Not Dead Rewritten

Chapter One - The Old Willow

This was a horrible idea, she had known it from the start yet for some reason she had agreed to do this ridiculous college hazing ritual. All she had to do was snap a picture of the old willow tree deep in the forest and return to her dorm.

She had finally made it to the edge of the forest. She had never liked the forest although she had always been drawn toward it in some strange fashion. The whistling of the old willow trees and the way the shadows seemed to beckon her in when it was late and she had to park by it were strangely comforting. On the other hand, she felt watched like the trees had eyes and were watching her every move.

"Okay (Name) deep breaths. It's just one picture nothing crazy." She breathes in the cold night air calming her nerves enough to get her on the path. She takes a few more steps and gets met with an overwhelming feeling as if she's being drawn into the deep recesses of the old forest. She keeps walking down the path she was instructed to go down until there's a split. She knows she must go right to find the old willow but feels drawn to the left. She lets out a sigh and goes left.

"They won't even know, it's not like they're gonna look at my location data after all." With a determined nod, the girl makes her way down the left path, curious to see why she's been so drawn toward that path. As she makes her way down the path she feels watched almost as if a set of eyes are following her every move.

As she walks down the path she notices an old house, one of those houses you just know an old couple can't let go of despite its disrepair. The house is wooden and almost looks as if it isn't real as if someone drew it for a spooky cartoon from the sixties. Although she had begun to believe the house might just be some illusion her tired brain had come up with, she made it to the front door. Holding her hand out as if she's afraid she's going to spook some wild animal, she touches the old wooden door with her fingertips, once she does the door opens slightly as if the door is welcoming her in.

"Hello?" Wow, way to sound like the first person to go in every horror film ever. I might as well seal my fate now. She groans in frustration at her thoughts before she hears something move. Quickly she turns her head to the sound but nothing is there. She lets out a sigh and turns to the door to leave but she sees a shadow that wasn't there before. A human shadow. Of course, this place was some murderer's secret hideout, no one would be stupid enough to come out here. Except for her, of course.

"You seem lost, maus." The shadow spoke its voice was light, almost playful. Like it was toying with her.

"Yeah I am so sorry, I'll just be on my way and you won't have to hear from me or see me ever again." She chuckles hoping to ease the tension before taking a few steps back and landing against a broad chest. Two hands latch onto her upper arms and she can't help but exclaim in surprise. She looks up to see a fanged grin and her eyes widen.

"Now you just got here miss, and it's late why not stay for a bit and rest." The chest behind her rumbles as the deep voice behind her speaks.

"I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome. I did kinda break in after all."

"Not at all stay as long as you like, maus." The shadow finally steps forward into the moonlight and he is downright gorgeous. He looks like a model or something out of a Twilight book. She stares at him in awe before shaking herself out of the daze she was put in by the beautiful man. Another shadow appears beside him this one is slightly shorter.

"Who's this? Did you bring someone new home?" This one sounds rougher, almost angrier.

"Not this time, this one found us." They begin to talk amongst themselves. She observes them as if they're in a zoo.

"You don't have to stare so hard, they aren't going anywhere." A voice much gentler than the others cuts through the conversation. She turns to see a man shorter than the rest. His eyes are gentle and kind looking, it's almost like he feels bad for her. He takes a few steps toward her and stops abruptly his eyes growing wide.

"You're-" He cuts himself off and walks over to the other two who've been talking to each other for a while now. He whispers to the taller one who gives him a concerned look before turning to the girl.

"You, what's your name?" He points at her with an accusing finger.

"Uh, it's (Name)."

"Well, (Name), it seems you will be staying with us for a while. My name is Bill and this is my brother Tom." He motions to the slightly shorter man beside him. "The man holding you is Georg and this is Gustav." He points to the man with the gentle eyes.

"Wait a minute, stay with you? No, I have to go back to my dorm. I don't even know you." She starts to panic squirming in the arms of who she now knows is Georg. Bill rolls his eyes and walks up to her holding her chin in his hand and turning her to face him.

"Oh trust me, you will." He smirks and snaps the fingers of his free hand. (Name) feels her eyes get heavy. The last thing she hears before she succumbs to the darkness is Bill's sickeningly sweet voice.

"Sweet dreams Maus."