The forest of secrets( Short story)

My little sister. She is lost. 7 years ago I took her on a walk through the forest near our house. She disappeared when I wasn’t looking. It’s all my fault. I ran straight home that day. I was blamed for it. I never tried to look for her. I have always been scared I might disappear too. 

Until now. I’m standing at the edge of the forest. The trees towering over me. I take 3 deep breaths and begin my walk along the path. 

The last time I came here I could hear birds singing. Now it’s dead silence. 

I hear wolves howling in the distance. The sudden pounding of my heart against my chest became louder. My breaths quickened whilst my breathing became heavy as I struggled to walk without a bunch of overwhelming thoughts coming into my head. You can do this Lora. Get yourself together. It’s just a forest. 

I was so focused on getting my thoughts under control that I didn’t even notice when a gigantic tree blocked the path. My head came into contact with the middle of the trunk.

Everything became blurry and spinning in circles as I struggled to process everything around me. 

Everything went black. I don't know how long I was unconscious but When I woke up, there was an old women standing over me staring down at me. She was wearing a long black cloak. Her teeth were completely yellow. Strands of grey hair stuck out of the hood. 

“I have your sister.” She says.

I stand up and slowly back away.

“Ariel.” She says. My sister appears from behind her. Her eyes go wide when she sees me.

“Lora.” Her voice sounded croaked and strained. She had deep black circles under her eyes and she looked soaked with blood whilst her clothes were dirty old rags.

“Do you want your sister back?” Says the old woman.

I don’t answer. I just stare at her and then slowly start to back away again. If I make a run for it now. I might be able to get back to the house before she catches me. She’s really old and I’m 17. Surely I can outrun her right?

“You're probably wondering where she was all this time.” Says the old woman. “I was using her as my scarecrow to scare away all the birds who tried to eat my cabbages. It didn’t take much, you see." She gives me a cruel and wicked smile. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear what she had to say next. "I just threatened to whip her if she didn't do it and when she refused one time I whipped her until she could no longer stand and then from then on she did it standing there for 7 years straight with only food, water and toilet breaks. " Another wicked smile forms on her face but this time her eyes seemed distant and faraway. "It’s a miracle she has survived 7 years without sleep. Although I don’t really care as long as she is alive.”

I kept backing away. I need to get far enough where if I was to make a run for it. By the time the old woman gains enough speed to catch up to me I would be long gone. 

When I was far enough, I was just about to turn and run when the old woman suddenly shouted. “You can have your sister back but only if you get a family heirloom of yours. A locket that belongs to your mother who is my sister. You have got a minute to decide.”

She wasn’t lying about the family heirloom. My mum does have a locket that has been passed down in the family for generations. Although I’m not so sure about her being my Mum’s sister.

Should I do it?