Into The Woods

Chapter One

      "Uhhhhggg," I jerked into wakefulness with my adrenaline burning in my veins as I thrashed against my attacker. Until I realized that I was alone in my room. "What the hell kind of dream was that? It was fucked up." Reaching to feel my neck I flinched as my fingers brushed against my fresh bruises. "What the? No way this could be happening." I grabbed my phone to look at the texts from last night only to discover that the battery was dead. "Shit," I sighed as I plugged my phone into my charger and turned to my closet. "I guess I need to get ready for school. I have to look my best for my first day of senior year." Going to my closet grabbing my white tee shirt, black jeans, and my letterman jacket. Doing my Hygiene and then getting dressed. Looking at myself in the mirror looking pleased with the finished touches, I grabbed my backpack, keys, and phone then hurried down the stairs.

      Outside I looked nervously towards the woods that borderline the edge of my yard. "Mr. Redye? Antonio couldn't have seen him that is all just make-believe." As I started heading towards school I heard a friendly voice call out from the yard next door. "Morning neighbor." Said Sam our neighbors. "Oh hey Sam, what's up?" I asked. "Just coming back from our morning walk. Hey, Drea, look who it is." Sam called to his dog. Looking in the Drea direction I saw a blur of black and white fur crash out of the bushes looking around excitedly. "Wuff," Drea barked at me as her bushy tail waved like a flag. I bent down and petted her. "Hi, girl." Drea smiled and "Arrrooooo," I smiled.

      "Aww, good to see you too, cutie." Drea flops on her back wriggling happily as I rub her belly. "Your parents around? I didn't see them out and about this morning." Sam asked me looking towards my house. "Yea, they are still overseas dealing with my uncle's estate and company or whatever. They should be back in a couple of weeks." Sam looked a little worried. "Damn, that's a long time for a kid to be by themselves. Especially in that big house." Sam added making me feel like I was ten instead of eighteen.

       "Yea, well I can take care of myself. I just turned eighteen and I can do my laundry and everything. I'm getting pretty good at mac and cheese as well. I have only set off the smoke alarm three times this week." I replied with a smile. "Aw, they grow up so fast." Sam suddenly cocks his head taking a few steps toward my house and then crouched down beside a small pile of loose dirt. "Huh, wonder what this is?" Sam picks something out of the pile and holds it up. It was a glossy black stone carved with a strange rune. "Is this yours?" I walk over to Sam and he hands me the stone. I examine it carefully.

      "Weird," I thought, the stone is surprisingly heavy in your hand. You move your thumb along the deep crack that runs through the center of the engraved rune. "I wonder where this came from and what broke it." I was curious about this stone and why it was by my house. "Beats the hell out of me. Looks like a paperweight or something." Brushing away some of the dirt from the stone, I froze as a familiar smell scented into my nose. A cold breeze and a hint of blood. "It smells just like that thing that." I stopped myself and glanced nervously at Sam.

      "Smells like what?" Sam asked curiously. "Uh, weird. It just smells kinda weird." Sam nodded and dusted off his hands. "Well, I will let you get to school. You just let me know if you need anything, alright? My door is always open if you need me." Sam said being a nice neighbor. "Will do, thanks Sam." Sam whistles for Drea as she jumps up and runs to follow him. Once they were out of sight I looked down at the stone in my hand. If what I saw last night was real this could be a clue. Better to keep it somewhere safe. Thinking of a safe place I decide to put it in our shed. After trying a few times to open the shed door it was stuck because it's been a while since we had been in it. I finally opened the rusted hinged door that screeches with every shove.