An unknown forest with red bloody roses, black bushes, obscure woods. The raw, pure scent of the roses filled her nostrils, making her feel dizzy. That was all she could see, feel, when walking barefoot into that path with grass which seemed to last forever. The grass was damp, cold. Just as the cold wind blowing, making her realize what she was wearing. It was a turquoise gown that hugged her small waist, cascading down like a waterfall.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1RP0kpw3E
The wind wasn't stopping. At least not until Regan saw red locks over her pale arms, and a precious ruby necklace hanging on her. Red. It was a color that mirrored the very sky. A crimson sky with purple clouds, and a red fire of sun disappearing quickly behind the woods, not even giving her time to react. It cast a red glow over the forest, making it even more ominous.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVsNM58zpZ
The smooth, calming sound of water made Regan feel slightly more at ease apart from the wind playing with the trees. But there was no waterfall. No sight of it. The place was beautiful, but the coldness, the fear, it was a living thing that seemed to be whispered along the dark leaves playing the wind's tune. Regan shivered, but not from the cold.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhANirPqOW4
The red hue of the sky hadn't blackened completely, but the forest was dark. Regan wrapped her arms around herself, feeling exposed in that dress. Not just from the neckline, but from the growing feeling of being watched.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40q3x4HBVs
What was she even doing here? She didn't know how she got here, didn't know the place, didn't know what she was wearing and didn't know how to get back home.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjalEq5oB9y
She kept on walking like a lost puppy. No trace, no plan. But she stopped, when she saw a black shadow from far, standing in the middle of the dark woods. Regan squinted, she could make out a masculine silhouette. It stood still and quiet, like a statue. But when it started to walk towards her, Regan took two steps back, not one.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipuHgjssZT
The figure approached, the red hue begining to illuminate it slightly. It was a man with messy black hair that fell over his eyes like a protective dark curtain. He was wearing a dark long jacket and black pants. But under the jacket, was a white shirt that looked damp, showing his flawless abs.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4poGgDvcRX
"Si-Sirius...." Regan stuttered, the name feeling foreign and familiar at the same time. She could see a smirk on his face as he came closer. The wind gushed past her shoulders even more colder, as if it was plotting with the red roses. She was glued there for a moment and when he stopped just a few feet from her, she sprinted into a run.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc4EddyvBB
But it was really slow, really clumsy, and really unforgiving. The harsh twigs and leaves were stinging and digging her bare feet, and it wasn't the most comfortable thing to ran without shoes. Her run didn't last. A mass of large trees appeared in the way and passing through them required handiness and knives. The vines were full of spikes and thorns that looked deadly. The woods towered miles above her, without any branches where she could climb.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvlAAePTJk
And then she felt a hot breath on her neck. She turned around slowly, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the man was awfully close to her. He was so much taller than her, his height like a tower, dark hair falling down on his face, making him look even more dangerous.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9vl3tyG25
He stepped closer, if that was even possible and Regan backed away, her back hitting the harsh trunk of the tree. His features were more visible now and she could see he was very pale and had siren-like eyes that were a cold, icy blue. His cheekbones were high, hollow and his jaw was sharp. She had never seen someone so beautiful and terrifying before. And the way he looked into her eyes, was like he was looking into her soul instead.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ037jZUCRVB
But her daze ended when his hand wrapped tightly around her throat, not strong enough to cut her air supply, but strong enough to make her freeze.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpXqH3j25U
"Wha....what do you want?" Regan choked out, her voice coming as a weak whisper.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLmOpV1htr
"Your soul," he said gruffly, a cold smirk on his lips. His grip on her throat tightened and Regan's anxiety raised. She tried to pry his hands off, but it was futile. His elbow rested on the wood beside her head, making it impossible for her to move away. He leaned closer, his lips barely grazing her earlobe, "You'll never, ever escape from me," he said in a voice that was chiller than the night.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QbEwi7LrF
Regan's heart beat like it would burst. She could feel his grip tighten, his breath hot and minty on her face, and she was trembling. His eyes were cold, a smirk forming on his lips. Her heart sank when she realized he was enjoying this. The air grew charged, hotter and she felt something other than his leather cologne fill her lungs.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIQuEqXN0z
It was smoke.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRxCX9KvzE
A fire had... had abruptly started around them. Large flames dancing and twisting, growing like hungry beasts. They blocked Regan's ears from hearing anything else, and she was stuck, her eyes boring on his. But his were dull of anything worth it. It was just oppression, a cold, calculated oppression.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkwBCWf0kN
The flames became even more colossal, not so they could hurt her, but to make her eyes burn. She couldn't look at him anymore, his presence suffocating, his grip tightening like a vice.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEOx66ZA7m
She wanted to cry from help, but her mouth remained sealed. Her mind ran with the worst possible scenarios and for some reason she only wanted him to choke her and end the struggle. She could feel the lack of oxygen on her throat.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ljIV6KIFH
"G-get away from....from me," she tried to say, her hands desperately trying to remove his from her throat. His grip loosened slightly, only for him to lean closer. However, she didn't know what happened then. Because it ended.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sTqHKCxmB
The flames disappeared and she was no longer trapped. He was gone, she could feel the cold breeze caressing her hot face. It was peaceful, silent and she felt no pain.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlaxV1HCn6
As she opened her eyes, she was back in her bed, the blankets thrown on the floor. She was drenched in cold sweat. What kind of dream was that, she thought.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP63V2mvjr
The room was pitch black and Regan couldn't see anything. She turned on the bedside lamp with trembling hands and threw something on the floor that seemed to be her phone. The bedside lamp illuminated the room with a soft warm glow. Regan saw the balcony's door was opened and she felt a surge of fear. She remembered closing it before she fell asleep.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUuxocgD0A
She rubbed her eyes and dragged herself off the bed. Stupid dream, she thought. The man had been handsome at least. It had been the first time she had seen something so gorgeous. Both in reality and both in dreams.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5kbrEpnS2
She walked downstairs, seeing there was no water pitcher in the room. As she took a bottle of water from the fridge and drank, then it finally hit. That dream wasn't gorgeous. It wasn't the most terrific either but it was chilling for sure. The events of the day washed all over her, worse than a nightmare.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBUaAUiMEt
The roses in the dream had been like that rose in her room, full of thorns and velvet petals. She had been overthinking about it for two days, it was obvious they were going to appear in her dreams. But that man, that was something else. She was getting chased and choked. It seemed almost....familiar, that place and that man.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gsoo9c7Yu
"Who's Sirius?" Regan muttered at herself in disbelief. She had never met someone named Sirius. But then she thought something, what if he was the one following her? She shrugged it off. She was being just paranoid. He was just a dream character and nothing more.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRn9e9qD2b
"That's nonsense," she murmured. She set the bottle of water on the counter. Her mind drifted back to the roses. She didn't understand why they had such a heavy smell and sharp thorns.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsLzWA4IWP
Then, she turned back in the kitchen and sat on a chair, sunken in thoughts for a while. No, there was definitely something strange going on.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2eHeTn5Cw
She didn't want to think about it, the best thing to do was to eat and lose her mind somewhere else.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74H421QqIO
She made a simple toast of ham and cheese and tried to remember as she chewed on it. The dress she was wearing was a mockery to her usual clothes. She looked almost.... beautiful. But it was a joke. A well calculated joke. Not only she saw herself as ugly, she didn't even entertain the idea she'd ever get the chance to dress that way. She was just an ordinary girl, not some sort of rich princess.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU1hayQx6H
Everyone was sleeping, her aunt was sleeping, too and here she was, eating and thinking in the kitchen in the middle of the night.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiGRE3yjXD
But then her mind wandered to the dream again. It had been so vivid.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfj36s8JXD
Why did he want to kill her?
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoUYCwuuwy
She shivered again at the thought.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJfOU33R01
She searched for her laptop but it was nowhere. It must've been in her room.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb6sH7Lta5
She sighed in frustration. Why did she have to take it there?
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbN3AsTAQP
She walked in the living room and sank on the couch, surfing through the channels. There was nothing good to watch. She suddenly felt exposed, like when she was wearing that dress in the dream, like something or someone was watching her.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNA2weBNtN
It was happening even at her own house. It was inexplicable and was driving her crazy. And the red roses were proof she wasn't being paranoid.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjsZ32tQzT
Slowly, she drifted off to sleep in the couch, before she could finish watching that movie.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngnEMwlcxX
***
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIafIlQB6ZC
When she woke up, her neck was sore and she winced as she tried to sit. She couldn't move it to the side and immediately thought about the dream. When he was choking her. "Oh God," Regan murmured. She was scared, the dream now feeling even more disturbing.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKJ32YRzUh
She cursed under her breath and got up, not wanting her aunt to see she slept here. The TV was left on and she switched to the news network to see it was seven AM.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj8Ht6FAVl
She tried to stretch her neck, but it ached even more. Eventually, she called it one of the usual off days and walked upstairs to get ready for school.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4DsdRz1KC
Her aunt suddenly appeared from in the stairs.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgbCZyVsCk
"Good morning," she greeted. She was wearing her job's attire, looking more ready than ever.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBXILBfVW5
"Morning," Regan replied quickly.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6qDyHnodR
Monica went to the kitchen to drink her morning coffee, while Regan wished it was a weekend.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1GWNErtLK
As she stepped into the room, the vivid dream came like a flashback to her and she tried to shove it away. The desk was messy as she stuffed the books on her bag. It was full of scattered notes, pens, books etc. A complete mess. Everything a mess.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YrHe4ZIDK
But that didn't matter. What mattered, was there was another red rose on the bed. She had thrown the one on her pillow outside the window yesterday. And this other one....it looked like they wouldn't stop appearing if she kept throwing them away.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4sUCmrqtc
As she left the room, a deep chuckle echoed in her head, and made her halt. She had heard it before.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JTTQcMel1
***
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5Y5iZG2hV
The school was packed up as always, and all she got from trying to stay invisible, were eyes on her. She didn't know why the hell they couldn't just stop looking at her. The classes passed in a blur of focus and unfocus, with Regan's mind racing with the events of these days. Lunch came, and she didn't have any appetite. The knot in her stomach, when she remembered yesterday, it only grew stronger.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3TbEHvOaE
Anyway, she walked there with Vesper, who almost forced her. Olivia was there, her hair trimmed in a clean cut. There was no obvious damage from the fire. Regan didn't know what to think but she let out a sight.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9O4AOEhBi
"Pathetic humans," she heard Vesper say, and followed her gaze, landing it on Olivia, who was kissing the blond guy. But Regan said nothing.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rbwIm0U6E
The unknown voice in her head, the dream....the creature. He didn't look like some sort of beast. But his eyes were like sirens and his hands were....his nails were like claws. He definitely didn't seem human. She was having a headache about all of it.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzjnvf464O
"What's that face?" Vesper suddenly asked, noticing her expression.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwbyi9D1cQ
"What?" Regan blurted out.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozuAOOGzEJ
"You're acting off," Vesper scoffed. "Did you fall in love or what?"
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBthknwdOv
Regan choked hard on her drink, this was literally the most unpredictable thing that she expected her to say. "Ew....What? Love?"
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooMRdIlyuX
Vesper laughed, enjoying her friend's reaction. "Relax, I was joking," she said, while controlling her laugh.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdenkEVWXG8
"I'm just tired. Didn't sleep well," Regan mumbled. She wanted to tell Vesper about the other red rose, but she was self conscious. How would Vesper take it? And she didn't know if it was Mike, who Vesper had talked about.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG3uYMxu8D
"You're sure?" Vesper asked with a smirk.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPGpT2XRGI
She didn't know how she got a sore neck. She didn't want to think about it. The more she thought, the more terrific it turned. It seemed as if her mind was trying to make the headache worse.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WDVgYkId3
Their conversation went off for a while. It wasn't really noticeable. The crowd in the cafeteria made enough sound to have what to listen to.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0j8ZB7qnI
While on that, Regan kept looking at her phone, although her mind was to the mysterious otherworldly creature who was trying to kill her. She couldn't get him out of her mind. She tried to find a reason why he seemed familiar. She couldn't focus on anything else.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEmzS33J7U
"Did you snap out?" Vesper's voice snapped her out of thoughts.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi9vTUSBFo
"Huh?"
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATQSiHkMzo
"You're so lost. If you keep doing this, the lesson will start and you'll be here, still."
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0lbJsN9OX
"The bell hasn't rung yet," Regan retorted.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKiEDM41d6
Vesper chuckled and suggested that they should go to the library to find some useful books. Regan was very fond of the idea. At least, she needed something else to think about.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeleSbG7WHT
The library was a large area with a lot of book sections. Regan didn't know Vesper's preferences, bu for herself, she was an extremely picky reader. She'd rather not read than cost time to a book that in the end wouldn't end the way she wanted.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjEFJ4Ngk8
The librarian gave them a curt nod and raised her glasses. The girls separated as as they disappeared behind the bookshelves. Regan found no book appealing. Instead, she found herself feeling watched, like something or someone was watching her every move, her every touch of the books.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zPiu4A9Dx
She started to panic, and quickly got a random book, almost stumbling to the librarian's desk. The librarian, Mrs. Beth, gave her a reproachful look and Regan's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She sat on the couch nearby and waited for Vesper to come.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHHWb43vTD
The weird thing was that her friend came, but came from the door, not from in the library at all.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs58e3vhMS
"Where were you?" Regan asked confused.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLHV5Hs09A
"Just around. You didn't notice me," she replied. Vesper held two old books in her hands. For some reason, looking at their old cover, which seemed similar to those of manuscripts, Regan found them intriguing.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEix5yqoFlz
"What are these?" she asked, when she stood up and leaned over to see the books. She caught only the title of one, "Charms and Manipulation". The book had a green cover and the title was written in Gothic style.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC2rnUbFQk
Vesper quickly flinched the books away, not allowing Regan to see anymore, who huffed annoyed in response.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgFpMHcHmG
"I'm going to get these," she said as she placed the thick books on the librarian's desk.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG04Ma961vs
Mrs. Beth looked at her with a surprised expression. "Where did you get these?" she asked, as she looked at the books.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj1bqGAZiV
"In the library, where else?" Vesper said, like obviously.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp2CmioOPh
Mrs Beth's eyes narrowed, "Why are you interested in these? They aren't even written by a proper author."
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMygK543pu
"I want to read them. Is there a problem, Mrs. Beth?" Vesper asked, her voice tingled with annoyance.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOqJkHUdb4
Regan, who was hearing their conversation, wondered about the books. That title was intriguing. But Vesper had them turned on the back.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpiNhRrWqm
Probably psychology books, she thought.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1KwDyR5UK
Mrs. Beth looked at Vesper with a reproachful look and sighed. She took a cardstock where she registered both their books. Vesper stuffed hers in her bag as soon as possible. When the girls stepped out of the library, Regan asked.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIqv9dilUD
"Vesper, what are these books about?"
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv3L3UgYQ4
"Just psychology books, nothing important. My sister needs to read them," Vesper replied, her eyes on
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIgrqbMJI4
her phone.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1rUyazB48
"Which section did you get them from?"
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv6y85Dw69
"I'll tell you when we go again."
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8GXOBDxLU
Regan nodded and walked over to the classroom. The books seemed very mysterious though.
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQYWjzE3oQ
