Crescent moon academy

New friends

Elena (el-ay-nah)

I reached into my hoodie pocket and pulled out my iPod with my tangled Apple earphones, plugging them in while walking through the park, I scrolled through my playlist until I found something I wanted to listen to.

The midnight breeze was cool against my skin but I couldn't shake the feeling that i was being watched. Like there was someone, or something, hiding in the bushes, just watching, waiting.....

I took a quick glance around, trying to see things in the dark. I figured it was nothing and I was just imagining it, so I kept walking but my pace quickened.

Once it had been a while, I decided I should probably turn back, knowing my mother would have guards out looking for me, that, and I was exhausted.

I had wondered around the park and gone to the beach just to think. It helped a little and took my mind off things for a while.

I was walking back through the park, taking many shortcuts and avoiding stepping away from the streetlights, I still had that feeling. I was a little cautious but not afraid. I would've been two years ago, but after all I went through, it would take more than just a feeling of being watched.

As i reached the back of my house, i looked back at the huge forrest and my heart rate quickened seeing a pair of golden eyes staring at me, but before i could react, the rustling of the bushes had signified the owner had run away.

i climbed up the pipe with no time to lose and slammed my window shut. Did that really happen? Was i hallucinating? Am i paranoid still?

Before my brain could throw any more questions at me, my door was shoved open and in came my mother. "Oh honey where on earth were you?" she asked, clutching onto my shoulders and assessing my body for any wounds.

"Mum i'm fine, i just went for a walk thats all" i say, taking her hands off my shoulders and holding them in my own "you don't need to worry about me so much, i'm getting older now" i smiled reassuringly.

"Oh honey, there is still so much you don't know, you need to be careful about where you go and who you talk to." she said, but judging from her facial expression, it wasnt meant to come out.

Theres so much i don't know? About what? What did she mean?

"I-i just mean..just, you know...the streets have changed and the people." she said, playing with the hem of her shirt, not making eye contact. She brightened her tone "well, you should get some rest. you've got school tomorrow.

I smiled lazily at that, "goodnight mum".

She replied quickly and closed the door softly.

I changed into sleepwear, crawled into my warm, welcoming bed and drifted off to sleep with my mind on what my mother had said about me not knowing about things. What things?

******

Just as she was about to leave for work, i stopped her. "mum, have you ever seen anything...unusual..in the forrest? Ever?" i spent all morning arguing with myself about if i should tell her and i decided that if i did, maybe i would get some answers.

She seemed to tense up at that and her eyes glazed with panic but she hid it swiftly. Straightening her posture, she put her usual poker face on and held her head high.