I was sitting in class, shivering with both fear and the cold. Fear for numerous reasons. One, Bea had followed me, and tried to speak to me the whole way here, and now she sat beside me. Two, everyone knew of me, the twelve strong class was full of whispering as they looked at me. Three, it was my first day here, and I feared I would have no friends. Four, Daryan was Bea's twin, so that meant he was in my year, and undoubtedly in my classes.I was tempted to stand and walk out as Bea continued her neverending spew of 'are you okay?' 'What's up?' 'Why aren't you talking to me?'. She should have gotten the hint by now, and I very nearly spoke to her, spoke the words that I was thinking, using emphasis, as if there were fullstops between each word. "I.Do.Not.Want.To.Talk.To.You." I sighed, lowering my head further as yet another student turned around and looked in my direction. I peered up to meet her eyes, keeping my head lowered, and she imediatley spun around and began whispering. I picked up my pen, spinning it round in my fingers, admiring it's beauty as the light hit it, trying to drown Bea out. I didn't like the fact there was no assigned seating here, that meant wherever I went Bea would undoubtedly follow.The teacher entered, his briefcase swinging wildly on the loose hinges that attached the handle, and he placed it heavily on his desk, breathing heavily and pausing for a moment before addressing the class. "We have a new pupil here today. Her name is Karina Longly, is she here?"Sheepishly, I raised my hand, surprised that even the teacher didn't know his own pupils. I smiled slightly as he caught sight of me and nodded, stopping before drawing any more attention to me. I appreciated his attempt, although I already had drawn too much attention the moment they learned I was coming at the start of the summer. I was the talk of the village, according to Bea who was still chatting away, trying to force me to speak.I turned my head to the aisle, catching the glimpse of a boy grinning at me while he lounged in his chair. "Alright, sweetheart?" he whispered, his smile growing wider.Shit. My heart sped up and I turned to the front of the class. Great. Just great! I shifted in my chair uncomfortably, Bea taking it as a sign that I was finally ready to chat. She put her hand on mine and spoke with new enthusiasm. "What's your problem? You just ran off, without an explanation. You looked like you had seen a ghost. What was that all about? I mean come on, I was just being friendly. Do you know what that's like? Do you even have friends? Want me to be your friend? You seem quite nice, if not a bit shy, I could be your friend, if you want. Do you want that?"I groaned, giving in to her insesent chatter. "Too many questions..."She laughed, causing the teacher to jump and drop the chalk he was using, and the rest of the class to spin around. I cringed, hiding behind my hands. "Thanks a lot. I needed the extra attention, I felt like I was lacking somewhat.""Oooh, sarcasm!" she beamed, laughing again, oblivious to the stares she was recieving. Why wasn't the teacher lecturing her to be quite? I looked up, staring right to his desk, realising I didn't even know his name. I clenched my hand into a fist, there was no name on his desk, or on the door, or on the board. He hadn't told me, and it wasn't on my timetable, only the class. That meant I would have to raise my hand to find out, or stay behind after class, both meaning that I would draw yet more attention to myself. I shrunk into my seat, feeling evermore uncomfortable, and attempted to listen to the teacher, trying to coming up with something to call him. I could address him as 'Sir', although I doubted he would appreciate that much, considering his flustered appearance it seemed like he would appreciate it if at least one student knew his name. I sighed, raising my hand, and his eyes widened."Yes, Miss Longly?" he stuttered, grimacing as every single head in the class turned to look at me.I could feel my face going red under their gaze, and I began to feel angry. "Um... Could I be excused?"He seemed stuck in place, his arm raised pointing the chalk at the board, while the rest of him faced me. "Is there any particular reason?" he was still stuttering, obviously he was rarely addressed in class.My eyes searched the room wildly, searching for anything I could use as an excuse to leave. I opened my mouth to speak as I eyed the keys that he had placed on his desk, when Bea opened her mouth."Sir, Karina doesn't feel too good, she says she's got an awful headache. I can take her to the nurses office if you want."Great, no way of knowing his name from her then. I felt relieved with her input, for he nodded, still seeming shocked, and Bea escorted me out of the classroom, her hand on my arm while I attempted to look like I had a sore head.I sighed when we reached the end of the corridor, and stopped to lean against the wall while Bea smiled at me. "Thanks Bea, I appreciate it."She nodded, smiling again and leaned against the opposite wall. "What's your problem with Craig?"I moved my head slightly, I didn't know anybody called Craig. "Sorry? Craig?" "Oh, that's right, I forget you're new here. Craig's the one who said 'Alright, sweetheart?' It seemed like he knew you, or maybe Daryan just mentioned you or something..."She trailed off because I started to laugh at her imitation of Craig's voice and the way he had said that. A strange sound, considering it had been a while since I last laughed. "Um, yeah. I've met him before, but we're not exactly... on speaking terms. He seems to think I like him."She nodded taking in what I had said. "Yeah, he can be an ass sometimes. But that's just Craig for you. Now come on, we have to get you to the nurses office, or else Mr. Elgar will throw a fit."

shivered as I opened the door, pulling my hat down over my ears. It had been so cold the past few days, and today, the coldest, was the day I was to go to school. I turned back round to mum and John, who had his arm around her shoulder protectivley as she glanced around the house, shaking with fear.I felt like crying. I had made her that way, the night I had the nightmare which caused me to stick my fingernails in my neck. Ever since that night she had been uneasy, jumping at every noise, every movement. She always demanded to know the reason why I had dreamed of what I did, and what I had dreamed, and she insisted on getting up every hour to check on me. She was making herself ill, and she needed me. I could hardly tell her I was just as scared as she was, after all, I was the one who had the dream in the first place.I smiled at John, silently thanking him for taking such good care of mum, and hesitantley stepped outside for the first time in three weeks. I instantly wanted to go back inside, and I cursed my weakness under my breath. Archie jumped down from his usual perch, wrapping himself around my legs, purring loudly. I sighed, opening the door again to let him in. Mum nearly jumped out of her skin, and ran forward demanding to know if I was okay.I nodded, smiling to reassure her. "I'm fine, mum. I was just letting Archie in. I'll see you at four, okay?" I kissed her forehead and left again, without waiting for an answer.I took a deep breath, and headed off in the direction I had to take to get to school, which meant I was to go through the path. My heart was racing just at the thought of it, but I knew that the group of boys would have to be at school, and they wouldn't be there. I looked around me, paranoid I was being followed, and nearly screamed when I noticed a girl running towards me, waving her arms above her head. I picked up speed, putting my head down and forcing against the wind to let my legs work. "Hey, Karina, wait up!" I jumped.I didn't know this girl, but she knew me. I spun round, recovering my former courage slightly, and peered through watery eyes caused by the force of the wind. "Who... Who are you?" I was finding it difficult to voice my feelings, to speak to this girl. She could be anyone, and I had stopped to talk to her."Oh, that's right. Sorry, I heard about you from Cathy at the shop and it's like I know you already. I'm Bea." she put her hand out, and I flinched back. She wanted me to shake it, but at any moment she could shift into something I didn't want to touch, a monster, she could be anything.I continued walking, and she jogged to walk alongside me. "I've not seen you around much since you moved here."I nodded, keeping my head down, and entered the trees where my chest felt ready to explode with every prolonged breath I took so as to keep from her the fact that I was afraid. "It's funny, Daryan said he spoke with you, and then you disapear for three weeks. He was quite worried."I froze, staring at her in disbelief. "You know Daryan?" I breathed, unable to hide my shock, and my disaproval.She smiled. "He's my brother. It's weird, he's one of those brothers - Hey, where you going?!"I was walking ahead, glancing back every so often in fear. She was his sister. He spoke of me to her, and here she was, talking to me like nothing was wrong. If she was coming from my side of this place, that meant that her, and Daryan lived on the same side as me, and that no doubt I would see them every day. It meant that Daryan was closer to me than I thought, and that his friends would be too."Karina, wait." she laughed, a high pitched laugh that was as if she was singing. She grabbed hold of my arm, and I shook her off, running ahead and this time not stopping to look back. But she was behind me, I could hear her footsteps. What did she want from me? Was she like her brother? Would I ever get any peace here?

Daryan's friends had grabbed me from behind, and I was being forcefully shaked. It was as if they were trying to break me. The green eyes that were Daryan's grew larger, the colour deepening and swiftly changing to a deep red, and then a brown, and through all the previous colours that had floated around me. The hands on my arms were cold, their fingers digging into me as if they feared I would simply disapear. The eyes shifting colours in front of me settled once more, into that familiar emerald green, and for a moment time stood still.My breathing slowed, I stared into his eyes, and the hands around me loosened slightly. My eyes widened in horror as Daryan rushed forward, a sharp pain shooting through my body. I screamed out in pain, clutching at my neck with my suddenly free arm.And as the pain grew stronger, the hands slipped away, but the shaking continued, as did my screaming. My neck was burning, the pain I felt unlike any other, it was almost unbearable. And it was to grow stronger, and whether I was able to live through it I knew not. And it didn't matter, I was ready to die if this was the time, and as the darkness began to retreat, my screaming became less frenzied.I gasped as the pain surged through my body once more, and my fingers dug into the soft skin at my neck, where the pain had started. The shaking grew stronger as I undoubtedly felt my fingernails peirce my skin, and, unfortuanatley, the pain growing stronger. I screamed again, unable to hold back the outbursts I was always prone to when I was in pain, and my eyes flew open, revealing my room."Karina, honey, let go of your neck!" I heard mum screech, but the pain persisted and I was unableto loosen my grip. Laughter echoed in my ears as a warm liquid rolled down my neck from where my fingers were, and mum grew evermore terrified. "Karina!"She grabbed my arm, pulling with all her might, forcing me to let go. And then a figure appeared at my door. I screamed again, this time because the figure was almost the exact same as from moments before. A black figure, with blue eyes shining in the moonlight, stood in my doorway, while mum sat with her back turned. "Mum, run!" I choked out, tears spilling from my eyes as I thought of what was to come. But she wouldn't move. She was still trying to pry my hand from my neck. "Mum!" I screamed, my voice breaking as I pointed to the figure, who dashed away as mum turned round. "Karina, just take your hand from your neck. It was just a dream and you're hurting yourself!" her voice broke, and I realised with a start that she was crying too. I felt a fresh jolt of pain, but this time in my heart, for mum was crying because I was in pain. Did she know I was going to die? Was that why she was trying to hard to bring me back?"Please, honey, take your hand from your neck, it was only a dream." her voice became calmer as I looked at her face, the tears streaked on her cheeks shining in the moonlight. "It was only a dream, Karina, you're okay." I quickly glanced to the doorway, and then around my room, but the figure was nowhere in sight. I loosened my grip, allowing my hand to fall to my lap, while more liquid came from the wounds I had caused myself. Mum smiled up at me, grabbing my clean hand and dragged me into the bathroom while I searched franticly for any sign of who had been in the doorway. "Sit down, and let me see your neck." mum cooed, her eyes gleaming now that I was no longer causing myself damage. I smiled back, wincing slightly as she dabbed anticeptic on my neck."I've never seen you that bad with your dreams before..." she mused."Mum, where's John?" I questioned, trying to pin an identity on the figure. Silence issued after my question, and I looked down at mum. "Where's John mum?"She took a deep breath and wrapped a bandage around my neck, "John had to back to the city. Something happened with his mother, and he had to check to see if she's okay. She had some sort of accident and ended up in hospital."My heart raced at her words, and panic swelled over me again. John was in the city. That meant it wasn't John in the doorway. Someone was in our house, someone had been watching as we had struggled. I screamed again, making mum jump and drop the scissors which cut into my leg. She turned my face around to face her, trying to calm me down while she began to panic at the fresh blood pooling around us. I didn't even feel the pain."Mum, there's someone in the house."

The darkness was all around me once more, and I couldn't remember how it had got there. It seemed the darkness was my constant companion now, always just a few moments away, although it wasn't safe like a friend. There was always something out there, watching. I could be left to myself, but I was never exactly alone.Karina...A deep laughter filled my ears, and I spun around, trying to figure out where it had come from. Pointless really, the darkness was all I could see. I could have been blind.Karina...It was as if my name was being chanted in the night. For thats what it was, night time, it had to be. The wind picked up, brushing my air against my cheek softly, making the leaves on the trees that seemed to surround me move and join the whispering. I was in the forest again, I had to be. In the forest, in the dead of night. Was I losing my mind?The laughter echoed out again, and I shivered - whether from the cold of from the sounds I knew not. I was tempted to scream, someone had to be able to hear me, even in the middle of the night. If I was close enough, mum would wake up, if I could get my voice loud enough to carry that far. A hand covered my mouth from behind. No ones going to hear you, Karina... You can scream all you like... I spun around to see who was behind me, and was met my nothing but darkness. I stretched my hand out, and touched nothing but the air around me, which made the laughter ring out again, and my heart pound even harder. It filled my head, an insesent drumming, it was making it hard for me to hear my thoughts. Something brushed past my arm as I considered running. You know you wont get anywhere... We've been watching you, Karina... You can't escape... You belong with us...I shook my head, I had to be imagining this. If there was nothing there, in the darkness, then my mind had to be playing tricks on me. Oh really, Karina? Nothing out there but darkness? The whispering, the laughter, and the wind grew louder as I watched five sets of orbs emerge from the black. Five different coloured orbs, in pairs. Blue, gold, red, grey, and a deep brown. They were floating in the blackness, attached to nothing. My mind was definetley playing tricks on me, this couldn't be happening. That's were your wrong, Karina... We are here, with you right now, watching, waiting... You belong with us, don't ever forget that... The voice was coming from behind me, and as I thought those words, something stroked my hair. I spun round, my heart beating louder, my breathing frenzied. "Who are you?!" came my strained voice, hardly audible. I was answered by laughter, and another set of orbs. Green this time. Why was that green so familiar? The colours from before danced round me, laughter accompaning them. They were all boys, or men, and they were surrounding me. I was completely alone, but for them, and I could see no where to run if I had the chance. The green orbs were coming closer to me, the insesent laughter, whispering and drumming of my heart growing ever louder as I came closer to my fate. I was afraid, because I didn't know who these 'people' were, if they were people. Sure, the green, the voices, and even the laughter was familiar to me but that didn't mean... "Daryan!" I gasped.Once more I was met with laughter, and the green floated closer. Definetley the same shade of emerald. So that meant that the colours were peoples eyes. Probably the group og boys. And I was alone once more, in the darkness, untouched but for their eyes, their voices and my own heart. I had no escape.

The darkness was all around me once more, and I couldn't remember how it had got there. It seemed the darkness was my constant companion now, always just a few moments away, although it wasn't safe like a friend. There was always something out there, watching. I could be left to myself, but I was never exactly alone.

Karina...

A deep laughter filled my ears, and I spun around, trying to figure out where it had come from. Pointless really, the darkness was all I could see. I could have been blind.

Karina...

It was as if my name was being chanted in the night. For thats what it was, night time, it had to be. The wind picked up, brushing my air against my cheek softly, making the leaves on the trees that seemed to surround me move and join the whispering. I was in the forest again, I had to be. In the forest, in the dead of night. Was I losing my mind?

The laughter echoed out again, and I shivered - whether from the cold of from the sounds I knew not. I was tempted to scream, someone had to be able to hear me, even in the middle of the night. If I was close enough, mum would wake up, if I could get my voice loud enough to carry that far.

A hand covered my mouth from behind. No ones going to hear you, Karina... You can scream all you like... I spun around to see who was behind me, and was met my nothing but darkness. I stretched my hand out, and touched nothing but the air around me, which made the laughter ring out again, and my heart pound even harder. It filled my head, an insesent drumming, it was making it hard for me to hear my thoughts. Something brushed past my arm as I considered running. You know you wont get anywhere... We've been watching you, Karina... You can't escape... You belong with us...

I shook my head, I had to be imagining this. If there was nothing there, in the darkness, then my mind had to be playing tricks on me. Oh really, Karina? Nothing out there but darkness? The whispering, the laughter, and the wind grew louder as I watched five sets of orbs emerge from the black. Five different coloured orbs, in pairs. Blue, gold, red, grey, and a deep brown. They were floating in the blackness, attached to nothing. My mind was definetley playing tricks on me, this couldn't be happening. That's were your wrong, Karina... We are here, with you right now, watching, waiting... You belong with us, don't ever forget that...

The voice was coming from behind me, and as I thought those words, something stroked my hair. I spun round, my heart beating louder, my breathing frenzied. "Who are you?!" came my strained voice, hardly audible.

I was answered by laughter, and another set of orbs. Green this time. Why was that green so familiar? The colours from before danced round me, laughter accompaning them. They were all boys, or men, and they were surrounding me. I was completely alone, but for them, and I could see no where to run if I had the chance. The green orbs were coming closer to me, the insesent laughter, whispering and drumming of my heart growing ever louder as I came closer to my fate. I was afraid, because I didn't know who these 'people' were, if they were people. Sure, the green, the voices, and even the laughter was familiar to me but that didn't mean... "Daryan!" I gasped.

Once more I was met with laughter, and the green floated closer. Definetley the same shade of emerald. So that meant that the colours were peoples eyes. Probably the group og boys. And I was alone once more, in the darkness, untouched but for their eyes, their voices and my own heart. I had no escape.

{Chapter 11}

The shop that I needed next was across the square, meaning that Daryan would be following me the whole way, or he would wait outside his shop for me to come back and get the bike. Unfortuanatley, the only place I could safely put the bike was outside the florist, and even if there was another I could hardly push it over and hold on to the bouquet at the same time. Maybe if I just pretended he wasn't there, both on the way to the shop and on the way back, he would go back inside, and I could go home.



I adjusted the bouquet on my arm, and picked up my speed slightly. "Karina, wait!" No chance of pretending he wasn't there then, was he ever going to leave me alone? "Karina!"

I spun round, not realising how close he actually was, and stood on his feet. I smiled, I hoped it hurt. "I really have to go home soon, just because I'm here getting flowers doesn't mean I have nothing important to do, so what do you want?"

"Uh..." He just looked at me after that, not even attempting to add anything as to why he was following me. What was wrong with this boy?

Shaking my head I continued towards the shop. If he had nothing meaningful to say then I wasn't going to waste my time with him. As I passed the fountain, I once again trailed my fingers in the water, welcoming the cold that made me shiver. I could feel him watching me as I walked away. I was getting uncomfortable. I had only just met him that morning and he was already obsessed.

I had to adjust the bouquet again to open the door, this time a shrill bell reached my ears. I couldn't understand why the people here were so safety concious, there were only around twenty households that either lived in and around the village, it was unlikely they would have opportunity to steal anything. Grabbing the nearest box of whiskas pouches, and putting the bouquet on the counter, I checked outside the window, to find Daryan still standing where I had left him. I laughed, it really was like I had cast a spell on him.

"Hey, good-looking. What'cha finding funny?"

I knew that voice, the deep, strained voice from that morning. My hands instinctivly rolled into fists as they had done before, and I stared right into the face of my tormentor. He was smirking at me again, standing behind the counter holding a packet of cigarettes he was either about to take, or was about to put on the shelf. I tilted my chin up in defiance, and slammed a fiver on the counter. Sure, it was £3 over priced, but I wasn't standing there any longer than I had to. I grabbed the pouches, a polly bag and stormed outside, straight past Daryan and pulled my bike away. I shoved the pouches into the bag, got on my bike and made my way back home, as the ass left his shop announcing "She's a good'un" to Daryan.

{Chapter 10}

"Longly." I spat. "Give me the flowers."He just stood there, staring with those gorgeous emeralds, didn't even make a move to get the order. Would I have to rip the shop apart to get it, or was he going to move. Within seconds I was tapping my foot, imagining piano pedals, my fingers playing the main part of Clair de Lune silently against my leg. The wind chimes had really stirred something in me, and for the first time in three years I wanted to play piano, listen to composers, just be... free, and at one with nature. I could be like the birds, singing a song as they happily went about their daily lives, having fun and relaxing - if only he'd give me the flowers."Well? You going to go get them or not? Because I don't have all day." I rolled my eyes, just in case he hadn't noticed I was bored.He shook his head the moment my eyes left his. What, I was an enchantress now? "Uh, sure, Longly. And it's the summer, your new here and you're getting flowers for your mum. You must not be doing much, so what could you be in such a rush for?"His words gushed out, each one lingering in my mind like one of those stupid adverts where the words fly around the screen when the characters talk. I failed to answer, and he failed to notice. He was too busy mopping up the water from a broken vase he had run into. I sighed, letting my anger drop to save him from further humiliation. "Here, let me help you with that..." His head snapped up, startled. Did he think I was incaple of being kind due to our past encounters? "Um... I'll go get the flowers, the mops behind the counter." And he rushed off into the back, knocking more stuff over by the sounds of it.I grabbed the mop, and since my hands were no longer free I began to hum the melody from where I had left. It was actually comforting, it helped to ease my anger in a way - or perhaps it was the strong jerky movements I was making while mopping the floor, trying to avoid hitting everything and making as much noise as he had.And with the final trill, he came back into the shop again, carrying a hugebouquet. "God, what does she think when she gets these things... I have no idea how I'm going to get that back.""I could carry it for you, if you have other things to take back?" Shoot. I really had to stop thinking aloud."Uh, I'm on a bike actually, so I think I'll go buy a basket or something. She gave me enough money." I was stammering as I came up with an excuse as to why he shouldn't follow me home. He might be a raving pervert who wants to eat my family or something. He'll turn out to be a vampire or something, from the way he was staring at me...For some reason he looked hurt. Maybe he was a vampire, with the same gift as Edward. I shook my head. Enough about vampires, I was going back into the darkness of the forest for crying out loud. "It's no bother. We don't get much business here - I know, big shocker - and I owe you, for helping me clean up.""I only mopped up some spilt water, it's not as if a hurrican struck and I was ridding the remains of rubble and bodies." He was really going to think I was weird. Great, because that meant he would leave me alone."That's some sense of humor you've got there, I'm Daryan." He smiled as he said this, a sweet, shy smile. If I hadn't saw him that morning with his 'friends' I would have found this shocking."Karina, and I really have to go. I'll just buy a basket. Thanks for the offer though." I replied, taking the flowers and rushing outside, which filled my head with the windchime again. Louder than when I had first entered, as if the door had been opened twice...