The Tree People (Working Title) Chapter 4

As we left the children behind, I knew Midas was going to have a lot of things to say. I expected that. I didn't expect him to be so full of hugs. He hugged me tightly. There was nothing else I could do but hug back. I could feel his body heating up. He had his face buried into my shoulder so I couldn't see if something was wrong. He finally removed his head from my shoulder and tears were streaming down his face. "It's been such a long time Rhys. I have missed you."

"I have missed you too. It has been quite a while hasn't it." I replied.

"I hope you know of the rumors being spread about you. My middle child came home the other day asking all about you and what he had heard. We have to be careful, I think he might be on to everything that we have done."

I am surprised he is speaking so openly about this. The Gathering will be held here soon. If anyone were to here this we would be ruined. I speak in a hushed tone. "Don't give any reason to raise suspicion. As long as we act as if everything is normal he will never suspect you as an accomplice, let alone the person who hired me to commit this act."

"Nobody's listening, and besides, that doesn't matter any longer. I'm leaving. It's better this way. I'm glad the Council decided this year to bring us here because its perfect for my desertion."

"What are you talking about? You can't leave! The last person they saw you with is me. They will immediately presume I am guilty of ridding of you."

"I have to do this Rhys. I must leave now. I cannot look my children and pretend I am so upset about her death. I can't act like I cared about her anymore. It's sickening. She was a bitch, as you well know, she deserved what she got coming to her."

"Midas, have you gone off the deep end? Leaving now will do nothing to help us. It will raise more suspicion if anything. I thought you were smarter than this!" I shake my head toward him. My disbelief in his choices is very apparent on my face.

He looks as calm as a river on a serene day. "I have already decided that I am leaving now. You can either come with me, or stay and let my family have their way with you. Your choice." He smiles sadistically because he knows that this isn't really choice; either leave with him or die.

I scrunch my fists into balls. I try to act calm. The anger is boiling inside me. How dare he try to blackmail me like this? If this wasn't the day of the Gathering I would just dispose of him immediately and not have to worry about it any longer.

I didn't even want to murder Tyrah in the first place. She was sweet, and kind. She could always be counted on to finish all of her tasks, and early at that. She had her bitchy side, as Midas had expressed but it was bearable.

The money that Midas offered was too much to turn down. I am not sure where he got all of that money without Tyrah noticing, but that is besides the point. He offered me enough to be able to take care of my family and myself for the majority of our lives. It moved me up in the hierarchy of wealth, something I needed to do. The well being of my family always came first even if I had to commit an act against my morals.

I felt the pain deeply when I carried out his wishes. It felt like someone was adding more and more weight on my chest. That's what guilt feels like, a gradual build up until it collapses your soul.

I know I must decide what to do. The right thing to do would be to stay here and admit to my faults, take the blame. I'm too cowardly to make that decision. "I'll go with you. But we must move swiftly. If anyone notices our absence, or sees us exiting the Cavern, we won't be able to make it out. I'm assuming you have a plan?" The weight upon my chest builds, as I make the decision I know is wrong.

"You know me so well." Midas has a sickening grin upon his face, it's almost a snarl. "You are crucial to this part of the plan."

"So you knew I would come with you?"

"I had a sneaking suspicion I could persuade you." He laughs maniacally.

Despite my better judgement I guide him toward the nearest exit. We stay in the shadows and pause whenever we hear any voices. It is of utmost importance that we make it to wherever he wants me to take him. "Midas, which exit are we taking? The one toward your village? or which other corner?"

The cavern began with one entrance and one exit, but over time we have carved our way to create a larger space. We have four entrances and exits now. One leads to an area called Acerilex. Another leads to Cupressabi, where my family resides. Each section is the native area for a few types of trees. To the east is Quercus, and to the west is Ficusidium.

"We must head quickly towards Acerilex, to our village, weaving and dodging not allowing anyone to see us. After that, we must go further north and escape from this forsaken land."

He seems to planned this all out in great, great detail. I would never be able to think this far in advance. I take things day by day, and see where the leaves will fall. What he is asking, is absolutely insane. He wishes to go to the forbidden land. Away from our people. It requires traversing across streams and rivers, treacherous waters all the same.

"If we're going to leave, we need to do it immediately" I have to shift directions to go north, because I was heading towards my village, unintentionally.

"I know. I have had all of this planned out for over a year. All i needed was the opportunity to come get you. Now that you are here, we can go."

I shake the feeling of dread that pierces my mind.I guide him through the Cavern and we find the exit. There were moments where I didn't think we were ever going to avoid detection.Somehow we managed to, and we were on our way, opposite the crowds.

People gave us strange looks. We put our hoods up quickly, so nobody would be able to see our faces. This probably raised more suspicion that we normally would have. But why would anyone be heading the other direction when the Gathering was that night? Why would anyone miss the most magnificent speech and ceremony?

I used to believe the statement we were told growing up. The Gathering, is a place for connection. We are to all grow closer with our roots and come out better people. But I have now found that being closer to our roots makes us more willing to do unspeakable things.

I am not a violent man, I am full of love. The love I have may be my downfall, but I would rather be known for loving than for not. Some days I wish I could take back the poison I laid onto her tree. I wish that I would have thought about it more. Alas, I was more naive back then. I thought I was doing the right thing.

It's too late now. There is no more time for regret. I must move on. I must run from those who wish to persecute me because of this. I must start a new life. Someway, somehow I will be able to.

After all, they can't just kill my tree. It's against the Council's code of conduct.

Each tree holds special meaning

They all deserve a full life

We must not end those lives before their time

or it will warrant our deaths

~

Those who commit the worst of crimes

No matter how terrible

Will not be destroyed

Instead they will suffer

The worst of punishments

To be enacted by the Leader of the Council

~

Before the punishment is brought down upon the culprit

The Council must vote

Three Fourths must agree

For if they do not

A new leader must be chosen

~

This leader will be chosen

By the Great Tree

Those who wish to take the throne

Must travel there

to the North

Past Acerilex

Through the forest

Over the Mountains

And across the bridge

~

One cannot survive this trip

unless pure of heart

Others will be struck down ill

Take the trek only if you believe it

That you are pure

~

We were told to memorize this code and pages and pages more. The Codex itself is well over fifty pages and we were required to memorize around half of it.

When memorizing, I remember my brain hurting. My head throbbed due to overthinking.

We continued away from the Cavern.The speed we were going was surprising for Midas.He usually walked slowly. He must be considerably passionate about leaving otherwise he would not be walking as quickly as he is now. My breath is dwindling and is getting heavier. I can feel the exhaustion setting in. The combination of this fast-paced movement and the work I have been doing this entire day in preparation for the Gathering.

You can hear the putter of rain beginning to descend upon the ground. splash splash It begins to rain harder. My clothes cling tightly accentuating my good features. Midas moves even quicker when the rain begins, desperate for the safety of his dry house. Everyone seems to pick their pace up.

Midas is obviously tiring out. He has slowed, energy drained. His face looks sullen. Looking at him makes me think of his family that he is deserting at this moment. It sickens me. He is leaving behind his children who depend on him for survival and he is leaving them to fend for themselves without giving them any options. At least my family is grown, and they have enough to last them for over twenty years.

Hopefully I will be able to return by then. I do care about my family.I'm not an inconsiderate asshole, i actually put effort into caring for my family. Especially my grandmother. My grandmother is one of the kindest people in all of existence.

She is seventy-seven years old. Her birth name is Juniper, and we call her Mama June. Mama June has practically raised me.She is the one who was there for me every step of the way throughout my childhood, consistently.

A vivid memory of her that I will always have is her storytelling. She would sit us down and tell us a story as we went to bed at night about her adventures as a young child in this new world.

We would learn about the Amazon jungle, which by the time humans had gone extinct,had become a dry and desolate place. It used to flourish and was full of gorgeous trees and animals. It has since returned to its former glory.

My favorite stories of hers were "fairy tales" Not the princess falling in love with the prince ones, but the more interesting ones. She told us retellings, the Grimm fairy tales she called them. Alice in Wonderland was my favorite. They were morbid, but then again, so was I.

I remember once when she started out a story with "Once Upon A Time" and my groan was so loud that she never used that phrase again. A smile rose to my cheeks reminiscing on such good memories. Such positive impacts on my life.

Thinking back, I truly am doing this all for her, and her side of the family. You see, Mama June is not related to me by sap or by tree. But I love her just the same. Perhaps even more than some of my actual relatives. She was kind and important to me while growing up and I will cherish all of the memories we shared.

She had a saying. "Life is what we make of it. For those who dwell on the past, life is dreary and shallow. But for those who look to the future, they will be rewarded greatly."

It's slightly cliche, but it always changed my perspective on life, whenever she would say it to me. I'm very thankful for my grandmother. It's going to be extremely difficult to not say goodbye. Each step I take I am heading further and further away from her.

I shake the thought out of my mind, if I'm going to do this I cannot dwell on the past. I must move forward.

To a new beginning.