The forest of Chloe Chloe looked around her secret forest that nobody excluding herself knew about. It was a warm day, and the sky was blue. The ground was spotted with shadows and with sunlight that came through the foliage. The smell of damp moss was strong in the air, it had rained earlier. But now the air was calm, not a sound bar the tweeting of the birds and the rustle of the leaves in a breeze too soft to be felt could be heard. That was until she arrived. She swooped around over Chloe’s head and created havoc in the forest. Chloe knew she had to run, and she had to run fast. This was not a force to be reckoned with, for Aoife the dragon was flying over the forest. Chloe ran and ran and watched as the trees all around her went up in flames. She let out a sob of despair when she saw that the family of talking trees had been burnt, the twins Bob and Sally’s trunks still smouldering in the beautiful dusk light. The smell of smoke filling her nostrils Chloe began to feel drowsy, she tried to run but the forest was full of smoke, even with her advanced knowledge of the trees she could not find her way around. She finally gave up and succumbed to the darkness that was filling her sight, and the ringing in her ears. Aoife could do her worst. The ringing in Chloe’s ears suddenly became more intense, and she noticed that she was in pain. At first she thought she was dead, but one should not feel pain in death, should they? It was then that she became aware that she was not hearing ringing, but it was beeping. The same rhythmic beeping all the time. Beep, beep, beep. She opened her eyes and was blinded by a glaring white light; maybe she was dead after all. But then her eyes adjusted and she realised there was a lamp over head. She became aware of the conversations going on around her “When will she wake up? ...if Aoife hadn’t found her.... the whole house?... burnt to a crisp they said.... why didn’t she run?... Very lucky to be alive...” Chloe tried to speak, but her throat was harsh and dry, but still she tried again, “Mam?” she said meekly. “Chloe?! Oh Chloe! Why didn’t you leave the house you silly girl! But you’re okay, and Aoife! You were supposed to be looking after her. Fifteen years of age and I can’t even leave you in charge of a six year old!” Chloe’s mother said. “Mam, she’s alright, I go her out! How was I meant to know she’d burn the house down when I wasn’t looking for five minutes?!” she heard her sister exclaim. “Why weren’t you inside anyway? I told you not to go near that candle. I said ‘stay out here in the garden for a few minutes, I’ll be back once I get the dinner on.’ And I come back you’re not looking for mushrooms anymore, but our sitting room is on fire!” “Don’t you shout at her Aoife! You were the one in charge, she’s lucky to be alive!” the girls’ mother snapped. Aoife stared at her mother and retorted, “Mam! All we lost was the sofa! It’s not like we burnt the house down, all we have is some smoke damage and the need for a new couch!” “Yes well you’ll be paying for it!” “Bu-“ “No buts! You burn it down, you pay for it!” “You’re so unfair! You don’t even pay me as it is, what am I meant to do? Steal all Chloe’s money?! Favouritism!” “Mrs. Black, all this shouting is not good for Chloe, I’m afraid if you don’t stop I’ll have to ask you to leave.” Said a nurse. “Please nurse, call me Jessica. And we’ll leave now anyway. It’s late, Chloe needs her rest, and I need a new sofa.” “There’s just one thing Jessica, your daughter’s bloods, they showed traces of hallucinogenics?” “Oh dear, she must have eaten the mushrooms in the garden again. I always tell her not to but she never listens!” To this day Chloe is still grounded, and all mushrooms are disposed of on sight. Aoife was freed from her mother’s clutches a year ago when she turned eighteen. The end. So that's just a story me and my insane friend wrote thought I'd share.