I was shocked at how fast we were moving. It had only been a few minutes and we were already deeper into this set of woods then I'd ever been. Not a word was exchanged between Gage and I, none needed to be. He would occasionally turn around and smile at me, only for me to send him a glare back. He would blink his crimson eyes, then look away with a somewhat dejected look. After a few more moments in silence, he chuckled and scratched the back of his head nervously. "So... Um... How's life been?" He asked.
It took me a few moments to find my voice, but once I did I nearly screamed at him. "Why do you care?! I don't even know you! You just kidnapped me!" I shouted. "I can't believe this. My brother's going to be worried sick when I don't come home! This is all your-" I was interrupted when he placed a hand over my mouth and groaned. "Could you not be so loud please? It's hurting my ears." I narrowed my eyes and bit down on his palm, causing him to pull his hand away and growl at me. His hands, one of which was now slightly bloody, found their way around my neck, and he slammed me into one of the trees nearby.
"I could kill you right here. I hope you know that. They won't find you, not where we're going. Now I'd watch the crap you pull with me because next time you're gonna loose that pretty little head of yours. Got it?!" He shouted. I nodded and desperately clawed at his hands, my air supply rapidly disappearing. I kicked my legs and flailed helplessly in his grasp. Gage stared at me for a few more moments, then blinked a few times and dropped me.
I landed on my side in the cold, slightly wet, dirt and gasped loudly for air. My eyes squeezed shut as my hands wrapped protectively around my stomach. I heard the sound of rustling, and suddenly I was lifted into a sitting position with an arm around my back. "That's it, in through your nose and out through your mouth, nice and easy." It was Gage, his voice was shockingly calm and soothing for what he just put me through. I wanted to run away, but something told me I wouldn't get very far.
Silence fell upon us as I followed his advice and took deep breaths, just like he said to. Surprisingly it only took a few minutes for the light headed feeling to go away. I heard Gage sigh and shift a little bit next to me. "I... I'm sorry Charlotte... I just-" "Don't. Just don't... Let's just get this over with." I growled. Slowly I made my way to my feet and began walking, only to feel as though the earth was falling out from underneath me. I began falling backwards and gasped. I awaited the impact to the ground below, but instead felt a pair of arms catch me midfall.
"Are you okay Charlotte? Do you need me to carry you?" I looked up and made eye contact with Gage, who's gaze was filled with worry as he held on to me by my shoulders. I narrowed my eyes and slowly made my way to my feet again, this time, while holding onto him for support. "No. I don't want you touching me." He simply chuckled and placed his hands over mine. "Hate to break it to you princess, but you're the one touching me." I groaned and let go of him. "May I remind you just why it is I had to hold onto you? Or do the forming bruises around my neck say enough?" I turned to look back at Gage, who was staring at me sadly.
"You really don't remember, do you?" He whimpered. I rolled my eyes and continued walking, with him next to me. "I didn't realize there was something I was supposed to remember, outside of the fact that you ever so casually kidnapped me from a Halloween party, nearly choked me to death and are now acting like I should pity you. I'd try to run back of I didn't think that you'd actually end up killing me in the process." Gage sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I'm only trying to take you to the place where you belong. I didn't mean to scare you."
"Oh you didn't mean to scare me? That's why you just pulled me out of there with no explanation and used some weird cursed necklace and forced me to follow you into the woods! Please, I'm scared, I just want to go home to my brother, my friends and family. Can't you just-" Gage sighed and took a tight hold on my hand. "No. I can't. I know you may not understand or remember, but you will one day, I can promise you that." he whispered. His voice was cracking and a bit more high pitched, as he quickly wiped his eyes from the tears that were rapidly forming.
Part of me was tempted to help him, but I'd barely known this kid for a few minutes! I was scared needless to say. Gage's hand on my hand tightened ever more, making me feel as though it would break. I let out a small whimper from the pain, which is when he finally loosened his grip. "Let's... just go..." With that we went back to the silence that had managed to overcome the two of us for the longest time it seemed. Finally we reached a small clearing in the center of the woods. He sat me down on a fallen tree and held the top of my hands. "It's all up to you now. I'm turning away, you can either go back, or come with me, just know, that if you do choose to come with me, there's no going back." With that he spun around and began chanting in some strange language that I couldn't even begin to comprehend.
I looked back at the narrow path we'd been lead down. Honestly, I wasn't sure what I wanted. This Gage character seemed interesting, but Regina and Lillian needed me. I turned back to Gage, who was now in the center of the clearing, facing me with a nervous look on his face. "If you want to come with me, then feel free." A bright light began to form around him, one with a slightly purple tint to it. My mind was in a hundred different places, but something compelled me to make one decision.
Without thinking, I jumped up and ran. I ran as fast as I could. My heart was beating ridiculously fast as I took a firm hold on Gage's waist and pulled myself closer to him. His eyes were wide with shock as the bright light began to encircle the two of us. When suddenly, multiple shouts and footsteps running towards us broke us out of the little world we were in. I looked up and saw Ethan, Regina, Lillian and Danny running into the circle. "No! Don't!" It was too late, almost the moment their feet made contact with the inside of the circle a searing pain began to rush through my entire body, and I could tell they felt it too by the way they screamed.
Gage tightened his grip on my small frame and ran his fingers through my hair gently, whispering soothing words into my ear. I didn't want to listen, tears overflowed from my eyes and dripped down my cheeks in a steady stream. "It's almost over. I promise." I looked into those crimson orbs of his, causing him to smile down at me. I didn't want to trust him, but truthfully, I felt as though I had no other choice. Something was telling me that I had to follow him, he knew something, something about me, something that I didn't know before. What was it? Honestly, at the time I had no idea, but I knew I'd find out in time.
His fingertips gently brushed against my cheek, and the pain became to much. I blacked out in his arms. My heart was beating a million miles an hour it seemed. Only one question raced through my mind.
What would I see when I woke up?
