"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" I blurted out my displeasure as the strange creeper stared at me.

"Your sucide attempt in this lake, what else could you be doing there? Pretending to sleep and have good memories in the bed of the lake." I felt like punching him as he made fun of me.

"What? No! Listen mister, I didn't come here to die. I slipped and fell into this Frozen Lak- it's not frozen anymore! What the hell! Listen believe me, the entire lake was covered with a thick layer of ice. It cracked and I fell in."

Confusion overwhelmed all the previous emotions. Where did the layer of ice go?

My mouth was wide open in shock.

"Obviously it's not frozen Miss, because you are not Elsa and this is not a studio. So stop being a delusional in your Disney World. Aren't you too old trying to be the ice queen." The stranger's words pissed me more as my mind tried to grasp the whole situation.

"I'm not a damsel in distress either and you, in no shape are my Prince Charming" I retorted back.

"Well sorry to prove you wrong but if you haven't noticed, it was me who pulled you out from the bed of the lake before you died." An air of irritation engulfed me every time the stranger spoke.

"And what are you exactly doing here in the forbidden forest at this time?" I asked the stranger hoping to find if all this was his doing.

"I could probably ask you the same Miss 'not suicidal' or dumb. At least you should be grateful but no, here you are arguing nonsense with me."

"I'm not dumb, creepy stranger. Who knows maybe you are a serial killer going around looking for victims." I spoke out my thoughts which I had been pondering upon.

"From which angle do I look creepy to you? I think the water has entered your head too, you are messing up hot and handsome with creepy. Hey! where do you think you are going?" The stranger shouted at me as I stood up to get out of this eerie place.

Standing up, I prepared to re trace my footsteps from the path I came from, when a sudden wave of dizziness took hold of me.

"Back to where I came from before I ended up here creeped out by a particular creepy creature, Sir." Not wanting to show my weakness, I lashed out.

I had to blink a couple of times to remove the fuzzy feeling I had while the throbbing in my leg gave a reminder for a visit to the doctor.

"And hey, maybe you should give yourself a head to toe check. Standing in those black clothes in the middle of nowhere with that look would make anyone believe you are a creep with an evil motive." I mocked at the stranger as I trudged my legs a bit forward.

"You know Miss Suicidal, a thank you would have sounded nice." A tone of disappointment flickered in the stranger's voice for a second before it vanished into his proud nature.

I know but I couldn't bring myself to say it. I still was having a hard time grasping reality. It was as if darkness was just around the corner ready to spread its cold icy hands on my brain. My feet swayed and I almost lost my footing, if not for the tree I leaned my support on.

"You're welcome Man in Black." I said trying to be humorous despite the slight headache I was having. My eyes found the lake again. Seriously! where did all the ice vanish. I couldn't have imagined it. I'm not delusional or crazy.

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not trying to hunt down any feral aliens. Try not to get lost again Miss Elsa. I can't be always around to save ya, can I?" This time his voice sounded more humorous than before.

"Will try my best, Prince Hans." I retorted back with the same humour while trying to ignore my increasing headache.

"Don't compare me with that fool. I don't act or look anything like him." And once again, his proud self had returned.

"Hmm... We-"

The next thing I knew I was face planting to the green and brown ground. My legs were no longer able to withhold the strength of my heavy body. My heart accelerated. I couldn't see anything, fear grasped my core. Seriously, what the fuck was happening with me right now?

"Mommy?"

What? What was that? Who said that? Have I already gone mental? No Lexi still needs me.

"Mommy wake up please, I will be good mommy... Daddy?"

What's happening? Who the fuck are you? How the hell did you get inside my head? Oh god! Get out, please get out. My arms started thrashing around. I looked around to find where the voice came from but there was only darkness, pitch black deafening darkness.

"Woah Woah Miss! Calm down. It's still me, your Prince Charming."

I slowly blinked. I hardly registered the fact that I had started crying. Choked sobs and whimpers left my lips as I looked back at him. Never did I imagine I would be so glad to see some stranger's face. Without thinking for another second I leapt forth and embraced him in a hug. I didn't care at that point how embarrassing my breakdown would be. I cried for everything that was happening to me. My body shook as tremor after tremor escaped my chest. Why did Lexi have to jump? Why didn't she trust me to share what was bothering her? Why are people so unkind? Why did I have to come here today? Why are all these things happening to me? Why? Just why?

Why me?

"Miss, are you feeling okay? Do you wanna talk about it?" Few minutes later I heard him asking me softly.

"I don't know how I am feeling anymore. I am scared." I sniffed trying to get away wiping my snot and tears on my sleeves.

"You know I may be a stranger, but I'm not a stranger to pain. You are hurting a lot right now, I can say that. I won't judge you for being overwhelmed, everybody deserves a break." His soft voice was slowly calming me down.

"I'm sorry for... ruining your T-shirt with my tears." I said while trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Hey it's okay, don't worry about it. Let's just keep hugging. I can feel you need it a lot." Suddenly, I felt as if I got a friend with whom I can share my worries.

He kept patting my back slowly until I had finally calmed down enough. Letting me go he brought out a blue ribbon from his pocket.

"What... what are you doing?" Surprised, I asked while he started tying the ribbon on my wrist.

"Reminding you that someone is always there for you even in dark times. You can see the moon behind the grey clouds." I was speechless seeing the sudden change in his behaviour.

With that said he tied the ribbon on my left wrist giving me a small smile. Tears clouded my vision again at his act but I was able to keep it together.

"Now don't you think it's time to head back to where you came from? Don't think I didn't notice the ID card, you shouldn't skip school like that." He stood up and gave me his hand to take. I was truly grateful but it was true I needed to head back now. I had to go see Lexi too.

"Hey, I was not skipping. Like you said, umm... I was just taking a break." I said with a faint smile.

"I don't judge Miss Elsa." I knew he was only teasing me a bit which brought a small smile on my face.

"Until another time Mister Stranger." I called out to him as he started walking off to the opposite direction.

"That sounds like a five year old's superhero."
He didn't seem to mind though cause I could hear his laughter echo around a bit.

With one last glance at the spot where he was beside the lake, I took off on the path I had come from. Sounds of crunching leaves under my footsteps momentarily broke the silence. I preferred to not dwell on the crazy events that had taken place in the past hour.

My second shock came when I finally reached the exit of the forest. My face paled in fear. I slowly raised my hands to feel it. The wire fence was real. But how? When I ran into the forest this was not there. I couldn't have passed this tall spiked covered fence surrounding the entire backside of the school building. My mind refused to believe this was real.

Wake up. Wake up Rose.

I heard the school bell ring. Who knows what period is over. I needed to climb up. I needed to leave this crazy place. The wires cut my fingers, every so often I let out a hiss of pain. Around five minutes later, I had finally crossed over the fence and safely landed on the school ground. My outfit was clearly ruined but I didn't have any time to have a pity party.

I entered the hall crowded with students. Looked like the last period was over. How much time had I spent there?

No Rose, don't think about that. Just don't. All this bad stuff has affected you mentally. But no matter what, I couldn't ignore my limp and the ribbon. I couldn't find Charlotte anywhere. Getting my phone out of the locker, I texted her but she didn't reply. We were supposed to go to the hospital together.

Maybe she wasn't ready.

I decided to leave. No matter how hard I tried ignoring, I could hear the new rumours people were willing to spread after seeing me. I was considering leaving school and joining online classes. But just a few months were left before I could finally leave this horrible place behind.

The school had given me a scar forever. I couldn't forget the moment Lexi jumped.

Mommy... Susie...

No, not again. Please not again. Leave me alone. Why am I hearing voices in my head?

Walking out I called a Taxi to go home and change my clothes. Grandpa glanced at me just for a moment before going back to that blank look. I knew how much it had affected him. I could see he blamed himself just like I blamed me.

"I'm going to go see her Old Champ." I said trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Okay." He feebly answered.

I almost didn't hear him without straining my ears. Walking up the stairs I passed by Lexi's room where only cold silence remained. Shaking my head, I clutched the gold door knob and entered my room.

There was no joy in here. A week before it used to be so bright with happiness and laughter. Now it seemed barren. No music of life.

Closing the window beside my bed, I grabbed another pair of clothes and entered the bathroom. I was out within ten minutes. My eyes glanced over the ribbon only for a second. Deciding to keep it, I walked around my room to find my purse and money.

The autumn breeze blew in my back. I turned back and I stood rooted at my place. The window beside my bed was open though I clearly remembered that I bolted it tightly since I didn't know if the doctor would ask me to stay with Lexi tonight or not. I tiptoed towards the window and checked the bolts minutely. Everything was okay. No broken bolts or broken glasses.

Not understanding what was happening, I decided to leave it there and visit Lexi as it was getting late.

Stepping out of the room I paused.

"Maybe I thought of bolting the window but forgot to? But... well whatever, it's getting late. I don't want to leave Lexi alone." Mumbling away my confusion, I went downstairs.

My grandpa was still in the same place where I had left him, his cold eyes seemed so dull in front of the T. V.

"I'm leaving. Your food is in the fridge. Please have it at time. I'll call you." I reached at the door and bolted the door open.

"Okay." Grandpa spoke with the same feeble tone.

Leaving a sigh, I left the house and started walking towards the hospital.

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