Unmarked Seeds Part Two

Ida examined the small packet. She felt she should follow the elder’s advice but she didn’t. The elders were of the wisest in the village but were at times considered by some as being narrow minded and overly cautious. After all, the history books had been terribly vague; perhaps these seeds held something wonderful.

Holding the packet felt exciting and wild. Her mind wondered over the course of her life; thus far it had been predictable and rather dull. These seeds held the promise of mystery and adventure.

They began to emanate a tantalizing smell; impulsively, she planted just one seed from the packet. Once done fear started screaming in her ear. This was forbidden, she could be found out. She ran to the lip of the Yar and threw it in, but as she held out the packet she couldn’t force herself to let go- and she didn’t.

In the days that followed, she would struggle with, and eventually cave, to the temptation to plant another seed. Always either fear of being discovered or guilt from disobedience, would force her to the Yar to get rid of that which was forbidden. Each time, however, she waited a little longer before disposing it. Slowly, the guilt was being silenced.

At this point, she thought she hadn’t done any harm; however, unbeknownst to her, the pollen from each sprouted plant had a seed-like quality. This substance spread into the neighboring woods. There an entire forest of forbidden plants was thriving, completely undetected.

When she only had a few seeds left, she determined that these would not be thrown away. They swiftly grew enormous.

As the time drew near for the plants to bloom, she wanted to bring someone else into her secret. Though completely resolved in her course, she was a little afraid of the unknown. After all this time, she was still a little afraid. After careful consideration, she chose her oldest friend, Amelia.

When Amelia entered Ida’s house and saw the huge, strange plants her first impulse was to run knowing this was wrong. But, the pleas of Ida to stay… and her own secret desire to discover why these plants were forbidden, kept her there.

The large buds began to open. The first thing that Ida’s mind processed was that the delightful smell she had enjoyed for so long, had turned rancid. Dread filled her. She tried to uproot the plants- but it was too late.

The blooms exploded releasing large, iron brambles, tightly packed thorny vines. They were alive and breathed.

Terrified, Amelia ran screaming from the house, the brambles pursued her into the open of the village. Shrieks from all the neighbors could be heard as they encountered the horrible objects.

Shocked, Ida looked at the destruction and chaos she had introduced to her village. Now, she saw how ignorant and foolish it had been to think what she was doing would not affect anyone else. The guilt and shame of knowing that she  had welcomed this madness, nurtured, and then released it, began to suffocate her. She wept.