When the Leaves Fall

Chapter one

Hi, it's Sarah and Keira here... This is our first ever collaborated story, we apologise in advance for any grammatical errors. Anyway, we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it 💜

It was a brisk autumn day, Toronto absentmindedly kicked the rustling brown leaves off the pavement. Her mind swirling with dark thoughts from the night before.

Unaware of the strangers gaze , she continued to walk down the winding path, shivering from the cold.
She was tightening her scarf when she heard a rustling behind her. She turned around quickly and stood face to face with the tall, dark stranger.
"What do you want with me?" She asked, curiosity clouding her sense of fear.
The air around them grew tense and thick, her breathing rate quickened as the figure loomed over her petite figure. Shadows danced around the strangers face, until he leaned closer.

She stood there for a moment, trying to process this new information. She knew this stranger alright, and she was already trying to determine an escape route. She must have stayed there for a moment to long, because the next thing she knew he was grabbing her sides and tickling her. Toronto squeaked with laughter as he continued to tickle her, knowing all of her weak spots. "Stop it!" Toronto demanded, but she knew it was no use.
"CHARLIE STOP IT" Toronto shrieked, hitting him on the back playfully. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity of torture, he flopped on the ground next to her and laughed.
"You really need to loosen up Tori, I shouldn't have to keep resorting to tickles in order to make you laugh."
Tori looked up at him skeptically.
"I have a lot on my mind right now... It's getting harder to drown it out."
"I know Tori, but you need to try. It's hard for me to see you like this."
Tori sat there for a minute, studying his face. He really was beautiful. He had such beautiful eyes, she thought that they were the colour of moonlight grey, a moonlight grey she kept getting lost in. Toronto looked to her right, and then at Charlie and bit her lip. Slowly, she edged towards the right, trying to get a head start. "Where are you going?" Charlie asked, sensing something was up.
"Race you to the forest!" Tori sang and she ran as fast as she could. About five seconds later Charlie registered what was happening, and darted after her. Tori arrived at the woods first, she ran full speed towards the edge, then stopped in her tracks. Shortly later, a slightly out of breath Charlie arrived, stopping dead in his tracks when he heard her crying. She looked up at him and grabbed his hand. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. If he was scared too, he didn't show it, he needed to be strong for Tori. He needed to be her rock. He knew something was there, he just couldn't see it. He couldn't always see what she sees.
"I think we should head back, this doesn't look safe" Charlie whispered in Tori's ear, his breath tickling her neck. Tori looked at Charlie and saw the concern in his eyes, but she also saw something else. Something she couldn't figure out. Tori opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by an ear splitting, blood curdling scream. The pair whipped their heads towards where the sound came, and held their breath. They waited for something to happen, but it was suspiciously silent. Too silent. Tori started scratching at Charlie's shirt, trying to get him to go. He couldn't see the danger. Only she could. She started to scream as her world went dark, she collapsed on to the floor in a sobbing heap. She woke up a while later, still shaking.
"How long was it this time?" Toronto asked Charlie.
"An hour, that's 15 minutes longer than last time. It's getting worse."
Tori gripped Charles's coat that he wrapped around her tighter.
"I know, Charlie, it's really hard."
"What was it this time?" Charlie asked, his voice filled with concern.
"A body...swinging from a rope." Toronto's voice shook with fear. She hated this 'gift', it was more of a curse anyway. Charlie rubbed his face and exhaled, trying to remain calm.
"What was it like?" Charlie asked, gently stroking her auburn, curly hair. Tori thought for moment, she didn't want to say scary, because that was obvious.

"It was...it..." Tori trailed of, unsure how to finish her sentence. She couldn't tell him out loud. She couldn't get the words out, she knew what to say, but couldn't. This is because deep down, Tori found it thrilling. A bad thrilling, yes. But thrilling nonetheless. It was like she was sucking in a huge breath of fresh air, only to have someone knock the air out of her, and in a strange way, she liked it. It's all she's ever known. That's the real scary part.