Chapter 3: The apple tree

I got the rest of the day off. Took a warm bath and some tea. He told me that I was brave. That I'm fitted for the job. But I'm worried. Are costumers even safe here? How am I supposed to keep them safe? Do I have to lie to them? I don't want to ask him. I need the job. I need to have a roof over my head. So I keep working.

It's morning. We had eggs for breakfast again. It's raining. I took my coffee with me. The ride to the bookstore was silent. Not really awkward. But the silence was loud. I bite my lip as I look out my window. "Why do we never have costumers? The bookstore is... nice" I say quietly. He doesn't talk. He keeps his eyes on the road. "...People don't read anymore. Sometimes they do come. But they never escape from the book. That's why you're perfectly qualified for the job." I look at my lap. "... Did you hired me to get the costumers out of the book once they're in?" I ask quietly, dreading the answer. "... I can't ask that much of you. Just be friendly and suggest books. That's it." Silence again. Soon, he pulls up the car in front of the bookstore.

No costumer again. I search for another book to read. I am a little scared, I can't lie. But I'm also intrigued. This time I'll choose a more innocent book, I want to be able to escape again. I take a sip of my warm latte as I search again. My eyes lock on a book. It's called 'The apple tree'. I think I've read that story before. But even if it's different, it can't be dangerous. I look at the back cover. No summary. I put the coffee cup on the table and I open the book. A white glow envelopes the book, I'm dizzy...

I woke up in a grass field. I slowly sit up. I hear birds and crickets. It's hot. The sun is enveloping the whole field. I like it. I see a beautiful purple flower... So beautiful. I touch it... And finally pick it. I take a sniff. It smells like the ocean. I instantly relax. I see a cabin. Curious, I walk towards it. I knock on the door. "Hello? Is anybody here?" I call out loudly. I press my ear to the wooden door. No movement from inside. I open the door gently, it was unlocked. The house looks lively, but there's no one there. I pass the kitchen with the table and the chairs. I open the fridge because I'm thirsty. The smell makes me want to vomit; rotten fruits and meat. I step back slowly, hands over my mouth and nose, trying not to gag. Something touch me from behind.

I turn around. It's a huge centipede. It's purple and has huge eyes that look straight into your soul. "... I wasn't expecting visitors" it says with a hoarse voice. I gulp. "... I'm not a visitor. I got lost." I lie. It smiles. "Really? Why do you open the fridge then? That's what you do when you get lost?" My heart beats fast "I... I thought no one was there." The centipede smiles. "Well, you were wrong. But since you're here... Will you get me an apple from the apple tree in the garden?" I gasp and nod. I leave the cabin. Reach the book and try to get back... I can't. It's just paper. I take a deep breath, tears in my eyes already as I run to the garden. I'll get the centipede it's apple and I'll leave. Simple.

I find the apple tree. It's huge. I can't possibly reach the apples... It's three times my size. I look around. Only grass. And my hands still ache from the other day. Still bandaged. I run back in the house. The centipede is not there. I walk past the kitchen to the bedroom... No bed. No windows. Only blankets on the floor and a small wooden closet. I open it... An axe. Without thinking, I grab it and walk back to the garden. I can't run, it's heavy. With all my power I grab the axe, and start cutting down the apple tree. It falls down, making a loud sound. I gasp as it almost crashed me. I step onto the leaves and branches carefully. I chose the shiniest apple. As I pluck it off, the tree screams. The branch which I took the apple from, bleeds. And then the apple turns to dust on my hand. I do it again and again, being desperate. I cry as the tree screams with each pluck. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I need an apple... Just one." I cut a whole branch... It decays too. I take a deep breath. I see a water bottle next to me. It wasn't there before... I grab it and I cut a new branch, the tree screaming again. I immediately putting it inside... The apple was green, but it becomes red. I smile.

I run along with the bottle to the front door. The centipede is already there. I give it the bottle. Before it could speak I rush back to the book. White glow, dizziness...

I appear back at the bookstore covered in the tree's blood. My wrist has a golden bracelet. It's not mine. I only wear silver. I inspect it. It has a centipede curved on it. My father comes from the basement. "Oh, dear... You're a mess. Was everything okay? Why are you bloody?" he asks, inspecting me. He looks worried, truly. "... I'm okay. But I need a bath." He smiles. "Of course... You can go home. This is for the taxi" he says as he gives me a 20 dollar bill. "... But that's more. Are you sure--" He nods. "Yes. You look tired. Get something for yourself." I nod, and walk outside, grabbing my bag. I call a taxi and go home.

I go to my room and open a shoebox I have shoved under my small bed. Inside I have the siren's ring. I take off the golden bracelet and place it inside. I shoved it back under the bed. As I go to the bathroom and take my bath, I close my eyes. I still hear the screams. Feel the warm blood. I didn't sleep that night.