Chapter 8

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      Eliza slowly walks up to her friends, that are all sitting at their usual bench in the middle of the park. They all look up at her as she gets closer. Everyone looks equally as anxious. Eliza feels a lump in her throat and she isn't sure why she feels so nervous. Although, she presumes it's because they are about to walk through the woods alone. 

      "Are you ready?" Mary asks, standing up. Eliza nods, and everyone else stands with them. "Okay then, let's go." She says and they all follow Eliza. As the trudge through the woods keeping close together, they looks around. Luna is the only that finds this to be a beautiful experience. She is very much in touch with nature. She is admiring it's beauty, lost in the serenity. She has forgotten the actual goal. 

      Eliza is worried they might stumble upon a dangerous animal. Mary is worried about what is waiting for them in this cabin, and Rowan is watching Eliza's every move. She feels bad for this city girl but also feels that there is more to her story. Either she just hasn't shared, or she doesn't even know about it. Which would suck either way. 

      The wind slowly picks up the further in they get, sending chills down their spines. As they walk Eliza hears the wind speak. She stops in her tracks everyone following suit. 'Eliza' it says. She looks around.

      "What is it Eli?" Luna asks. Everyone watching her closely.

      "Did you hear that?" She asks, looking through the trees intensely. 

      "Hear what?" Mary asks.

      'Be careful' 

      "That! Did you hear that?" She says looking at her friends. They all look at her worried and confused. 

      "What are they saying?" Rowan asks. Finally, Eliza feels understood. 

      "They keep calling my name, and saying to be careful." She says nervously.

      "When did you first hear the wind?" Rowan asks. Eliza tears up because she feels Rowan knows exactly what she's hearing. 

      "Yesterday." She says, taking a deep breath. 

      "Okay, let's keep going." Rowan says. Eliza nods and continues to lead them further into the woods. Now fog has started to roll in, low to the ground. They just assume it is because it is getting later. But, Eliza is getting flashes of her dream. She is desperately hoping the person won't be there, when they arrive. If the cabin is actually here. 

      Eliza stops walking. Everyone stops with her. "It's not here." a small smile appears on her face. Everyone starts to look around.

      "Are you sure this is it?" Rowan asks. Eliza nods.

      "I'm pretty sure."

      "Wrong." Luna says. Everyone looks at her. She points and everyone follows her finger. Through the trees to the left is a small half burnt cabin. Eliza's breath hitches. 

      "There is no way. How could I dream of a place I've never been too?" She asks rehtorically.

      "One of two answers... Either you have been here and don't remember, or it wasn't a dream." Mary says, not taking her eyes off the lifeless cabin. Rowan inhales sharply before walking forward. 

      "Alright then, let's go." She says. Everyone starts toward the cabin. Except for Eliza. She's glued to the spot. Her heart has started racing. 

      "Wait!" She says from where she stands. Everyone stops harshly, turning to face their friend. 

      "What is it?' Mary asks.

      "I don't know, but you said to trust my gut. My gut is telling me you guys should not go in there." She says looking at her friend.

      "And you?" Rowan questions.

      "I have to do this alone." She says, anxiety spiking. Rowan nods. They all stand together allowing Eliza to walk ahead solo. As she reaches the door, Eliza takes a deep breath before walking in. She looks around, it's empty. Then, she sees it. On the ground beneath the window. The same object she found outside her window at home. She squats next to it staring at it. She reaches to touch it and the wind speaks again.

      'Don't' she stops moving. She turns around and no one is there. 

      "Who are you?" She asks. No one answers. She waits in silence and nothing. She turns around and leans over the object taking a picture of it. Standing back up right she looks around once more.

      "Eliza!" she hears her name called from outside. She rushes out the front door to see her friends with fear running through them.

      "What?" She asks, worried.

      "Someone is here." Mary whispers. She starts looking around to see if she can spot them. Wondering if it's the same hooded person. She sees nothing but she hears a branch snap. This makes the hairs on the back of their neck stand. They all take off running simultaneously toward town. When they reach the park they don't stop their. 

       "To my house!" Eliza shouts. Everyone sprinting to the closest house, which is Eliza's.Busting through the front door they all sprint up the stairs and into her room.

       "No running in the house!" Her mom shouts after them. They are all breathing heavily. Trying to catch their breath.

       "Do you think that was the same person from your dream?" Mary asks, through each breath.

       "I don't know, I didn't see anyone." Eliza says. They go quiet.

       "What if it was just an animal?" Rowan suggests. They all burst into laughter. They sit on the bed as the laughter dies down. "So what did you find in there?" She asks. Eliza pulls out her phone. 

      "I took a picture of it." She says turning her phone so everyone can see. They pass it around. "I found the same thing outside my window here yesterday after you guys left." She says pointing to her window. Mary looks at Rowan. "What is it?" She asks.

      "I'm not sure, but I may know someone who might." Mary says, handing the phone back to her. "We can visit her tomorrow after school. Today I have got to get home, it's getting late." She says standing up.

      "Same here, but be careful Eli. Keep your window closed and light on." Rowan says giggling. They all join her. Luna stands as well pulling Eli into a hug. They all head out and Eliza flops onto her bed. She is thinking about how weird it has been so far. This place, the people, and her. She has been so weird since moving here. A scraping sound draws her attention to the window. It's open. She stands quickly. She thinks hard trying to remember if she had opened it. It slams shut answering her question, it most definitely wasn't her. She runs out of her room and down the stairs. 

      "You okay sweetheart?" Her mom asks looking up at her from the sofa. She just nods. She drops onto the sofa next to her.

      "What are we watching?" She asks, making the executive decision to stay with her mom for the rest of the night. Her mom smiles at her, just glad to have her around. Hoping their relationship will mend. 

      "Practical Magic. Popcorn?" She says holding the bowl towards her. Eliza smiles taking some popcorn. A sigh of relief escapes her, realizing her mom has just given her an extremely safe environment to hide in for the night.

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