Into The Woods(Chapter 5)

By Walker McKnight

Chapter 5

Maldavo

“Get up, peeps,” screamed their alarm clock. The twins startled awake and stumbled to get dressed. They grabbed their backpacks and walked to the pond. They splashed the cold water from the pond on their face. Then they were refreshed. They ran to school and sat down in the front of the classroom.

At school they started their unit on the other world. This was their favorite class because they got to learn about the wonders of the real world. They especially loved learning about the dark forest, because everyone else was so afraid of it! They always learned something new about the dark forest every class. This class, they learned about a specific demon named Maldavo. Mr. Sim started the lesson by saying, “Maldavo is a very dangerous demon who is incredibly self centered. Maldavo kidnaps and enslaves anyone who gets anywhere near his cave.” 

Lía started doubting their plan, she was thinking, “what if Maldavo finds us,” but one look at her sister and she had her confidence back. Maldavo wasn’t going to find them, they were going to be very careful. 

After school, Lía and Aríana were talking about how interesting the lesson was, when Lía told Aríana about her brief worries, but just as Lía had expected, Aríana reassured her that Maldavo would not get them, and they would be super careful. They went to dinner at the Big, Old, Burrito Barn, this time locking the door firmly behind them. 

When they came home, they saw something very peculíar, there were scratches on the door! They were signs of a struggle! Someone was trying to get into their house, and they suspected it was the same person who stole their notebook. They decided they had to ask Maddi where she had found their notebook.

They walked to Maddi’s house and knocked on her door. Maddi answered and quickly invited them in!

 “Maddi, we need to ask you some questions,” Lía said, sounding like a television reporter. Maddi looked confused, so they filled her in.

“We need to know where you found the notebook,” said Aríana.

Maddi realized what they were talking about and quickly filled them in. She told them about how she had found the notebook on the edge of the forbidden forest, and how when she had approached the notebook, something had run away through the trees. 

When the twins knew everything they needed to know, they went home. They were still processing that a monster of some sorts was trying to find out their plans. Maddi had filled them in that the monster looked almost like a human, except it had big horns and cracked teeth that were the most crooked teeth she had ever seen. 

They both went to bed feeling a little doubt start to form in their head about their adventure.