Dangerous Crown

2) The Woods Aren't Safe

I closed the front door and wandered up the stairs. I had no idea where my mother decided to go so quickly but I wasn't going to worry about it. She doesn't need to show me around or anything since I have photo memory with everything I see. My feet slugged up the stairs and down the hallway to my small little room at the end of the hall. Looking around the room brought a small smile to my face. It still had the same pale pink walls, the little desk in the corner, and the My Little Pony poster on the wall. 

It looked like my mother hasn't stepped into this room since I left so long ago. I opened up the closet, which was still filled with my old stuff, and shoved my luggage in there. I knew I needed to unpack but that was way too much work. I kicked off my flats and wiggled my toes as they felt the fresh air. Time to go get some food.

Trudging back downstairs, I headed straight for the kitchen that would be filled with all the food I love. But voices stopped me in my tracks.

"Yes, I let her move back in." My mother hissed into the voice and at the other person she was talking to.

A pause.

"No, no. She doesn't know about that nor will she ever know about that." 

Pause.

"Well, you are going to have to deal with my decisions since this is my daughter and not yours!" She yelled. My eyes grew wide at what she was saying. Did someone have a problem with me coming back to my mother's house? Because if they have a problem with me, I'm going to have a problem with them.

"No one knows she exists yet which is fine by me. I want her to live a semi-normal life here, without any complications." I had no idea what she was talking about but it was really weirding me out. Time to enter.

"Hey mom." I said a little too rushed and...happy. Mom jumped out of her chair and quickly ended her call. 

"Aurora." She breathed out. I opened the fridge and shuffled through the choices I could eat in here. There was some pasta, pie, veggies, chicken, Hot Pockets, and cheesecake! Cheesecake is my favorite! I grabbed a slice and shut the fridge with a thump, then I sat down on the couch. I closed my eyes to savor the taste, that was cheesecake, in my mouth. I finished it in about two seconds flat before wishing I had another one.

"I'm heading out." My mom said before picking up her keys and dashing out the front door.

"Goodbye to you, too." I murmured under my breath. My eyebrows furrowed from the sudden cold wind that passed through me. I shivered and rubbed my arms up and down. I watched the television blankly as the sudden realization of how alone I was hit me.

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"Do they not know when to shut up!" I yelled to no one but myself. It has been three hours since my mom left, and ever since she had these dogs would not shut up. It was like they were right in our backyard, but I knew my mother would never get a dog since she is deathly afraid of them. I ran a hand down my face as the howls and barks continued. I think I had enough, so it was time to find the solution to this problem. I jumped off the couch and went to the back doors, as I opened the door the air hit me like a rock. It was so freaking cold outside! I pulled at my sleeves so they would cover my hands and quickly went back inside to slip my feet into some shoes. 

The howls got louder to my ears and ticked me off even more. I now knew it wasn't any dogs since I didn't hear it coming from the neighbors. It came from The Woods. A place I always wanted to go when I was a small child, but over the years I got more and more scared of even looking towards the direction of it. It always had this eerie vibe like it was straight out of a horror movie, and I didn't want to go in there anymore. The howls stopped for just a moment then started again, but this time, it seemed just a little closer.