The cool breeze whistled softly through the tall, leafy trees, a welcoming contrast to the humid and hot summers day, with the sun shining high in the clear blue sky. The ground was slightly muddy, but it hadn't rained in days. The smell of damp, sour leaves covering the ground like an orange, brown, red and green patchwork rug. For people out today, most would be feeling happy, optomistic, like all things good would be happening today. The shallow dip in the landscape, a small gently sloped valley was situated in the centre of the forest, an easy but hidden walk from the nearby castle which was perched at the top of a nearby hill, half a mile away. The whole area had been owned by an Earl and his beautiful and much younger wife two hundred years ago. Now it was owned by 'The Trust', who were trying to keep the castle looking its best.
A young couple of perhaps eighteen years of age suddenly appear at the top of the hill, a narrow bit of pathway snaking down along the ground. The young man of the duo held onto a light brown wicker basket, the faint smell of fresh bread and mildly smelling cheese told me they were here for a picnic. A normal choice of activity on such a lovely day, but the way they walked together, both keeping a slight distance from one another, probably out of nerves and trying hard to disguise it from each other. Both of them acting cool by asking one another simple questions. "What's your favourite place in the world?" etc.
It seemed they were on one of their first dates. With what I could gather, their names were Sophia and James, two names I hadn't heard in a while. People rarely came down this way anymore, even though there's a path. I was happy to see someone here, well 'someones' now. James started to lay out their late lunch, the picnic rug placed down on the cool ground. The food and drink was then carefully placed on top nefore he stopped. Actually, he still was removing things from the basket. A small blue and grey portable cd player was picked up by James, before being placed inbetween their set places, Sophia now sitting down gracefully, her yellow and pink ice cream coloured floral dress fanning neatly over her legs, shiny, white ballet shoes and ground, the rest of the fabric tucked under herself. James was wearing a white long sleeved t-shirt with a blue short sleeved lumberjack shirt over a pair of jeans and a pair of black converses.
They sat there for hours, talking, holding hands, eating, drinking, just taking each other in. It started to draw that bit cooler and darker when they had finally finished, contented smiles on their faces. A few small leaves spun down to the ground to meet them. One dull green leaf came down and landed in Sophia's thick blonde, curly hair. The wind started to whistle, goosebumps appearing on skin. James needed to head over to the toilets which caused Sophia to be on her own, not for very long though he told her. This was my chance now.
The wind grew that little stronger as Sophia lay down out of the wind, closed her eyes and bathed in the warming golden rays of the sun. My footsteps were difficult to hear over the sounds of the forest. I quickly placed my hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming before taking hold of her, dragging her up onto her feet, making sure that her arms and legs were firmly in my strong, secure grasp, she could not escape now, before I headed past my hiding spot, following an unmarked path, which I made myself and headed to my home in the middle of the forest. James would not know where she was. I had her now.