https://steemit.com/twentyfourhourshortstory/@mctiller/writers-win-5-steem-october-23-twenty-four-hour-short-story-contest-a-solitary-scientists-discovers-the-real-reason-leaves

The Red Forest

"You mean this is your theory?," the journalist asked.
"It's more than a theory. It's a fact. Have you ever crushed a red leaf on the last day of spring?," the scientist said, smiling.
"No," the journalist said. "I don't believe I have."
"If you'll excuse me, I have an appointment,"the scientist got up from his chair.
"Of course," the journalist gathered his belongings and went outside.

It was a cool day, almost chilly. The journalist slipped the key into the ignition of his red Volkswagen Beetle. Twenty days until the last day of autumn, he thought. Twenty days until I prove him a delusional madman. He smiled, whistling as he made his way home.

"He said what?," the journalist's (only) friend asked.
"He said the roots of the trees soak up the blood of those victims murdered in that area. He believes that's why all those leaves change to red in the, well, Red Forest."
"The Red Forest? Very creative," his friend said sarcastically.
"As creative as this guy who calls himself a professor," the journalist added.

"Today is the day," the journalist told himself. He drove out to the Red Forest. It was the last day of autumn and he felt oddly unsure about all of this. He finally arrived and gasped at the red above him. It did look like blood. He crouched and picked up the reddest leaf. He crushed it.
"Just as I thought. It's all bullshit."

The journalist arrived at the scientist's laboratory.
"You are a liar," the journalist said. He lifted his hand, and the scientist smiled.
"If I were you," the scientist said. "I'd go wash the blood from my hands."

Jaundré M. van Breda © 2018

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