappeared and he slowly opened the closet door, keeping low to the ground.
He saw his father sprawled out on the ground, his eyes burnt from the inside out and a man standing over his body. At the horrific sight he buried his face in his bear and began to weep.
He heard the man approach him but refused to look up out of fear. The man then sat next to him on the ground and patted his head gently.
Elijah didn't know what to do, so he stayed very still hoping this was a nightmare he would wake up from. It was then the man next to him began humming.
He had never heard this song, but it felt calming and was pleasant on the ear. The man sat with him and hummed until the police arrived, then he vanished without a trace.