Ch. 1 Naomi

It was a dark cloudy night, and I am currently sneaking out my bedroom window to attend a party I do not want to go to. The wind is howling, like a wolf at the moon and just the slightest noise has me checking all directions. I start walking out behind my home, when I hear twigs snap. I wait to make sure that the coast is clear, and continue my path to the party. My best friend is currently hosting it at her family’s lake house, while her parents are out of town. As I start to get closer to the woods, that leads to the lake clearing, I hear rustling coming from behind me. When I turn around a quick dark figure passes by me, fast enough my hair whipped around me. I look around but all I see is a shadow of a figure to my left. “You really shouldn’t be out this late.” I tried to see who exactly was speaking to me, but he backed further into the shadows of the woods.

I scoffed at the figure, “who are you to tell me where I should and shouldn’t be? Last I checked, my parents are at home sleeping.” The figure started to laugh and I started to get annoyed. “I don’t see what’s so funny.”

In a dangerously low voice, says “I am no one but there are many dangerous people and creatures at night.” My frown deepens and I turn around quickly to start walking in the direction I was heading. I check to see if the figure is still there and give a sigh of relief when I no longer see him. I quicken my pace to the clearing, making sure to check behind me. But before I realize it I run into something hard and fall to my butt. When I look up, I see a tall man with vivid blue eyes. “It’s very rude to walk away from someone, while they’re speaking.” He tsked at me as I sat frozen in place.

If I didn’t know any better it sounded like he was teasing me. I stuttered over my words, “I don’t understand. Y-you were behind me. H-How?” He chuckled and shook his head at me.

“I told you there were dangerous people out here.” Starting to get the sense that I might be in some type of danger, I scramble to my feet and take off running back to my house. I feel a rush of wind whip past me and the figure appears in front of me. I quickly turn back into the woods, pushing myself to run faster. I turn in all directions making sure that I had lost him. I hide behind a tree and hunch over trying to catch my breath and ease the burning in my lungs. Branches begin to snap from behind me and I take off in a sprint again. I try to reach into my bag for my phone and realize I must have dropped it by the tree. I growl in frustration and come to a halt when my bag drops in front of me, “Missing something?” This time there was humor in his voice.

I took a hesitant step forward and my bag moved further away from me. “Get it if you can.”

Realizing that he was trying to play games at this point, I screamed in frustration, “I don’t want to play your games!” My voice cracked slightly. He appears in front of me and holds his hand out to the side. My bag moves into his hand and he gives me a closed lip smile.

“Fine I will leave you be….if and only if you can tell me what today is.” I knew today was my best friend’s death anniversary, but was unsure of what he meant.

“June 2nd.” I say in a slightly defeated tone.

“Yes but what is special about today?” My frown deepened as I look up at his face and tears welled into my eyes. I shrug my shoulders not knowing what else could be special about today. My tears began to fall more and my mind started to drift to what this person will do to me, if I can’t answer him correctly. Without realizing, my legs started to give from underneath me, but before I could hit the ground, I felt strong arms embrace me. “You don’t remember me do you?” I shook my head and looked up at him. His eyes dulled down to blue-greenish from the vibrant blue. Thinking really hard about who he could be, realization hit me. “Hello, Naomi.” He let go of my arms and pulled me into a hug. I stood there confused and shocked as to how my childhood best friend could be standing in front of me.

“I don’t understand. Everyone said you were dead.” He shook his head.

“That wasn’t true, that’s what they wanted you to believe.” He sighed and looked around.

“But why would my parents lie to me?” He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. I looked up to him and he was looking everywhere but at me.

“I don’t know, but I need to get you back home. You can not tell anyone you saw me.” There was something he wasn’t telling me but I wasn’t sure if it had to do with my parents lying to me. He looked down at me expectantly.

“I won’t tell anyone.” He nodded and grabbed my hand. We started walking back in the direction out of the woods, I’m guessing. “What aren’t you telling me?” He shook his head at me and I pushed more. “Why can’t you just tell me? You were my best friend.” My voice had gradually gotten louder. I crossed my arms and started to pout.

“You know you’ve always had a short temper and I’m protecting you by not telling you. There’s a reason why I disappeared. Before you even think about asking, no I won’t tell you.””

He turned his head towards me for a brief moment. “Why?” He glared at me and I returned the glare knowing, it was very unlikely for him to cave and tell me.

“If I tell you all hell would break loose.” I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “He sighs, “you know why they’re lying to you, you just don’t know you do.

“Now we’re being cryptic. Why don’t-,” he cuts me off and yells at me.

“Stop asking so many questions about it, because I will not tell you. If you want to know so bad then go ask your so called parents.” He points his finger in the direction we were walking. In a low stern voice he says, “but let me warn you and be completely clear with you…” He pauses, waiting to see if I will interrupt him. “If you ask them about it, you will have to tell them about seeing me. If you do that, I swear they will pack everything up and move. Meaning you will not see me for a while.”

As he finished speaking, I noticed his eyes had gone bright red and you didn't hear the owls anymore. “I’ve always trusted you more than my parents so why would I ask them, since you have already said they have been lying to me.” When I looked away from Marcus, I noticed there were about 7 pairs of vibrant colored eyes surrounding us. Slowly another set appeared but were purple with gold specks.