Midnight Rose

Chapter One The Magical Woods

I walked through the forest of cherry trees, inhaling their sweet springtime scent. Fallen cherry blossoms dotted the ground, but none lay on the path I walked on. I loved this forest; I'd always thought it was magical.

A soft breeze ruffled my hair. I could smell the nearby river on it.

Every night, I took a walk in these mysterious woods. That would end soon, however; my parents had informed me that we were moving to some town called Silverglade.

I sighed. Then I felt something sniffing my foot. I looked down to see an adorable snow-white bunny was the culprit.

Slowly so as not to startle it, I bent down. The bunny looked at me, then hopped right onto my lap. I laughed. I'd always had a way with animals. I sat there stroking it for a few minutes before I said,"Well, little guy, I'll see you around!" And set him on the ground. I had a river to visit.

As I walked to the river, I noticed a tiny white ball of fluff following me. I snickered; the bunny had followed me.

When I got to the river, I noticed something that had never been there before: a curtain of beautiful wisteria. They seemed to be hiding a pathway.

"That's funny." I muttered. "I thought I'd explored every nook and cranny of these woods." I looked at the rabbit, who was drinking water from the stream.

After a few minutes, curiosity won over caution, and I decided to go look.

Pushing aside the wisteria, I saw what looked like a garden from a fairy tale. I gasped with wonder. I walked to a beautiful rosebush and sniffed a flower. The scent was stronger than was natural, but still subtle.

And then I felt, rather than saw or heard, that I was not alone. I whirled around.

"Well, well, well, I didn't think any of you would be stupid enough to fall for my trap." said the vampire.