{Chapter 9}

"Karina, be a doll and go down the village for me? We're out of food for Archie, and I ordered a bouquet from the florist, so while your at it could you -""Do I have to mum? Can't I just go out back and help John or something?" No way was I going through that path again so soon. If they weren't between the trees, they'd be in the village, or even around the cottage, seeing as there were only a fewpeople livingon this side, and ours was the only place that had been bought and sold for years, which meant they knew where I lived."...And all we've done so far since we moved here, is make it a nicer, better place for us to live, and it would be nice to have a break. Seeing as you hardly helped out at all, we deserve one!""Fine, mum. Just give me the money..." I sighed in defeat, it was hardly fair of me to make her do everything, and she had been working for nearly three weeks straight."What's wrong with you today? You're snapping at everyone and just not being yourself." she asked me, with a concerned look on her face while handing me the money."Cool, see you soon!" I replied, dodging the question and running out of the door before she could stop me. I scanned the area, looking for any sign of other people outside their homes. No one was on the beach, on the road, and no one was outside the onlyvisible cottage. No one was at the entrance to the path either, which didn't make me feel that much better. Running around the side of the cottage, I opened the garage door and choked slightly on the masses of dust and dirt that filled my mouth and nostrils. The garage was dark, and for a second I hesitated, stupidly thinking that one of them would have hidden inside. I grabbed John's bike, while shaking my head and laughing at my stupidity. I sped past the cottage, saying a quick "See you later!" to Archie, who yowed in response. I swear, sometimes I thought he could understand what we were saying. I could see the path ahead of me, and I was rapidly travelling towards it. It was lighter than it had been earlier in the day, - I could see the ground clearly now - so that meant that the boys wouldn't be on their bikes (I guessed they did that to terrify whoever they found when it was dark.) That meant they could creep up on me silently, but for the shuffling of the ground beneath their feet, if they were careless enough to let me hear.I tried not to think of it as I travelled on the uneven ground, I had a faster means of getting away this time, if anything happened. I would be out of the trees soon enough, and then I could relax in the village until I was ready to enter again. Turning the final bend, I could see the fountain where I had sat, and the relativley busy village. They wouldn't try anything now, they would be in plain sight. And then, the sunlight hit again, making me blink several times before my eyes were used to it. I left my bike on the railings outside the florist and opened the door, windchimes ringing in my ears, the scent of several kinds of flower taking over my senses, deciding for me that I would be listening to Mozart when I got home. I smiled as I breathed deeply, listening to the music the windchime was playing fade away, before turning to the counter. My happiness faded slightly as I realised no one was behind the counter. Irritably, I rung the small bell labelled "ring for assistance" and waited for someone to emerge from the back. The curtain moved and I spun round so I could get the order and go back home before anybody appeared who would try to keep me. "Can I help..." came the same melody from that morning, belonging to the same emerald green eyes.