• Chapter 1.

    Breathe. In, out, in, out. This wasn't happening. No, it has to be a dream. I must be hallucinating... I thought to myself worriedly.
    It was behind me still. I could feel its hot breath on my neck, panting. What is that...that thing?
    I asked myself over and over again, hoping I could come up with an answer eventually. Beads of sweat were already forming on my face. Then again, you couldn't help getting sweaty when you were running for your life. I tripped and fell.
    "No! Please!" I sobbed helplessly, waiting for the thing to come out and devour me.
    Nothing came out of the darkness. Surprised and suspicious, I got up and looked around. My dried tears itched against my cheek, though I didn't know what was happening.
    "Maybe I'm drunk..." I sighed, rubbing my head gingerly.
    Suddenly, a dark outline jumped in front of me. Its fingers barely touched me when a flash of lightning roared out, quivering all alone in the never ending sea of black. But when it touched me...my vision started wavering around. My arm started itching horribly. And I couldn't get that...that image out of my mind. The lightning surprised it, and it stumbled backwards. I had to take this chance.
    I jumped up and ran as fast as my legs would carry me. When I came to a forest, I highly doubted I had outran that thing. But I was tired, and either way, it would probably take me. I curled into a tight ball and slowed my breathing. The morning light already was beginning to shine. Sharp rays were slicing through the foliage. I heard it coming. A low musty smell drifted towards me with a soft tinkling music following it.
    I got up and followed it, wanting to figure out this mystery once and for all.
    When I got to the area where the smell and music was coming out, it stopped abruptly. Carefully, I took another step when I heard a crack. A fit of laughter showed, then stopped immediately.
    "Hello?" My voice shook. I took another step, and another fit of laughter.
    It started to make me frustrated, and angry. "Is anybody here?" I asked again, my voice loud and clear.
    Now I heard hysterical laughter filled with snorts and I nearly started into a fit of giggles too.
    A boy stepped out of his hiding place and stopped, his eyes wide with horror. "You better come check this out." He whispered into the forest.