My son's first birthday

My son, Rudhvin Lakshan, is a gift from God that I asked for three years ago. He was my reward for having waited. He was born for me and is celebrating his first birthday today.

He requires all of your blessings and prayers to continue living happily in this world for another hundred years.

Bless my child.

I remember how happy I was when he was in my womb. I will never forget the first time he saw and touched me after he was born.

Only his laughter and happiness will bring me joy in the years to come.

Man has created thousands of pleasures in this world, but nothing beats a child's smile.

Happy birthday, my dear.

 I will meet all of you again in ten days.

Thanks for your encouragement.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 39

Within a minute, I noticed an elephant walking toward us. My thoughts wandered to how many more animals there were in this forest, but she drew me back and dashed toward the elephant.

I was iinitially scared to see her run towards the elephant, but then I realized she is familiar with all of the animals in the forest. I laughed at her childish behavior because she is my forest fairy. I assumed she understood how animals communicate.

She turned and motioned for me to approach her. I walked slowly, amazed by the elephant.

"My friend, Daniel." She spoke cheerfully.

I was determined not to share my fear with her. "I don't have as many friends as you." I couldn't tell where or which animal would appear next in that dense forest. I looked around and smiled at her.

I believe she recognized my fear by the way I looked and smiled. So she reached the point where I had started. "I remind you that there is no one in this forest except us." She looked at me as she softly kissed the elephant.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 38

I need to ask her one question. I smiled, trying to be realistic.

She looked at what I was saying and asked, "What is it?" She inquired innocently.

"I can't say, but I'd like to tell you one thing." I looked at her directly and could tell she was interested in what I was about to say.

"You are so beautiful." It was difficult for me to conceal my love from her.

When I said that, she was stunned and looked at me. I abruptly grabbed her hands and stared into her eyes.I never imagined seeing an angel in my life, but now she is standing before me." She's mine. I realized I couldn't leave her alone in the forest.

I approached her to close the small gap between us, but she said nothing else. Her expression indicated that she liked me. So I bravely touched her cheeks and looked at her lips, anticipating a kiss.

When I heard the elephant's sound, my legs pushed me back in terror. My gaze wandered in search of an elephant.

She bowed her head and smiled warmly.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 37

I was told in my mind that the bear appears to be fine when compared to her. "I mean, what I wanted to say was that I came here looking for someone." My words stumbled as I thought about being with her.

I must tell her that I cannot leave the forest without her, but I am not in the mood to do so right now because I came here for another reason.

I had completely forgotten why I had come here and about Mr Michael's family. I wondered if I could ask her for help, but she was about to send me out of the forest.

When she heard what I said, she turned to me. “There is no one here.” She finished and turned her gaze away from my side.

“How do you speak this language fluently?” I kept inquiring about her, forgetting what to ask.

“My mother just taught.” She replied casually.

“Are you here with your mother?” surprised. “I would like to meet your mother.” I persisted her.

For a few seconds we had only silence. She broke the silence after thinking serenely. “You haven’t told me anything about you yet and Why would you like to visit my mother?” She stood quietly and stared at me in amazement.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 36

She smiled because she understood everything. "Let it go, but leave this forest immediately."

If you want to join me, I'm ready to leave the forest right now. "Do you want to live in this forest?" I complained inwardly.

"What?" she asked.

"You keep talking." I averted my gaze from her.

I will leave you near your car because "this forest is extremely dangerous." She waited for me while standing.

However, I began to ask her something to stop her when I realized she would not abandon me in this situation. "How long have you been here?" I asked in a deep, icy, and odd tone.

"Since my earliest years." She began to walk as she spoke, which saddened me.

I took two steps forward before grabbing her wrist and stopping her. "Would you please stop walking?" I took a deep breath to relax myself. "I can't go today, and I'm not going alone." My voice was filled with enthusiasm.

"What does it mean to be unable to travel alone?" "Will you accompany the bear, tiger, and lion?" She inquired curiously.

"The Bear?" I asked shockingly. "Why did you remember that?" When I think of the bear, I get terrified.

"You were prepared to fight the bear!" So, why do you feel afraid when you hear the name? She said mockingly, without looking into my eyes, and continued to walk.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 35

I felt a cold, intense pain in my forehead. However, I opened my eyes to see her lovely face.

I forced myself to sit up and started admiring the beautiful forest fairy as a natural wonder. She saved my life, which I appreciated.

"May I ask for your name?" Until then, I had no reason to know anything about her.

"Mercy." She responded with a suave tone.

"That name suits you." I smiled and spoke while looking into her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" Her eyes narrowed, but they were stunning. "Many people have come to this forest hoping to explore and discover new things, but no one has seen me yet." She paused for a moment."I had to get into a situation to save you, so you are the only person who has seen me." When she finished speaking, she looked up to see how I felt.

"Whatever the situation?" I asked abruptly and without thinking about it.

"You'd be stuck with that bear if I hadn't rescued you." She spoke confidently, and her bravery was admirable.

"No, I was ready to fight the bear even if you didn't save." It is harder for me to maintain my dignity than the bear attack. 

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 34

"Your forehead is bleeding. What happened?" she inquired, placing her hand on my forehead. Something made me forget my pain. She touched me, and I felt a strong sense of comfort.

"I am fine." I smiled and lied, closing my eyes automatically.

I could sense everything around me, but dizziness prevented me from opening my eyes.

She lifted me off the ground and secured me to her back with a tree root. She grabbed an aerial root and jumped onto another aerial. I open my eyes as she grabs it and jumps; at that point, I'm flying alongside her.

I was terrified of the distance between us and the ground. I closed my eyes again, unsure whether she could bear my weight.

My mind wondered how beautiful she was. It appeared that I had come to this forest solely to see this fairy.

She finally got me down to the riverbank. The river was frozen, but she found some water on the riverbank, carried it in a leaf, and forced me to drink. I'd considered asking her for water, but she understood and quenched my thirst.

 

SMILE NEVER FAILS

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 33

As the bear was jumping on me, someone jumped down from the tree in front of me. I was stunned because I hadn't expected it. She looked like the forest's princess, dressed in animal skins.

She gave me a quick glance before returning her attention to the bear. I was surprised and shocked to see how quietly the bear left when the girl noticed him.

While watching this scene, I forgot I was hurt and pressed my hand against the sore spot. After seeing the bear, she approached me and knelt. She looked even more stunning in person.

"Who are you?" She asked softly.

I was surprised by how well she spoke English. The girl living with the animals in the forest spoke human language, which astounded me.

I took control of my thoughts and started talking to her. "My name's Kevin." I wrinkled my face in pain.

The pain was so intense that I found it difficult to open my eyes. Despite this, I tried to open my eyes and look at her beautiful face again. I noticed some kindness in her stunning crystal brown eyes.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 32

I didn't have time to stand and think, so I began running, but the bear wouldn't let me go and chased me frantically. Even though I turned around to see if the bear was pursuing me, my legs kept running after I realized they were no longer strong enough.

I was running away from the bear in fear, so I didn't notice the tree in front of me. The incident occurred so quickly that I couldn't stop my legs from running. I was looking straight ahead when I hit a tree and fell, severely injuring my forehead.

My forehead bled profusely, and I felt as if that location was circling me. I pressed my palm against my forehead, but the blood still flowed.

I thought it was time to get up and run, but I couldn't move. I am pretty sure no one will save me from the bear in this dense forest, so I will have to try.

My throat was so dry that I couldn't speak. Even if I scream, no one is likely to come to my aid in the forest. I'm certain I was the bear's lunch today. The way it looked made me even more scared.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 31

For a brief moment, I experienced deathly silence, so I lifted my head to look for the bear, but it was nowhere to be found. Should I be relieved that the bear is no longer visible, or should I be concerned about where it is?

Suddenly, the bear jumped down from the tree and began smashing the left window glass of my car. Panicked, I jumped back.

When I saw the bear shatter my car's window glass, fear tightened my chest and made breathing difficult. In a short while, the bear will smash the car's windshield.I need to find an escape route, but I have no idea what to do. I've never seen a wild animal outside the cage so close.

Suddenly I had an idea: if the bear enters the door on the left, I'll have no choice but to open the right door to save myself. I need to wait for the bear to break the glass.

The glass began to crash gradually. The bear shook the car so violently that my body collided with the right door. My hands searched for something to hold.

As expected, the glass broke and the bear tried to pass through it. Without hesitation, I opened the appropriate door and leapt out.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 30

After seeing the location once, I walked back to my car. I wasn't sure if I could locate Mr. Michael's family or not. My mind was questioning the courage with which I had come here.

What will happen if he cheats on me? What's the point of cheating like that? What does he want from me? Why was he behaving like this? So many questions were running through my mind.

Suddenly, a bear rushed to attack me. There isn't time to figure out where it came from or how it got there. There was no way to drive over it, so I had to get in the car, even though I knew it was useless. I quickly opened the door and entered.

It was frantically running towards my car, circling and searching for me. I was frozen in fear of not knowing what to do, and I chastised myself for showing up alone. I'm unable to drive or even get down.

I sat down and bowed my head, knowing it would not leave my car. Its hungry expression frightened me. I was staring at the bear in terror, and it sounded like horror.

 

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 29

I refused to answer her questions and opened the door to go outside. Mom followed me and waited for my car to pass through the gate.

I'm still not sure why I'm doing all of this, and I've left my friends for him. I've never done anything without them, but I've influenced many events that would otherwise occur. I don't have answers to their questions yet, but I will return from the dark forest with all done.

My mind told me to go see where I met Mr. Michael on the first day, but he didn't appear.

When I realized it was pointless to wait for him, I sped away into the dark forest.

I drove my car through the forest, not thinking about anything. I drove as quickly as I could because I needed to get inside before my mind changed, and when I couldn't, I pulled over.

I slowly got out of the car and looked around. I couldn't see the sky through the large, dense forest, but the snow-covered trees were breathtaking.

Curious to know

I am very happy to share something with all of you. Although there is a gap of seven years between my first novel “Saffron - The Blood Swan” and the second Young adult  Paranormal story “Dark Forest Fairy Mercy”, within a few weeks I realized that the welcome from all of you had not diminished. 

I see that all of you are reading “Dark Forest Fairy Mercy”, I am currently writing in my blog. This story is being read from many countries.

Mainly from

United States, United Kingdom, India, Canada, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Russia, France, United Region, Argentina, Turkey, Netherlands, Poland, Luxembourg, Australia and many other. I'm sorry if I missed to mention some countries.

I don't know who you all are. For two weeks, many people have been sending me messages  via email, Good reads, instagram and other reading sites.

Seeing it, I was curious to know who are all reading my creation “Dark Forest Fairy Mercy.”

This is definitely not for advertising but only for my interest to know about everyone. If you are interested, let me know who you are by commenting below Or by email.

I hope you will always encourage me like this.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy 1st chapter

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy

Prologue

Create the situation for yourself, but don't let it get to you. We cannot change God's creation, but we can improve our own in order to live better lives. That is, God causes birth and death, while we cause happiness and suffering. We must confront the fate that pursues us at breakneck speed.

 

Christmas Gift

It was a time when cold symptoms were more severe, but who doesn't enjoy winter? On cold days, I want to pull the blanket and sleep, but Mom took out my blanket, which annoyed me. "Please, Mom, I can't wake up right now." I groaned and shivered as I realized the importance of the blanket.Today was a good day, so I was looking forward to tomorrow, and the clock's needle was approaching ten o'clock. The cold had deafened my ears, and I was already tired of assisting my brothers in decorating our home for Christmas.

The prospect of attending the Christmas party, rather than the joy of seeing my friends a week later, compelled me to get up.

My brothers are having a fantastic Christmas celebration, wandering through the moonlight with their friends, but I can't because I'm only five years old.

Mom Karen told Kevin, "We're going to the hospital." "We can't leave you alone at home.Get up. "Get ready." Mom finished and quickly exited to turn off the lights in the other rooms.

When I stumbled and came out, my father Williams was looking for something. I stood quietly.

Dad found the car key he was looking for and rushed to pick it up. "Let's leave," said Dad. He walked toward the car, and Mom followed him. I could tell something was wrong, but I didn't know what to do, so I left quickly.

The engine snarled, and the car shook once before continuing, Dad began driving the car faster, which made me nervous. Decorations enhanced the beauty of every home, and glowing lights swallowed the darkness.My gaze was drawn to the snowfall, but I was thinking about something else.

We arrived at the hospital in an hour, and it was slightly crowded. When Dad gestured, we both exited the car and went inside. He then proceeded to park his vehicle. Uncle Michael, my father's friend, was standing outside a room, visibly tense.

"How is Olivia?" Mom asked Uncle Michael. Her voice was tense.

"In the delivery room," he answered quietly.

Dad arrived. "It will be fine." He tapped Uncle Michael's shoulder.After two hours, I heard a woman screaming in one of the rooms. It took me a few seconds to realize the screaming woman was Aunt Olivia. I ran to my mother in fear, and she cuddled me.

My chest ached from fear, and my hands trembled; I'd never heard such a howling noise. I gripped my mother's shoulder tightly, afraid to leave her arms.

A few moments later, the door opened, and a nurse emerged with a beautiful baby in her arms. Everyone ran towards the baby, but I was the only one who looked at it from a distance.Your wife is fine; she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this Christmas. The nurse responded cheerfully.

Everyone was impressed by the child's beauty. I approached slowly and took my mother's hand. I was hesitant to touch the baby because she was still a newborn.

Uncle Michael seemed pleased as soon as he saw the baby. Within a few minutes, the nurse and baby had moved to a different room. I shook my mother's hand gently. She immediately turned to me, raised her eyebrows, and asked what it was."When do we go home?" I inquired with a thin voice.

"Let us go home after visiting Aunt Olivia." Mom says:

When my mother mentioned Aunt Olivia's name, I remembered her screams. Mom, Dad, and Uncle Michael were standing quietly, and I'm not sure what to do. I was concerned about being unable to attend the Christmas celebrations.

The same nurse appeared a little later. "Now you can go inside to see your wife." She finished and left.

Uncle Michael opened the door and walked in quickly, so we followed him. Aunt Olivia was lying on the bed, the beautiful baby in the cradle to her left.The child was wrapped in a white towel, and I was struck by her beauty. When Mom took my hand and led me to the nearest cradle, I tilted my head to see what the baby saw.

Her eyes were stunning, her lips were petite, and her nose was slightly red. I wanted to touch that child's cheek, but I was afraid Mom would scold. While Mom and Dad inquired about Aunt Olivia's health, I attempted to touch the baby with one finger. My heart rate rose, and my hands trembled as if I had just held a newborn.

Finally, I touched the baby's chin with one finger, which felt very soft."Well, I'll be back tomorrow morning, and if you need anything in between, please call me." Dad said, tapping Uncle Michael's shoulder.

Hearing these words from my father made me sad because the time had come for us to leave the child. I stared at the child for a few seconds before kissing her forehead once and raising my head.

When I lifted my head, she grabbed the chain that I was wearing around my neck.

"I believe she likes your chain. Mom spoke as she grabbed my shoulder.

Everyone agreed with Mom and nodded.Suddenly, I took the chain around my neck and handed it to Aunt Olivia, which no one expected of me.

"We were just kidding, dear." Aunt Olivia muttered tiredly.

"Dad gave it to me for my birthday last year, and it contains photos of my father and mother," I explained".

"This is my Christmas gift to the baby." I handed Uncle Michael the chain and smiled."This chain will always be hers." He sat on his knees, about my height, and spoke cheerfully. "One more thing: if you want to see her, please let me know and I will bring you. I promise. Uncle grabbed my hands and spoke softly.

We all returned home, but I was exhausted. Mom and Dad have been talking about this for a long time. I had intended to accompany them to the hospital the following day to see the lovely baby, but I wasn't sure I could get up that early.

I was too tired to open my eyes, so I laid down on my cot.

17 years later, November snowfall.

"Who are you to stop me?" I exclaimed angrily.

"Stop shouting, Kevin. Is this the way to talk to Dad?" My mother, Karen, intervened angrily.

Mom adores me and will always defend me, but what I said about my father was too much for her.

"Let it be, Karen. I will not mistake him, and I will not hand over my detective office until he achieves the outcome I expect". Dad finished vividly and went downstairs for breakfast.

"We've heard this enough. When is this argument going to stop? Joe, my older brother (Charlie's son, Dad's brother), asked sourly.

"I'm heading out now. See you later. I told him, turned around, opened the door in front of me, and quickly left.

I haven't mentioned my family up to this point. Dad Williams has been operating a detective office for the past thirty-two years, and my mother, Karen, has been taking care of us and occasionally assisting Dad for the past thirty years.

My second brother, Mike, is a cop, and my first brother, Alan, is a doctor, but I wanted to take over my father's detective agency.

Joe is my favorite brother and he has six fingers in his left hand, brown eyes, grey hair. He recently completed his psychology practice and is now a psychiatrist. He's my favorite among the three brothers.

He's never left me in a dangerous situation. I'll tell him everything that happens in my life, and he's never held back from sharing his.

I tried to focus my attention on the road, but it was difficult to keep my thoughts under control. How will I achieve my father's goal? I'm not sure what his expectations are, and he's never mentioned them before today. My parents are completely aware of my desires and goals.

My friends Jake, Amy, Hannah, and Rob are also sources of interest for me. I accelerated and drove faster to see my friends.

I arrived to find my friends waiting for me. We all planned to go to the movie, and I hoped it would distract me from the stress of being unable to reach my father's detective office.

“Hello, Kevin. You are late." Jake tapped my shoulder from behind.

"I know that," I replied.

"You should not behave like this." Jake spoke, raised his eyebrows, and waited for my response.

"Is this the same fight you've always had with your father?" Amy inquired, noticing the concern on my face.

"Yes, but his rresponse remains unchanged." I grumbled, disgusted.

"Leave it." Have you noticed this? Hannah interrupted with a mocking smile.

"What?" I turned my head to see what was going on around me.

"Christie's waiting for you." Hannah whispered in my ear.

"Hey accept her love, Kevin." Rob spoke for her. "She is like an angel." I know he likes her very much. "Many girls have expressed their love for you, and some have even cursed you. Many girls are mad at you, but you still haven't found your angel." He finished with disgust.

"Well, let it be. Have you got any plans? Amy, tomorrow is Sunday." What are we going to do?" I distracted them.

"No. "Not yet." She smiled bleakly.

Christie took a step towards us. "She's coming.  "She approached us." Rob grumbled as he gazed at her.

"Rob, no." I shake my head.

"Hey,"  When Christie spoke softly, I turned back to face her directly.

"Hello," I said, smiling softly.

"I need to remind you." She said, looking into my eyes.

"What do you need to remind me of?" I asked abruptly.

"I'm waiting for you." She blushed.

"Why are you waiting for me?" "You do not have to." I replied quickly.

"You might have said this after careful consideration." She demanded again.

I said, "I know what I am saying..."

"Maybe one day you'll understand, my love. Until then, I will wait for you. Bye." She smiled serenely.

"You will never experience such a day in your lifetime. Don't waste time. Goodbye. See you later. I tried to wrap up.

"Kevin, this is unfair." Hannah despised the response I gave Christie.

"What he did was excellent." Rob encouraged.

"Which is positive?" Hannah inquired angrily.

"Only then will I be able to tell Christie about my love." Rob responded, returning his gaze to Christie.

"Don't expect her to love you if you do this." Hannah groaned.

"I hope she loves me," Rob insisted.

"We'll see that too." Hannah did not end the fight.

"Always, you fight for something like this." Amy spoke in a bored tone.

I am at a loss for words as I watch them fight. After a while, I began saying, "You two, listen to me first." I do not think taunting her is an option. "I assumed this would be clear."

Everyone looked at me silently. "I've never felt this way about her before, and I don't anymore." I shake my head. "She shouldn't waste her life worrying about this, and you two are fighting for no apparent reason." I was finally able to persuade them.

"Guys, stop. The film is going to begin.” Eventually, Jake broke the silence.We all went inside to watch the movie once he finished speaking. I was already stressed about not getting Dad's detective office, so I came here to unwind, but this isn't our first fight.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy 2nd chapter

A middle-aged stranger.

After watching the movie, I dropped my friends off at their house and drove home. I've been thinking about my father's detective office since I was 12, and I'd do anything to get it, but I'm still unsure what to do.

Even though I was thinking about it, my focus on driving the car remained intact, but I became panicked and pulled over when a 45-year-old man crossed the road, thinking about something.

At that speed, I slowed the car, jerked forward, and dashed back into my seat. If I had hit him, he would not have lived. I quickly opened the door and approached him, angry.

"What do you do?" If I had even considered stopping the car, you would have died." I yelled at him angrily, but he looked at me with concern before turning his gaze to the snow-covered trees.

"Hello!" I waved my hand in front of his eyes. Look at me. I'm asking you. "You're deaf?" My rage and tension were expressed through words.

He spun around, startled. "Have you talked to me?" He raised his eyebrows and asked in a doubtful way, which startled me.

"Obviously, yes. What is causing me to talk to myself so much?" His behavior irritated me.

"I can't believe this." He smiled with surprise.

"It is beyond belief." He was surprised again.

"What?" I was now confused and disgusted.

"You're not understanding it. Anyway, my name is Michael." He spoke in a cheerful tone.

"Kevin." I extended my hand toward him.

"How is it possible?" I could hear him muttering to himself.

"What's possible?" I asked impatiently.

"You don't understand my situation, and I'm unable to explain." He muttered again.

"Yes. I don't understand anything, and I'm not sure why I'm talking to you." I responded in confusion, and I didn't want to leave him there.

"I don't know how to express how happy I am. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kevin." he responded.

With so much joy, he forgot to shake my hand. I smiled. "Where're you going?" I'll drop you." Before hearing his response, I opened the door and waited for him because standing in the snow was difficult. When he got in the car, I shut the door. "Why are you doing this to me?" When I took my seat, Mr. Michael asked suspiciously.

"I saw you somewhere before, but I don't remember when or where." I struggled with confusion.

"Nobody's seen me here in 17 years." Mr. Michael responded abruptly.

"I don't understand any of your responses, but I'm certain. I have seen you." I kept thinking about him.

He smiled but said nothing.

"So, where would you like to go now?" I finally asked before starting the engine.

"After a long time, I am going to see my family." He replied clearly.

"Where are they now?" Suddenly, I'm not sure where the desire to learn more about his family originated.

"In the dark forest." He responded without showing emotion on his face.

"Dark Forest?" I was shocked. "When did you leave them there?" I felt a sense of tension. When I asked, he looked at me.

"17 years ago," he explained patiently.

"What?" I inquired with suspicion, but nothing was understandable. Will anyone leave their family for 17 years? "How would they have lived without you?" I stacked up my questions.

These were the questions I asked, but I had many more in mind.

"I was in serious trouble and could not find them. Only a week ago, I found out where they are staying." Mr. Michael spoke sadly.

"Are you going to see them at some point? I believe that Christmas will be a memorable time for you and your family. Have you got any gifts for them? I don't know why, but Mr. Michael's family is very important to me. Something drew my attention. How can I express my desire to accompany Mr. Michael and visit his family? if he thinks I was wrong. Maybe it was my detective tendencies.

I took a moment to unwind before repeating, "I was wondering if you had bought any gifts." I reminded him of the presents that might help him relax.

"I forgot about the gifts, and now I don't have money." After saying that, he was deep in thought.

"I'm willing to help you in any way I can, so don't worry." My mind was telling me that only I could help him, so I said this completely.

"Could you do it?" Mr. Michael asked.

I could see joy on his face and a little tension in his speech.

"Hm..." I gave a firm nod.

"Okay, stop the car right here." He spoke suddenly.

When I heard what he said, I came to a stop, and he asked me to open the car door because his hands were injured. He got out of the car and announced that he had some work.

"Come tomorrow morning to the same location where we met; I will be waiting for you." He spoke softly.

I couldn't take my eyes off him. I stared at him in silence, forgetting to respond.

"Okay, now go." A few seconds later, he told me to leave.

I relaxed before starting the engine and driving away. His behavior and actions were beyond comprehension, and I couldn't stop thinking about him throughout the night.

The next morning, I woke up before my mother. I disliked the cold and didn't want to sleep. I did not say anything to Mom or my brother Joe.

I went to see Mr. Michael and forgot about my plans to go out with my friends.

Something told me to respect his words, so I drove quickly, hoping to see him again. I've been fascinated by detective novels since my early teens and aspired to work in the field. Maybe it made me want to know more about him.

He had been there before me. "You have arrived early." I smiled.

He smiled calmly. When I opened the door, he entered the car without speaking. I took him to the store to buy gifts for his family. He asked me to buy clothes for his daughter, but he didn't realize how much she had grown. He remained in the car because he said he was sick. Unsure what to do, I went to the store and bought a few dresses.

"I'll return your money soon." He replied gratefully.

"It does not matter." I responded casually.

"Can I ask you something?" Mr. Michael asked impatiently.

"What?" I turned my head, glanced at him briefly, and returned my attention to the road.

"Are you in love?" There was some tension in his voice.

I smiled and continued. "I've never seen my favorite girl so far."

When he heard my words, his face lit up with joy. I didn't understand the significance of the happiness on his face. We went quiet for a while.

Will you wed my daughter? Calmly but confidently, he asked.

But he surprised me by asking me to marry his daughter. How could he have asked without knowing anything about me? Everything was new to me.

I paused for a moment, then started talking. "You kidding me?" You will finally meet your daughter after a long wait, but you have no prior knowledge of her. "How are you proposing to me? I got it done fast.

He continued to stare at the road, uncertain of what to say to me, and we were silent for a while. I didn't expect him to be hurt when I asked him the questions I was thinking about.

I broke the silence to distract him. "So, when are we going to the Dark Forest?" I inquired curiously.

"What? Are you coming with me? He inquired, amazed.

"Yes, of course." When you return to your family after a protracted absence, I'd like to see how they respond." Getting to know his family was more important to me than getting to know him. Entering a forest can be an thrilling  experience.

When I thought of my mother, I was startled. Yes, I did make that promise to Mr. Michael without considering her. She would never consent to such a daring journey. I kept thinking about my mother, unsure of what to do.

He abruptly interrupted, "Maybe if you're coming with me tomorrow, you should come alone." He spoke in a commanding tone.

"What is the reason?" "Why should I keep this from others?" I inquired, perplexed.

"Because I don't and can't trust anyone," he explained bitterly, shifting his gaze.

Hearing what he said made me believe he was suffering from something. I could understand the severity of his anxiety, and I couldn't ask him any further questions than driving in silence.

I dropped him off at the same spot and returned tired.

Another surprise awaited me in my room. I returned home in a state of confusion, and my friends were waiting for me. When I saw them, I didn't know what to do. I rubbed my hand against my forehead, as if something was stuck.

Finally, I opened my mouth and said, "Hi." I smiled at the thought of calming them down, but when they looked at me, I saw they were angry.

"What's the problem?" Amy asked gravely.

"Uh, hmm. Nothing." I shook my head but did not meet them face-to-face.

"Talk to me." Jake tapped me.

"What are you asking him, Amy?" "He does not remember us." Rob shouted.

"Why don't you call us and don't respond when we do?" Hannah inquired angrily.

I was astonished since I was unsure of how to respond to them. In any case, I can't lie to them, and they won't let me go until I tell the truth.

"Kevin, we want the truth. This is something you have never done before." Rob talked as though he knew what I was thinking.

After exchanging silent glances for a short while, I slowly lay down on my bed. I contemplated whether or not to be honest with them.

I had to tell the truth after giving it some thought. I started telling them about my encounter with Mr. Michael. Since I started saying it, they have not replied.

I looked up to see what their expression was, but they were just thinking quietly.

"This isn't good, Kevin." Hannah spoke aloud.

"You never knew who he was, and how did you help him so much? I'm so perplexed." Jake stumbled.

"You're going to run the detective agency in the future. Don't you realize it's foolish to enter the Dark Forest without trusting someone? Amy reminded me of my ambitions.

"His father was correct, of course; he refused to give him the detective office." Jake spewed out his words in rage.

I waited quietly for their rage to subside.They are afraid that something bad will happen to me, but I am afraid that they will tell my mother.

"Do not go into that forest." Hannah replied sternly. "We are still talking, but you are simply watching quietly." Her rage was intensifying. "Rob, say something." She turned to look at him.

"Who am I to stop him?" Rob expressed disgust.

I started speaking because the situation was too serious to remain silent. "I promised to help him, but I am going to break my word to my friends." I expressed regret.

I knew they would not let me live with guilt, so I waited for their response. They were at a loss for words until Rob spoke. "So, you can do whatever you want, but not without us." He demanded.

I can't deny Rob's statement, and it reminds me of Mr. Michael's advice to keep quiet. What can I do? My thoughts were torn between Mr. Michael and my friends. In the end, my friends won, and I agreed to accompany them into the Dark Forest.

"Okay. "Get ready for tomorrow." I spoke half-heartedly.

Everyone agreed to leave.

I awoke early and got ready. When I opened the window, the morning cold breeze touched my face, and the falling snow confirmed that the month of December would begin in two days.

I shut the window door and slowly descended with my bag. I was increasingly concerned about what he would think of me, but I went with my friends to the location where I met Mr. Michael.

Everyone was thrilled to meet him. He usually arrives ahead of me, but he did not show up today. It embarrassed me.

Since it was 8 a.m. and the snow was so deep, we were unable to exit the vehicle. It's been an hour, and Mr. Michael is still not here. Waiting for someone irritated my friends, but I was worried that he was in danger.

Despite the snow, I got out of my car and waited for him.

"He's not coming." I was distracted from Mr. Michael by Amy's voice.

"He will arrive." I turned my face away and spoke sternly.

"What happened to you, Kevin?" Climbing down, Jake yelled and slammed the car door shut.

"Nothing." I gave a shrug.

"If so, get in the car; we need to leave this place," Jake said aloud again.

I was standing there, seemingly ignoring what he said, when I realized my actions would infuriate my friends.

"What's between you two?" Rob inquired.

"Nothing." I shrugged again.

"You are struggling like a fish lying outside the water," Amy explained.

"Okay, relax. We'll look for him." Hannah tried to console me.

"How long have we been waiting here? We have no idea who he is or where to find him." Jake couldn't help but speak up.

"Don't say anything to calm him down because we can't find Mr. Michael," Rob explained.

Rob honestly told the truth because I know they can't find Mr. Michael unless they know who he is and where he came from.

"Let us leave now." Hannah persisted.

I realized she was correct, because I didn't want to bother my friends. Mr. Michael didn't mince words, but he warned me not to tell anyone; perhaps he didn't come because I told my friends. I am not sure who is at fault. Without saying anything, I entered the car.

Jake started the engine. I would never forget his appearance, voice, or problem. He was an innocent man, and I promised to transport him to his family.

I needed to spend the day with my friends.

Then I reluctantly drove home. When I got out of the car and opened the back door to get my bag, I noticed the gifts that Mr. Michael had bought for his family.

I was very frustrated, so I went upstairs without speaking to anyone in my family. Even though I was tired, I couldn't sleep and stayed awake until the night was over. I lay awake in bed all night.

 

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy page 28

Journey into the Dark Forest.

I got up this morning determined to pay a visit to Mr. Michael's family today. After preparing, I went down to begin my journey through the dark forest. I considered telling Mom, but if I told her I was going to the dark forest, she would not let me leave. I stood there wondering what to do.

"Kevin," I gasped as I heard Mom's voice.

I turned to look at her. Her face showed signs of concern. It must be concerning that I haven't spoken to her properly in two days. I was confused, so I couldn't spend any more time with her.

I smiled quietly as she looked at me, expecting me to say the truth. "Mom, I'll be back soon." I said this without looking her in the eye.

"Look at me, Kevin." Mom said in a low tone.

“Mom, I don't know what Dad's expectation is, but somehow I have to fulfill his intention.” I took a deep breath and proceeded. “I will prove to him that I am the only person capable of taking his detective office. "Please trust me." I begged.

When she saw me, her eyes wondered where I was going. "Mom, please don't ask me anything right now." I responded before she opened her mouth.

Dark Forest Fairy Mercy - D.Aswini