What I didn't know

CHAPTER 2

Phillip's home was huge. He had at least six bathrooms throughout the house, eight bedrooms, two lounges, and what seemed like dozens of TVs. It wasn't as big as a mansion, but it was definitely bigger than any modern house I'd ever seen.

We were setting up for Plan A. It consisted of us staying the night, letting everything sink in until we were one hundred percent ready for what was ahead. We would all take two hour shifts watching the window. The three who weren't taking shifts would be in the room assigned to them, or in the kitchen eating.

Phillip took the first shift. While I went to go sleep in my room, I could hear Dave and Pretty Girl making out and giggling in the next room. And yes, I was going to keep calling Stacey Pretty Girl; I think it suits her. I decided to block out their noises by listening to music.

I couldn't find any ear phones, so I opened my door as quietly as I could and tip toed down the stairs. The first room to the right didn't have a door, so I chose to look in there first. The room was magnificent. There was a large, glass-topped table, rimmed by gleaming golden lace. The legs of the table were wood, and were carved to look like lion's feet. The chairs around the table had cushions that, when I sat on them, nearly bounced me right back up. The window behind it was huge. It really did seem like a mansion from the inside. There were lavender curtains that hung over the windows, and when I pulled them back, they felt like pure velvet.

I was stunned by all of this, that I didn't notice what was beyond the window from outside. I stood there for a second, remembering my mom and what happened when she got home. I closed the curtain and left the room. I wouldn't have had found any headphones in there anyway.

I went through a couple more rooms until I found Phillip's parents' room. That got me to thinking. Where were Phillip's parents? Shouldn't they be here?

I knew where Phillip was. I climbed the stairs and walked down the hallway and until I opened the door to the last room. Phillip didn't see me walking towards him. When I tapped his shoulder, he looked like he was about to jump out of his own skin.

"Where are your parents?" I questioned.

"On vacation to Jamaica. They left three days ago. They won't be coming back for a few months. We're fine to be here."

"Oh, okay." I wasn't expecting that.

"Yeah, so, umm, aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" He looked like he wanted to be left alone, so I gave him the answer he was looking for. "Yeah, I'll go do that."

As I walked to my room, I didn't hear any more noises from Dave's room this time. I figured they were asleep. I sighed and opened the door, then jumped on my bed, and like a snap of a finger, fell asleep. I had no idea I was so tired.

***

The first thing I registered was cold.

Frigid, numbing cold.

I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, noticing that they were bare. I looked down and saw that I was wearing a simple white dress, floor-length and embroidered with what must have been beautiful stitchery, but it was too torn and muddy to see details.

I shifted around, noticing that my feet were bare as well, save for dirt. I curled my toes against the frozen ground, hearing leaves crunch and crackle.

As I lifted my head up to look around, I realized that I was only barely able to see. The wind sliced at me, making it feel like my eyes were tearing up, but when I reached to wipe them away, my hands came back dry.

As my eyes began to clear, I noticed I was completely surrounded by trees. Not the ordinary trees that grow in a front yard, but towering evergreens that looked like they belong in a forest.