Whispers in the Forest: contos, #1

By Ricardo Almeida

Embark on a journey into the heart of mystery with "Sussurros na Floresta" (Whispers in the Forest). Follow Annabelle, a fearless soul who finds solace in the enchanted woods, where every step feels like a dance with nature. The air is crisp, the paths familiar, and the tranquility overwhelming, but danger lurks in the shadows.

As Annabelle, a village native, navigates the lush greenery, her boyfriend Vince's apprehensions about the forest's dark secrets intensify. A paramedic with a meticulous nature, Vince believes the woods conceal more than just beauty. Annabelle's walks become a source of tension, raising questions about hidden motives and unsanitary conditions.

In this captivating tale, Annabelle's defiance of Vince's warnings leads her to the edge of the forest, where an unexpected discovery awaits. A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger and their unsettling conversation about murder sends shivers down her spine.

The narrative unfolds with rich detail, painting a vivid picture of Annabelle's internal struggles, the beauty of the wild, and the ominous secrets concealed within the trees. Will Annabelle's curiosity lead her to uncover the truth, or will the forest's mysteries consume her?

Experience the thrill of the unknown in "Sussurros na Floresta," where the line between reality and fantasy blurs, and every rustle of leaves carries a secret waiting to be revealed. Get ready for a tale that combines suspense, romance, and the allure of the untamed wilderness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ricardo Almeida
• Release date: Nov 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223862178

Book preview

Table of Contents

Whispers in the Forest (contos, #1)

Annabelle loved walking in the forest.

It felt particularly easy and refreshing to breathe here.

The girl grew up in the nearby village and knew these places like the back of her hand.

Every path was familiar to her.

Yet, her boyfriend Vince always worried and complained upon hearing about her latest trip.

Where do you know who might be waiting for you in this forest? He asked.

Who could you meet there?

For example, with whom?

Annabelle asked, although she knew the answer perfectly well.

Vince started to get agitated.

Anyone.

Some alcoholic or drug addict.

A wanderer with a shack out there.

Oh, what wanderers? The girl laughed.

The only wanderer in the whole area is Uncle Vassia, the alcoholic from the farm.

He's the one you can meet anywhere.

There are no bandits in our forest.

Trust me.

Our village is too far from the city for them to come here.

So don't worry.

I'll stay safe and sound.

I'd like to believe that, Vince said.

Because you know who will find your lifeless body if something happens.

Annabelle almost fell laughing.

Vince, I love your sense of humor.

Although it's quite dark, she said.

Well, if you say so, Vince said.

Because I'm not laughing and I wasn't joking.

I'm dead serious.

You should stop these walks.

They won't lead to anything good.

However, Annabelle brushed aside all of Vince's repeated speeches and concerns.

She attributed it to the fact that he wasn't from the village.

He moved to their village a year ago, right after finishing medical school.

He worked as a paramedic, replacing Mr. Roger, who held that position for 30 years.

And he remained a very serious person.

He saw danger and hidden motives in everything.

In his opinion, the forest was inhabited by dark individuals.

There was unsanitary conditions and bacteria on the farm.

Vince even considered the neighbor's dog, Cooper, a breeding ground for fleas, and deep

down, he didn't like it.

It seemed strange that such a meticulous person became a doctor.

Annabelle accepted his quirks, but she acted on her own.

Deep down, she hoped that over time, Vince would get used to village life and start walking

with her.

But he always found excuses.

You know, I hope to get a higher education, he said.

It requires a lot of studying.

Why do we need this forest?

When there's barely enough time to read a book.

That was the plain truth.

Despite living in the village rather than the city, Vince had plenty of patience.

Elderly people with high blood pressure, children with scraped knees, and sometimes even unlucky

individuals with poisoning constantly besieged his office.

Every evening after work, Vince dedicated himself to reading meticulously while Annabelle,

having finished her job at the post office, went to the garden or the forest.

And on this evening, she went to the edge of the forest to pick strawberries, completely

unaware of what she would discover there instead of berries.

At first, Annabelle indeed gathered berries, mechanically stooping down, collecting them

in a bucket.

However, soon this activity bored her and she ventured deeper into the forest, lost in

her thoughts, unaware of her surroundings.

Annabelle wasn't afraid of getting lost and walked on, not knowing where she was heading.

Her legs chose the path themselves.

As always in such moments, she contemplated her future and Vince's future, wondering

if they could have a shared one.

Sometimes it seemed to Annabelle that she was in love with him while other times she

felt that Vince was just a friend.

A good one.

Maybe even better than anyone else.

But not the person she would choose to spend her life with.

And she had no idea how to sort out these feelings.

Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a car caught her attention, bringing Annabelle

back to reality.

The girl froze and listened in surprise.

The main road was quite a distance from this place.

Here, there was only a dirt road, and besides the gamekeeper, no one used it.

Who would need to drive out into the middle of nowhere at night?

After hesitating for a couple of moments, she headed towards the road.

Annabelle had no doubt that she would only meet the gamekeeper, Uncle Henry, whom she

had known since childhood, and yet she tiptoed and approached with caution.

Her sixth sense told her to be careful.

This is all Vince's doing, the girl angrily thought.

Who else could be wandering in our forest?

It's so remote.

Even forest spirits don't come here.

Why am I afraid?

The sound of a running engine grew closer, and Annabelle froze.

She wasn't well-versed in cars, but this quiet hum didn't resemble Uncle Henry's

Iron Horse off-roader.

An involuntary shiver ran through Annabelle.

Maybe Vince was right?

Maybe I shouldn't get involved in this, she wondered.

However, the road was just a stone's throw away, and the unsolved mystery enticed her

like a magnet.

I won't be able to sleep tonight.

I'll keep thinking, the girl said to herself.

What happened here?

I'll just take a quick look.

No one will notice.

Annabelle was indeed confident that the driver wouldn't hear her.

She had been walking in the forest since early childhood, and her late grandfather, a gamekeeper,

had taught her how to track animals.

To move so silently that she could spot a cautious doe, a majestic moose, or even a

wary hair.

Not for hunting, of course.

But to admire the beauty of the wild.

Annabelle couldn't stand senseless killings.

This world was too beautiful to intentionally harm it.

Carefully sneaking up to the road, the girl peeked out from behind the trees.

Through the bushes, she noticed the gleaming side of a car, and her last doubts vanished.

The gamekeeper hadn't bothered to repaint his car since the day he bought it, and here,

in front of her, stood a luxurious vehicle.

Somewhere nearby, a male voice could be heard, and Annabelle almost started running.

The owner of the voice was out of sight, hiding on the other side of the car, and seemed very,

very agitated.

Wendy.

This wasn't part of the plan, he said.

I'm not saying I'm innocent, but not murder.

He lowered his voice.

I didn't sign up for murder.

Annabelle covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a scream.

Murder?

It seemed that Vince was right when he warned her about reckless walks in the forest.

This wouldn't end well.

Just a few seconds later, the girl realized that the conversation wasn't about her, and

her life wasn't in danger when the stranger on the road mentioned a name.

Howard is still alive, but maybe.

He paused.

All right, understood.

The conversation ceased.

Apparently, for good.

However, the man on the path continued to be nervous.

He cursed under his breath, lit a cigarette, and started pacing back and forth on