Quiet

Flynn and Hayden were sat amongst the tall grass at the edge of the forest. Eyes closed as they felt the hair tickle across their faces in the gentle breeze. They had often spent their time as children sat quietly together. Being twins meant they could sit quietly together in a peaceful understanding. They hadn’t needed anyone else.

Flynn felt the back of his head cool as the sun set beyond the hill behind him. “Almost” he thought to himself. The crows gathered in numbers in the sky and the murder cawed back and forth to each other as they found their roosting places at the edge of the forest. They called back and forth to each other but each time less and further apart until… quiet. Flynn had kept his eyes closed the whole time feeling the movement of the world around him only by the touch of the grass as it swayed in the breeze and the sounds of the forest and meadow. 

Snap! A branch not too far away broke. “They’re testing me. She told me not to open my eyes.” Flynn whispered in his mind. A quiet inhale of air wisped past Flynns ear. “Nearly” he thought once more. 

Then silence. The wind had altogether stopped and a coldness drifted over the meadow and around Flynn and Hayden as a mist crept all around them. 

An inhale of air snapped Flynns eyes open like a command. 

“Finally” he whispered, eyes brimming with tears, he looked over at Hayden who held a small smile as he looked into the forest.

There floating among the trees was a small blue flame. A will of the wisp. They slowly got up to stand. The eerie blue light of the wisp flickered around in the cloudy mist shrouding the forest floor.

Flynn stepped forward and left the meadow, his feet crunched through twigs and leaves. Flynns eyes stayed locked onto the wisp but he could sense Hayden close behind him. He had spent the last year or so researching about them as a last resort and it had finally paid off, he wasn’t about to lose sight of it now. The wisp as if hearing his thoughts  made a quiet breath and extinguished into thin air.

“No!” Flynn shouted. His voice carried off into the still and misty forest. The forest floor now glowed as the full moon shone down between the gaps in the trees. Flynn turned and looked and turned and looked. “Please, please,PLEASE!” He begged as he spun around before crumpling down onto the floor. He gripped into the leaf litter and duff, caking his nails and fingers. Silent tears fell and hit the browning leaves on the floor and ran off into the dirt. He could hear his heart thumping in his head. He pushed his head into the damp ground and gritted his teeth. “So close!” He screamed internally. Hayden crouched beside him in comfort but remained quiet. 

Flynn laid there defeated with the mist circling around him. Quiet. Minutes past and the streaks of tears had now dried but left a trail down his face. 

A breath. Flynn sat up slowly and looked around. Hayden pointed towards the elevated plain of the forest. The will of the wisp. She was back. Flynn took a deep breath and stood up. He walked steadily with Hayden towards the wisp. He got just as close to the wisp as last time. The wisp let out a breath and vanished. Flynn froze. His eyes locked on the ground where the wisp had once been, the mist twirling in a tight circle. A breath broke the quiet and the will of the wisp ignited further away. Flynns eyes widened. “You’re showing me the way just like she said you would.”

Flynn looked up at Hayden, a now confident smile creeping across both their faces. They followed the wisp through the forest for well into the night.  

The will of the wisp waited at the crest of a hill in the forest just before a clearing. As they reached the top the will of the wisp floated slowly towards them and up until it collided with Hayden’s chest. The light spread across him and then faded. Hayden grabbed at his chest and looked up at Flynn, the confidence gone and a worried expression now held his face. 

“It’s okay” Flynn whispered “it’s okay” Hayden couldn’t ignore the shake in Flynns voice. This is what they had searched for and the wisp had led them there. Hayden looked down into the clearing. Flynn reached out to touch his brother on the shoulder but missed. His hand falling through the air. He clenched his fist and followed Hayden down the other side of the hill into the clearing.

The mist was clearing and there it was. Hayden dropped to his knees and his head dropped forwards as he clasped his hands around the back of his head. 

Flynn dropped too. He grabbed and picked up the body and wailed. “I found you! I finally found you!” He cradled the remains close to him. Pressing the skull against his wet cheek sobbing. He looked up at Hayden who met his gaze. 

“We found you Hayden. We finally found you!” 

He reached out towards his brother not letting go of his remains. Hayden reached out, their fingers passing through each other. 

“I know you have to go now” Flynn cried trying to steady his voice. He sniffed loudly. “It’s okay. I’ve got you now. I’ll bring you home safe I promise.” Hayden who still held Flynns gaze gave a small warm smile. He inhaled through his smile and faded into the clearing mist. 

Quiet. 

Hayden stood up with his brother cradled in his arms and looked towards the rising sun. “Let’s get you home.”