Into the woods I P U B L I S H E D

„There is no such thing as fate in this world?

Or am I just pretending that there isn’t any?

Our lives have so many paths but at the end,

we end up being on the same end, side by side.”

- Elizabeth

Elizabeth

The rest of the day I had spent reading scripts that the girls had left me. I thought it would be easy, but I was wrong. There is more to learn than I thought it would be. I also got an e-mail from principal wishing me to get well soon and that he signed me a study partner. But of course, I already knew the part about the study partner.

I’m not really excidet about that part. I just don’t like working with someone who wouldn’t let me focus on my work.

Taking a sip of water, I checked what time it is on my phone, and a picture of the green forest showed up, making me think about Henry. Placing the glass on the nightstand, I bit my lower lip as I remembered his green eyes and that smile that made my heart starting to beat faster.

Stop it.

I shook my head. I definitely needed to clear my head.

I got up from my bed, taking a seat on the desk and opened the Skype, waiting for Anastasia’s answer. It didn’t take her long to answer it.

„Hello, cow,” she said first.

„Hello, goat,” I said int he same tone as she did.

Both of us were serious for a second, and then in the other, we started laughing like two idiots.

„I miss you,” She leaned her head on her arm.

„And I miss you too. I have so much to tell you,” I leaned on the chair.

„And I. I don’t know where to start,” She took a deep breath. „Jack got drunk again. Why didn’t you tell me he called you?” She whisper-yelled.

I place a piece of hair behind my ear. „I forgot. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. „It’s okay. It’s my fault anyway. I shouldn’t give him my phone. You know, he even made a scene in front of a club, saying that he would fly to Canada to see you.” Oh, God.

Taking a deep breath, I threw my hands in the air. „I don’t know what to do with him. Tell him that I don’t want to see him and that I found someone else.”

„Okay, I will,” She nodded. „Isak asked me out.”

„What?”

„Yes. Today is our first date.” Great. First Ashley then Anastasia. Tomorrow will Kathryn say that she found someone.

„So what will Miss. Anastasia wear?” I asked seducingly.

„Nothing fancy Miss. Elizabeth. Some black dress and you know, some sexy underwear too,” I coughed at the last three words. I shouldn’t have heard this.

„What? I need some action in my life too you know. You should find someone who will finally whoop your vagina,” She made the fucking sign with her hand.

Rolling my eyes, I laughed at her craziness. The thing I loved the most about her.

„I will not comment this.”

After knocking on the door, Lena walked in, looking really tired.

„I’m sorry for bothering you, but could you please help me with something downstairs?”

„Yes, of course,” I turned back to Anastasia who waved at Lena.

„Hello, Lena,” Lena waved back. „Hi, Anastasia.”

„Don’t log out, I will be back in a second,” I stood up, walking to the door.

„Okay, I will go grab some water then,” She said.

When I walked into the kitchen, the cupboard was already open, and on the table, dishes were placed.

„I tried to place them but I’m scared that I would fall down and that something will happen to the baby.”

„It’s okay. I will be done in a minute.” As I placed two plates in the cupboard, a scream came from the top of the stairs. It was loud enough for me to hear it.

„Anastasia.” A plate fell down from my hands, and I don’t know how, but in a second I found myself running to my room, seeing the window open. The cold wind waving the curtains.

Walking to the desk, I saw Anastasia sitting in the corner of her room, her hands wrapped around her legs.

„What happened?” I asked.

She stood up, reaching the desk and sat on the chair, still shaking. Her eyes were bloody red.

„There was man...” She choked out a cry. „He wore a black hoodie and he came from your window and placed something on your bed,” She wiped her fallen tears down her face.

„Calm down, Anastasia,” I tried to calm her down.

„Elizabeth, he had red eyes. I thought he was a demon,” I frowned as she continued. „I don’t know if that’s normal in Canada, but here in Sweden, it’s not,” She breathed hysterically as I stayed still, my mind going insane. I started to remember those red eyes. It’s impossible for a man to have it or is there something more?

„What happened?” Lena walked in with a broom in her hands, looking at the open window.

„Someone was in the room and scared Anastasia.” Her eyes widened as she dropped the broom on the floor, and quickly whispered that she will go call Louis.

I turned back to Anastasia who calmed down a little. With her eyes closed, she sat on her chair, a few tears fell down her face.

She was really scared.

„Anastasia!” Nothing, there wasn’t any sign of life in her. „Anastasia!” I yelled. She finally opened her eyes.

„Now listen to me,” I pointed a finger at her. „First, you need to calm down. Second, what you have seen, don’t tell anyone, especially not my mother. And third, everything will be fine.” The truth was, I knew that everything would not be fine, but I needed to lie to her because that was the only way I knew it would keep her safe from this mess.

„But Elizabeth,” I cut her off before she could finish.

„Haven’t you heard what I’ve just said?!”

„Elizabeth, he took your picture and said mine,” I paled at this, but stayed in my place while she talked. „When he turned around, I didn’t saw his face, only those red eyes. And then he jumped from the window like it was nothing. He also left something on your bed.” Standing up, I walked to my bed, searching for the thing that Anastasia just told me about.

In front of me, on the bed sheets, my necklace, a white rose and a piece of paper were placed.

„Elizabeth,” I tried to ignore Anastasia’s voice as I took the necklace in my hand. I felt a tear that I didn’t know I had, sliding down my face. Taking a deep breath, I took the paper with my shaky hands.

„Don’t be afraid, out fate cannot be taken from us, it is a gift. Alighieri.” I’ve read it out loud so that Anastasia could hear it.

„What does it mean? You have to call the police. That thing doesn’t have a steady mind,” I stayed quiet, trying to catch some breath. Dropping the necklace on the bed, I reached the open window and stared at the forest.

Louis’s car appeared on the yard, and at that moment, a shadow ran into the forest.

„Elizabeth!” My head started spinning around and I felt someone’s arms around me, catching me as I was falling deeper into the darkness.

~ - ~

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the same exact white walls from my room.

At least I wasn’t in the hospital again.

Lena sat next to me, going through my hair with her fingers while Louis walked up and down my room with a phone on his ear.

„Hey,” I took a deep breath then said hi back to her. I tried to stand up, but she stopped me, placing a hand on my shoulder and slowly pushed me on the bed, making me relax.

„Are you okay?” She asked, and I nodded.

The truth was, I’m not. I just didn’t want to scare her anymore. Louis said something into his phone before turning it off and turning his attention on me. He placed it back to his pocket, sat next to Lena and smiled sadly. I didn’t expect them to be so calm. I expected from them to panic.

„You will stay the rest of the week home resting,” Louis said and I sighed. I didn’t want to stay at home. I will end up in an asylum if I stayed another here locked up.

He rested his hand on my leg and continued. „I talked to the police. Everything is done.”

„Done? Shouldn’t they have Anastasia’s and mine’s report? And how do you mean that I need to stay here for the rest of the week? I want to go to University and work because I will go crazy if I stayed another day here,” I threw my hands in the air.

„The sheriff said that it’s not important to question you and Anastasia because he didn’t believe the story.” What?

„My friend almost had a heart attack, and she will have so many nightmares now. And I saw something running into the forest. I’m not blind,” I tried to calm down.

Lena looked down on the floor and Louis looked at her. They didn’t believe me. I can’t believe that they didn’t trust me.

„I get it Elizabeth, but you have to understand that some people don’t believe in such of things. I suggest you stay home for a couple of days.”

„I don’t want to stay here, I want to go to work so I can forget this thing,” I grabbed my hair.

Louis looked at Lena who nodded.

„Okay, but you will go with someone.”

„If it’s the only way I could go, then okay, I will go with Ashley or Kathryn.” Getting up, I started to go to the bathroom and at the same time, I looked at the necklace on the nightstand. Next to her, a white and the note that turned my world upside down in a minute were placed.

„Ashley and Kathryn can’t watch you all the time because they have their own things. I already talked to the person who will be your company,” This time it was Lena who did the talking.

„Who is this someone?” I caught my pale face in the window. I was naturally pale, but now, they could simply bury me in the garden.

„Nicklaus Nightclaw. He will watch over you and he will also pick you up tomorrow.”