The Forest

I opened my eyes and noticed I was in a bedroom, but where... where was I?

I groaned as I pushed myself up, leaning on my front claws. I looked around me, but I couldn't quite remember how I had gotten there or when, considering it seemed to be night.

I stood myself up and walked towards the door. I pushed the door open and slowly walked into the barely lit hallway. There were two rooms to my left and to my right, at the end of the hall was a staircase. A window, near the end of the hallway, lit the dark walls, shimmering beautifully in the moonlight.

There was a light coming from the bottom of the stairs and I carefully made my way to the end of the hall, then turned and stared down the stairs at the light. As I was about to step down, a man came around the corner at the bottom of the stairs and Iooked up at me. When our eyes met, I froze.

Who was he?

Why wasn't he scared?

The man looked tired...

He slowly started to step back and I quickly run back into the dark hallway. I had to get out of there. I swiftly moved to nearest window, luckily, it was open. then, as I was about to jump out...

"Satrena! Did you..."

That name... why did it sound so familiar?

Memories flooded back into my mind... I knew where I was, but why was I here and how? Why was I here, but also not... What was going on? I stood near the window, scared and confused.

When I crept toward the stairs, the light was gone as if it were never there, only a dark abyss remained. The stairs seemed to be covered in dust, almost like no one has been here for months... or even years...

I crept down the stairs, listening as the they creeked each step of the way. When I came to the bottom, I looked around me and I felt an empty loneliness bury itself into the world around me. I looked into the living room, dust and cobwebs littered the entire room, the curtains were torn and the windows were baricaded... What happened here? How did all of this happen? As I looked into the kitchen, she wasn't there anymore...

Was I going mad?

I turned to my side and saw the back door was wide open, no one standing in the way.

I carefully walked towards the door then stopped, inches from the outside... What if this was some sort of trap or sick joke? Suddenly, a vile shreek broke me thoughts. I felt me body shiver, hearing the shreek right beside me. I knew I was alone, but it didn't feel so anymore. The fear gripped me like a snake trapping it's prey.

Then, as the screaming became louder, I regained my senses, dashing out of the house, not thinking twice or even turning back. I kept running, heaven knows where to. I ran through the forest, not wanting to turn back, not even to look... Where was I going?

Where would I go?

After minutes of running, I started to slow my pace and strangely, I didn't feel tired or even sore. I walked through the bushes, listening to the soft whispering of the midnight breeze.

Then, I came across a solitary house, the lights still on, someone must still be home. I approached the front yard, hoping to find somebody. And as I approached the house, i cought a glimps of my reflection and stopped dead in my tracks... Why would somebody help a monster like me?

I turned away and started walking towards the dirt path when suddenly, I heard somebody, a girl, scream. I looked back at the house and saw her, a young girl with dark hair. I stared for a few seconds before she closed the door, seemingly panicked... I couldn't blame her... I could hear her hyperventilating, even her heart, pounding in her chest.

Then, I felt a sudden hunger, hatred, anger. I wanted to hurt her... I didn't even know who she was... Why was I feeling this?

I fought the urge, turning away and running again. As I ran, I saw a sign, the name Zanela engraved on the metal plate.

Was that the girl's name?

I kept running deeper into the forest, again, not knowing where I was going. As I entered a clearing, I spotted a cave, partially hidden in the slope of the mountain. I rushed inside and turned, looking to the outside. I was scared and confused.

I laid down, watching the entrance, hoping this was all just a nightmare...