The scream was too loud. Alicia and Allister both went down hurriedly but found the living room empty when she saw the front door wide open. She went out saw Kyle lying on the ground. Will soon followed behind. Seeng such a state he panicked and held the terrified omega in his arms.
"Don't worry... Don't worry... Tell me what happened? "
Kyle looked at him terrified and pointed towards a something. Everyone's eyes went towards it. He stuttered "Th-th-th... That tree!" Alicia's eyebrows cringed and her eyes went towards the tree.
It was a magnolia tree full of blooms. The tree slowly moved along with it's blooms like a dancer dancing on a slow song. Throwing it's petals everywhere. But the problem was that the tree was moving in a silent forest.
Alicia suddenly pulled out her gun and then ordered "Get inside right now. "
She pointed it towards the tree and then repeated "Hurry up and get inside.... Now. "
The second order pulled them back from reverie. Everyone hurriedly entered the house. Alicia slowly entered as well and closed the door behind.
"Yes yes we're inside so calm down first and then say what happened to that tree? " Will asked.
She then turned to Kyle and asked "Why did you open the door?"
"I heard a noise outside and went to see what happened bu-but.....th-that tree..... It ate up someone.... "
"Did you smell any kind of stench there? "
"Y-y yes.... " Kyle replied scared.
Alicia sighed in relief and reassured Kyle "Don't worry it's a good thing.... So do you believe me now? "
Kyle started to cry and apologize "I'm sorry for not believing in you... Sorry sorry. "
Will held him and kept on comforting him. Luke who had also descended hearing the scream asked "By the way what is that? "
"It's most probably a friend" Alicia replied.
She went out again with the gun. As she closed up the view became clearer. The man two branches were covered in blood. As she neared the branches started to shake more and more. As it was happy to see her. She saw the tree closely and suddenly a memory popped in her mind.
This tree was planted by her grandmother in her late years. She helped her look after it in those days. She remembered how she and her grandmother sat on the balcony and watched it branches heavy with blossoms shake. She recalled the words her grandmother had said to her the last time they spent time together after she fell sick.
"My dear why do you think the branches are moving? "
"For the wind..... " She had answered.
"That is a reason but the main reason is it s happy. "
"But why is it happy? " She had asked.
"As you came here."
After she fell sick Alicia had to start to live with my parents. She occasionally returned and spent time with her on the balcony. She recalled her last words.
"Kindness never goes to waste. You might forget it but the you are doing it for will. Whatever you do will one day come back to haunt you. The world is uncertain so treat everyone kindly."
"But what if they don't love us and insult us.... or ignore us. " She had asked after being ignored by her parents.
"Life... " She stopped and then began "is too short to hold grievance against someone so just forget it and rather focus on those who await their return. Like this magnolia tree. See how happy it is"
Both of them had smiled on the same balcony on a summer afternoon watching the same tree. But now she is the only one standing here.
When a petal fell on her head. She took it and looked up. The branches shaked in the same way as it had always been. It was happy to see her. She too smiled and said "Long time no see my friend. "