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                “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree.”

                                Alfred Joyce Kilmer

                Til slammed the back of the SUV shut, throwing the bundle of bags over his broad, muscular shoulders.  He turned and headed passed the interim manager of the facility.  The manager watched Til walk by with a helpless and fearful gaze.  He glanced back around as Eliot and Irene walked passed him, both carrying bags as well.

                Fidgeting, he walked over to where Sarah was under the outside of the fence with Eliot, working on the cameras.  “<Are you sure about this? >” he asked.

                “<Absolutely, >” Sarah answered, a screwdriver in her mouth as she worked.  “<Your cameras, while practical for a logging site, are inadequate for our needs so we’re replacing… >”

                “<That’s not what I mean, >” he insisted.  “<I mean, are you sure you want to spend the night here?  There’s nowhere exactly for you to stay.  I mean, the office doesn’t have any real space to sleep and outside… >”

                Sarah looked down at him with an annoyed glance.  “<We’ll be fine. >”

                In the twilight world, the forest seemed to be singing.  Lisa walked amongst the lively branches, smiling joyfully.  She reached up, brushing her fingers along the leaves, marveling.  She turned around, about to call out playfully, when she saw the others.  Eliot walked cautiously down the path through the trees from her, his pistol held down, ready.  On the other side, through the trees, she could see Emma with a prepared gaze that swept from one side of the pathway to the next. Lisa bit down on her enthusiasm and kept walking.

                “How do things look?” Sarah asked at the foot of the forest, watching on her laptop.  She watched as Til stepped out from the trees on her screen, staring up at one of the cameras.  Sarah hit a button, switching views to watch him.

                “They’re good,” he reported into his headset, speaking to the group.  “The entire logging site is clear.”

                “Emma,” Sarah spoke into her headset.  “How are the magical guards you put up?”

                “They’re solid,” the girl reported.  “They’ll alert me as soon as someone even touches the fences.  If they pass over the barrier, then I’ll definitely know it.”

                “Good,” Sarah said.  She looked up from her laptop and back over her shoulder, staring at the trees.  “Alright team,” she announced into the headset.  “Fallback to base and let’s get settled in.”

                Emma turned around on her path, ready to follow it back when she froze.  She turned around suddenly, her trench coat flaring about her ankles.  Her eyes charged with power, but the path before her was empty.  She stayed still for a moment, listening, feeling.

                After a moment, she stood up straight, the energy draining from her.  She turned back down the way she had been heading, but paused one last time, to glance back down the path.  She considered the path for a moment longer, then kept walking.

                The tent was a large geometric oddity.  Bent at odd angles, the black fabric seemed to form a design that was rigid and forgiving at the same time.  A large opening that faced away from the forest was unzipped, showing the four sleeping bags centered around an electric lantern.

                Lying on the closest sleeping bag to the door, Lisa turned the page of a manual for her gun.  She picked up the pistol and held it up, studying the device for a moment, then she laid it back down on her chest, continuing to read.

                After a quiet moment, Eliot came shuffling in, carrying his backpack.  “Things look pretty quiet,” he said, flopping down on the sleeping bag opposite her.  “You’re taking the third shift, right?”

                “Yeah,” Lisa said, turning a page.  “I’m used to getting up early, so it seemed the way to go.”

                “Yeah,” Eliot said.  He was quiet for a moment, then he looked up again.  “So how’re you liking things here?  I mean, now that you’ve officially joined.”

                Lisa glanced away from him for a moment, thinking, then she put the book down on top of her and she shifted subtly to face him.  “Its weird.  I’ve never had a job like this, you know?  I still don’t even know how much I’m getting paid.”

                Eliot smiled.  “It’s not a lot.”

                Lisa smiled as well.  “I figured that.  But it’s more than I was making back at my old job.”

                “What were you?” he asked.

                She rolled contentedly back onto her back, picking up the manual.  “A vagrant.”

                Sarah knelt down just inside the forest border, placing a small black box on the ground.  The box immediately flashed with a red LED, then it turned off.  Sarah stood carefully and backed away slowly.  As she stepped out of the tree line, she saw Emma waiting. “I heard voices,” she reported.

                Sarah stopped.  “You heard voices?” she repeated.

                “I, I think so,” Emma said hesitantly.  “I can’t be sure.  But when I looked, no one was there.”

                “What did they say?” Sarah asked, walking passed her, towards the stack of black boxes not far from the tent.

                “Nothing, really,” Emma shuffled after her.  “Its not that they were saying…maybe voices isn’t the right word.  I heard…sounds with meanings.  I guess.  Maybe.”

                Sarah opened a box, but then looked up in frustration.  She turned back to Emma.  “On a scale of one to ten, how worried should I be?”

                “Three,” Emma said.

                “Three it is,” Sarah said, turning back to the box.

                Standing a ways from the tent, Irene looked up at the mountains.  Set against the full moon, the Alps shimmered like a dream in the near distance, the cold breeze off of them mixing with the warm air to create a biting rush of exhilaration that charged her memories.  She couldn’t help but smile with childish delight as the breeze swept over her.

                There was a voice.

                She turned towards the voice, still smiling.  She moved to speak in a friendly tone, only to find the forest behind her.  She looked around for the familiar source of the voice.  A confused look came over her and she half-laughed in confusion as she turned into the tree line and headed into the forest.

                On the far side of the tent, Til looked up.  He watched Irene step into the forest, a concerned look coming over his face.  He reached up, touching his earpiece.  “Irene,” he called.  There was no response.  “Irene,” he called again.  He stood, drawing out his pistol.  “Sarah,” he said quickly.  “Something’s happening to Irene.”

                Sarah turned from the edge of the forest, drawing her pistol.  “Emma!” she shouted.

                “What?!” Emma exclaimed, startled, standing next to her.

                “Follow me,” she said, rushing down the path before her.  “Eliot?” she asked.

                “We’re up,” he said, rushing out of the tent, his pistol ready.

But as he and Lisa emerged from the tent, Til went sprinting by.  “Follow me,” the tall German said.  Eliot and Lisa both fell in behind Til, running down the path Irene had disappeared into.  As they pursued her, Til glanced down the edge of the trees, counting only six paths.

                Irene stepped between two closely grown trees into a small grove.  In the circle space, clear of any vegetation, she could see up into the sky.  Over her, the stars twinkled magnificently, making her smile again.  “It’s so beautiful,” she whispered.

                “Irene!”  She looked around, unable to find the pair of trees she had stepped between.  She turned around and around, unable to find the slightest opening between the trees.  She stopped turning, the impenetrable wall of trees that surrounded her becoming clear.

                She drew out her pistol, holding the gun down.  “Help!” she screamed at the top of the lungs.  “I’m trapped.”  She cocked the gun, but the sound of metal was joined by a wooden groan.  She looked up at the trees, hearing the sound of wood bowing and groaning against effort.  “Oh god,” she whimpered.

                Til ran up to the thick collection of trees, staring as they faced inward.  The branches all bowed around the limbs, creating a living fence around a tiny space.  “Irene!” Til called.

                “I’m here,” she yelled.  “I can’t get out.  There are trees everywhere.”

                Til glanced around, then looked at Eliot and Lisa.  He considered Lisa for a moment, then looked up at the trees and the branches above his head.  He looked back at the young woman.  “How much do you weigh?” he asked.

                A high-pitched shriek startled Irene as she turned around, aiming her pistol.  But through the trees came sailing Lisa, screaming at the top of her lungs.  She crashed through the branches, arcing right at Irene.  Irene screamed as well just before the two girls collided, knocking down to the ground.

                As Irene fell, her pistol hit the ground, discharging randomly.  Outside the trees, Eliot jumped back, whipping his own gun about.  “Irene!” he called into his headset.  “Are you okay?”

                “Yeah,” she groaned as Lisa stood.  She picked up her gun.  “My gun discharged when I fell.”  She looked up at the sky through the trees, aching as she stood.  She popped her back, looking at Lisa.  “Let me guess. Til.”

                “How’d you know?” Lisa grumbled.  She rolled her shoulder in pain.  “I think I landed wrong.”

                “You did,” Irene joked, her smile masking fear.  “On me.”

                The two girls shared an uncomfortable laugh, then glanced about at the tiny circle of space they had.  Lisa hugged herself claustrophobically while Irene glanced up at the sky.  She studied the stars for a moment, then held up her hand.  She glanced at the edges of the narrow space, then dropped her hand as worry came over her.  “Oh no,” she whispered.

                Lisa turned to her.  “Oh no?” she asked.  “Oh no what?”

                “Yeah,” came Eliot’s voice over the headset.  “Don’t say ‘oh no’.  Til ran off.  Its just me out here now.”

                “Irene.  Lisa.  Report,” ordered Sarah over the earpiece.  “We’re on our way to intercept, Irene.  What’s happening?”

                Irene swallowed hard.  “The trees are closing in on us,” she breathed.

                Silence.

                Sarah stopped in mid-sentence and turned to Emma.  “The trees are what?” she asked.

                “The trees,” Irene answered.  “They’re closing in on Lisa and I.”

                “When did Lisa get in there?” Emma asked.

                Lisa snorted.  “When Til threw me.”

                “He did the right thing,” Sarah insisted with an unusual amount of concern.  “Two people in a trap are better than one.”

                Lisa rolled her eyes.  “Great.”

                “Stay calm,” Sarah insisted militaristically.  “Eliot, where are you?”

                “Outside the trap,” he said.

                “Stay there,” she ordered.  “Emma and I are on our way.  Where’s Til?”

                The supply shed door smashed in from the kick.  Til stormed into the room without bothering to turn on the lights.  He felt around until his hands landed on the handle of an industrial chain saw.  Without giving it a second glance, he hefted up the device and stormed out, rushing back into the forest.

                Sarah skidded to a halt.  She held her hands out in the narrow path, stopping Emma.  “Wait a second,” she observed.  She looked around in the small pathway.  “This isn’t right.”  She held her hand to her ear.  “Eliot, can you read me?”

                “Yeah,” he confirmed.  “You’re coming through with some static.”

                “You’re on road 3, right?”

                Eliot glanced around, for the first time realizing the lack of a road.  “What the hell?” he exclaimed.  He held his pistol up.  “I’m discharging.” He squeezed the trigger, firing a single shot into the clear air. But as soon as the explosion left his hands, the sound echoed off the trees as the bullet hit a tree branch.  “That wasn’t there!” he exclaimed.

                “Its okay,” Emma said calmly.  “We heard it.”

                “We’re going to cut across the forest to get to you,” Sarah insisted. She turned, ready to sprint through the trees. But as soon as she stepped off the path, she ran face-first into a branch.  She fell back into Emma, knocking both of them over.

                Both women shook off the painful fall to look up, only to see trees towering over them.  Sarah immediately held up her gun, firing off a fast round.  The bullet tore through the tree trunk, shattering the wood and splintering the tree along its path.

                Out from the depths of the forest, a deep anger rose.  The sounds of groaning lumber and twisting bark filled the night air.  Inside the circle of trees, Irene and Lisa stood back to back, just inches from the trees on either side.  “This is bad,” Irene insisted.

                “Yeah,” Lisa said.  She glanced around at the trees, pushing a bit to get some space until she glanced over her shoulder, passed Irene to the other trees.  She looked from one side to the other, then looped her arms under Irene’s.

                “What’re you doing?” Irene exclaimed.

                “Come on,” Lisa insisted, stepping against the bark in front of her with her left leg.  “It’s our only way out.”

                Irene watched her get a step, connecting the idea.  She pulled her arms close, pressing against Lisa’s back.  She kicked the bark with her right foot as well.  “Okay,” she said.  “You first, then me.”

                “Deal,” Lisa said.  She took a few breaths, then kicked off with her other foot, pressing against the trunk with both feet.  She and Irene struggled with the effort, but Irene pressed back.

Taking a few breaths to calm herself, Irene closed her eyes.  “On three,” she said.  Lisa braced herself.  “One. Two. Three!”  Irene kicked off with her other leg, the two women instantly forming a bridge against the trees.

“We did it!” Lisa exclaimed.

                “Come on,” Irene insisted pragmatically, scooting her right leg up just half an inch.  “We’ve got to go.”

                The smack of wood planted itself into Eliot’s face, knocking him against the branches.  His nose began to bleed as he was slammed against the wooden barrier.  He tried to gasp, but as he did, he felt a vine come around his neck. Drawn back, he felt vines slither along him, grabbing hold of his wrists and ankles.  He looked down as his body was slowly enwrapped by living plants.

                Then he heard the chain saw.

                Ripping through the wood, Til swept the chainsaw like a sickle, slicing indiscriminately through the branches and leaves of the trees.  Unbothered by the cracking and groaning sounds that echoed about him, he swept the saw like a sword, slicing through everything in his path.  Forming his own path, he cleared away until he reached the circle of trees, able to see the half-covered Eliot.

                Til let the chainsaw idle as he took out a thick bowie knife from behind his back and slashed it down across Eliot.  The vines splayed open, dropping him down to the ground.  Eliot gasped desperately, crawling away from the trees.  He coughed a few times as Til helped him to his feet.  “You okay?” he asked.

                “Yeah,” Eliot coughed.  He took a breath, then looked up at Til.  “You should have brought a hockey mask.”

                “In my other pants,” Til said without a smile, walking to the trees.

                “Come on,” Lisa said, pushing against the top of the trees.  She looked down, then around.  “Um, Irene?” she asked.  “How do we get down?”

                “We look for a branch or something to…” She looked at the treetop as they shook suddenly.  “What’s…”

                The tree she was pressed against suddenly caved outward.  Irene shrieked and kicked against the two trees next to it, watching as it fell.  She looked down between her legs with a horrified expression, only to watch as Eliot and Til rushed into the small clearing.  Barely wide enough for Til to stand, the two glanced around, lost.  “Where are they?” Eliot asked.

                “Irene?” Til asked into his headset.

                “We’re up here!” Lisa screamed.

                Til and Eliot looked up, then started as they registered the two girls.  “What’re they doing up…” Eliot asked.

                “Come on,” Til called up to them.  “We’ve got to get out of here.”

                Sarah rolled to the side, coming up with her pistol ready.  Next to her, a thick log of a branch was lying where she had been just a second ago.  She looked at the tree over her, the splintered stump of the fallen branch oozing sap.  “They’re killing themselves to get to us,” Emma said sympathetically.

                “We need to get out of here,” Sarah insisted.

                Emma glanced around, then nodded.  “Leave it to me,” she said.  She closed her eyes, breathing quietly.  Still for a moment, she bowed her head, her lips moving as if she were speaking. Around her, the air became charged.  Sarah felt a shift in the surrounding world and she backed away.

                Snapping her head up, Emma opened her eyes. Her gaze burned with fury as she held out her hand.  Each of her fingertips erupted in flame, causing a shot of fire to rip through the air and slam into a tree.  Instantly, Sarah heard a cacophony of wooden screams.  She heard the timber warp and twist as all the other trees backed away from the solitary flame that had caught.

                But as that flame burned the solitary tree, flames dropped from it.  Each flame landed, then sprouted legs, scampering forward down the straight line, catching fire, and sprouting new flames that ran further ahead, all the way down to the edge of the forest.

                The rest of the trees bowed away, swaying backwards from the flames as if leaning against the wind.  As they did, Emma grabbed Sarah’s hand.  “Come on!” she shouted, running ahead.  Into the flames, she ran, the intense heat greedily licking at both of them.  Both women drew their trench coats close as they ran, their heels kicking at the edges of the fires.

                With a last, desperate sprint, the two leapt through the edge of the forest, collapsing away from the flames and the trees.  As they did, they turned to see Til and the others rush out of the one remaining path into the woods.

                Emma dropped to the ground, panting desperately.  Sweat pooled from her head, chilling her against the cold mountain wind.  The others joined the two women, standing guard as the heat from the flames rushed angrily out at them.

                Finally, Til helped Sarah to her feet while Eliot and Irene gathered up the exhausted Emma.  The six turned from the forest and headed away.

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