Silver Hearts

In The Dark Of The Night

Its dark in the forest. My room at Granny's Diner overlooked it from so high up. I strap on my black knee high boots and look out at the forest again. Lucky for me, I'm going on patrol out there. It doesn't scare me anymore, that feeling stopped long ago. Seven years to be exact.

That's how long I stayed in there before I was found. I survived thanks to the Woodland Sprites because lets face it, who long could a 9 year-old survive out there on their own.

If it wasn't for the sprites I probably would have died, but that came at a price. I was to keep the monsters of the Enchanted Forest away from the town Storybrooke. Oh, and in case you're wondering, my names Allie.

A few weeks ago I was found by a young boy called Henry and his family. I already knew Henry, from a few years ago. He must have been around the age of 7 and I was 11 the first time I met him.

...

He had wandered close to the border whist I was fighting a troll near by. Henry tried to help by throwing rocks and sticks at him but it didn't really work. I was surprised by the sudden help but that had caught me off guard, and the troll knocked me against the tree.

It went after Henry as he started to back away, but something in my favour was that trolls were incredibly slow, so I ran as fast as I could and stood behind Henry as I prepare to shoot an arrow at him.

"Henry duck!" I shout to the boy and he did as I said. I first fired a red arrow at him which blinded him temporarily before I changed the colour of the next arrow and fired a blue one instantly disappearing on contact, freezing him.

I let out a sigh of relief to know that Henry is safe. He stand up and gasped at what he saw, before turned to me.

"That was amazing! Who are you in the story, I cant work it out." He asked me confusingly.

"Thankyou, but I don't come from a Story." I tell him and let my bow disappear inside my necklace.

"You have to be. Everyone here is!" He says so sure that I am.

"Well how about you call me the Ghost of the Forest." I said and he seems happy about that. I hear people calling for Henry so I reckon he was in a crap load of trouble. "Henry, I must go but don't ever come out here again. Got it?" He seemed slightly sad but he nodded in understanding. I my good bye before running off into the deeper part of the forest.
...

I get a feeling of uneasiness wash over me as I think of him. I tired to protect Henry but I was to slow. I never trusted Tamara or Greg, right from the start but when they took Henry through the portal I tried to jump in after him but the portal closed and it projected me back onto the docks.

I shove my knives into my boots as back up. One in each boot and one strapped to my shorts. I pull up my black hoodie which sleeves come up to my elbow over my blue tank top and my black shorts. I grab the mini torch that Henry for my patrols, so I can see in the dark but my eyes are adjusted to the dark after the many years without using a torch at night.

Something's not right tonight, there is a darker presence out there, something that's not a troll, gremlin, ogre or redcap. Something that radiates evil, sadness darkness and gives off a twisted feeling, I know for sure that I've felt this before long ago.

I look out again and I definitely know something's out there, I can feel it. The wind stats to pick up and it makes my open window bang against the wall. I creep over to the window and was about to shut it when I noticed something out there.

Standing on the window sill I look out a the figure flying out there. I barely have any time to think before it barrels me over and I hit the opposite wall to the window. Dazed I look up and see a black figure who had glowing red eyes staring at me. The shadow

"You!" I say as I stand up again. Why was this thing back? I thought it fled long ago and had learned its lesson. I hate the feeling this thing gives off. It holds out its hand and offers me to come with it. "No! Get out and leave me alone!" I shout at it.

It seems to get angrier as it charges at me and flies straight through me. My whole body goes cold from it as I hunch over at the searing pain in my stomach, and I become disorientated. It grips my arm tightly and drags me towards the window. I try to fight it but is has a death grip on my arm. There is no way it is getting me.

I fight the slowly decreasing pain in my stomach as well as the shadow as it drags me towards the open window. I release the magic spikes in my boots digging them into the carpet leaving scratch marks. It was another thing the sprites gave me. But it was no use.

With one big tug the shadow pulls me out of the window and flies away with me in its grasp. It flew fast over the forest and straight up to the stars. I didn't scream, because I knew it wouldn't help, neither would struggling, well not now anyway we're to high up.

The forest below starts to disappear and all is can see is a dim fog. There was a bright flash and I shield my eyes. I slowly open them and find that I'm flying above an outstretch of water heading towards a small island. My unzipped jumper flaps against me and something other then my zipper. My torch! That's right now I remember, it hates light!

With my free hand I reach down and grab out the small torch that is supposed to fit on a key ring out of my pocket. Even when he isn't here Henry still helps. Fumbling with the button I finally turn it on and shine the light at the shadows red eyes.

It retracts instantly and covers its eyes dropping me in the process. I gasp even though I was ready for it as the ground quickly approaches. I grab the closest tree branch an swing from it to another one close by. Then finally I let go and summersault onto the ground landing perfectly.

Now this isn't where I want to stay, but there is someone watching me. Out from the bushes a boy appears maybe like a year older or something with a scar running down the side of his face, dressed in a green cloak holding a club. Not sure what to do I don't flinch or run away but don't attack either I just watch.

"Well it seems like the bird has fallen out of her nest. What's your name bird?" He says rudely as three other boys emerge from the foliage all dressed similarly carrying weapons such as spears and crossbows.

They all look pretty strong but I think I would be able to out smart them. They're boys after all. The scar faced boy, a.k.a Scar seemed annoyed that didn't speak so he stepped forward and I decide to do the innocent girl act. I take a step back and hold a hand to my chest shyly and gasp.

"Alright then Birdie, we can either do this the easy way or the hard way." He grips the handle of the club harder one the words 'hard way'. The other three boys step forward and step back and ask in a fake shaky breath

"What's the hard way?" I say before I get an idea. I sprint off into the forest as fast as I could dodging all branches that seemed to get in my way. This jungle is think, with plants growing everywhere, how am I going to get out of this one?

When I come across a small clearing I scramble up the closest tree with ease before jumping through a few more to get away from where my track led. I see the three boys enter the clearing and I press myself up against the tree so they couldn't find me.