LONG WAY HOME

It had rained  the following morning so the weather was somewhat cool. It was a five minutes walk from my school and the road l took was usually abandoned. Today, it seemed unusually deserted. Not a single living being or even an insect came into view. I kept on walking, random thoughts circling through my mind that is until I realized that I had been walking for a while now yet I had no where to reach. I could not see my home or any other. All l could see so far were roads, abandoned and dusty. I halted.

I stood for a while, analysing before continuing despite the tension in my head. Hope kept me walking and that is when l felt someone following me.

l could hear clear echoes of footsteps behind me, the rythm falling and rising every now and then. Everytime l turned, l did not see anyone. I could feel my heart race inside my chest now. The atmosphere went tense and eerie. I wiped  the sweat beads off my forehead with the back of my hand as my steps became heavier.

In no time, l found myself running. I took a turn and almost bumped into someone. I halted, gasping for air and stared at the girl who stood before me.
I did not know whether to be shocked or happy that there was someone.

"Slow down. What's the rush?"  the girl said.

It took me a while to speak again.

"I-" l was not sure what to say, "l don't know where l am and l can't find my way. There are no people and-" l paused as l saw the calm look on her face.

"So, you are lost?" She questioned with a smirk.
"N-no l just…l mean ugh I don't know." I ended up holding my head in exhaustion.

"It is stagwort." She said rather skeptically.

The moment she said that, l felt my heart drop. I was certainly on the right path and my house should have been two streets away yet l  had no sign of going anywhere. I was utterly bewildered.

"B-but h-how?? " I whimpered a little loudly.

"Looks like you're lost. " She said.

"I- I'm not lost it's just-" Nothing came out.

I thought for a while. Maybe l was too tired and my mind was just playing games with me? Well, honestly l just told that to myself to relieve myself.

"I shall leave."

With that being said l started on my way.
It was a long walk and I had to admit that I was lost. I sat on the sidewalk with a blank expression.

"You ARE lost. " A voice came. I looked up to find the girl standing over my head.

"Have you been following me? " I hollered and calmed down immediately.

"You're lost too aren't you? "

She nodded. "You're the one who's lost. "

I just stared at her.

"Look this is the right way and I'm on the right track. I don't know what's wrong. " I let out. She grinned. Was she seriously grinning? At me?

"Does that not make you lost? " She mumbled.

"N-no." I immediately replied. "Just help me get back home. " I pleaded. The girl was so weird and l needed to get back home.

"I can help you with that, " She continued, " but let's talk it over at my place. "

I was silent.

"You can always leave when you know where to go."

" You can just give me directions here." I tried convincing her.
"I don't know where you want to go either. My mom will help." She said,
I got up and turned to leave.

" Thanks but unfortunately, l don't follow strangers." With that l quickly walked away.

Left right left right right straight ahead. It got tiresome. I lost all my hope and sat on the side-walk, my head tucked inside my legs

"Want to change your mind?" Someone spoke softly. I looked up. Ofcourse it was that girl again.

But maybe l was a little relieved that she followed me.

"Look l- uh ok but only for a while.I will go with you but please help me." I knew it was a bad idea to follow a stranger but l had no choice.

I started following her and after a while, we reached a park.

"Why couldn't l even see this park? " I asked her with confusion written all over my face.

"Only l can see it, no outsider. " She said without even turning.

I just stood there not knowing what to say. "Hold my hand-"

"No! "

"Trust me or else you can't come. " She told me. I was still confused. However, l reluctantly took her hand.

"Now shut your eyes. " I did as l was told and it was a matter of seconds when she told me to reopen them.

What l saw next was unbelievable and horrific. What in the world was l looking at?
A place full of bizarre CREATURES.

"This is my homeland, this is Arswor. "
I stared at her in utter confusion and took a step back.

"Who are you? " I asked.

"I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on. " she said.

Helpless, l went along. People… no creatures were giving me 'the look' when l walked past them. Oh and they gave me the creeps. I tried to hide my fear because deep down, l was sure I'd die anytime.

We finally reached her home. She opened the door and called out for her mom. A woman came out. She came across like a human though just as her daughter did, still her pointy ears and long teeth couldn't hide much.

"Mom l brought him. " She said with a grin.
I glared at her for a split second.

Got me? Was she intended on that?

"Hi there. "

The woman said trying her best to smile but Ah man her teeth just still scared the hell outta me.

"H-hi." I responded.

"Come in. " She said, allowing me in. I went in after her. The girl took me to her room and told me to stay put.

"I'd be right back. Don't go anywhere. "

She said and took off. I couldn't help so l followed her. I creaked open the kitchen door where she stood with her mother. Maybe they were preparing something for me? They knew l was hun- oh no.
I saw her mother sharpening a knife.

That's not what got me, it's worse when
she said this:
"Today's feast will be amazing. That kid looks really tasty. "

I felt myself trembling. They turned into monsters before my eyes.
N-no no no no nooooo.

Someone shook me multiple times until l came to reality. It was my teacher. She stood there with a horrifying glare.

"Thank God it was  a dream. " I said out loudly, relieved.

"What?! " My teacher yelled at the top of my head. I turned to her.

"Just leave my class and stand in the hall." She spoke and gestured for me to move.

I went out and stood. I was absolutely not annoyed with standing of course, it was better than being eaten by monsters. That's when a girl showed up. She might be from the other section. She looked at me and smiled.

"Hey there. " She said but l ignored her  until l realized she seemed oddly familiar. Familiar? Wait… it was, it was the girl? From my dream???

"Wanna study after school. We're in the same group. We can leave for home together since we live on the same street. " She said all that at once which was hard to absorb.

"See you then. Be late and you're dead meat. " She grinned and left, leaving me wide staring at her disappearing image.

"Just don't ever trust strangers no matter what the circumstance."

                                THE END!