A MAZE OF GREED

"Thea, are you done for today?" Ruth asked while leaning on the edge of the working station of Thea.

"No... not yet. I'll need fifteen minutes more, please." Thea answered without looking up from her work.

That was another fine trait of hers. She was all bubbly and playful all the time but whenever it came to work, she did it with dedication and focus.

"Okay. I'll wait for you."

Ruth had already asked Thea if she could accompany her to go and get Mr Payne's parcel. Thea couldn't say no if she could get to leave the shop earlier.

To Ruth's surprise, Mr Cooper was in a good mood today and when she asked him for allowing the early leave for the day, he instantly agreed. The day was just good. What could go wrong?

Barely after five minutes, another employee came with a shirt in her hand. "Thea, this needs your urgent attention. Mr Cooper has asked you to recheck the measurements and do the adjustments accordingly."

Thea sighed rubbing her forehead while she looked at the shirt in front of her. "God! Not again. The amount of work I have done for this old man gives me the right to claim his shop, seriously!"

Ruth was waiting for Thea to go to the northern boundary of Vincardine to collect her neighbour's parcel. But looking at the amount of work she had to do, Ruth was sure that she would take more than an hour.

"Hey, don't stress yourself. I would have helped you with it but I think I should go now to collect the parcel or it will be late. I am sorry!" Ruth said while placing her hand on Thea's shoulder.

Thea looked up apologetically. She placed her hand on Ruth's. "Why are you saying sorry? It should be me apologising to you. I am sorry that I can't come with you. I tried to wrap up the work but..."

"It's fine, Thea. Really! You finish this soon and get back home. I will go by myself." Ruth said with assuring smile.

Thea nodded her head. "Fine. Just take care and return before the dark. You know what is happening in the woods of Vincardine nowadays." Worry laced her tone.

"Are you underestimating my defence skills here, young lady?" Ruth asked while buldging her biceps.

Thea rolled at her friend's playfulness. "You know what I mean. And your biceps are as big as a sausage." She said in deadpan.

Ruth's smile fell and she pouted in fake hurt. "You don't know how much it hurts when your friend says such harsh things to you." She said in a low voice, wiping her non-existent tears.

"Ruth! Stop with your drama and listen to me carefully. I really don't want you to go alone. But this work... You have heard that announcement by the O'Dells, right? It must be a severe problem if they are telling us to be safe. Can't we go tomorrow?" Thea asked expectantly.

Ruth sighed, all humour drained from her face. "No, we can't. The caravan has to continue with their journey. They are taking a stoppage for a couple of hours only."

"But-"

"Don't worry, Thea. I will be fine, promise! See you tommorrow." Ruth picked her purse and waved Thea and others goodbye.

The weather was pleasant outside. The Sun had a pink, yellow hue around it. The flock of birds chirped while returning to their nests after a day of collecting the food to feed their young ones.

Ruth walked in the direction of her destination with a steady pace as she left the shop at the right time. Thanks to Mr Cooper's good mood today that she got permission to leave the shop half an hour earlier than her normal timing.

It took her twenty-five minutes of walk to reach the woods where there were not many people around. And since the beginning of those dreadful mysterious deaths of the residents of Vincardine, people's presence around there became scarce.

Ruth stalled in her path as her hazel eyes scanned the area. The woods looked ordinary, but there was this eeriness to the place that formed goosebumps on her creamy skin.

She tucked her toffee brown hair behind her ear. After giving one look at the sky where the sun started to go to sleep, she took a deep breath and marched the remaining path.

"Miss, where are you going?" She heard a man's voice calling her.

"Hello. I want to cross the woods to go to the main route." She informed the man who had an axe in his hand.

By the look of his dirty clothes and axe in hand, she figured that he must be a woodcutter.

The man gave her a sharp look. "Don't you know that the O'Dells have restricted everyone to go into the woods after sunset?"

Feeling uneasy under the man's harsh gaze, Ruth tried to keep her calm. "Yes, I know. But I have to receive an important parcel."

Staring at Ruth, the man shook his head. "then you should have at least bring someone with you."

"Erm... yes. But I think I will manage on my own."

Giving her another long look the man started walking away in the direction of the town. "As you wish, miss. I hope you will return safely." After that, he muttered something incoherent in a low voice that Ruth couldn't catch up.

Looking back at the woods, she inhaled deeply. "Don't worry, Ruth. You will be safe." Giving another glance to the sky that still held ample light, she stepped forward.

Her ears were alert to pick up even the slightest of sound around her. Her eyes were alert, moving in all directions. Her legs took every step deliberately but at a constant pace.

The sounds of animals and the birds startled her now and then, the rustling of leaves made her heart race thinking there was another presence along with her. But she didn't stop until she passed through the woods and reached her destination.

She released a shaky breath then dabbed the thin layer of perspiration that formed on her forehead in the cold weather. She exhaled through her mouth and turn to look behind her at the tall trees that stood there haughtily.

A victorious smile itched on her lips. She had made it. She had successfully passed the woods.

She found the caravan stationed at some distance to the right of her. She walked towards it.

"Excuse me. I am here to collect Mr Payne's parcel." She approached a man busy feeding his horse.

He looked startled as he didn't expect anyone to talk to him. The other four, horse carts stood around this one. And the riders gave Ruth a curious stare.

"You are?" The man asked while looking at Ruth from head to toe.

Ruth clutched her purse in her hands. "My name is Ruth Moore. I am Mr and Mrs Payne's neighbour. Mr Payne met an accident last evening so he asked me to collect the parcel that his relatives have sent with you." She explained the situation to gain the man's trust.

The man nodded his head. "Wait here." He rounded the cart. After hearing the sounds of pulling a trunk followed by its opening, the man came with a parcel that was covered in a green coloured cloth.

"Here it is!"

Ruth took the parcel that was a little heavy than her expectations. What might be in there? She thought but opening it would have been inappropriate so she refrained from doing so.

The man glanced behind Ruth then his brows knitted together. " You came alone, miss?"

"Erm... yes." She replied uneasily.

That made the man frown. "Don't you know what is going on in Vincardine these days? We live in a different province and still are aware of those mysterious deaths. And you, a young woman like you shouldn't have come alone, at this time. Look it's already dark."

The chilly wind caused her to shiver. She didn't expect dark to befall on the earth this soon. She had already calculated the time she needed to get the parcel and return to the town before the dark. But then where did she go wrong with her calculations?

"I... I know. I appreciate your concern, sir. But don't worry, I will get back home as soon as possible. Thank you for bringing this parcel. Have a safe journey. Good bye!"

With that said, Ruth picked her pace, again walking in the direction that she came from. The man who watched her retreating form shook his head, mentally praying for the young woman's safety.

After some time, Ruth heard a faint sound of moving carts indicating that the caravan had departed to its destination.

"Why everybody is concerned so much? I am a grown-up woman and perfectly able to take care of myself. I crossed the woods safely and found nothing suspicious. It will only take some time and then I will be out of this forbidden place." Ruth rambled to herself.

It was not because she was upset with the people who had warned her but it was mostly because she felt a need to hear some familiar voice that could soothe her nerves.