"It's great to know you're doing well Sammy" Caroline replied. She began shuffling through papers on her desk. She read something, her eyes widened, and she glanced over at us almost shockingly. What was on the paper?

"Mrs. John - Helen" Caroline continues after correcting herself, "this description of your son doesn't seem to... match. You stated he looked very pale, wasn't very active or energetic, and most importantly.. you stated that he wasn't speaking and that he hasn't been speaking for a while."

"Well... I know what I said before, but he really wasn't talking at all. I mean I know he doesn't appear the way that I described but.." my mother stopped and looked over at her overjoyed son and turned red from embarrassment.

"I think I need to speak to Sammy privately" Caroline said, filling the awkward silence.

"Uh.. sure, yes" my mother muttered, nodding her head.

We, my mother and I, stood up and left the room. I actually felt a rush of relief as I left, leaving behind Sammy or whoever he was.

We sat outside the room on a cushioned bench. It felt like I was sitting outside the principal's office waiting for my punishment.

My mother sat down and stared into space, leaning her head against the wall. She seemed in a daze, she was there, but in a way it felt like she wasn't.

"Mom..have you ever wondered what's inside of the forest?" I asked. I knew it was a random, probably uncomfortable question, but I wondered if she believed. I wanted to know if she believed that the forest was an unknown hell to us. That the stories were real.

My mother stopped staring into space, came back into reality, and glanced over at me. "I don't believe any of that stuff" she answered, "You know, the forest being haunted. Why would they sell me a house next to a place that's haunted?"

"Maybe they wanted to make a sacrifice. Give the forest a target, a chew toy, it's like we're bait. That's most likely the reason you got the house so cheap.. no one else wanted to live there."

"Bait? You think we're being used as bait? Bait for what?" she asked.

"That's the problem... I don't know what, or how many of this what there is or what it wants to do with us?"

"Matt, I think you've been listening to too many stories. Everything is fine."

I stared at my mother shockingly and replied, "Look where we are. Everything is not fine. Clearly something has happened to Sammy that were clearly can not control or understand. We are the chew toy, we are getting bitten and thrown around and you think everything is fine?" Why was she pretending everything is okay?

"You are in denial" I continued, "absolute denial"

"Matt-"

"All I want to know is why mom? Why? What's wrong with you? Why ignore the obvious? Why the change? You knew something was wrong before"

"Listen!" she snapped, "Your brother is just going through a phase, his actions have nothing to do with that forest. Everything is fine and will continue to be. Do you understand?"

"Something is wrong with Sammy and it has something to do with that forest, whether you believe it or not." I said through my teeth.

"Is everything okay out here?" Caroline said, peeking her head through the door way.

"Yes, everything is fine" my mother repeated for the hundredth time even though it was still a lie. Obvious denial.

"You both can come back in now" Caroline said and gestured us through the door way back to our seats. Her expression seemed like a plea with her eyes, like she wanted us to come back inside and save her. I hadn't realized how long we were out there, almost an hour and a half.

"Well after speaking with Sammy I honestly don't see anything wrong. He seems like a healthy, normal young boy." Caroline stated in a voice that sounded scratchy and small. It sounded like she was forcing it out of her.

Sammy smiled from ear to ear because I knew thats what he wanted to hear. That he was a good actor

"I see no worry Helen. We talked about you and Matthew and how much he loved both of you. Oh, and he said that he didn't mean to scare you Helen when he... barked? he said that he was just joking around. He says he really loves dogs. You know kids.. they can be very silly." she said

As I listened to Caroline, I noticed how intensely Sammy was staring at her. It was like if she said anything wrong, he would attack her. She seemed to be ignoring it though. There was no way she could possibly believe that a child trying to bite his mother was silly. It was bizarre.

My mother looked at Caroline and nodded acceptingly. I cant believe she was falling for this, or maybe, she was choosing to.

"Thank you so much" my mother said smiling. I see everyone is a good actor.

"It was my pleasure" Caroline exclaimed. Although, it seemed like it wasn't a pleasure at all. "If you still have more interest in coming back you're more than welcome" she continues.

Coming back would give Sammy a chance for an encore of his performance. I knew my mother couldn't do that though, it cost her over a hundred dollars for this one session and she was still looking for a job. Money wasn't something we were known for having.

"Thanks again" my mother said, shaking Caroline's hand.

"Good bye Sammy" Caroline said, with a smile. This smile too seemed very forced. Of course my mother wouldn't notice because she's ignoring every sign of strangeness coming from anyone and anything. Something didn't feel right though. Was Caroline telling my mother what she wanted to hear.. or what Sammy wanted to hear? Or both?

As Caroline was about to close the door behind us, I felt something grab my arm and pull me into the room.

"Is it really true?" Caroline whispered to me

"Is what true? What's going -"

"Matthew! Hurry up!" I hear a distant voice yell from behind the door, my mother.

"that you live in the house next to the forest?"

"Yes, why -"

"You are not safe"

"Excuse me?"

"Don't play dumb, we all know about it. If those things are true about things traveling out of the forest..."

"What?"

"Something's wrong with your brother. Something has taken over him. That's the only explanation."

"But I thought you said you thought he was fine"

"You know as well as I do something is very, very wrong. Do you believe in people being able to become possessed?" she asks me. I begin to feel an uncomfortable chill. What does she know? What does she believe?

"You think my brother is possessed?"

"I believe an evil spirit has taken over him." she continues, "You cant come back"

"What?"

"Don't come back here, I don't want him after me too."

"Who?" I asked, but it was too late. She pushed me out the door and slammed it in my face.