Freedom

After venturing deep into the forest, Skyla halted when the path beneath her feet faded. She raised her eyes to scan her surroundings but all she could see was pitch blackness.

Biting her lips, Skyla knitted her brows as she looked for a shelter in the woods. She remembered about the mysterious tales she had heard about in the woods. Shaking her head, she thought amusedly, 'A mansion? Haha that would be hilarious if it was true'

She remembered her senior telling her about a student who had ventured into the woods in search of the mansion but was later found unconscious in the middle of the woods. Later, after he woke up, his face was pale as he trembled, "Devil...devil in the woods"

His words proved the fact that there was something mysterious about the woods. Rumours scattered rapidly and from then onwards, the woods were banned for everyone.

Yet, here she was, in the woods… lost

Skyla exhaled as she leaned against a tree. Slumping down towards the ground, she tilted her head back as she looked into the black night sky. She could hear the sound of the crickets in the background as well as the soft rustles of the wind caressing the leaves.The coldness of the night seeped into her skin, making her rub her arms. She hissed when her fingers touched the small wounds on her arms.

Skyla stared at her arms for a minute until her tears slowly fell from her eyes. Sniffing, she brought her knees closer to her chest and burrowed her head as she cried her heart out.

'Why does this always happen?'

Is this the way she would have to live her life? Was there no escape from this fate?

Skyla closed her eyes as her mind flashed her an image of Daniel looking at her with his signature smile. She pursed her lips as she thought, 'Even he couldn't escape from it'

She knocked her head against the tree as she thought loudly, "Would there be anyone who could resist this fate?"

"Someone who would stay sane in front of her blood"

Her lips curled up into a mocking smile as she knew the answer to her very own question.

Suddenly in the eerie darkness, she heard him… heard the voice which drove her crazy, "I can"

Skyla shuddered in fright as her eyes snapped open. She bit down on her lips hard as she clutched her arms tight. Her nails pierced the skin reminding her that this was not another nightmare.

In a flash, she stood up from the tree and looked around fearfully as she moved away from the tree slowly.

"Little rabbit"

Skyla froze as she seemed to hear the voice near her. Her body trembled and her eyes widened in fright when she felt something caress her shoulder. Her heart thundered inside her chest as she turned around stiffly.

But to her relief, there was no one.

Skyla gulped as she stared into the eerie darkness. She pursed her lips as she asked in an edgy voice, "Who are you?"

Her eyes wandered around in the darkness as she waited for the voice to answer her. Minutes passed, but she didn't hear another word from him making her relax slightly.

Exhaling slightly, she tapped her chest as she closed her eyes in relief. She didn't want to deal with anything else tonight.

"It has only begun, dear", the voice whispered near her ear.

Skyla's heart stopped for a minute before a terrifying scream left her mouth.

'AAAAAH!!!'

She swiftly turned around, pointing a shaky finger at the darkness. She swiped her finger to her right and left anxiously as she inhaled heavily. Her eyes widened as she shouted madly, "What is it that you want?"

The voice chuckled sending shivers down her back. His chuckles echoed within the woods making her head spin.

"Don't you already know that, my dear rabbit?"

Skyla froze.

'I know?'

Instantly she felt something wet on her feet and her eyes swept down to see her blood trickling down her arms and falling on the ground. Her eyes turned hazy when a sudden thought struck her.

'Why didn't she realize it soon?'

Today it was her so-called boyfriend but next time, would it be her friend? Her love?

Was there no end to this chase?

Tears streamed down her cheeks, as she scoffed, "Blood, huh?"

Skyla bit the inside of her cheek when she heard him chuckle again.

'Even the voice wants my blood'

She scoffed ridiculously at her thought before her eyes sharpened.

'You want my blood? Take it'

Skyla pursed her lips angrily before she slammed her arms against a tree. She bit her lips hard when she felt the glass shards present on her arm, delving deeper inside her body. Her face paled and her eyes blurred as she looked up into the darkness and jeered, "Is this much enough?"

Skyla blinked when she noticed her background blur. She could feel her entire body screaming for rest as her arm throbbed in pain.

She forced herself to stay awake as she asked lifelessly, "Is this enough?"

She snatched a branch and cut her arms wildly as she asked, "Is this enough to leave me alone?"

Would doing this make everything easier?

Would offering her blood to this demon, save her from all these humans?

She was tired.

Tired of being careful around anything… tired of being scared.

She wanted to be free...free from all these nightmares. She wanted a normal life.

And if that was only possible through her death then so be it.

Her lips curled up into a mocking smile as she watched her blood pool around her feet.

She dropped the branch to the ground as tears welled up in her eyes.

Was she going to die amidst the darkness?

A picture of Sallie smiling at her, "You are back, baby! I'm making your favourite macaroons" appeared in her mind, making her lips curl into a sad smile.

"Sorry, granny" she whispered into the darkness as her body gave away.

She didn't want to leave her granny alone.. She didn't want the poor woman to suffer anymore yet she has no choice. If only.. if only someone could help her...

Protect her…

THUD

"I will protect you"