Hide & Seek

Chapter 4

 
"Holland?", the voice yelled.

  Anastasia instantly paled. What had just happened? Was her mind playing tricks on her again? Did someone just call her by her real name?

  She turned around and faced her best friend, Marley. Marley was like a brother to her. He had always been there for her no matter what. But now, he was staring her, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide and watery.

"Holland, it's you. B-But how?I...You are dead-I...", he said coming closer to her examining each and every of her facial characteristics to make sure she was her.

"I... am so sorry, but you have made a mistake. I am not-"

"Anastasia, what's wrong?", Ivy furrowed her eyebrows at her best friend.

"Oh. I am so sorry, I thought you were... never mind. Have a nice day.", Marley apologised reluctantly staring intently at Anastasia one last time. He walked away. Anastasia left a deep sigh. What was that? She had missed him so bad these last few days. She didn't want anything else than to run to him and hug him tightly.

"Anastasia, who was that guy?", Ivy shook her friend out of her thoughts.

"Er... I don't know, he probably mistook me for someone else.", she shrugged still shocked from her previous encounter with one of the most important people in her life. Her past life, actually.

"Okay... Let's go grab some popcorn then!", Ivy cheered.

  Anastasia started feeling extremely dizzy. She had to get away for a few moments to feel normal again.

"Guys, you go get popcorn, I really have to go to the bathroom... you know, nature is calling!", Anastasia chuckled nervously.

  Ivy narrowed her eyes at her. "You mean you don't want popcorn?", she said disgust clear in her tone.

"What? Of course I do, I'll get some as soon as I am back!", Anastasia lied.

  "Okay! We will go try some rides while you are away. Have fun!", Ivy returned to her cheery self again.

  Ivy's naive character was actually really helpful for Anastasia. She could get away with whatever she wanted and Ivy would not realise a thing. Nevertheless, Anastasia felt really guilty because of the lies she was telling her best friend.

  Anastasia walked into a forest near the park where the fair was taking place. It was dark but she did not really care. All she wanted was to spend some time on her own and clear her head.

   Suddenly, she heard people talking.

"You think you can beat me?", a deep male voice said.

"Sure.", an other man answered.

  Anastasia quickly hid behind a tree and carefully looked at the owners of the voices she had just heard. There were four boys around her age, two of whom were kind of familiar to her except for the fact that she could not exactly place where she knew them from.

"Well, I would take you seriously only if you were a couple of inches taller.", the blonde one smirked evily. His grey eyes were challenging and his body language was telling the same story. He was really handsome.

  The other guys were extremely agitated from his arrogant comment.

  "You asked it.", one of them whispered and the four boys started fighting.
 
  Anastasia gasped but immediately put her hand in front of her mouth so that they would not hear her. The two familiar boys were doing impressively well until she realised that one of their enemies revealed a small pocket knife. He was going to hurt them-or worse- kill them. After a moment of hesitation she revealed herself.