Later in the day.
After a stressful day at the market. Alice came home all stressed out and tired. She dropped her things. Went straight to check on the animals as she always does.Then she heard a voice that called her name, Alice turned to see who it was, But only for her to find Rebecca walking towards her."Hi Good evening Alice, how was work today at the market?"Alice was not used to talking about her day with other people, if not her husband. All she did was smile at Rebecca."Sorry I guess I am disturbing you too much." Rebecca said, with a sad tone."Ohh no Rebecca you are not. Actually I do not talk to many people around here. Other than my husband.""I see. And why is that? When you look free to chat with. I mostly prefer you to others I have approached around here."Alice smiles. "Really? I never knew. Well I will be making dinner soon. Will you like to join me if you do not mind?""Sure, I do not mind. I will join you, so what are you making for dinner?"They both continued talking as they went inside to prepare dinner. Alice was happy to finally have someone to talk to, which is not her husband."Alice, I heard the queen will be giving birth very soon. And the king is adding up the knights to protect the kingdom for the queen's delivery." Rebecca said as she was cutting the vegetable.Once again Alice was reminded of her problem. Alice did not let it get to her as she forcefully answered Rebecca."Well I guess the king really love's our queen so much." She smiled. 'And I wish I was in her place.' She said in a low tone.They continued chatting when Thomas walked in, and was surprised to find his wife chatting and laughing with another woman. And also preparing dinner with her. But Alice and Rebecca did not notice because they were busy chatting as they were cooking.Not until Alice turned to find her husband standing and staring at her in shock. Alice smiled and went to hug Thomas."You are back. How was work?" She asks, hugging Thomas. And collecting the things he was holding to keep."Work was fine." Thomas speaks in a confusion.Rebecca turned her gaze towards Thomas and gave him a welcoming smile."Honey, meet Rebecca. She just moved into our neighborhood.Rebecca meet Thomas, my husband."Rebecca was standing with a smile on her face. As she looks at the couples before her, while Alice was making the introduction."Ohh I see. Well miss or Mrs?"Mrs." Rebecca answered."You are welcome to our neighborhood Mrs Rebecca, nice to have you around." He said, returning his gaze to Alice."Thank you Mr Thomas. Am glad to be here and have such kind hearted people as my neighbor. She said."Well honey, go freshen up, we are almost done with the food.""Okay my darling." He said going to the room to freshen up.Few minutes later they were done cooking and setting the table.They all sat together eating, chatting and laughing."Well I must be on my way now it is getting late, I am really grateful I met the two of you ." Rebecca said, getting up from her seat."Thank you so much for coming, Rebecca." Alice said with a smile on her face."Anytime Alice, I will see you tomorrow."Rebecca left the house, Alice got up and picked the dishes from the table. Thomas was happy seeing his wife smiling."I see someone is happy." Thomas was smiling and walking towards his wife and hugged her from the back."Ohh common Thomas, I am just glad I met someone different, nothing more.""Ohh really? Well that is good."Alright allow me to finish cleaning the dishes, I will join you in the room okay." Alice said."Okay then I will be waiting." Thomas replied.Thomas went inside and Alice continued with the cleaning.After some few weeks of meeting Rebecca. The two became so close that they did almost everything together. Thomas was happy to see the changes in his sad and isolated wife. And she is now becoming free and open to society.Alice became so free with Rebecca that she confided in her about her search for a child for the past seven years of marriage.Rebecca on the other hand sympathized with her, telling her not to worry much. That there is always a solution to every problem.Hearing this Alice became curiousIn finding out what Rebecca meant by that.One day Alice and Rebecca went to the market together. Alice placed her fruit on a fruit counter. Customers were yet to come as the day was still early.Sooner than later people started coming into the market, the market became very busy, on the other side you can find people pricing things and others buying.beside Alice counter was a jewelryshop. Some buyers were also there. And on the other side was a fabric shop, the trader has a beauti
Alice went back home that day with the thought of what Rebecca had said playing in her mind repeatedly.After dinner Alice sat looking at her husband wondering if he would leave her for a younger woman because of a child.Thomas noticed his wife's mood and decided to ask her."Darling what is the matter? is anything wrong? Why do you look so moody dear."Alice had a faint smile on her face."Am fine honey. Hmm, can you ask me a question?" She asked moving close to him, placing her head on his chest."Go ahead darling." Thomas said, patting her hair."Hmmm." She breathed in. "Thomas dear, will you ever leave me if I do not give you a child?" She asks with sadness written all over her face.Thomas was surprised to hear this coming from his wife. if he was going to leave her It would have been a long time ago not now. He felt like his wife was letting her emotions doubt his love for her."Alice dear, why would you have such a thing on your mind? You know I will never do that, I will alway
"Honey what are you doing? Come sit I will break the wood myself, okay? you know you are sick you should not be stressing yourself. And that is why you have me." Thomas said, collecting the ax from his wife, dropping it on the wood and taking her inside.Alice smiled as they got inside the house she turned to him and warped her arms around his waist."You are such a sweet man, and I am lucky to have you honey." she said as she placed a gentle kiss on his lips.Thomas kissed her back then broke the kiss, "I know and that is why you need to rest while I break the woods and prepare breakfast for you to eat." He said smiling as he placed his hand around her waist, his other hand stroking her hair gently.Thomas could not help but admire the beauty of his wife. Yes she was younger than him, still the feelings he had for her will never change, he stared at her from her beautiful curly brown hair to her set of hazel eyes and small plumping pink lips. indeed his wife was really beautiful. Thom
Alice saw things around them started changing including the weather. Alice became scared."Rebecca, what is going on? why is everything changing?." She said holding Rebecca arm tightly looking around the forest.Rebecca turned to look at the scared Alice, and gave her a simple smile. "Alice, dear , welcome to edin the forest of exchange.""What?! Edin? Why do you call the forest edin and why is it so strange here?.""I guess you do not know the mystery behind the forest, well I will tell you a little story while we make our journey to Hut.""Hut? what hut are you talking about?.""Alice dear you ask too many questions and I must warn you no matter anything keep your mind straight and try to focus on why we are here." "Okay." Alice cluelessly answered."Do you know why the forest is called edin the forest of exchange and everything in here is different from the outside view?""No I do not.""Then I will tell you. You see, long ago the forest used to be peaceful and a lot of people coul
Rebecca realized that Alice was now scared of her so she brought the smile back on her face "Sorry for acting that way.""It is fine." Alice said, trying to hide her fear. "So what made the forest this way? What happened here? Why is the forest so scary? People do not even come in here anymore because it has become forbidden to be here."Alice said this time with caution as she looked at Rebecca's face to see if Rebecca would react the way she did earlier, but she just answered her plainly."Hmmm like I said earlier, the forest was peaceful and it made a lot of people's wishes come true. All of their desires were fulfilled. Not until the war between Halon and Zeyan. a lot of blood was spilled, changing the entire existence of this place and at the same time making the forest blood thirsty. Collecting humans as an exchange of what it gives.""How? why? So what am I going to make as an exchange then if it requires humans for an exchange? I have no one to give.""Clam down Alice, your cas
"Alice, how did you escape from Thomas? I know you guys are meant to be in the market together by now.""Ohh that? I had to fake a sickness and he was insisting on taking care of me then I remembered I was going to deliver some bananas to Mrs Afrend so I had no choice but to send him there.""Hmm what a bad wife." Rebecca said with a smile on her face."Yeah. I know, right?They both laughed out loud."Finally. Here we are." Rebecca said as they stood before the hut."Yeah fi...nal...ly.." Alice said, looking at the hut strangely."It is strange huh?" Rebecca asked, as if she was reading Alice's mind."Yeah it is. So we came all the way for this?""Ohhh dear Alice like I said, do not let what you see deceive you." Rebecca said, patting Alice's hair.Rebecca opens the door to the hut so Alice can go in, but Alice refuses."What? You want me to go into this old looking house? No Way Rebecca I can not.""Then let us go in together if that is what you want.""Yes, let us go in together."A
Alice continued to admire the place as they made their way to the mansion. She wished her husband was with her to see the beauty of the forest. But her husband Thomas will be the last person to enter the forest and she can never make a mistake of letting him know about her visit to the forest. It is better to save her marriage, because she could not lose Thomas for anything. While walking Alice felt tired and decided to tell Rebecca how tired she was. That she started feeling her heart beating fast. She needed to rest."Rebecca, I am so tired we have been walking for a while now I need to rest please." She said hoping Rebecca will agree to it."Alright then take a rest I will look around if I can find something for us to eat I guess you must be hungry too." Rebecca replied, looking at the tired Alice. "Alice, are you sure you are fine? Your face looks pale.""Yes Rebecca I am. I just need to rest, I think the herbs I took so I can look sick are getting back at me, I will be fine. And
She whispered to Rebecca's ear's "why are we taking this way?" But before Rebecca could answer, lushly did."Because it is the shortest way to the mansion, Alice." Lushly answered not turning back as she kept walking.Alice was surprised as she mentioned her name."How did you…how did you know my name?"Lushly turned to them, making Rebecca and Alice that was behind her to stop on their tracks. Because nothing is hidden in the heart of Edin. Here we are." She said pointing at the mansion before them.Alice raised her head up to look at the big and high building in front of her. Alice whined her eyes in shock as she looked at the building."Am I dreaming? This is so amazing it is even more beautiful than the royal palace." She said, scanning the building."Yes it is. and I told you so." Rebecca answered.Lushly cut in. "I will leave you here as my assistant will take you to meet the Goddess. She said moving her gesture towards a young lady that approached them."This is Ari, she will ta