The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Anya felt her throat tighten, her mind reeling. Her grandmother? The woman who had raised her with such quiet grace, the woman who had lived in silence, carrying the weight of secrets Anya had never known? Could she have been the key to everything that happened here?
“Tell me more,” Anya whispered, her voice trembling. “What did she do?”
The old man shook his head. “I can’t tell you everything. Some things… are better left buried.”
But Anya wouldn’t—couldn’t—leave it at that. Not now, not after all the years of silence. “Please,” she urged. “I have to know. If she was part of this… if she was responsible… I need to understand why.”
The old man sighed, the sound filled with a lifetime of regret. “The past isn’t as simple as you think, child. Your grandmother was many things, but she wasn’t a villain. She did what she did because she believed it was the only way to protect us. But in the end, no one could be saved. Not truly.”
The room seemed to shrink around Anya as the old man’s revelation sank in. Her grandmother—a woman she had admired and loved—was intricately tied to the village’s dark past. Questions swirled in her mind, each one more urgent than the last. Why had her grandmother never spoken of this? What exactly had she done to both protect and destroy the village?
Anya took a deep breath, steadying herself. “If she wasn’t a villain, then what was her role? What did she protect us from?”
The old man looked away again, his eyes glazing over as if he were peering into a distant memory. “There was something hidden in the forest, something ancient and powerful. Your grandmother discovered it—something that could change everything. But with great power comes great danger. Some wanted to exploit it, to bend it to their will. She made a pact to keep it safe, to ensure it didn’t fall into the wrong hands.”
Anya felt a chill run down her spine. “What was it? What was hidden?”
The old man sighed, the weight of his memories pressing heavily on him. “Legends speak of a source of immense energy, something that could heal or destroy. It was a gift from the earth, but it demanded a price. To protect it, your grandmother and a few others took an oath. They hid it, concealed its existence even from themselves. But secrets have a way of surfacing, especially when fear and desperation take hold.”
Anya’s mind raced. Her grandmother had always been a figure of strength and mystery, but this added a layer she had never imagined. “What happened because of this pact?”
“Fear and mistrust,” the old man replied softly. “As rumours spread and tensions rose, fractures appeared within the community. Friends turned against friends, and alliances formed and shattered overnight. In the end, it wasn’t the outsiders who destroyed the village, but the very people who were meant to protect it.”
Anya leaned back, absorbing the gravity of his words. “Is there still something left in the forest? Something that needs to be protected?”
The old man nodded slowly. “A few of us remember. We guard the secret, but we’re dwindling. Time is not on our side. If the truth ever comes out, it could either save us or lead to our ultimate downfall.”
Anya felt a surge of determination. “I need to see it for myself. I need to understand what my grandmother was protecting and why she made the choices she did.”
The old man studied her for a long moment as if weighing her resolve. Finally, he spoke. “If you truly seek the truth, then you must journey into the forest. But be warned—what you find there will change you. The forest holds not just memories, but the very essence of what was lost.”
Anya nodded, her resolve hardening. “I’m ready.”
The old man stood, his movements slow and deliberate. “Very well. Follow me.”
He led her out of the dilapidated house and down a narrow path that wound through the overgrown village. The air grew cooler as they approached the edge of the forest, the trees standing tall and silent, their leaves whispering secrets to the wind. Anya felt a sense of both fear and anticipation, the unknown stretching out before her.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the light dimmed, and filtered through the dense canopy above. The sounds of the village faded, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. They walked in silence for a time, the old man guiding her with a steady hand.
Finally, they reached a clearing where the remnants of an ancient structure lay hidden beneath layers of vines and earth. It was a stone altar, weathered by time but still imposing in its presence. Symbols and markings covered its surface, intricate and enigmatic, hinting at a civilization long forgotten.
The old man knelt before the altar, running his fingers over the carvings. “This is where it all began. The source was here, hidden beneath the earth, waiting to be discovered. Your grandmother knew that revealing it would bring both salvation and destruction.”
Anya stepped closer, her eyes tracing the patterns. “How do we find it?”
He looked up, meeting her gaze with a mixture of hope and sorrow. “There are clues within the markings. They guide those who seek with pure intentions. But beware, for the forest tests those who enter its depths. It will reveal your deepest fears and desires.”
Taking a deep breath, Anya felt a connection to her grandmother that transcended time. “I understand. I have to do this.”
The old man nodded, a faint smile breaking through his stern demeanour. “Then let us begin.”
Together, they began to decipher the symbols, each one unlocking a piece of the puzzle. As they worked, Anya felt a strange energy in the air, a palpable force that seemed to resonate with her very being. It was as if the forest itself was acknowledging her presence, accepting her quest.
Hours passed as they meticulously followed the clues, leading them deeper into the heart of the forest. The path grew more challenging, the terrain rugged and unforgiving. Anya’s muscles ached, but she pressed on, driven by the need to uncover the truth.
Finally, they arrived at a hidden entrance, concealed behind a curtain of ivy. The old man hesitated for a moment before pushing aside the foliage, revealing a narrow passage that descended into darkness. A sense of finality settled over them.
“This is it,” he said quietly. “Beyond this point, there is no turning back.”
Anya took a deep breath, her hand reaching for the lantern he had brought. “I’m ready.”
With a nod, the old man lit the lantern, casting a warm glow that illuminated the entrance. They stepped into the passage, the air growing cooler and the light dimmer with each step. The walls were adorned with the same intricate symbols, guiding them further into the unknown.
As they walked, Anya couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, the forest alive with unseen eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and excitement propelling her forward. The passage seemed to stretch endlessly, the silence only broken by the distant drip of water and the soft footsteps of their journey.
Eventually, they reached a vast underground chamber, the air thick with moisture and the scent of earth. In the centre stood a pedestal, upon which rested a crystalline structure that pulsed with an ethereal light. It was the source—an embodiment of the ancient power her grandmother had sought to protect.( To be continued)
RAJAT CHANDRA SARMAH
Guwahati , Assam , India
12/09/2024
Mail ID : rajatchandrasarmah@gmail.co
musingofrajat.wordpress.com 