Prologue

Trying to step softly, a tall, young blonde woman ran up the stairs of the dark currently vacant home to seek shelter. While she looked for a way to call for help she heard the door closing from down stairs telling her that she had indeed been followed up to this point. In that moment she no longer thought of looking for a phone but to find a place to hide.

Reaching down to the door knob in front of her she went to charge into the very first room she had seen. Only as her hand touched the knob she heard the gentle sound of the jingling bells echo through the hall.

She gasped and looked down at the door knob to see what it was that made the sound, a Christmas decor was on the door, they were on all the doors. Glancing towards the steps it seemed that her follower hadn't noticed the soft sound of the bells. She let out a long exhale trying to remain calm as she turned the knob to the door slowly to not cause anymore unwanted sound. Pulling the door open just enough for her to fit into the room she realized once she stepped inside she had chosen the worst room in the house.

It was too late to turn back now, she stepped back and crouched down in the corner of the small room. Hearing footsteps coming up the stairs she tried to silence the little noise that remained escaping through her nervous heavy breath.

She moved her freezing pale fingers over her lips and nose as she tried to silence and trap any sound within. Alongside the freezing temperatures the fear of being found drove her body to shake uncontrollably. She knew this sort of thing would give her away yet she couldn't stop herself, she was too afraid of the person coming up the stairs.

The jingling of the bells on the door knobs signaled they were beginning to look into the rooms and just how far away they were from her door. She was sure she had to have made enough sound to be heard by now however they opened yet another door to another room. A little confidence that they had yet to hear her helped her calm her breathing.

However, their footsteps soon blocked off the only light shining under the crack of the door. The young woman held her mouth tighter as she quietly crunched over to get closer to the floor. In hopes that it was dark enough that she would be mistaken for a pile of clothes or or shoes on the ground so they would pass her by.

The fear ran through her body as she heard the jingles of the bell. Her breathing practically froze, trying to make herself seem lifeless in the corner. She closed her eyes and bit down on her lip as the door crept open trying to distract herself from their presence.

Every instinct in her body told her to run as she could feel their gaze searching the small space. Brushing their hands across the coats she felt the ends of the fabric graze over the tops of her shoulders. startling her from being so on edge, it was enough to create a small escape of air, allowing a very small sound to emerge.

Not instantly but slowly a hand reached down feeling the space until it tickled the back of her neck. There was a pause for a moment before the grasp took a hold of her with a tight grip and pulled her out by her wavy curls.

She instantly began to cry and yell while being ripped out of the closet. Stumbling to her feet she tried to push, kick, and scratch at him so she could get free and run away only to be grabbed by another at her ankles and lifted by her feet.

"No!" She screamed while being carried down the stairs and out of the building.

Fighting all she could, the men who grabbed her were only joined by others as they tightened their grip and continued to bring her towards the lake where others stood around all dressed in white as they prayed.

"Please stop..." She cried no longer struggling finding this to be hopeless now as her body was lowered to the water. The freezing water went up her dress and around her body almost instantly turning her lips white.

Hearing water rustled by her head she looked back to see an elder woman approach her. The older woman placed her even colder hands on the sides of the blonde woman's face as she looked down into her blue eyes. The young woman cried, shaking her head no while she continued to beg to be set free.

"Shh, there is nothing to be afraid of, you're the swan..."