1st look at "The girl in the woods"

Chapter one-Big sister

​"Gary, why do I only have two older brothers and no sisters?" 
"Well, Claire, I'm not sure you're old enough to know!"
"I'm seven. I'm not little anymore!" her face turned red, and the tone of her voice became higher. 
"Perhaps you are; I'm not sure. What do you think, Paul? Should we tell her?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Can you keep a secret, Claire?" 
"Yes! Why?"
"Well, it's difficult. You might get upset. Then mum and dad will kill us for telling you. Maybe if Gary tells you some of it. I will tell you the rest." 
Claire looked at her brothers more intently. She could tell they were serious. Both of her brothers stared at her without smiling. 
"You know the woods outside our house?" Claire could hardly speak and only nodded. 
"You were only about two when it happened, so you probably don't remember." 
Paul stood and walked towards the bedroom window where his sister had been sitting. 
"Maybe we shouldn't tell her. At least she doesn't remember any of it and won't have any nightmares." 
"I won't have nightmares. I'm a big girl!" Claire's voice sounded indignant.
"That's true. But if Gary continues to tell you, we must be sure you won't say anything to anyone. Especially mum, she still gets very upset. Promise us both now."
"I promise. I won't say anything. Please tell me."
"Ok, but no crying…We did have another sister. She was older than you but younger than Paul and me. It happened when we were all on a family picnic in the playing field by the woods." Paul interrupted. "Shoosh! we should only whisper. Remember, mum can hear us if we're too loud." Gary paused. Before saying any more, he lowered his voice. 
"We played hide and seek, running in and out of the woods. When it was time to go. Sarah never came back." 
"Mum and dad searched for hours but could not find her. In the end, we all had to go home without her. Mum and dad have never spoken about her since. And they told us never to say her name. Dad removed all the pictures of her from the house. That's why there is a small hole in the wall next to the other pictures where hers hung." 
Claire sat there, not daring to interrupt her older brothers as they spoke. "Remember, don't say a word to anyone." 
Looking out of the window towards the woods. Claire was curious to know if she would ever meet her older sister. Her brothers left Claire to her thoughts and returned to their bedroom. Grinning at each other. 
Claire wasn't sure if they were telling the truth. So she decided to look for clues about her house. The biggest had been there in the room all along. She had a bunk bed just like her brothers. She had never thought about it before and only used the bottom bunk to put her dolls and teddies on. Next, Claire looked at the wall as she walked downstairs, trying to remember all the pictures. Nanny and Grandad, Gary, Paul, and Me. She stopped. Next to her image was a small hole marking where a picture once hung. 
Claire stood there halfway down the stairs. Silently she looked at the hole where a picture once hung. Claire had convinced herself that her brothers were telling the truth. She continued down the stairs and into the living room. Mum was sitting in her usual chair, knitting another jumper.
"What's up, sweetie?" Claire's face had turned pale, and her eyebrows furrowed. 
"Mum, can I have a picnic outside on the green by the woods?" 
"No! We can't."
"Why?" 
"Because I've said so!"
Claire realised at this point that everything her brothers had said now seemed genuine. Believing she might have now pushed her mum further than she ought to, she said. "My dollies and I are having a picnic in my room. Can we have some lunch, please?" 
Mum's eyes looked warmer, and a smile grew on her face. 
"Yes, of course, darling. Come into the kitchen, and you can help me."
It wasn't long before Claire returned to her room with her sandwich, bag of crisps and a glass of fruit juice. She had promised her brothers not to cry. But sitting alone in her room, she couldn't help herself whilst staring at the empty bed. 
"It must be true." She sobbed. "Even mum doesn't want to talk about a picnic outside." 
Drying her eyes with her sleeve. She decided it was up to her to find her sister and bring her home. Then everyone could be happy again. 
"I must be brave and go into the woods on my own. I can go tonight when everyone is asleep," she mumbled. Claire pulled her school rucksack from under the bed and placed the sandwiches and crisps into it. 
"Sarah might be hungry and be glad for a snack." She thought, trying to plan ahead.
Night and bedtime could not come quick enough for Claire. She lay awake, holding her torch, waiting for everyone else to sleep. 
When she heard her mum come up the stairs, she knew it would not be too long before she would leave. Eventually, after what had seemed an eternity, the house fell silent. Claire got up and put on her warm clothes. Hat, coat and shoes. She picked up her bag and crept downstairs. Claire paused at the back door. She realised if the door closed when she left, she might not be able to get back in. Claire decided to leave the door open. Hoping everyone else would be ok and no one would notice before she returned.
It wasn't long before she reached the edge of the woods. Shivering, she turned on the torch. She pushed her left hand deep inside her jacket pocket to keep it warm. After telling herself to be brave, she took her first step inside. The twigs snapped beneath her feet. The woods now seemed creepy. She took another few steps toward a gnarly oak tree. She realised that she might get lost also. 
Claire looked into her school bag. And found some white chalk and then marked the tree with the letter H for home. She turned behind to look at home across the green before venturing further inside. As she continued on her quest, every sound seemed loud to her, her torch darting left to right at every noise she heard. 
Still shivering, Claire adjusted her scarf tighter and pushed further into the woods. Deeper and deeper until she could no longer see her house behind her. 
Trembling but determined to continue. Claire knew she could not turn back now. This was her adventure, and nothing could stop her. 
In the distance, Claire could see a small light glimmering between the trees and shrubs. 
"Hello, It's me, Claire, your little sister!" A crow screeched, stopping Claire in her tracks. 
"Hello, can you hear me?" Her tiny voice was slightly more pitched and quivering. 
At that moment, Claire thought she might be close to finding her sister. Two shadowy figures stopped what they were doing and looked directly at her. The two figures fearing they had seen an apparition, turned and ran away, knocking over their lamp. 
Moving closer and calling out again. Claire could see the light fall to the floor that had been perched on a fallen tree. Disappointment fell upon her quickly. Determined to see what they were doing. Claire ran towards the fallen light, stumbling on a tree root. Claire tripped forward, hitting her head on another branch before tumbling further down a small ditch. 
Her eyes closed. She lay there still. Her torch fell to the ground, with the light going out instantly.