Strong arms wrapped around me and dragged me through the icy water. My eyes wouldn't open and my lungs wouldn't breathe but somehow I could feel everything going on. I was on the brink of death but someone had dared to interfere. Why couldn't they just leave me to my inevitable fate?We reached the shore. I was dumped onto my back. I sputtered and gurgled water, but my body couldn't push it out. My half closed eyes tried to catch a glimpse of the meddler as he pounded on my chest. Water gushed from my lungs. I turned to heaved it out. My eyes still wouldn't stay open. Even my coughs felt weak. The cold clung to my skin and clothes.I heard the man grumble out a few word. "You are more trouble than you're worth, little girl.""I'm not worth anything," I whispered. "Just let me die."A deep growl escaped his throat as if he was contemplating something. After a long moment, arms lifted me up. I could smell the charcoal smell off of him. It reminded me of a campfire."Hold very still,

After the Shadow man's disappearance, I snuggled back in the warm bed. My mind swirled with the madness. Was I crazy? Was this real? The thoughts tangled as they morphed into even crazier dreams until the morning sunlight was streaming through my window through my ratty pink curtains. I blinked against the light realizing I was in my own bed. I shot up. Was it all just a dream? My hand went to my neck as I ran to the bathroom. I blinked hard against the florescent blubs. As my eyes adjusted, dark purple marks stood stark against my skin. The sigh of relief I let out rivaled one that a women issued when seeing the negative sign on a pregnancy test. Instead, a growing tightness deeper in my guts grew as I traced the marks down my neck to my shoulder. There was even a bit of skinned areas outlined with teeth marks. I may not be crazy with hallucinations, but now maybe I was a bit crazy in a different way. That bit of madness seemed less daunting to tackle, almost exciting.I pushed it

I dried my hair and wrapped myself in the towel before I tested my legs again. They were completely cramped. I tumbled and caught myself on the toilet before I went down all the way."Umm... Hey... Mister?" I called through the closed door.A moment of panic struck me. He was a complete stranger. He could do anything to me because I couldn't run away. I was in the worst position possible. I had to at least look like I could defend myself."Kira? Is everything okay?"I sat up straight. I hoped I at least looked tough enough to fight him. Well, that was complete bunk. If he was going to do something to me, there wasn't a damn thing I would be able to do about it.The door cracked open. "Are you okay?""Yeah, I think I'm done.""Okay, one second." He disappeared. A moment later he set a pair of sweatpants, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt on the edge of the counter. "They won't fit you, but at least it's something." He said then closed the door."Th... thank you." I called through the

I held my head in my hands between my knees. My head was killing me. What had I been doing? I didn't feel like puking and my stomach was warm and full, but god did my body hurt. I turned my head and looked out the sliding glass door as the rising sun sent beams of glowing light reflecting through the windows. Something about it reminded me of golden hair. I blinked hard. It didn't matter. I had a job to do. It was Saturday, my day for the early shift. I slowly sat up and then attempted to stand. My knees gave way. I barely caught myself on the edge of the day-bed. Anton grumbled and rolled over. He let out a ripping fart. I stumbled across the room to get away from it, coughing and choking on the air. How long was that freeloader going to be stinking up our apartment? I would have to talk to Mila about it. Mila... Mila... That was... no. Everything was fine. Just too much to drink was all. I must have been pre-partying for my upcoming birthday again. Why did I keep blacking out from

By early morning, I was driving the hornet down the familiar gravel driveway to my old house. The cows were already milked and travelled in a herd as they headed out to a green place to graze in the summer sun. The days would get shorter soon, almost unnoticeable until fall. It would happen just after solstice, my birthday. That was only a few days away. The memory of the darkness taking Mila made me shudder again. I stole a glance at her. She was still humming merrily as she looked out the window."Are we there yet?" Anton grumbled."Just about a mile," I said."My back is killing me from sleeping in the car at that rest stop," he complained as he stretched."Oh quit whining," Mila said. "You've been sleeping since we got in the car last night.""Yeah, but it was daylight until almost ten. Do you think your folks will have breakfast ready?""Again, I don't have folks. I have a brother and a father.""Yeah, whatever. Will they have food ready?""How am I supposed to know?" I ea