Chapter 3: Where am I?

“Grandma, why do you always wear that necklace?” I asked.
Grandma has been wearing that crucifix necklace ever since I could remember. I had never seen her without it, whether indoors or outdoors. She’s been wearing it for a long time now.
“Uh, you mean this?” Grandma holds up her necklace. “Well, I do not know how to explain it. It just seems precious to me.”
“Oh, do you mean someone you adore gives you that necklace as a reminder of your past relationship with them? Did Grandpapa give you this when you and Grandpapa were younger?!” I blur out. “Or is it a family heirloom? Who was it from? Was it great-grandma? Or great-great-grandma? Or great-great-great”
Grandmama stopped me before I could finish. "Hey, hold your horses!” She said. “I didn’t get it from anyone; I bought it with my own money when I was in my 20s. I wore it because I liked it and for no other reason.”
I let out an “oh” and apologized before looking back at my chess board and deciding which piece I'd use next.
“Although, the longer you treasure it, the more valuable it can be.” She whispers, looking at her necklace.
For a short moment, she spoke. “Odette, be honest: Did you make wonderful memories last year?”
I got confused about her asking me that question. I paused for a moment before answering. “Uh, I don’t think so, Grandma.”
“I am very disappointed in you, Odette.” She snaps.
A wave of shock and confusion hit me at what she said. Did I disappoint her?
“Odette, tell me; what’s free that you can spend elsewhere?" She asked another question.
I hesitated before I answered nervously, “Uh...Money?”
“No, Odette,” she blankly said. “It’s time.”
As grandmother's curtains dangle from the wave of wind, a wave of wind blows through the window. The light brightens the silhouette as it crosses the room. Behind Grandmama, three picture frames were hanging on the walls.
The picture on the right shows a photo of the mother’s old family visiting Rome in Italy. Grandpa puts his arms around Grandmama while she’s waving at the camera, then their mom (maybe around six or seven) holds up a pace sign. They were all so cheerful.
In the center, a photograph of Grandmama and Mom was taken when Mom finished high school holding up her diploma. Both smile at the camera. However, I can tell their eyes are filled with deep sorrow.
The picture on the left was a framed Grandpapa with the following information written at the bottom: Name: Liam Rogers Date: 1962/09/24-2011/06/14.
"You'll get a juicy red apple in time. If you think you are planning to save it for later, the apple will become raw and lose its red color. This makes the apple a waste.” Said, Grandma.
“But of course, you could always buy another juicy apple. However, if you were planning to save it again, it would become raw later.” She continued. “Every day, you were given a red apple but you never get to eat it till eventually. You will never get offered the red juicy apple again."
I was speechless by what I heard. “Is she trying to say that I am wasting my time?” I looked down at my feet.
“Grandma, I know what you’re trying to say. It’s just that all my friends from last year have already gone to college. I was lonely for the past four months.” I said. “But now I’m moving to Germany to start my new life there.”
Gently, Grandma removes her necklace. “Oh, how I wish I could have done more with your mother.” She sighs. “Odette, if we ever see each other again, I want to see you satisfied with your new life.”
She hands over her necklace to me. “Grandma, I can’t have this. It’s precious to you!” I flatter.
"Nonsense, I value you more than anything else. Providing you with this is a gesture of your promise; a reminder that you are capable of anything you set your mind to." She replied.
It has golden chains with a diamond cross. I thank her and wear it around my neck.
She smiled. "Live your life with pride and challenge yourself to overcome the difficulties you’ll face. It is up to you to change your destiny.”
.
.
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I open my eyes, stunned by the memory I have. Cold sweat runs down my forehead as I catch my breath. It was a dream. Rubbing my eyes, I looked around my surroundings; it was already nighttime, wolves howling, owls hooting, and cold wind passing through me. Mixed feelings of fear and regret ran through my thoughts; knowing I had broken my promise.
Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
I stood up to my feet quickly almost trapping myself. I looked up my iPhone to check the time it was; 6:15 A.M. I slept over a day?! “Well Odette, you blew it!” I yelled. “You showed your parents you could take care of yourself!”
I slap my forehead as hard as I can. “Mom and Dad must be furious about where I am now! And when they find me, Mom will lecture me to death! She warned me not to leave, but did I listen? NO! Some “independent” woman I am! So here I am: alone, scared, hungry, cold, and..."
Before I could say anything, my chest began to arch in the most destructive pain I had ever experienced. I clenched my hand against my chest, moaning in despair before kneeling on one knee to catch my breath.
"In pain?” I gasp, rubbing hot sweat off my forehead. I’m too sore to walk. How did I get hurt this badly? I feel like I'm about to throw up. Once I look up again, my heart stops glancing at the glass staff lying on the dry grass. Memories flash through my eyes.
“That…thing shocks me” I whisper, moving away from the deadly staff. “It nearly killed me.”
I pull out my iPhone and dial Mom’s phone number, hoping she’ll answer. I’ll take my chances if she yells at me. I want to get back in the RV and lay on my bed. But the real question is why Mom and Dad didn't come to save me. Don’t they know that it is already morning?
I can hear a line from the other side of my iPhone. It's ringing. I clench my chest with my left hand while breathing slowly.
“Come on Mom,” I thought as I squeezed my stomach in pain. “Pick up!”
I inhale and exhale deeply as I wait for my Mom to answer trying to stay calm. It’s been 30 seconds. I lay my iPhone on the dry grass as I softly massage my stomach muscles.
For the past 52 seconds, it switched to a voice call. Moaning in annoyance, I sat upright, took my iPhone, and texted my Mom for help until I noticed missed calls and messages from Mom and Dad. They were sent at different times and dates. The most recent massage was for Mom on a Monday around 1:07 A.M.
“That’s strange,” I thought. “I slept over yesterday, today is Saturday, and how could it be Monday?"
I paused for a moment. “It can’t be Monday already…right?”
I swallowed a hard rock before checking my messages;
MOM: Odette, where are you? (Friday, 14 Jan, 8:14 P.M.).
MOM: It’s been half an hour! (Friday, 14 Jan, 8:14 P.M.).
MOM: Odette, are you OK? (Friday, 14 Jan, 10:01 A.M.).
MOM: If you’re OK, please call for help. We have been attacked! (Friday, 14 Jan, 10:02 A.M.).
MOM: Odette, call the police. Huge green men took me, Aiden, and your dad away. (Friday, 14 Jan, 10:02 A.M.).
MOM: Where are you now? (Saturday, 15 Jan, 11:31 A.M.).
MOM: Are you safe? (Saturday, 15 Jan, 11:31 A.M.).
MOM: Odette, if you’re still alive, please answer. (Sunday, 16 Jan, 9:44 P.M.).
MOM: My phone is almost dead, call the police. (Monday, 17 Jan, 1:06 A.M.).
MOM: Odette, please save us! (Monday, 17 Jan, 1:07 A.M).
My mouth dropped as I read through each message. I checked the text that Dad sent. However, it was the same as Mom.
Within a second, all thoughts filled my head; “I have been passed out for three days straight. Mom and Dad have been kidnapped by "green men”. Where are they now? Why didn’t they call the police? What happened to Aiden? Is he alright? Who are those green men? What does Mom mean by “Green men?” Where did they take them?”
My thoughts vanished when they were interrupted by a light female voice behind me. "Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?”
I froze on my spot. My heart started racing. I can feel my chest burning as cold sweat runs through my body.
I was not alone.
With a little courage, I waited for a moment then I spoke up. “Hello? Who’s there?”
“I’m here” the voice responds echoing through the darkness.
My heart skipped a beat as my whole body started shaking like a jellyfish. Oh my god, I’m about to get killed before applying to college! As I got up, I pulled up my iPhone and turned on Touchlight through the darkness around me. To detect where that voice was coming from, I fleshed my touch left and right.
Stuttering, I called out. “Hello? Where are you? Show you’re self!”
“Over here, Outsider.” The same voice said again giggling.
Fleshing my iPhone to see who was around me, however, there was nothing but trees. Frightened, I stumbled back, almost tripping on a brunch.
“Oh, for god’s sake!” I yelled, irritated. “If you’re not coming out, whoever you are, I'm going to call the police!”
“There are no police. Outsider.”
I froze in my tracks once I heard the voice from behind me. Despite her closed position, I can feel her breathing against my back. Even though I did not look at her, I could tell she was tall! I could feel her hand reaching out to me. Is this it? Is this how my life comes to an end?
Within a few seconds, I felt a firm tap on my left shoulder. I squeal and look back, holding up my flash iPhone only to see the same oak tree after I pulled out the glass staff earlier.
I exhale deeply, calming myself down in relief. With confidence, I called out once more. “Listen, stranger, if you’re one of the gangs who took my parents away, come on out! I’ll have you know; I have a black belt in karate and am not afraid to use my moves on you!”
I held up my fists as my feet were separated, posing in “Goju Ryu” stands. “But if you're scared, walk away!"
Without hesitation, the oak tree transforms into a young woman kneeling on her knees, looking at me face-to-face. “But I can’t walk away.”
…Eyes… wood…. Mouth, ears…hair, leaves, arms, brunches, hands, twigs, wood carvings, thighs, torso, trunk, oak tree, person, oak-person, tree person, talking tree, IT’S A TALKING TREE!
I let out a pitched scream higher than a banshee echoing through the darkness around me and the creature, scaring off some birds nearby.
I accidentally dropped my iPhone and sprinted out through the woods hearing the creature calling me to stop running. Running and jumping from rock to rock, from twig to twig, I cursed and kicked a raccoon when it passed me.
After endlessly screaming and running, I finally got to my RV in its place as before but found nobody was inside. I pat myself, catching my breath before entering the room. Everything was normal: TV was still in place, kitchen utensils were untouched, the sofas were not stolen, my stuff and everyone’s belongings were kept in place, the safe was slid, and everything is fine.
Tired, I lay back on the couch, rethinking what I saw back in the woods. I bit my lower lip, reimagining the talking tree I experienced repeatedly.
"She...talks to…me,” I mumbled. “It turns…into a woman and talks… to me.”
It was the first time I had ever been so wowed by something like this. There's nothing I have ever experienced, anything crazier than in my dreams.
In my dreams...That’s it, I’m dreaming!
It all makes sense now. I’m sleeping right now in my bunk bed. Of course! There’s no way anything of this is really like my whole family got kidnapped by a bunch of “green men” and a talking tree lady- like what?!
Well, now that’s out of the way, all I need to do is wake up from this crazy dream of mine!
I pinch my right hand as hard as I can until I let out an "Ouch," stopping the process.
Nothing happened.
“OK, that didn’t work," I thought to myself as I massaged my hand. “Maybe I am in a deep sleep. Let me try another way.”
I stood up and gave myself a tight slap across the face. It didn’t work. Irritated, I slapped myself hard again. Nothing happened. I slapped again. Nothing. Slapped again. Nothing.
SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, SLAP, AND SLAP!
Nothing.
My checks started to burn slowly, swelling in each muscle. I stood still as I breathed slowly, looking down at my pink hands and listening to the birds singing outside as an alarm for a morning day.
I’m not dreaming. This is not a dream. I did see a talking tree lady and my family- my family! They're missing They were kidnapped! Those messages were real! Oh my god, I need to call the police! But how? As a result of that monster, I left my smartphone in the woods. What should I do now?!
Without thinking, I dash into the driver’s seat and start the RV. I turn the RV around and drive into the forest. Maybe if I go to the nearest police station, I can explain everything to the officers. Hopefully, one of them speaks English, but if not, my German-please don't let me down!
As I am stepping on the accelerator, the driving becomes bumpy and I almost fall out of my seat. Thank goodness the road is clearer than it was before. It made my day much easier. But before I knew it, I saw a cliff ahead of me. When I put the brakes on, I'm shocked and luckily, the RV stops before I fall to my doom.
Shaken, I step out of the RV and look out at the unfamiliar landscape in front of me. The view consisted of massive wooden forests surrounded by icy mountains. As its forever-attached sword sliced through the core of those mountains- there was a magnificent massive sword embedded within its core.
“A CLIFF?!” I screamed, echoing the sounds of the abyss. My mouth was wide open as I scanned the landscape around me as for sure I had never seen this on a map- heck, there was no cliff on the map.
Suddenly, up in the far distance, were two huge- what looked to be scaley lizards with bat-like wings and a barbed tail, rushing up to the sky and battling one another. One was larger, and the other was slanderous. The two flying lizards fought and growled until the larger lizard spread its wings wide. It inhaled the air and then suddenly blew fire through the creature’s mouth, burning the slander lizard to a crisp. The flying creature flew off as I got down on my knees, eyes wide open in disbelief.
“What the bloody hell was that?! What kind of animal can breathe fire?" I cried. “What’s happening? How did I get here? Did I miss a turn? But it’s the one-way road I took to Arkena. Oh god, what should I do?"
I found myself wiping my tears as I began to cry. “Mom was right,” I sob. “I shouldn’t have listened to grandma’s advice, I should have listened to Dad and Aiden when they insist on turning back, we should have turned back, but now they are kidnapped, and I do not know where I am! Why am I so stupid? Mom, Dad, and Aiden are in danger, and it’s all my fault. I’m sorry, everyone. I’m so sorry.”
Then it hit me. My phone, I can call the police on my phone! That's it! However, I must trek through the woods to find that creature.
I swallowed a hard rock before getting up and heading toward my RV. Entering my motor home, I walk towards the kitchen area and open the wardrobe, only to find a Japanese-style kitchen knife.
“Since I am the reason why I got everyone into this mess, I’ll be the one who will get them back.”
.
.
.
After 20 minutes of tip-toeing through the woods, I finally reach the oak tree where I left my iPhone. I hide behind a tree and peek out one eye, searching for my iPhone where I left it.
“There it is!” I gasp as I spot my iPhone lying on the grass. My heart sank when I saw the deadly staff lying on top of it.
"Of course, it HAD to be near the staff that nearly killed me.” I rolled my eyes. “Lucky me.”
With a sense of trepidation, I tip-toed, knife in hand, towards my iPhone, praying the creature didn’t notice me. As I kneel on one knee, I gently remove the staff from my iPhone. Before I could reach it, I heard a noise behind me. Spooked, I looked behind to see a woodpecker perching on another oak tree.
Panic, I grab the nearest rock and throw it at the oak tree, scaring the bird away. I sigh deeply in relief, taking my iPhone off the ground. “Ah, you came.”
My heart stops a bit as I know where that voice comes from. I look up to see the same oak tree in human form, looking at me and smiling.
I scream and get up, walking a few steps back as I hold up my weapon, engaging in a fight. I felt a mixture of fear and calm as I stood still, facing the creature. I train to fraught crooks but a tree monster? That’s out of the ordinary!
"Listen up, tree monster!" I yelled. “I don’t know who or what you are, but I think you’re responsible for taking my family away!”
The creature looked at me confused. “What? I do not know what you’re talking about, Outsider.”
“Don’t act dumb! You were planning this the entire time, weren’t you?” I yelled back. “Firstly, you lured me with that glass stuff, thinking I'd die from electric shock. While I was black-out, you called those “green men” to kidnap my family, and now I’m next!”
I held my kitchen knife high. “Well, I’m not about to let that happen. You better tell me where you took my family or you’ll be sorry!”
For a moment, she spoke. “Are you willing to stop me with that knife? Have you not noticed I’m made of wood?”
I looked at her closely. She was right, she was made of wood. So stabbing her will have no effect.
"Well, then," I looked around for something to use until I saw the glass staff lying beside me. In a second, I grab it and point at her with it. “I’ll use this instead!”
“But are you still traumatized by that electrical shock?” She asked.
Shaken, I replied, "Y-yes, but only if I’m brave enough to shock you with it. If you don't tell me where my family is, you are done!"
OK, that was a lie. I mean how could anyone be cool and calm if they were nearly electrocuted to death? But I need to act strong so she doesn't see my weakness.
In a soft tone, she said. “Present them.”
I stared at her blankly. “What? She wants me to shock her? But would that kill her? Although I threatened her with a knife, I thought she meant to be scared; I don't want to kill her. And if I did, what would that help? I still don't know where my family is. Or she said that to get my reaction? What now?”
Keeping my mind clear, I focused on the situation; this is my family crying out loud! If anything, she knows where they are. She’s not telling me, thinking I’m not a threat to her- well, think again. It’s one way to lure me into a trap but kidnapping my whole family- that’s asking for trouble.
“It’ll sting her a bit,” I thought. “It will only take a second.”
With a bit of bravery, I dropped the knife, took a huge breath, and charged at her screaming dramatically. For only a few meters, I pieced her wooden torso at the edge of the yellow stone, electrocuting her.
Amazingly, she did not pull up a fight and stood still as she was electrocuted. As I was tasering her, I could help but feel sorry for her- she must have felt more pain than I could bear.
Seconds later, her torso began to burn as flames sparked around her chest. Stunned, I dropped the glass staff and stared nervously at her. How did she not blackout?
She smiled as tears ran down her face. “I knew it. You are fit for the job. Finally, now and forever, my country will have a bright future behind these walls.”
Confused, I turned around to get my phone but was stunned to see my phone was missing again.
“What the hell?” I screamed. “My phone was just there, how it disappeared!"
Before I could do anything, the tree lady told me to look up and pointed at a branch entangled with my iPhone. “Hey, that’s my phone. Give it back!”
“Only if you trust me, Outsider.” She said calmly. "Please believe me when I say this. I was not the one who set up your family’s captivity. Your family must encounter gangs of Ogres when you mention “green men” early. I felt deep sorrow for your loss, and I would have done anything to help if my roots had not grown underground.”
Ogres?
She shrinks the branch that tangled my iPhone, transforming it into a human arm, and hands over my iPhone. “Please, Outsider, accept this as a peace treaty between us.”
I felt moved by her words. She was so kind and gentle, and I began to like her. I slowly walked towards her, receiving my iPhone, deeply regretting tasering her.
“Thank you,” I said looking down at my phone.
“Miss, what did you mean by “I’m fit for the job” and what do you mean by “behind these walls"?" I inquired. “Are you talking about the Berlin Wall after World War II? The wall has already fallen; East Berlin and West Berlin were reunited long ago."
“I do not know what country is called “Berlin” or those walls, but my country is in severe distress, Outsider,” She said, confused.
I was immediately stunned by her words. "What do you mean by Berlin as a country?" I asked. “We are in Germany. How could you not know that Berlin is the capital city? We are in Berlin now!”
Honestly, I don’t care anymore. My parents are in trouble, and I’m sitting like a duck doing nothing. I have my matters.
I entered my password, dialing 112. “Listen, I’m calling the cops, so please don’t interrupt.”
I enter the number and wait for the call to answer. My calls are not answered until it responds. I tried again, but no luck. In an attempt to locate the nearest police station, I opened my Google Maps app.
“Only lazy people get to use those,” I mocked Mom’s quote. “Nothing beats the classics, she says!”
But then, my heart dropped. I could feel a cold wind blowing my skin as I stared at my iPhone incredulity. Upon my screen was written “Unknown Area” on Google Maps. Baffled, I looked at my Wi-Fi and there was no signal.
I stared at the tree lady, terrified. “Why do I suddenly have no Wi-Fi signal? And why can’t I call the police?”
She looked dazed but calm. “Outsider, I have tried to tell you this before; there is no police or Wi-Fi signal. You are no longer in Germany or Berlin.”
With those words, I could hear my heart beating through my ears as I stood still as a stone, repeating her words over my head. I recall all the memories I have encountered; the “Green men” mom texted, the staff that tased me, those two flying lizards, the cliff, the huge sword that pieced through the mountain, and the female tree I’m talking to right now. None of this makes sense!
I looked up blankly at the tree woman. “If I’m not in Germany…Where am I?”
With a smile, she responds. “You are in my home country, a land of no sin. Welcome to Arkena.”

Chapter end